MUST-HAVE iPad 8 (2020) Accessories By Tech Gear Talk

What's up guys, sign here and welcome to another tech gear talk, so you got yourself an iPad, 8, or maybe you're thinking of getting one. You already know about the fantastic performance we're getting with the a12 bionic chip, but you may be thinking what are some accessories that are going to make this device even better and also improve my overall user experience. So we're going to talk about productivity, we're going to talk about protecting the device, we'll look at improved ergonomics, and we'll also have a little of fun at the end. So let's get started now, I'm not really a careful person with my tech, I mean, I guess that's not true. With my cameras, I am careful but like with my iPhone there's, no way that I would use it without a fairly serious case and a glass screen protector, because I just know that I would break it and I know I break it, because I've done it probably five times so. The first accessory that I got from my iPad was the smart cover.

It has a magnet on one side, so you just get it close to the iPad and boom just snaps into place and obviously to remove it. You just saw me just pull it away. It protects the front of the iPad, it automatically wakes it up when you open it and puts it to sleep when you close it, and it's super low profile, which is good and bad, and there are a ton of options, and I knew that I needed something. But ultimately I think that I would prefer something like the smart folio, which is available for the air and the pro models, because those protect the front and the back of the device you can fold the smart cover into different orientations that work well for different activities like watching movies or YouTube typing, reading, making face time calls or gaming, because the eighth generation is the same size as the seventh generation. You can choose from a much larger selection of cases that would be categorized as iPad, 7, gen, and I'll put some links in the description to some of my favorites okay.

Moving on. If you watched my first video in this series, then you heard me talk about the fact that if you plan on doing some typing on the iPad, like anything beyond texting or a short email, you're going to want a keyboard. So if you plan on using this iPad for school, where you'll be typing up notes or working on written assignments, a keyboard will make a huge difference, and we have a lot of options here. So the first one that I tried was this Logitech slim folio, which is a combination, Bluetooth, keyboard and case in one. I decided to buy this one instead of the apple smart keyboard for the iPad 8, because the smart keyboard for this model doesn't protect the back of the device, whereas the slim folio does, so I'm much more comfortable, throwing the iPad in my bag or putting it down on a rough surface, and I don't have to worry about the back getting scratched like I mentioned it's a Bluetooth keyboard, so it doesn't use the smart connector on the side and like the smart cover, you can set it up where it's at the right angle.

For typing, taking remote classes sketching or photo editing, and this pretty much gives me the same experience as far as typing that I would get from typing on a laptop, and it's head and shoulders above using the on-screen keyboard. But in addition to the typical keys, we also have a full row of shortcut keys with functions like brightness control, search multimedia control and even a home button on the top left that gets you out of whatever app you have open and back to the home screen. I also like that it has a spot for the Apple Pencil which I'm getting more and more use out of as I'm starting to edit photos. What's missing from this model is a trackpad which is available on the Logitech combo model, but I opted against it because well we'll get to that in a minute now, you're not just limited to keyboard's design for the iPad. If you'd rather use a full size keyboard like the magic keyboard from your Mac, pro iMac or iMac Pro, you can use Bluetooth to connect and then have full functionality.

You can even use your USB keyboard with an adapter, so on my main workstation, I alternate between several keyboards right now, I'm using the corsair k95 platinum, at, and if you want to learn more about it, check the link-up in the corner, but regardless using the camera adapter, I was able to attach it and use it as long as I also attached a lightning cable, because this board requires more power and I just love the feel of a mechanical keyboard. It was super fun to be able to use that type of keyboard with the iPad. Alright. So now back to why I didn't get the Logitech combo keyboard case with trackpad. Now I just love the mouse that I use with my desktop, I'm using the Logitech MX master 2s.

I use it on my main workstation and with my laptop I've, been using this lineup since the performance MX. I think it was called, and I've upgraded all the way to this model. There's an even newer model, the mx3, but this mouse is so good that I haven't wanted to spend the money with iPadOS 14. We now have full mouse support and since I prefer using our mouse to a trackpad, this was a no-brainer now what's great about this mouse is that it has this little button on the back here. That lets me alternate between three devices, so I can control my main station, which is set up as device number one.

