- 9.60/10 1. Premium pick: Samsung T5 Portable SSD 1TB
- 8.40/10 2. Editors choice: Paperlike Screen Protector for iPad
- 9.00/10 3. Best value: Logitech Crayon
- 9.60/10 4. Apple AirPods with Charging Case
- 9.40/10 5. Logitech Combo Touch for iPad
- 9.60/10 6. Logitech Pebble Wireless Mouse
- 8.40/10 7. Satechi Aluminum USB-C Hub
If you've considered getting an iPad for schoolwork, there are several accessories to complement any workflow. Thanks to the iPad's popularity, there is a diverse selection available for all iPad models.
With that in mind, here are some of the best iPad accessories students can buy right now. Many of these are compatible with the base 10.5-inch iPad, all the way up to the largest 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
The Samsung T5 Portable SSD 1TB is an easy recommendation for students. With the iPad's non-upgradeable storage options, the T5 SSD offers an effective fix for any form of storage anxiety.
While it may be a bit expensive, this SSD looks great and is usable with multiple devices for easy data transfer. The portable SSD is small and compact and features hardware encryption, so files are always protected and secured.
You should note that this SSD does require a Lightning to USB-C adapter if you're using any of the iPad with a Lightning port, but it's still just as effective for storing and offloading photos, videos, and other files.
- USB 3.1 connectivity
- Hardware encryption
- Small and portable
- Brand: Samsung
- Capacity: 1TB
- Power: USB-C
- Speed: 540MB/s
- Connection: USB-C
- Portable: Yes
- Comes in multiple color options
- USB-C to USB-C, and USB-C to USB-A cables included in the box
- Small and compact
- Expensive
The Paperlike Screen Protector for iPad is an excellent buy for students who plan to take digital notes for classes or sketch up new ideas in their free time. This screen protector has a nanodot surface that subtly vibrates the tip of the Apple Pencil to give the sensation of friction, mimicking the feeling of writing on paper.
This screen protector also reduces glare with its matte finish, and this is great for using the iPad in harsh lighting environments where you don't want to deal with reflections.
Overall, this is a great buy for students looking to get into digitalizing their academic lives. While this screen protector isn't the cheapest, it's a worthwhile investment for functionality and durability.
- Nanodot surface
- Anti-glare
- Brand: Paperlike
- Compatibility: All Apple Pencil-compatible iPads
- Great for note-taking and doodling
- Has an anti-glare surface to counteract reflections
- Comes in a pack of two
- On the expensive side for a screen protector
The Logitech Crayon is one of the alternatives to the Apple Pencil. The rechargeable stylus offers 7.5 hours of usage on a full charge and can offer up to 30 minutes of use with only two minutes of charging.
The Crayon can be an excellent accessory for students using apps like Procreate for sketching or Good Notes for digital notetaking. The only major issue you might find is the lack of pressure sensitivity. This feature, which is found on the Apple Pencil, lets you be more precise with your drawings or sketches.
If you're an art student, this might be an area you would want to consider if you plan on getting a stylus for your iPad. The Crayon is compatible with the iPad Air (3rd and 4th generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad (6th and 8th generation), any iPad Pro 12.9-inch, and any iPad Pro 11-inch.
- Charge with any Lightning Cable
- Two minutes of charge offers 30 mins of active writing time
- No pairing needed
- Brand: Logitech
- Compatibility: iPad Air (3rd-4th generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad (6th-8th generation), any iPad Pro 12.9-inch, any iPad Pro 11-inch
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Automatically shuts off after 30 minutes of idle time
- Designed to not roll off a desk
- No pressure sensitivity
The AirPods with Charging Case are the default pair of wireless earbuds for any Apple device, and that is no accident. These are the cheapest in Apple's AirPods lineup, and while they lack some niche features such as Active Noise Cancelling and wireless charging, they get the fundamentals right.
For one, AirPods offer the best Bluetooth experience you're going to find with any pair of wireless headphones, thanks to Apple's H1 chipset. The seamless connectivity allows you to easily connect to your iPad and switch over to a different device.
As a student, these earbuds will offer decent sound-quality for daily music-listening, but more importantly, they will last you the entire day without any issues.
The only major gripe you might experience with AirPods is their design; for some people, they don't offer a secure fit, and this can be a significant issue for those that plan on wearing them for long periods.
Overall, if you're looking for the best audio accessory for your iPad, AirPods are a strong candidate.
