Head back to school with these 10 great iPhone and iPad accessories
Back-to-school season is here. While my colleague Sandy Stachowiak recently highlighted some awesome apps to download before class starts, we also thought it would be a great opportunity to feature 10 iPhone and iPad accessories that students need to help tackle the school year.
Get to the point
Adonit Jot Pro, $29.99
Along with a good app like Penultimate, you can take advantage of a great stylus and bring your note-taking into the digital era. Adonit’s Jot Pro is an inexpensive place to start. The unique disc on the end of the stylus is designed to offer pen-like precision and the cushioned tip should make it easy to write down class notes quickly and quietly with any app. A built-in clip helps make it simple to take the stylus anywhere.
Available in black, silver, and gold, the Jot Pro can be purchased for $29.99.
Protect all of your gear
Speck MightyPack, $79.95
And what student doesn’t need a great backpack to carry all of their books while protecting their gadgets? While Speck is well-known for its iPhone and iPad cases, the company has recently unveiled its first line of backpacks.
The MightyPack’s standout feature is its TechLocker – a reinforced top pocket that can fit larger accessories that need to be protected – like headphones. A plush interior helps protect your accessories from scratches or scuffs. Flexible compartments made with breathable mesh are designed to flex and fit different sized items. Pass through holes allow users to keep their devices protected while charging.
Buyers can select from three different color options of the backpack. It retails for $79.99 and is available on the company’s site now.
What are you? Chicken?
Fuse Chicken Titan Loop Keychain Cable, $29.95
A perfect Lightning cable to take anywhere, the Fuse Chicken Titan Loop Keychain Cable is nine inches long but can loop in half to attach to your backpack, bag, or keychain. Along with being MFi certified, the cable is wrapped with industrial-strength material, and the connectors are fused directly onto the metal. Fuse Chicken backs the cable by a limited lifetime warranty.
It can be purchased now for $29.95.
A power surge
OtterBox Resurgence Case for the iPhone 6, $69.99
Even though the iPhone 6 battery is vastly improved from previous generations, a battery case can be a big help when you’re not near a charging outlet. OtterBox’s Resurgence features a 2,600 mAH cell that can double the battery life of the handset. When the handset is fully charged, the Resurgence will stop charging so you can save power for when it’s really needed. The case also offers protection from drops and other hazards during daily use.
While the case retails for $99.99, you can purchase a number of different color options from Amazon.com now for $69.99.
Big sound in a small package
UE Roll Bluetooth Speaker, $99.99
Even though the UE Roll is small and lightweight, it’s designed to produce 360-degree sound with a special emphasis on deep bass. The smallest member of UE’s awesome speaker line, the Roll is waterproof and can be taken anywhere with the built-in bungee cord. Offering up to nine hours of music playback, your iOS device can be up to 65 feet away. And with the companion app, you can set alarms, change the speaker’s settings, and much more.
Buyers can select from a number of color options for the $99.99 speaker.
Charging time
Anker PowerPort5, $19.99
And when it’s time to actually charge your iOS devices, there never seems to be enough free USB ports on your laptop or desktop. But Anker has a great solution with its PowerPort5. If the name didn’t tip you off, it offers five USB ports to charge your iPhone or iPad. Each port can provide a maximum of 2.4 amps per port to quickly charge devices. A five foot power cord can be detached for easier storage.
A black or white version can be ordered for $19.99.
Fly away
JayBird X2 Sport Wireless Headphones, $179.99
While there are a number of different ways to privately listen to your music and other media, JayBird’s X2 Sport Wireless Headphones provide a nice combination of wireless portability and great sound. Thanks to a number of included earbuds and ear fins, you’ll definitely be able to find the most comfortable fit and best option that will stay in your ears no matter what. Weighing just a little more than 9 ounces, the built-in battery can provide up to eight hours of music playback before needing to be recharged. JayBird even provides a lifetime warranty against sweat, so the earbuds are perfect for a run or workout.
They retail for $179.99 and can be purchased now from JayBird’s site. You can select from six different color combinations.
Ready for notes
Logi Blok Protective Keyboard Case for the iPad Air 2, $129.95
If you’re tired of waiting for the long-rumored “iPad Pro,” you can add another layer of functionality to an iPad Air 2 with the Logi Blok Protective Keyboard Case. Whether you’re taking notes in class or just playing the latest popular game, the entire system is really versatile. The actual Bluetooth keyboard itself can be detached from the case to find that perfect typing setup. An adjustable kickstand on the case allows you to pick from a number of different viewing angles. With its square corners, Logitech designed the case to help protect your tablet from drops as high as 6 feet onto hard surfaces.
The case retails for $129.95. You can select from three different colors – black, red/violet, and teal/blue.
Stand and deliver
Pocket Tripod, $25
A tripod for your iPhone doesn’t have to be big and bulky. And with the new Pocket Tripod, it can even fit in your wallet or purse. With its precise adjustment functionality, you can also use the device as a stand to do things like make hands-free FaceTime calls, watch a movie, and more. When you’re ready to use the stand, just give it a simple twist and flip and you’ll be ready to go.
A tripod designed to fit a caseless iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus can be ordered now for $25. Two additional adapters are included that can accommodate a phone protected with a slim case.
A bridge to your Mac or PC
Leef iBridge, $79.99
If you’re firmly entrenched into the Apple ecosystem, AirDrop is a quick and easy way to share files between your iOS device and Mac. But it’s not always that easy. The Leef iBridge is basically a USB drive for your iPhone or iPad. One end plugs directly into the Lightning port while the other side connects to any open USB port. With the companion app, you’ll be able to backup and quickly move photos that are taking up precious space on the device. It can also be used to share photos, videos, and a wide range of other content between iOS devices and a Mac or PC.
A 32GB version of the iBridge can be purchased now for $79.99. If you’re looking for more or less space, a 16, 64, and 128GB edition are also available.