I can then switch to my Dell XPS by clicking the button on the back and moving it to device number two and then switch to my iPad by clicking again and going to device number three. Now I can use the iPad just like I would a laptop, but with the added benefits of having a touch screen and the Apple Pencil functionality. So I feel like I'm getting the best of all worlds. Now a lot of people have been asking me if the 32 gig is enough or if they should spend the extra money and get the 128 gig version, and before I get to the answer, if you like what you've seen so far and have gotten value from the video, let me know by giving it a thumbs up it lets me know what kind of content you like, so that I can make more of it and if it's your first time here, hit to subscribe and notification buttons. So you can stay up to date on all the latest gear and tutorials okay.

So what I did regarding additional storage- and this is my next accessory- is use an external drive and in this case I'm using the SanDisk extreme pro one terabyte. So I have tons of photos and video stored, and it should work superfast. But a really strange thing happened, and I'm glad that I caught it with the screen recording, so the SSD worked using the camera, adapter and lightning cable and all of a sudden just disappeared from files, and now, every time I hook up this same SSD, I get a message that says: cannot use accessory extreme SSD. This accessory requires too much power and I saw somewhere online that some users have had luck using a non-powered USB hub and then connecting the SSD to the hub. But that didn't work for me.

I ordered another hub and that didn't work either. So if you have any luck with this SSD or another kind, let me know in the comment section- and I also ordered a smaller and different brand SSD, to see if I can get that one to work. So the answer to my question is 32 gigabytes. Enough really would change based on whether I could use an external drive. If I essentially have unlimited storage externally, then I care less.

But if I can't, then I would definitely want the 128 gig version, and I'll post an update on Twitter, and I'll probably do a follow-up video. When I get this resolved in the meanwhile, I'm using my one terabyte SD card with the card reader, it's a lot slower than using a SSD. So it's not really a great solution. I was also able to use my gearbox as an external SSD, but that's a really expensive solution and if you don't know what that is up there, okay, so moving on to the next accessory- and this has to do with something that we all face every day with our phone power. I really don't like to have to worry about battery power and always have to look at the percentage that I have left.

So I always have power options with me and apple says that the iPad has a 10-hour battery life now, obviously, depending on your use, your mileage may vary if I'm out and about and want a small option that still packs a punch. I bring the anger power core 10k pd Redux. It has an 18 watt, pd USB and a power IQ enabled USB a port. It's tiny and light so bringing it isn't really an inconvenience, and it can quickly charge my iPad now. If I want even more power, for example, if I may need to also charge my phone or other people may also use my charger, then I grab my anger power core plus 2800 pd 45 watt.

Now, unlike the baby brother, this thing is a beast: it's big, it's heavy, and it has a ton of power. So right now these are two of my favorites, but whatever you do just make sure that you always have some kind of external power with you just in case you don't have access to a power outlet, alright. So next, let's talk about audio, because if you're going to be watching YouTube or a movie or listening to music or playing a game, you can't be that person that makes all that noise now. For me, it's an easy choice. I'm still rocking the first gen AirPods.

I love these things. Furthermore, I can't really wear earbuds because they never stay in my ears and I love how comfortable the AirPods are to me. Furthermore, I almost don't feel like I'm wearing them, and I know they don't provide the best audio quality, but most of the time I still like to have some ambient sounds coming through. Furthermore, I've been thinking about getting the AirPods Pro, but I'm worried about the comfort and, if you're like me, and you can't wear earbuds because they're not comfortable or won't stay in your ears, but you do use the AirPods Pro. Let me know in the comment section and then maybe I'll give them a shot.

Now, if I want to listen to music or just immerse myself in a video or a game, then I have a few options, but I usually grab my meze 99 classics. I don't get to use them all that, often because a lot of my devices don't have a headphone jack, but because the iPad 8 does have one. It's not a problem. I remember seeing these for the first time and I just loved the wood grain. They have a unique look, and they sound great, alright.

