The 8 Best iPad Accessories in 2022 for Upgrading Your Apple iPad in 2022

2022-12-06 23:05:45 By : Ms. shiny Miss

Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site.

Level-up your iPad with the best cases, chargers, headphones, and more. Ipad 12.9 Screen Protector

The 8 Best iPad Accessories in 2022 for Upgrading Your Apple iPad in 2022

THE BEST smartphones allow us to take a handful of essential gadgets—phone, camera, scanner, multimedia screen, and more—anywhere in our pockets. Now the best tablets are making it so we can leave the laptop at home too. And we’re hard-pressed to pick a better tablet than the iPad. It’s ultra-portable, beautifully designed, and the customization opportunities are almost infinite.

The sheer number of add-ons and accessories available for Apple’s entire line-up is dizzying. There are headphones and cases and styluses and Bluetooth speakers and screen protectors and—you get the picture. Some are officially Apple branded, some aren’t. You could probably go broke tricking out the company’s best-selling tablet with all the latest accessories. While you might not need all of these accessories, they do make life with a tablet a whole lot easier, cooler, and, if you’re using your iPad for work, more productive too. But which iPad accessories are worth your time and, more importantly, your money?

Maybe you’ve been looking to upgrade your current iPad, or maybe you’re already thinking about all the ways you can accessorize the one “Santa” is sure to bring you this holiday season. Whatever your situation, we’ve rounded up our favorite accessories to trick out your iPad this year. These are the best iPad accessories of 2022

Best Tech Gifts for Him | Home Office Essentials | Best AirTag Wallets | Best iPhone Wallet Cases | Best Tech Gadgets for Men | Best Fitness Watches | Best Wireless Headphones | Best AirPods Pro Cases

True to Apple’s sleek, future-forward design aesthetic, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) blends seamlessly with the latest iPad. They’re minimalist, yet user-friendly with a responsive touch control for controlling your music and phone calls with simple, intuitive swipes. More importantly, the personalized spatial audio provides an immersive listening experience to drown out unwanted sounds when you need to, while keeping you “plugged in” to the world around you. That means they’re safe for wearing while traveling, working out, at the office—pretty much anywhere. It’s all wrapped in an IPX4-rated shell that’s sweat- and water-resistant.

The only downside with the AirPods Pro 2? Price. At more than $220, they’re a little expensive for ear buds. But, you typically get what you pay for with portable audio. Sure, you can find cheaper headphones for your iPad, but they’ll almost definitely look, feel, and sound cheaper too—all of which is why we think they’re one of the best iPad accessories.

What do buyers say? “... amazing punch bass and clear highs. The Spatial audio feature makes the soundstage feel wider than real,” said one Walmart reviewer.

iPads aren’t cheap, but protecting them can be. That’s why we think your very first iPad accessory should be a reliable and durable case. The ZUGU Case for iPad Pro is, in our opinion, the best iPad case overall with a balance of good looks, a durable construction, and a decent price too. It’s not the flashiest case, but the handful of available colors let you dial in your preferred look. The slim design offers a surprising five feet of drop protection—more than enough for everyday tumbles and falls. We especially love the versatility of the 10-way adjustable magnetic stand. It makes the iPad infinitely more usable for watching Netflix, propping up Allrecipes cooking videos, or keeping up with those seemingly hourly Zoom calls for work.

There’s a lot to like about this case. With well over 8,600 ratings—most of which are overwhelmingly positive—this is one of the best-reviewed iPad cases on Amazon. Coupled with the simple, modern design, solid drop protection, and great price, we think it’s also one of the best iPad accessories overall too.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 8,600 Amazon reviews, 96% recommend the ZUGU Case for iPad Pro with at least a 4-star rating.

One of the best things, and our personal favorite, about having an iPad is the amazing opportunities for creative work. Whatever you like to write, draw, draft, doodle, or design, the iPad makes it easier. That’s even more true with a proper stylus, like the simply named Apple Pencil. Not surprisingly, it’s Amazon’s Choice for the “best Apple stylus” and it’s a game-changer. The latest generation features near-zero lag, excellent precision, and a wide range of changeable “tips” to bring your creative projects to life with a few swipes and taps. It works as a paintbrush, charcoal, or, as the name implies, a basic pencil for sketching or note-taking.

