5 Useful iPad Accessories Cheaper Than Apple Brand Products

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The iPad is a powerful device that you can use for just about anything you use a computer for, from work to play. Whether you own the standard model, iPad Air, iPad Mini, or iPad Pro, the right accessories can add functionality to your tablet and keep it looking good for longer, which is important since iPads can last for several years. Apple has a lot of great options like the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, but while official products are usually the best at what they do, they also come with a hefty price tag.

Fortunately, there are many comparable alternatives to Apple’s most popular iPad accessories that you can find at more affordable prices. From cases to pencils, these are the kinds of add-ons that enhance your daily use rather than, say, Bluetooth gadgets for your iPad that are nice but not essential. We have selected products that are cheaper than what Apple offers (significantly in some cases) without making big sacrifices in quality.

If you’re an artist, the Apple Pencil offers unparalleled precision thanks to its pressure sensitivity. It’s an impressive device, but for many, it’s not worth the $79+ that Apple’s official stylus costs. There are many cheaper alternatives to the Apple Pencil, and my favorite is the Metapen Pencil A8. With a list price of $24.99 on Amazon (which often goes down to around $16), the Metapen is significantly cheaper. This does not translate into lower quality, however.

To get started, setting up a new Metapen A8 is instant: just double-tap the top and you’re ready to go. Even without pressure sensitivity, the device’s tilt sensitivity and palm rejection make it perfect for anything that doesn’t require ultra-precise strokes, like taking notes on your tablet. The A8 also offers excellent battery life and fast charging. Just four minutes plugged in gives you enough power to last two hours of constant use, and a full charge takes about 30 minutes and lasts 10 hours.

My only issue with the A8 is that although it attaches magnetically to the side, it doesn’t lay flat against my iPad (I have a 10th gen). Other than that, I’m very happy with my Metapen, and I’m not the only one singing its praises. It has 4.5 stars on Amazon and over 10,000 five-star reviews from customers who say it’s a great value that holds up to the Apple Pencil.

If you want to use your iPad as an alternative to a laptop, the first thing you need is a keyboard case. Apple’s Magic Keyboard is great, but it starts at $249 for the Magic Keyboard Folio and goes up to $299 for the iPad Pro model. The Logitech Combo Touch is a great alternative, significantly cheaper and available for most iPad models (all except the Mini). They range in price from $159.99 for the standard iPad to $229.99 for the Combo Touch for iPad Pro, although the latter is often on sale for less than $190, which is over $100 less than the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro.

What makes the Combo Touch such a good alternative to the Magic Keyboard is that it has a trackpad, better suited to the laptop experience. Its Amazon rating ranges between 4.1 and 4.5 stars (with the Combo Touch for iPad Air being the lowest rated), and reviewers say it’s responsive and durable. Many say it provides good protection for your tablet while being more affordable than Apple’s keyboard case, making it a great option for those who still want the Magic Keyboard experience.

Depending on how you use your iPad, a basic case like the Smart Folio may be enough. However, they range from $59 for the iPad Mini to $99 for the iPad Pro, which is a lot to pay for a case that offers surface-level protection and a way to support your tablet in two ways using the front cover, especially when you can get basically the same case for a fraction of the price. The MoKo case available on Amazon is a great alternative with a nearly identical design that starts at around $10. It’s available for all iPad models, and while the base model offers the most options, the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini versions also come in different colors and patterns.

I’ve been using the MoKo case since I bought my iPad and it has lasted me about three years of moderate use. The open side design means it won’t offer much protection against drops, but that’s also true for the Smart Folio. What it will do is protect your tablet from surface-level damage while giving you different ways to tilt your iPad for more comfortable use. It’s not fancy, but MoKo’s case accomplishes everything Apple’s case does at a fraction of the price.

Since iPads use USB-C, there is no shortage of affordable charger deals. Apple offers two options: a one-meter-long 60W cable for $19 and a two-meter-long 240W cable for $29. That’s a great deal compared to options on Amazon like IFEART’s USB-C to USB-C cable. These start at just $9.99 for a single 1m cord (although all products are often available for less), but the real savings come from their two-packs.

You can get a pair of one- or two-meter cables for $11.99 (under $10 on sale) or three-meter cables for $16.99. These are 60W, so they should work as fast as Apple’s one-meter cable and for much less than the $38 or $58 two proprietary cables would cost you. With 4.6 stars on Amazon based on over 23,000 ratings, IFEART has received overwhelmingly positive reviews that praise the product for its speed, durability, and overall value. Some even found it better than Apple’s own cord. If you are looking for replacement cables or additional charging cables for your iPad and other devices, IFEART is the best deal on the market.

Since iPad can connect to Bluetooth or USB-C devices, you can easily connect a mouse or trackpad to better recreate the laptop or desktop experience. However, not all Bluetooth mice are compatible with the iPad, often because of the USB-A receivers that many of them use. Apple offers both a Magic Mouse and a Magic Trackpad, but at $79 and $129 respectively, they’re not cheap. Unfortunately, there aren’t any great alternatives to standalone trackpads (if you don’t want Apple’s, your best bet is a case like the Logitech Combo Touch that has one built in), but there are plenty of options if you’re looking for a mouse that works with your iPad.

If you like the sleek design of the Magic Mouse, Amazon sells the RAPIQUE for between $15.99 and $18.99 depending on color. The RAPIQUE mouse doesn’t require a receiver, but it does come with a dongle that you can use to connect it to a computer (or your iPad with a port extender). It uses a single AA battery that the manufacturer claims can last up to 480 hours of use, with an auto-sleep feature and on/off button to extend battery life.

Reviews of the mouse are generally positive, earning 4.3 stars on Amazon based on 3.8k ratings, with many iPad users praising its quiet clicks and overall value, although some have reported connection issues. For the most part, though, the RAPIQUE Mouse is a reliable, lightweight, and responsible device that performs like the Magic Mouse at a much more reasonable price.

For this list, we focused on alternatives to iPad accessories offered by Apple itself, such as the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, which are useful or even essential to get the most out of your tablet. We also researched cases that fit multiple iPad models to ensure there is an option for most users. Specific items were only considered if they were both cheaper and of comparable quality to the official product, using customer reviews, user reviews and trusted sources and (where possible) hands-on experience with the product.