With the Zagg Slim Book Go your iPad Pro becomes a 2-in-1 tablet/notebook. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
An iPad Pro is powerful mobile computer. Add a Zagg Slim Book Go and you get a genuine MacBook competitor.
We typed our way through a full review of this keyboard folio case for Apple’s latest pro tablet, so dive in to see if it’s the add-on your iPad has been looking for.
Save big-time on great charging accessories for all your Apple gear. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Even the best technology is worthless if you don’t have a full battery. So we rounded up four great deals on some of the best charging gear you’ll find for iPhone and other Apple devices. Some are discounted by half or more.
Zagg Pro Keys has a design that puts it head-to-head with the Apple Smart keyboard. Photo: Zagg
Zagg Pro Keys is a keyboard case for those who want to use their iPad as both a slender tablet and a laptop. There are versions for the new iPad Air 4 and iPad 8.
In addition, the Zagg Pro Stylus debuted on Thursday. It sports two tips, making it a competitor for the Apple Pencil as well as basic capacitive styli.
You can charge just about any device with this beefy cable's adapters. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Keeping our devices topped up means carrying around power packs and cables that eventually need a bag of their own. Personal tech is supposed to be convenient. If you’re carrying a tangle of cables, it’s time to simplify your setup.
Minix Neo Storage Plus could be the only accessory your MacBook or iPad needs. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Minix Neo Storage Plus handles two jobs. It’s a multiport USB-C adapter, adding USB-A, HDMI and Ethernet to Mac or iPad. And this accessory is also an SSD, bringing 480GB of storage.
We tested all the features of this multifunction hub. Here’s how it stands up to real-world use.
Western Digital’s redesigned mobile SSD is an ideal companion for MacBook or iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Even in a world where everything can be stored in the cloud, there’s still a role for an external drive. Especially if it’s high-performance, and can go anywhere. Western Digital’s new solid state drive is slim and light, but also rugged. And the WD My Passport SSD holds up to 2 TB of data, and is far faster than a traditional hard drive.
Here’s how this newly-released peripheral stands up to real-world use with a range of computers.
The Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter adds three frequently used ports to MacBook or iPad Pro. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
There’s no reason to watch a movie on your MacBook or iPad when the world is full of external displays you can connect to. Of course, to make the connection you’ll need something like the Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter. Not only does it have an HDMI port, there’s a USB-A port for connecting an external drive. And a USB-C port for keeping your computer powered.
It was obviously designed to copy Apple’s Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter but at a much lower price. Here’s how it stands up.
WD My Passport SSD is tiny but adds up to 2TB of storage to Mac or iPad. Photo: Western Digital
Western Digital introduced on Thursday an updated version of the My Passport SSD. It offers dramatically faster data transfers, plus a new sleeker design.
The external storage device is available in capacities up to 2TB, and offers prosumers an easy way to carry around fairly large collections of images, movies or other files.
The Powerstation Wireless Stand, one of the new power banks from Mophie, is also a wireless charger. Photo: Zagg/Mophie
Mophie just launched four power banks designed to, in its words, “charge mobile devices at the fastest speed possible.” These latest additions to the long-running Powerstation line of batteries come in a range of storage capacities and prices, and can be used with iPhones, iPads and MacBooks.
The Adonit Note-M is a 2-in-1 stylus and mouse for iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPadOS offers full support for mice, and it also supports styli. But carrying around both can be a bit of a hassle. That’s where the Adonit Note-M comes in. It’s a stylus that’s also a mouse. And one that’ll attach itself to the side of an iPad Pro.
I extensively tested this innovative accessory. Here’s how it performs in real-world use.
Why carry just an iPad stylus when the Adonit Note-M is also a mouse? Photo: Adonit
You can use a stylus with your iPad, or a mouse. Or you could try the newly unveiled Adonit Note-M, which is both.
One end of this accessory acts as a stylus on the iPad display. Flip it around, and a motion sensor on the other end lets the Note-M function as a mouse on almost any surface.
Apple Pencil isn’t the only iPad stylus. With Adonit Note+, you can draw Tippy. Or take notes, sign PDFs, and more. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPadOS 14 includes Scribble, finally allowing you to hand write text on an iPad with a stylus. If you don’t already have a stylus, there are some great options out there besides the very expensive Apple Pencil.
Here are some of the best available, so you can take full advantage of your iPad’s capabilities without paying too much.
These innovative charging accessories will keep your gear topped off. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Whether traveling or staying home, we’re all using our devices way more than we used to. More use means less juice, so we rounded up some of the best charging gear in the Cult of Mac Store. That includes a 3-in-1 charging cable, a combination power pack and phone stand, a combination speaker and charging hub, and more.