From a technical standpoint, it’s deceptively simple. But next-gen gadgetry allows it to magnetically clip to the latest generation iPad and charge wirelessly too. So, it’s always charged up and at the ready when you need it. There’s not much to dislike about the Apple Pencil. At a little over $100, it’s even reasonably well-priced, especially for an official Apple accessory. If you’re a tech-savvy creative, this is a must-have add-on.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 69,000 Amazon reviews, 94% recommend the Apple Pencil with at least a 4-star rating.

A good stand can seriously, and literally, elevate your iPad game. Satechi’s Aluminum Desktop Stand is a simple, yet modern and elegant solution that blends seamlessly with any desktop. With two adjustable hinges, it turns 180 degrees (to switch between portrait and landscape modes) and the base adjusts 135 degrees, so it’s always at the perfect height and angle for whatever you’re doing. It’s versatile enough to use for everything from catching up on YouTube videos to video chatting with friends to tracking fitness videos while you workout on the elliptical. The versatile design and rubberized grips allow you to secure a wide range of devices, including iPads.

There are flashier and fancier iPad-friendly desk stands on the market. But, we love the simple design of this one, coupled with excellent versatility that works with just about any task you need it for. It’s also very well-reviewed with a positive rating from more than 90% of buyers. Plus, at less than $50—for an aluminum stand, no less—it’s also one of the best-priced stands too, making this a no-brainer iPad accessory.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 400 Amazon reviews, 94% recommend the Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand with at least a 4-star rating.

One of the best things about having a tablet, and an iPad specifically, is that it can truly replace a laptop. The key is to have the right hardware, like this Bluetooth wireless keyboard from Logitech. The K380 is compact and lightweight, making it easy to toss into a messenger bag or suitcase to take with you anywhere. Once paired with your iPad (or smartphone or computer), it works like any ordinary keyboard. The flexibility means you can draft emails, take notes, or blog directly on your iPad more productively than trying to tap out one letter at a time with a virtual keyboard or stylus. The design makes it easy to write in bed, at a hotel desk, or from a café table anywhere. Plus, the included batteries last up to two years, so they hardly ever need changing.

Logitech’s keyboards, and this keyboard, in particular, are among the best-selling in the world with good reason. The iPad-friendly K380 is a game changer for anyone who writes a ton on their laptop and wants the versatility to be able to do so on their Apple tablet too. With an amazing price (under $40!), an ultra-portable design, and thousands of positive reviews, this is a no-brainer accessory for iPad owners.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 17,000 Amazon reviews, 90% recommend the Logitech K380 Wireless Multi-Device Keyboard with at least a 4-star rating.

If you’re a creator—especially a photographer, videographer, Youtuber, etc.—you can never have enough storage space. Sure, the top-of-the-line iPad offers plenty of capacity out of the box. But, avid creators always need more. OWC’s Envoy Pro Elektron Portable SSD hard drives offer up to 2TB of extra storage, so you’ll always have space on-the-go for backing up photos, family videos, and Instagram Reels. The “SSD” name indicates this is a solid state drive—a faster, more reliable, and all-around better technology than any other portable storage alternative. It’s all wrapped in an “everything-proof” shell that’s impervious to dust, water, and crushing. Plus, this thing is ridiculously small—not much larger than a tin of mints, actually—so it fits neatly into a front pocket or travel bag.

At $150 for the 1TB model (and more than $225 for the flagship 2TB version), it’s not cheap. But, it’s not crazy expensive either. Reliable, portable storage isn't something to cheap out on, especially if your job or livelihood depend on it. OWC is one of the most respected names for portable data storage and this model is unsurprisingly well-reviewed too. Bottom line: we think it’s worth the premium.

What do buyers say? “... a well designed and ostensibly well-built unit I hope will last me a long time … I highly recommend this product,” said one Amazon reviewer.

