Plenty of buzz surrounds the latest Android- and Windows 8-based tablets, but they're chasing a moving target. Apple's new flagship iPad Air is much lighter than the previous model, at just one pound, and includes Apple's blazing fast, ARM-v8-based A7 processor and super-sharp 2,048-by-1,536-pixel Retina display. The iPad Air also runs iOS 7, the company's significantly overhauled mobile OS, and offers up access to more than 400,000 iPad-optimized apps in Apple's App Store.
Here's everything you need to turn your new iPad Air into a mobile computing powerhouse. First up, you'll need a cover to protect the iPad's screen and body. Pair it with a wireless keyboard, and you'll be able to use your tablet like you would a laptop, for productivity purposes. For music and video, you'll need a wireless Bluetooth speaker and a good pair of headphones. Finally, you'll want to be able to control your HDTV with your iPad, and watch movies and TV shows on a big screen.
Buy some of these accessories, and the iPad Air could very well end up as your primary computer. Got some favorite accessories of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
Apple iPad Smart Case
$79
Apple's thin, light, magnetized Smart Case is one of the best ways to protect your iPad. It also functions as a nifty stand when folded a certain way, and wakes up the iPad when you open it, eliminating the need to press the Home button. The $39 Smart Cover is a less-expensive option if you don't need all-around iPad protection. We last reviewed the Smart Cover back in 2012, and didn't test the current version that fits the iPad Air, but we see no reason it wouldn't work just as well. Read the full review ››
Apple TV
$99
There's still no Apple HDTV, despite some analysts' incessant predictions. But Apple's little set top box is worth buying more now than ever, thanks to its 1080p full-HD support, easy movie rentals, and support for a wide variety of third-party streaming services. It's a versatile product that, when paired with occasional rentals and possibly a Netflix or Hulu Plus subscription, could deliver all the television content you ever need; your iPad works as a remote control, and you can also project anything shown on the iPad display onto your HDTV. Cable companies should take note. Read the full review ››
Apple Wireless Keyboard
$69
Pair Apple's ubiquitous Wireless Keyboard with the Smart Case, which acts as a stand, and you end up with a killer alternative to sluggish netbooks and heavier, bargain-priced desktop replacement laptops. The Wireless Keyboard doesn't have a separate numeric keypad, but it offers everything else, including a comfortable typing feel and a sleek aluminum body. And it lasts for months on a single set of batteries. Read the full review ››
Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II
$299
Bose continues to set the standard for small, single-enclosure speakers, and the SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II is no exception. It sounds surprisingly full and detailed, and is powerful enough to fill a mid-sized living room or den with smooth sound. I was tempted to recommend something AirPlay-compatible, but those speakers tend to cost more, and AirPlay restricts you to streaming from Apple products or iTunes software, at least without a third-party driver. The included cover doubles as a nifty stand as well as a power switch. That makes firing up the speaker as easy as possible whenever tunes are called for. Read the full review ››
Bowers & Wilkins P7 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones
$399.99
Plenty of headphone pairs are less expensive, but none give you a high-end audio experience quite like the beautiful Bowers & Wilkins P7. They offer superb sound with all kinds of music, and feature a luxurious black and aluminum design that's extremely comfortable to wear. They also come with two removable cables; you can buy additional ones down the road, so there's a good chance this pair will give you many years of reliable music listening without having to ever send them in for repair. Read the full review ››
Netgear Zing Mobile Hotspot (Sprint)
$49.99 with contract
Apple sells 4G LTE-enabled versions of its iPad Air for $130 more up-front; it's great one-box solution for mobile cellular access, and you can buy data in chunks. That said, if you've got more than one device you want to get online—say, a laptop as well—it makes more sense to buy a wireless modem like Netgear Zing Mobile Hotspot, sign up for a monthly plan, and then share it with all of your devices. The Zing Mobile Hotspot features a sharp status display, world-capable radios, external antenna ports, and support for Sprint's brand new tri-band LTE network. Read the full review ››