Are official tablet accessories worth it?

As for tablets, having good accessories is almost as important like having good applications, and even more with the boom that these devices are experiencing, which has pushed more and more manufacturers to launch their own on the market.

Tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra or the Xiaomi Pad 5 have official accessories capable of catapult the experience with tablets in terms of productivity, but are they really worth it?

Recently, I was able to test both the official Xiaomi Pad 5 and Xiaomi Smart Pen keyboard, as well as the S-Pen and other accessories for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S8, and the conclusion is expensive: At this level of quality, they are worth it, but not in all cases.

A perfectly adapted construction

There is one aspect in which an official accessory will win practically every time to that made by third parties, and this is the design suitable for the tablet in question.

In the case of keyboards, these are usually connected to the tablet via a pin system that gives them energy at the same time that connects them to the tablet

This eliminates the need to establish a Bluetooth connection whenever you want, something that can save you a lot of time on a daily basis and makes taking notes or just writing an email more attractive, since you just have to open it and start writing .

In case of third-party keyboards, normally you need cable or use Bluetooth to synchronize them with the tablet. Fortunately, thanks to the automatic connection, it is not long either, but it is true that it requires charging the keyboard like any other device.

Having to be aware that the keyboard is loaded every time you want to type isn’t a hardship, but it can lead to times when that you think is loaded and it really isn’t.

In addition, the battery of said Bluetooth keyboard will go wearing out over time and reducing its autonomy. Official keyboards that work through pins do not have this problem because they take power from the tablet’s own battery.

In the case of touch pens, the difference is even clearer, as these have special and exclusive functions for the tablet as they usually have technology developed by the manufacturer.

Lately, we are witnessing a clear trend towards portability This drives manufacturers to strive to make accessories that can be easily attached to the tablet and without taking up too much space.

In many cases, the keyboard doubles as a case and the stylus can stick to the tablet itself using a magnet, even showing you the remaining charge level.

We don’t mean by this that generic accessories are bad in themselves, because there is a wide range of them. What is certain is that these are designed to work with as many tablets as possible and therefore cannot be adapted in as much detail as the official tablets.

Not everyone is worth it

Despite all these advantages, official accessories They are also more expensive and that can end up defining whether it’s worth it or not. The first thing you have to think about is the use you are going to give your tablet and then see what best suits your needs.

For example, if you just want a stylus so you don’t have to use your finger and enjoy a little more precision, it’s not worth spending what it costs an S-Pen or a Xiaomi Smart Pen.

These —especially the first one— have advanced functions ideal for drawing and taking notes. If you’re not gonna make it or enjoy it you might be able to make good use of a third-party stylus that will probably cost less than half.

The same thing happens with the keyboard, although in this case the differential factor is the size savings of a keyboard cover and the construction of its keys.

In short, it is not worth spending more than 100 dollars for an official accessory if the benefits it provides aren’t worth the difference to you What is a generic accessory.

Adapted third-party accessories: a good solution that is not very widespread

Between the two extremes are third-party accessories adapted to a particular model, which is also usually priced in the middle of the official and generic ones.

Brands like Logitech usually launch these types of accessories, but unfortunately only a few models are compatible.

If you have a tablet model like an iPad or Galaxy Tab S8, it will be easier for you to find suitable accessories, and these can offer you what you are looking for at a lower price than official accessories.

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