Checklist · 13 picks · 5 categories

tablet accessories checklist

Edited by Zach · updated Oct 31, 2026 · How I pick

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Budget keyboard Logitech Slim Folio for iPad Best for typing notes in class on a basic iPad$25-50Shop on Amazon
Cheap stylus Adonit Mark Best for doodling on any tablet, Fire included$15-25Shop on Amazon
Couch stand Tablift iPad Holder Best for bingeing shows lying down$25-50Shop on Amazon

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A tablet on its own is a big phone. Add a keyboard and it's a laptop, add a stylus and it's a sketchbook, add a stand and it's the best TV in your bed.

Start with the two that change how you use it: a keyboard case and a stylus. Then pick the extras for your vibe: a stand for your desk or couch, a paper-feel screen protector if you write a lot, and a USB-C hub for monitors and SD cards. Tom's Guide picked the keyboard cases and the cheaper Apple Pencil alternatives, TechGearLab reviewed the stands, and Engadget picked the hubs, the Apple Pencil Pro and the paper-feel protectors. Check your iPad model before buying a case or Pencil, since sizes and Pencil support vary. Each card shows the drawback its outlet called out.

Who this is not for. Skip this if you're setting up a tablet for a child; the Kids Tablet Setup list has kid-proof Fire tablets, iPads for kids and volume-limited headphones.

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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.

The must-haves

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01 Type

the first pick is the one I would start with

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Logitech Slim Folio for iPad	budget	$25-50	typing notes in class on a basic iPad	1 outlet
ESR Rebound Case with Keyboard	mid	$50-100	getting the laptop feel for less than Apple's keyboard	1 outlet
Apple Magic Keyboard	splurge	$300-500	turning an iPad Pro or iPad Air into a laptop	1 outlet

Best tablet keyboard

budget pick · Keyboard case, no trackpad

Logitech Slim Folio for iPad

Best for typing notes in class on a basic iPad

Tom's Guide's best budget iPad keyboard case: very light and portable, with iPad shortcut keys along the top row and a holder for your Apple Pencil or Logitech Crayon.

Heads up. The keyboard doesn't detach from the case, and there's no trackpad

1 outlet. Tom's Guide best budget iPad keyboard case.

$25-50

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mid pick · Fits iPad, iPad Air and iPad Pro (11 and 13 in)

ESR Rebound Case with Keyboard

Best for getting the laptop feel for less than Apple's keyboard

Tom's Guide's best Magic Keyboard alternative: a trackpad, backlit keys and a rotating section, so you can type with your iPad standing vertical or horizontal.

Heads up. Less durable than average, and on the expensive side

1 outlet. Tom's Guide best Magic Keyboard alternative.

$50-100

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splurge pick · Fits iPad Pro and iPad Air (11 and 13 in)

Apple Magic Keyboard

Best for turning an iPad Pro or iPad Air into a laptop

Tom's Guide's best overall iPad keyboard case: typing that feels close to a MacBook Air, a multi-touch trackpad and a design that makes the iPad look like it's floating above the keys.

Heads up. Very expensive and a bit heavy, and there's no version for the basic iPad

1 outlet. Tom's Guide best overall iPad keyboard case.

$300-500

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02 Draw

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Adonit Mark	budget	$15-25	doodling on any tablet, Fire included	1 outlet
Zagg Pro Stylus	mid	$50-100	neater notes and drawings on an iPad	1 outlet
Apple Pencil Pro	splurge	$100-150	digital art in Procreate and serious note-taking	Limited evidence

Best stylus

budget pick · 5.5 in

Adonit Mark

Best for doodling on any tablet, Fire included

Tom's Guide's best cheap Apple Pencil alternative: a dirt-cheap, super-simple stylus you might keep a few of around the house.

Heads up. Cheaper build materials than the competition

1 outlet. Tom's Guide best cheap Apple Pencil alternative.

$15-25

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mid pick · Dual-tip

Zagg Pro Stylus

Best for neater notes and drawings on an iPad

Tom's Guide's best premium Apple Pencil alternative: a sleek dual-tip stylus with tilt recognition that pairs with any iPad from 2017 or newer.

Heads up. Lacks pressure sensitivity, and it needs a USB-C connection to charge

1 outlet. Tom's Guide best premium Apple Pencil alternative.

