4 of the Best Anker Accessories for iPad Users

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Mobile accessories brand Anker is best known for its chargers and is indeed the best-selling brand in this category, but it makes more than just power adapters and portable chargers. Anker products are frequently recommended by expert outlets and users who praise the company’s gadgets for their reliability and high quality. This includes devices for iPad that enhance its functionality and overall user experience, whether you use your tablet for entertainment or productivity.

The right accessories can go so far as to help you use your iPad as a laptop replacement, but even if all you need is a faster charging brick, Anker offers different options to suit different needs. Variety is great, but it can also make it difficult to determine which specific gadget is best for you. So we put together this list to select the best Anker accessories for iPad users. Of course, there are multiple iPad models as well, so we’ll note where each of these choices only applies to specific versions of the tablet and offer alternatives where appropriate.

If you feel like your iPad isn’t charging fast enough, the solution may be as simple as purchasing a new power adapter. Your brick should provide at least 20 watts to enable fast charging of your iPad, with 30 watts or more being ideal, especially if you own an iPad Pro. If you plan to plug in multiple devices at once, you’ll need a more powerful adapter, because that maximum power is split between all outlets used.

Our recommendation is the Anker 735, a 65-watt wall charger available on Amazon for $29.99. It has three charging ports, one USB-C port and two USB-C output ports, and can deliver between 40 and 65 watts, depending on how many ports you use simultaneously. That’s pretty fast for an iPad, even the iPad Pro, but you’ll need an even faster adapter if you intend to connect other accessories via a USB-C hub (more on that later). The Anker Prime 100-watt charger is a good option, but at $69.99 on Amazon, it might not be worth paying double the price if you don’t need all that power.

Given the company’s reputation, it should come as no surprise that users are happy with the Anker 735 and Anker Prime chargers. Both have 4.7 stars (out of five) on Amazon based on thousands of customer reviews, as well as an Amazon’s Choice badge designating top-rated products. Customer reviews are consistently positive, with many buyers saying the chargers are small, sturdy, and great for traveling.

Power banks are ideal for anyone who brings their iPad with them, especially on long trips, and Anker makes many different ones. How much capacity you need depends on the model of iPad you have, as the tablet’s battery capacity ranges between the iPad Mini’s 5,078 milliamp-hour (mAh) and the 13-inch iPad Pro 13’s 10,290 mAh, with the base model falling between them at 7,698 mAh. Ideally, you should be able to fully charge your device at least once (preferably twice or more) from a full power bank.

No matter which iPad you have, the Anker Prime Power Bank is highly rated. There is a 26,250 mAh 300 watt version that is suitable for long travel days and shared use, but the 20,000 mAh model will probably be sufficient for the average user. Its list price is $69.99 on Amazon, compared to $229.99 for the larger capacity model. Both have a 4.6-star rating on Amazon and fall under TSA battery restrictions, so they’re approved for air travel.

One of the shortcomings of the iPad is that it only has one port, a USB-C port for charging, which is why a hub is one of the best accessories that can solve the iPad’s biggest problems. Of Anker’s various options, the USB-C Hub 555 is the best for most users and costs $49.99 on Amazon. It’s a multi-faceted hub, with one USB-C port, two USB-A ports, an HDMI jack and an Ethernet port, as well as a microSD/SD card reader and a USB-C input port for pass-through charging up to 85 watts.

Having extra ports is nice, but the Ethernet option is especially useful if you want to use your iPad as a laptop or make a lot of video calls. Most won’t need it, but Ethernet is more reliable than Wi-Fi and is pretty much essential for those who use their iPad for gaming, since cloud streaming and online multiplayer titles require a lot of bandwidth. There are dedicated Ethernet adapters, but they make it impossible to charge your tablet while it’s connected. If you often use your tablet as a monitor, there’s also the Anker 551, which is a tablet stand that doubles as a USB-C hub. With various ports built into the base, this unit sells on Amazon for $99.99. It’s also important to know that both of these hubs require a 100-watt charger to work as intended.

The Anker 555 USB-C Hub has 4.3 stars on Amazon from over 9,000 user ratings and reviews that call it durable and reliable. While the lack of a second USB-C port is a drawback given how many things have moved away from USB-A, it’s a solid hub that allows you to use wired devices with your iPad while it charges.

Although they may look similar, not all USB-C cables are created equal. That’s because USB-C is a type of connector rather than the technology contained within the cord. Different types offer different power output and features, which is why some USB-C cables charge faster than others and not all can be used for both charging and data transfer. No matter what feature you need, it’s better to invest in a high-quality cable rather than buying cheap ones that might not last more than a few months. Our pick is the Anker USB-C to USB-C cable, which delivers 240 watts of power and can transfer data at up to 480 megabits per second (Mbps). It’s available in various lengths, ranging from one foot to ten feet (and ranging from $17.99 to $24.99) on Amazon.

This Anker cable is braided, making it stronger than typical silicone cables while still being quite flexible. It’s also made from recycled nylon, which is more environmentally friendly than many other tech accessories. There’s also the Anker Prime USB-C to USB-C cable, which the company says is faster and more durable. However, it’s probably not worth paying $10-15 more for these minor improvements to use with an iPad that doesn’t need as much power as a laptop.

Like other Anker products, the USB-C cable has good reviews, with a 4.8-star rating and the Amazon’s Choice badge. It may be more expensive than the two packs you can get for under $10, but if you need high-quality fast charging, you’ll get it with Anker’s USB-C to USB-C cable.

To choose these products, we looked at what Anker offers and thought about the types of accessories iPad users need or could greatly benefit from. Anker makes many items that are quite similar. So we looked at how specific devices fit with the iPad and its different models based on technical specifications and user experience. We’ve limited ourselves to one product per category (e.g. power bank, charging cable), but have mentioned others where relevant, either as an alternative or to compare based on things like price and features. Finally, we only selected products that are available on Amazon and have received a rating of at least four out of five stars from the retailer’s customers.