Keeping all your gadgets charged up has become an essential part of modern life. So, anything that makes it faster and easier can be a game-changer. This tiny USB-C cube from Anker is perfect for travel and everyday use. The foldable design means it’s more than one-third smaller than Apple's chunky OG chargers. But, with a 45W charging capacity, it tops up almost all of your gadgets significantly faster. It even supports Super Fast Charging of everything from Samsung products to many laptops to, of course, iPads. It’s all thanks to next-gen GaN II technology that makes for more efficient charging and, almost as importantly, better heat dissipation too.

This is our hands-down favorite USB-C charger, so it’s hard to find much to quibble over. It’s the smallest, fastest, best-priced, and best-reviewed charger on Amazon right now too—all of which makes it a smart buy for iPad users looking for a new go-to accessory. It’s better than the original Apple charging cube in every way. Honestly, we recommend buying two to keep all your gadgets topped up on the go. (And, you can always keep an eye on Amazon Warehouse for cheap deals on them too.)

What do buyers say? Out of more than 2,600 Amazon reviews, 96% recommend the Anker USB-C 713 Charger with at least a 4-star rating.

As we said about the Apple Pencil, iPads have been a game-changer for creative types, allowing artists, doodlers, sketchers, and everyday note-takers to use their tablets like traditional paper. But, the glossy screen of a tablet is no replacement for legit paper. Enter Paperlike’s aptly named Paperlike iPad Screen Protector. It features a textured design with the natural feel and “resistance” of paper, so writing and drawing on your iPad’s screen feels more natural. That same rougher texture also makes for more precise stylus-to-screen action.

This is unlike almost any other iPad screen protector. But, despite the thousands of positive reviews, it’s not perfect. It can be a little tedious to install perfectly, and some reviewers note persistent air bubbles. The textured, “grainy” paper-like texture can also wear down over time with heavy use, so you may need to replace yours, depending on how often you use your iPad. Still, for a niche screen protector that feels like paper, there are few worthy competitors to Paperlike. We think it’s a must-have for digital-savvy creatives.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 7,400 Amazon reviews, 84% recommend the Paperlike iPad Screen Protector with at least a 4-star rating.

Of course, there’s no one best iPad accessory. It depends on how you use your tablet for work, relaxing, and everyday tasks. But, we think the best accessories should be reasonably priced, simply designed, user friendly, and versatile enough for a wide range of applications. Here are a few things to look for when shopping for your own personal best iPad accessories.

How useful, and in how many ways a product can be useful, is arguably the most important consideration. Having a flagship stylus like the Apple Pencil with a Paperlike Screen Protector is a life-changing combo if you’re a creative type. But, if you’re not someone who plans to use them on a regular basis, don’t feel obligated to buy these accessories just because they seem “cool.” Likewise with an external storage device or super-fast-charger. If you’re not always on the go or shooting tons of photos/video, these might not be essential. Consider how you’re planning to use your iPad every day, as that will determine the best iPad accessories for you.

There are thousands of iPad accessories available and, honestly, we’ve found that you often get what you pay for. While it might be tempting to grab the cheapest fast charger and cable you can find, that’s almost always a surefire way to ruin your pricey new iPad. When it comes to charging and protecting your iPad, in particular, we recommend investing in a quality wall charger that supports fast-charging and a solid case from a reliable brand that will fend off basic drops and scratches.

You can spend a small fortune on iPad accessories, especially if they’re official Apple-branded products. Sometimes Apple does offer the best accessories, but there are almost always hundreds, if not thousands, of other options. Don’t feel like you have to spend north of $100 on an Apple Pencil, for example, if you need a stylus; or more than $200 on Apple AirPods Pro earbuds—there are plenty of good alternatives if budget is a concern.

Shellrus Screen Protector There are thousands of iPad accessories available at any one time, so finding the best ones might seem impossible. We researched and tested dozens of top-selling products to find the most affordable, the most useful, and the most versatile accessories for a wide range of iPad users. We compared everything from design and aesthetics to user-friendliness and price. The list above represents our honest picks of the best iPad accessories worth buying in 2022.