So moving on from audio like with seemingly every device these days, you know you're going to need some dongles and I already talked about a couple: the camera adapter and the SD card reader. The third one that I use is this HDMI adapter, and it lets me use a larger monitor and have it attached to my iPad. I can mirror my screen and there's even some multi-screen functionality in iPadOS 14. If you use shift screen, it's limited, but it's better than nothing, and hopefully we get true extended, desktop functionality with iPadOS 15. All right.

So you have all these accessories, and you need something to carry them in and if you've been following this channel for a while or just watched. My last video, you know that I love cameras and when you love cameras, you need a great bag. Now some people say I have a bag problem. I like to think of it as me running like a bag shelter, but you have to love a good bag. You got all these pockets and compartments and zippers and pouches and different ways to configure and organize your gear and with the iPad I choose a bag based on how I plan to use it.

If I think that I'll always have my backpack with me, then I usually grab my peak design, everyday backpack. I have the 20 liter version and charcoal and red this is still version one. So this colorway is not available anymore. This bag is super. Versatile, has a ton of small compartments and places where I can store all the accessories I mentioned.

What's great about this bag is that you can configure the interior compartments to fit exactly what you want to carry. You can have the whole bag as one large compartment or split it up with the three provided dividers. There is, of course, a dedicated tablet slot in the back, which is separated from the laptop slot, so I can have both in there and I don't have to worry about one damaging the other. Now, if I think I'm traveling without a backpack, then I want a smaller bag to store the charger dongles and maybe a power bank SSD and a few cables, and I have a couple of options that I want to talk about. So if you're, okay with spending about 50 bucks, then the native union still organizer, is about as nice as I've.

Seen again, there are probably nicer bags if you're willing to go up in price, but I don't really think that you're getting more of a value it's super well-made. It has multiple pockets loops for cables, the charger, AirPods and even the Apple Pencil, and so I like how this bag looks and how it functions. Now, if you like what this bag has to offer, but you don't quite want to spend 50 bucks, then you can check this option from wee woo. I think it's, I think, that's how it's pronounced it's a very similar design, but at less than half the price- and you know my motto- is: buy it nicer, buy it twice. At the same time, I always look at value, so I think both represent a good option.

Okay, so on to the next accessory and this one's going to get me in trouble because since I started this channel, I really haven't spent a lot of time gaming because I'm always testing new products, I'm doing research, shooting videos, I'm editing, I'm super active in the comment section, so I don't have a lot of free time, but for some reason I got this iPad, and I was sitting in my office waiting for a meeting and the person was late. I was thinking you know what I'm going to download pub g so, like I said now, I'm in real trouble, but getting to my next accessory, I have to include a gaming controller, and I have two that I use the dual shock 4 controllers from the PlayStation and the steel series. Nimbus plus both are great options and I go back and forth between which one, I think is more comfortable. I've always been a fan of PlayStation controls, but I think that, right now I like the nimbus plus a little better, regardless of which controller you choose, make sure that you check for controller compatibility with the games. You want to play, for example, there's no controller support for PUBG mobile, at least none that I could find, but games like Call of Duty or Minecraft will work just fine and then Fortnite oh, never mind alright.

So these are some of my favorite accessories for the iPad 8 and if you have some other suggestions, please let me know in the comment section, and maybe I'll do a part 2 video. Also, if you game on your iPad or your iPhone, let me know what some of your favorite games are I'll put links in the description to where you can buy the iPad 8 as well as all the accessories that I mentioned in this video, and if you buy anything using those links, you help support my channel for free. So thank you in advance. I really hope I was able to give you a good overview of my favorite iPad 8 accessories. If I did please, let me know by giving this video a thumbs up, tweet it share it and if you haven't yet join the community by hitting to subscribe and notification buttons, you can also find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at tech gear talk.

You know what I always say: buy it nice or buy twice good luck and see you soon. You.

Source : Tech Gear Talk