4 cheap accessories that can turn an old iPad into a perfectly good laptop

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Over the past few years there's been a debate in the tech world over whether an iPad can be a "real computer." Apple itself even fanned the flames by releasing an ad earlier this year that asked the question outright.

As someone who's used an iPad Pro like a traditional computer for years, I can tell you the transition is easier to make than you might think. The App Store is full of powerful software, and iPad hardware has been solid enough for people to make the leap for years. 

For example, the nearly five-year-old iPad Air 2 can still run the latest version of iOS and would make a great computer for anybody but the highest-end computer users. Don't believe me? Pair it with the keyboard, stand, case, and battery pack below and you'll be able to turn an old gadget into an incredibly useful, modern tool.

Better yet, all of these accessories work with the recently released 2018 iPad, and none cost more than $25, so you won't have to break the bank to make this change.

A portable stand

When it comes to productivity, one of the biggest differences between a laptop and an iPad comes down to a hinge. You can open a laptop up and be ready to go, but the iPad was designed to be held in your hand, or used flat on a table. 

The solution is to buy a cheap stand, and this one from UGREEN lets you adjust its foot to the angle that suits your eye line best. Just pop your iPad on the stand, and you're nearly ready to go.

Better yet, you can fold this stand up and take it with you whether you're going to a coffee shop for the afternoon or leaving for a two-week business trip.

UGREEN Tablet Stand Holder for iPad, $8.99, available at Amazon

A bluetooth keyboard

A keyboard is necessary for almost all professional work — at the very least it makes getting it done a lot easier. Anker's bluetooth keyboard is slim, wireless, and features a top row of function keys that make some of the iPad's best features — Spotlight search, Siri, and multi-tasking — at your fingertips.

Holding down the Command key in any app will show you a list of keyboard shortcuts you can use in it, some of which can seriously improve your productivity. The less often you have to take your fingers off the keyboard to touch the iPad's screen, the better.

Anker Ultra Slim Profile Bluetooth Keyboard, $21.99, available at Amazon

An external battery pack

If you've ever walked out of a cafè because the seats by the outlets were taken, moving to the iPad will be a game changer. Instead of relying on the room you're in for power, you can get away with stashing an external battery pack in your bag or pocket. 

This battery from RAVPower will be able to get you a few additional hours of use out of your iPad when it's fully charged. When you consider than an iPad has about 10 hours of battery life on its own, it's easily possible to get "all day battery life," which would be nearly unthinkable when using a traditional computer.

RAVPower 10000mAh Battery, $19.99, available at Amazon

See Also:

• The best men's rain boots you can buy
• 25 useful Amazon Prime benefits to know that go beyond free 2-day shipping
• 10 trending tech gadgets on Amazon that are actually really useful

SEE ALSO: The 9 best iPhone and iPad accessories I use every day

SEE ALSO: 20 must-have tech accessories under $20