I upgraded my iPad Pro with this essential cheap accessory

(Image credit: Twelve South / Future Plc.)

published 18 May 2023

When it comes to the best iPads, I'm fondest of my 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which I bought recently to upgrade an older model so I could get in on Apple's upgraded silicon experience (whether you want an older-model M1 bargain, or the more powerful and newer M2). I'm certainly not disappointed with the performance either – but the iPad experience is easy to upgrade for sake of usability too.

It seems almost obvious to kit out your Apple setup with accessories to improve your workflow, which is exactly what this now half-price $50 accessory has done for me! I'm talking about Twelve South's Journal for iPad Pro, which as someone who uses the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen), means I can benefit from the ability to store Apple's stylus with ease and never lose it!

I know, it might not be the most 'exciting' product on the planet, but trust me: for the sake of spending a cent under fifty bucks it'll deliver back its worth to you instantly. It doesn't bulk the tablet out too much thanks to a 'snap-in' feature for the display, provides great protection for your iPad plus accessories, and can even be used as a stand – which I find ideal for using on train or airplane tables to watch my favorite shows.

So whether you're at home and just want to pack up your iPad, or are on the go and working (like I so often am), then the internal pocket of Twelve South's Journal makes it easy to carry a Bluetooth keyboard around – all without any concern of scratching that screen in the process. The zipper keeps everything secure too.

I think the Journal looks really smart too, finished in genuine brown leather, without excessive branding all over it, making your iPad Pro 12.9-inch look like a 'normal' notebook. I'd certainly rather pay the $50 for the peace of mind in protection, rather than be forking out hundreds of dollars in the future for a new iPad or repair. I think Twelve South's half-price bargain is a must-have that I now can't live without.

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Mike is T3's Tech Editor. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 years and his beat covers phones – of which he's seen hundreds of handsets over the years – laptops, gaming, TV & audio, and more. There's little consumer tech he's not had a hand at trying, and with extensive commissioning and editing experience, he knows the industry inside out. As the former Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for 10 years where he furthered his knowledge and expertise, whilst writing about literally thousands of products, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more.