Cables and accessories case; old school Apple Smart Keyboard

I have an old (9 years?!) iPad Pro 9.7" that’s still in immaculate condition. It runs a little slowly these days, and the battery life has degraded, but for getting productive stuff done during random intervals during the day, it’s still a contender. I had it equipped with a Zagg keyboard case‡, but after about 2 years of light use, the hinge split on the keyboard part, and I figured it was time to try something else.

Priced at $149 when it was a current SKU, the Apple Smart Keyboard for this old iPad is now available for $35 “renewed” on Amazon. Attaching to the “Smart Connector,” it doesn’t require a separate battery to be charged, it doesn’t rely on flaky Bluetooth, and like most Apple tech, it ‘just works.’™ The feel takes a lot of getting used to (it’s not a typical “chicklet” keyboard, it’s ... weird ...), but once you do it’s quite serviceable. It folds up to prop up the iPad in landscape orientation at a recline, that makes it a decent writing-on-the-go platform, and then folds up into a sleek, very light-weight, screen cover. Love it, so far.

Apple Smart Keyboard connected to iPad Pro 9.7"

Only one issue: The Zagg case had an elastic loop for an Apple Pencil. This has got nothin'.

Previously, I’ve had a small set of cables bundled into different every day carry configurations (e.g., the Cocoon organizers; the tech pouch). But then I stumbled across this $9 Fintie Holder Case, which is so perfect it’s not even funny. It perfectly fits Apple AirPods Pro 2 in their case, a
for Apple Pencil 1st Generation (Lightning) interoperability with the 11" iPad 10th generation; a short blue USB C / USB C data/charging cable (probably bundled with something) with a USB C to Micro USB B adapter and a USB C to Lightning adapter; a short USB A to USB C cable, a dual port watch charger, the Apple Pencil, a Rotring Rollerball 0.7 mm pen, and a Ballpoint Pen with Stylus Tip, and it all fits perfectly. I can just move that small case from bag to bag, scenario to scenario, without having to worry about whether all the cables and adapters I might need are with me.

Fintie case for pens, cables, AirPods

(That old iPad is still Lightning, as are my old Air Pods Pro 1st generation and my Air Pods 2nd generation, and other iPads etc.; I have at least one eReader that’s still micro USB B, along with other random devices. My $26 Anker Zolo Portable Charger, 10,000mAh 30W Power Bank has a built-in USB C cable, a USB C port, and a USB A port.)

 

‡ ZAGG Rugged Book Pro – Magnetic-Hinged Bluetooth Keyboard and Case for Apple iPad Pro 9.7” – Black (ID8RPK-BB0)