Best iPad Accessories

We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies.

I’ve always said that an iPad isn’t much fun on its own. Sure, you can marvel at the build quality, expansive display, and incredible battery life, but without a few extra bits and bobs, it is just a big iPhone.

That’s why iPad accessories are so sought after by anyone who takes their Apple tablet life seriously.

Today, I’ve got a bunch of seemingly random iPad accessories for 2025 which are capable of bringing the best tablet on the planet (whichever size you go for) to life. You won’t need all of them, but there are some absolute gems in this list that’ll satisfy a number of use cases.

---

TiMOVO 9-11″ Tablet Sleeve Bag

iPads look great until you drop them. That’s why you must ensure that yours is as safe as it can be when it isn’t lying on your desk.

I’ve always been a fan of sleeve cases for iPads, even if they ultimately end up in the laptop compartment in my backpack (you can never have too much protection, after all). Preditcably, Amazon has an absolute boatload to choose from, but I’ve learned over the years that the best is the simplest and, often, the cheapest.

Enter the TiMOVO Tablet Sleeve Bag, which features a polyester exterior that’s pleasant to hold and which isn’t bothered by a splash of water or two. It also has a super-soft interior lining, a secure double zip, and a front pocket, which is perfect for a couple of cables and your AirPods case.

Simple. Don’t overthink this one.

8Bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth Game Controller

Hands up – I’m not a gamer these days, but I appreciate that a lot of people use their iPads for that task. There are, after all, some superb games on iPadOS and Apple Arcade these days.

What isn’t superb is the feeling you get from controlling a character, car, or spaceship hurtling through space with your fingers on a glass touchscreen. It’s horrible, no matter what game developers do to make it more tactile.

A controller is, therefore, a must for any serious or semi-serious iPad gamer.

I asked around and did some research on Amazon and discovered the 8Bitdo Pro 2 controller, which has serious PlayStation 1 vibes and is compatible with most platforms, including iPadOS.

Setup is about as simple as it gets – just connect the Pro 2 to your iPad via Bluetooth and away you go. It features an abundance of configurable buttons, custom profile switching, an enhanced grip, rumble vibration, and a 20-hour built-in rechargeable battery.

The 8Bitdo Pro 2 is that good, in fact, that I’m tempted to get into iPad gaming myself. Maybe.

Samsung T9 Portable SSD

If you decide to expand your iPad storage in the future or get into some form of creative endeavour that requires more storage than you paid Apple for, an external SSD is the only way to go.

Previously, I’ve recommended Sandisk SSD drives, but I know they don’t have the best reputation. So, instead, I’m going to suggest Samsung and its trusty T9. Available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB sizes, this little monster has a read/write speed of up to 2,000 MB/s and a drop-proof rating of up to 3 meters.

The T9 is affordable, built like a tank, and fast enough for pretty much any iPad workflow. There’s a reason it’s so popular.

ESR case, pen, keyboard and screen protector

I’m a big fan of ESR gear, so I was delighted to hear they wanted to sponsor the video version of this iPad accessory guide. ESR isn’t sponsoring this blog post, but their stuff is so good that I need to include it.

First up, we have the Flip Magnetic Case. It’s got a multi-angle design for watching, sketching, or typing, plus a super stable magnetic stand that works on any surface. And for the price, it’s way more affordable than other cases out there.

Oh, and did I mention that ESR also offers a brilliant alternative to the official Magic Keyboard? Well, they do, and it’s also far more affordable than Apple’s offering.

Then there’s the UltraFit Screen Protector. It offers a simple two-step application process which actually removes dust as you install the screen protector, so there are no bubbles and no frustration. Trust me – if I can apply it successfully, so can you.

Lastly, there’s the Geo Digital Pencil. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the Apple Pencil Pro, but still has Find My support, tilt sensitivity, and a shortcut button for quick control of iPadOS. If you don’t need any of the fancy stuff offered by the Apple Pencil Pro, the ESR alternative is an absolute no-brainer.

AirPods 4

I could recommend a whole range of earbuds or headphones to go with your iPad, but there’s only one pair that makes sense in terms of price, compatibility, and sheer quality of life.

Apple’s AirPods 4 are a masterpiece. They offer pretty much everything that you get with the more expensive AirPods Pro 2 and happen to feature the best earbuds case on the market. Bar none. No arguments.

Ironically, I can’t use them because my left ear isn’t compatible with regular AirPods. This is super frustrating because I would use them over the AirPods Pro 2 in a heartbeat. That’s how good they are.

Just check that fit first!

Sandisk SD card reader

If you plan to undertake some creative work with your iPad that involves capturing content on an SD card, you’ll need a way of getting that stuff onto your iPad. Obviously.

There’s only one way to do this – with an SD card reader. For the last few years, I’ve been using a Sandisk SD card reader, which is small, fast, and totally reliable – which is more than can be said for others I’ve tried.

This isn’t the sexiest thing on this list, but if you work with SD cards and an iPad, it’s a must-have.

Anker Nano Power Bank

Whenever I travel, there’s one accessory that follows me everywhere. It’s one of Anker’s many 10,000mAh power banks, but it makes the cut in this list because it’s rather unique.

Unlike most power banks, where you need to pack a compatible cable, this one has a built-in USB-C cable, which is just long enough to reach the USB-C port of any iPad, big or small.

It also has a built-in display which reveals how much battery life is remaining and how long it’ll take to charge when a juice-up is required. There’s even pass-through charging for a secondary device.

Oh, it’s small, too. It has everything going for it, trust me.

OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite webcam

Most modern iPads have pretty decent selfie cameras that support Apple’s Center Stage feature (which keeps you in the frame, even if you’re moving around). However, none of them can match the OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite for resolution or genuine, physical reframing. That’s right – this OBSBOT webcam has a moving head which intelligently tracks you (in all directions) as you move around.

The Tiny 2 Lite is small, too, and compatible with pretty much any computing device that has a USB-C port. This makes it ultra travel-friendly and highly flexible. And you really won’t want to sacrifice that increased resolution and unbeatable AI tracking once you’ve experienced it.

Wrap up

I hope this list of iPad accessories has given you the inspiration needed to up your iPad game. But if you think I’ve missed something and you have a killer iPad accessory recommendation of your own, get involved in the comments!