- Quick Access to Siri
- H1 Chip to easily connect to Apple devices
- Touch controls
- Brand: Apple
- Battery Life: 5 hours, 24 hours with charging case
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Mono Listening: Yes
- Bluetooth : Yes
- Great battery-life
- Decent sound-quality
- Won't fit in everyone's ears
- No active noise cancellation
The Logitech Combo Touch keyboard case for iPad is one of the most versatile keyboard cases on the market. It features a full keyboard with backlighting and a trackpad, along with a dedicated row of iOS shortcuts.
The case is durable, and the keyboard is detachable from the main case to make room for other activities. The case has an adjustable kickstand allowing you to quickly prop up your iPad to any angle, making it great for sketching or taking notes.
The Combo Touch also features a dedicated slot for your Apple Pencil or another stylus, so you always have it with you. The only real issue you're going to find with this case is its compatibility.
The Combo Touch keyboard case is only compatible with the iPad 7th or 8th Generation, and you would need to opt for the slightly more expensive Logitech Folio Touch case if you have an iPad Air or an iPad Pro.
- Backlighting
- Trackpad included
- Keyboard is detachable from case
- Brand: Logitech
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Keyboard Battery: N/A
- Mouse Battery: N/A
- Has dedicated iPadOS shortcut keys
- Has an Apple Pencil/stylus holder built-in
- Has an adjustable kickstand
- Only compatible with iPad 7th and 8th generation
With the Logitech Pebble, you can easily have a dedicated wireless mouse on the go with your iPad. A mouse might seem like an odd accessory for iPad use, but ever since iPadOS gained mouse support, it's a great companion for your device.
This mouse is great for anyone who needs precise control for photo editing or video editing. With this portable wireless mouse, you can quickly move between workspaces and get stuff done. The mouse is super compact and offers a silent experience with its discrete clicks and scrolls.
This mouse also features a remarkable 18-month battery life, so it should last you an entire school year before having to replace its battery.
Overall, this mouse is a great companion for students. Just keep in mind that the battery is not rechargeable, and you will have to replace it down the line.
- Silent buttons
- Silent scroll wheel
- Compact design
- Wireless via Bluetooth or a USB Adapter
- Brand: Logitech
- Dimensions: 4.21 x 2.32 x 1.04 inches
- Weight: 3.53 ounces
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB adapter
- Battery Life: 18 months
- Small and lightweight
- Comes in multiple color options
- Long 18-month battery life
- Battery not rechargeable, runs on a single AA battery
The Satechi Aluminum Type-C Hub offers the functional purpose of providing you with a wide array of ports. With this hub, you are getting a 3.5mm headphone jack, an HDMI port capable of outputting 4K video at 60Hz, a USB-A port, and a USB-C port that is capable of delivering 60W of power to your iPad.
This hub is a great buy for students who want to use their existing accessories with their iPad; you can plug in a wired pair of headphones or use a dedicated keyboard with the USB-A port. This adapter can be very purposeful when you have to do in-class presentations, and you need to plug in your iPad to your class' projector.
The only major drawback of this hub is the lack of SD card support. This can be an issue when you want to access your camera's photos or even when you're looking to offload files to an external drive such as an SD card.
Overall, this accessory is a good buy for students that currently use a USB-C compatible iPad (4th Generation iPad Air, iPad Pro 2018/2020).
- USB-A port
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- HDMI port with output up to 4K 60HZ
- USB-C port that supports 60W charging
- Brand: Satechi
- Connection: USB-C
- Ports: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm jack
- Sleek design
- Decent port selection
- No SD card slot
- Only compatible with iPads that use USB-C
FAQ
Q: Are iPads Good for University Study?
Depending on your subjects and your use-cases, an iPad can complement your university studies by providing you with a unique workflow through its touch-based interface and its diverse app library.
We don't recommend using your iPad as your only computer because a device such as the iPad isn't as well-suited to multitasking (although iPadOS does include some level of multitasking support) and may not be compatible with many desktop apps.
Q: Can an iPad Be Used as a Second Monitor?
Yes, iPads that run iPadOS 13 or higher have a Sidecar feature that lets you mirror your desktop screen to your iPad. This feature is only available for select Macs and not compatible with Windows.
Q: Can iPads Connect to Secondary Monitors?
Yes, if you have a 2018 or 2020 iPad Pro or a 2020 iPad Air, you can directly connect a USB-C cable to your iPad and your monitor to use a larger canvas. If you have an iPad with a Lightning port, you need to use a Lightning Digital AV Adapter or Lighting to VGA adapter to connect either an HDMI or VGA cable from your iPad to your monitor.