$50-100

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splurge pick · Magnetic charging

Apple Pencil Pro

Best for digital art in Procreate and serious note-taking

A pick in Engadget's iPad accessories guide: the best stylus you can get for the iPad, with smooth writing and pressure sensitivity for detailed art.

Heads up. Costs extra; check your iPad model first, since each Apple Pencil only works with certain iPads

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$100-150

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03 Prop it up

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Tablift iPad Holder	mid	$25-50	bingeing shows lying down	1 outlet
Amazon Basics Adjustable Tablet Stand	budget	under $15	a cheap stand that folds into your bag	1 outlet
Twelve South HoverBar Duo	splurge	$50-100	using your tablet as a second screen	Limited evidence

Best tablet stand

mid pick · Floor/lap stand with legs

Tablift iPad Holder

Best for bingeing shows lying down

TechGearLab's top pick for greatest versatility: its bendable gooseneck legs hold steady on a bed or couch, and Engadget's iPad accessories guide likes it for watching lying down.

Heads up. Bulky and large, so it's not one for travel

1 outlet. TechGearLab top pick: best tablet stand for greatest versatility.

$25-50

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budget pick · Phones up to 12-in tablets

Amazon Basics Adjustable Tablet Stand

Best for a cheap stand that folds into your bag

TechGearLab's best bang for your buck tablet stand: the most budget-friendly stand it reviewed that still adjusts, with fold-out legs in three widths and a backrest that pivots.

Heads up. Material feels and looks cheap

1 outlet. TechGearLab best bang for your buck tablet stand.

under $15

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splurge pick · Weighted base or desk clamp

Twelve South HoverBar Duo

Best for using your tablet as a second screen

A pick in Engadget's iPad accessories guide: the stand that came closest to perfect, with a strong arm that works on a weighted base or clamped to your desk.

Heads up. It takes some force to move the arm into position

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$50-100

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04 Protect

Best screen protector

budget pick · 2 sheets

Bersem Matte Screen Protector (2-Pack)

Best for trying paper-feel for cheap

A pick in Engadget's iPad accessories guide: a great-value paper-feel pick, with a matte finish that helps when you draw or take notes.

Heads up. Like all paper-feel protectors, it adds a slight blur to the screen

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

under $15

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mid pick · 2 sheets

Paperlike Screen Protector

Best for writing that feels closer to pen on paper

A pick in Engadget's iPad accessories guide: the most popular paper-feel brand, with matte protectors for every iPad model and guide stickers for lining it up.

Heads up. Like all paper-feel protectors, it adds a slight blur to the screen

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$25-50

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05 Ports

Best usb-c hub

budget pick · Compact

Wavlink USB-C 4K@60Hz Hub

Best for plugging a monitor or USB-A drive into your tablet while it charges

Engadget's best budget USB-C hub: the performance for the price is so good it gets a pass for its plain branding.

Heads up. Just one downstream USB-C port

1 outlet. Engadget best budget USB-C hub.

$25-50

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mid pick · Compact

UGreen Revodok Pro 109 USB-C Hub

Best for one-cable hookup to a 4K monitor, Ethernet and SD cards

Engadget's best USB-C hub overall: it performs well and has a well-rounded mix of connectors.

Heads up. Just one downstream USB-C port

1 outlet. Engadget best USB-C hub overall.

$50-100

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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me

Questions people ask

What accessories does a new iPad need?

A keyboard and a stylus make the biggest difference. Tom's Guide calls Apple's Magic Keyboard the best overall iPad keyboard case and the Logitech Slim Folio the best budget one, and Engadget calls the Apple Pencil Pro the best stylus for the iPad. A stand, a paper-feel protector and a hub are nice to have.

Is there a cheaper Apple Pencil?

Yes. Tom's Guide's best cheap Apple Pencil alternative, the Adonit Mark, works on basically any touchscreen. Its best premium alternative, the Zagg Pro Stylus, adds tilt sensitivity and palm rejection but has no pressure sensitivity.

Are paper-feel screen protectors worth it?

If you write or draw a lot, Engadget says the matte texture gets closer to pen on paper and saves your stylus nib. The trade-off is a slight blur on the screen, so skip it if you mostly watch videos.

tablet accessories checklist

plan my budget pick an amount ↓

The must-haves