5 tablet accessories you didn’t know you needed
If you just google “(tablet name) accessories” you might find a few device-specific cases and accessories, but some of the most useful accessories out there in my opinion are accessories that aren’t really made for tablets as much as they are compatible with tablets. Here are 5 such accessories that you might not have thought of adding to your gadget bag, but that I’ve been using for a while and can attest to the usefulness of.
Portable speaker
Nothing is more annoying than trying to show something to your friends in a noisy place and having the weak audio from your tablet drown in the background noise. The two in the picture are the FiiO PS1110 [my review | $15] and the FiiO S3 [my review | $26]. The PS1110 is awesome for tablet use because it’s small yet very powerful for its size- and it’s also very cheap.
Headphones
This isn’t exactly an uncommon accessory, but in my experience people leave the headphones at home more and more the close the device is to a PC. Especially if you don’t use it for media a lot it’s not given that you bring headphones with you, but I try to keep a pair of IEMs in my bag at all times for just those situations (I normally bring normal headphones when I know I’ll use them).
Screen cleaning kit
Keyboards are supposedly some of the most dirty, unhygienic items in a household, but tablet screens can’t be far behind. It’s more of an issue with tablets, as you actually have to see what’s underneath all your greasy fingerprints. A t-shirt wipe can only do so much, and even a microfiber cloth falls short of dealing with the most greasiest tablet screens. Pair one with a small spray bottle of screen cleaning solution however, and you have a winner. I always bring such a combo with me, and you can get one in any computer/TV store.
Power accessories
If you fear that you’ll run out of power while away from your charger, there are plenty of smaller chargers and external battery packs that you can bring with you. The Hama Piccolino is a favorite for me because of the size, which paired with a short iPad USB cable is a much more compact solution than the normal charger- even if it charges it significantly slower. If you don’t have access to a wall socket or USB plug at all, there are still options for you to consider. You can even run off the power of the sun if you have the patience (or something that doesn’t use a lot of power, like an ereader).
Stands
If you ever find yourself tired of holding your tablet, that’s a sign that you need a stand. You can get window mounts, table stands, headrest mounts and lots of other solutions that will gladly lend a…hand. If you have a smaller tablet, you might be able to use a product I reviewed last year, the Flightstrap– designed to hold your device on planes, trains, the bus or in a car. And if all else fails, duct tape won’t.
Good tips. The flight strap is a very interesting product. Read your review their; shame its not a bit better but then can’t argue for $20 really.
Corgan makes a good point though. Sure if you want a tablet then you will get the accessories but if your considering switching from a notebook that might but you off.
The way I see it, a tablet is the bare minimum shape a computer can be. Then you add whatever you need on top as accessories, but without it being permanent. You can’t take a notebook and just chop off the keyboard when you want to read. But of course, they both have their advantages and disadvantages
Agree on the headphones. I’d add a small headphone amp (FiiO E5 for example), and maybe a small, folding stand. Other then that, nothing, else what’s the point (to Corgan’s point)? My solution for cleaning – jeans. All those connectors? Planning and a USB power cable (add the wall charging brick if you’re not travelling with a laptop as well).
You should amend your article for option A – traveling for work; option B – traveling for fun. Personally, if I find myself out of contact while traveling for fun, the only impact is that I spend more time chatting with shopkeepers and other travellers, sitting at outdoor cafe’s, or hiking/body surfing/watching sunsets, etc. Is there a downside to being disconnected when on vacation (phone is an exception)?
Don’t forget a good case as well – the list isn’t complete without the often forgotten on purchase day item.
Cases are pretty common accessories though…and not universal
I’ve been eyeing those FiiO speakers ever since I first heard of them over at abi. Never got around to purchase one. I’ll eventually buy one, I think the PS1110. I especially look forward to using it on my travels.
I remember that ABi PS1110 review – actually I still use mine almost every day. Great, especially for the price.
But I already knew I needed those… :) I thought you were going to try and sell me some crazy duct tape based ebay special.
The speakers are somthing that I would never have thought of. Cool list!
I feel the screen cleaning and the earphones are always needed. But the rest are just situational
What kinds of earphones are the ones on the picture? They look good. Do they have good audio quality? I’m thinking about changing my Shure SE210 for something.. lighter. :)
Klipsch S2. They’re cheap, but too sibilant for me
How are the highs and lows, and how is the noise cancellation? (i know i should just read a review, but based on your articles I trust your opinion more than those reviews.. :) )
The obvious question while putting your buck on an audiophile headphone for your tablet is, will my tablet be able to feed the buds with the audio quality consisting of correct highs, lows and dynamic range it deserves? i would rather invest it for my audiophile cowon d2 ;-)
And power accessories are definitely essential while travelling, i could use an extra standby battery too!
How about a foldable keyboard and a foldable magnifying screen which can be placed before the tablet to make it look like a regular computer screen?