Mokibo iPad Pro keyboard case integrates a large trackpad into its keyboard. Photo: Innopresso
Mokibo is an unusual twist on the iPad Pro keyboard case. Some of its keys also function as a trackpad, rather than keeping these two separate. It therefore offers a much larger trackpad to work with.
The accessory weighs in at under a pound, and includes a built-in multi-angle stand.
Logitech Folio Touch makes your iPad Pro into an ultra-portable laptop. Photo: Logitech
The Logitech Folio Touch takes full advantage of the trackpad support added to iPadOS. And its keyboard and kickstand help convert the 11-inch iPad Pro into a MacBook alternative.
It offers premium features, like backlit keys, multi-touch trackpad gestures, and support for the Smart Connector.
Sanho HyperJuice can charge all your Apple gear at once. Photo: Sanho
Sanho’s HyperJuice wall charger that debuted Monday isn’t much bigger than a credit card but still has room for a pair of USB-C ports that can put out 100W, dual USB-A ports that max out at 18W, and swappable power prongs.
It uses Gallium Nitride (GaN), a new semiconductor material that’s more efficient than traditional silicon used in current chargers. It lets Sanho create this ultra-portable wall charger.
Score what just might be the world's strongest phone cable, in either Lightning or USB-C. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Mobile devices depend on Lightning and USB cables to stay charged and synced, so it’s a bummer that those cables are so prone to fraying and breaking. Even in perfect shape, standard Apple cables tend to last just a few months. Not so with these Iron Man-worthy cables from Evercable.
Adonit Note-UVC does two jobs. It’s both an iPad stylus and a UVC sterilizer. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Adonit Note-UVC is certainly a product for its time. While this stylus lets you take handwritten notes on a range of iPad and iPad Pro models, the standout feature is a pair of ultraviolet lamps that kill the germs and bacteria on your tablet screen (or any other object). The release is timed just right, with COVID-19 making so many people worried about potential infections.
I tested the Note-UVC as a stylus, and looked into how effective it is at sterilizing surfaces. The results of both might surprise you.
Espresso Displays makes an add-on screen you’ll be happy to use with your Mac for days at a time. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Espresso Displays produces premium external screens compatible with both MacBooks and iPad Pro. And these offer 10-point touch, creating the touchscreen Mac so many have asked for.
Studies have shown that a second display can make you up to 50% more productive. We tested a prototype from Espresso Displays to see if this very slim and light LCD monitor lives it up to its promise.
A must-have for anyone who writes on iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Pick up the terrific Meco Stylus Pen for iPad today and enjoy 40% off the usual price with this exclusive coupon code for Cult of Mac readers.
The Meco Stylus Pen is great for jotting down notes, quick sketches, and just navigating iPadOS with greater precision. It boasts great battery life and impressive performance — and it’s way more affordable than Apple Pencil.
Mophie Powerstation Wireless XL wirelessly charges an iPhone, and can itself be wirelessly charged. Photo: Zagg/Mophie
The Mophie Powerstation Wireless XL juices up iPhones with wireless charging or through a USB-C fast charge. And there are even more options to replenish this 10,000mAh power bank, as it receives power through a Lightning port, USB-C or wireless charging.
The product launched Thursday, and Apple likes it enough to add the product to its online store.
The ultraviolet lamp in the Adonit Note-UVC can disinfect your iPad. Photo: Adonit
Adonit took its iPad stylus and added a feature perfect for a disease-conscious world: an ultraviolet light. The Adonit Note-UVC can kill the germs and bacteria on your tablet screen, then allow you to take handwritten notes or draw on the iPad.
Meco Stylus Pen costs far less than many rivals, and might be the only stylus you need for your iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Meco Stylus Pen is an affordable alternative to Apple Pencil. It’s well suited for taking handwritten notes on a range of iPad models, and offers palm rejection. And while it doesn’t have the features artists need, it offers a long battery life and is simple to connect to your iPad.
I tested this budget active stylus by taking notes and sketching out ideas. Here’s how it stood up to real-world use.
Slope is a stunner! Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Now that iPadOS supports mice and trackpads, it’s a better time than ever to turn your iPad into a mini iMac. To do that, you need the Slope: a nice-looking stand that props up your iPad at the perfect angle for working. Just slide a keyboard and trackpad underneath, and you have something that resembles Apple’s new Magic Keyboard, but at a fraction of the price.
Made from anodized aluminum, the Slope looks good in the kitchen, on your desk or at bedside. It keeps your iPad out of the muck when cooking, or at the perfect angle for watching videos.