Tablets are pretty handy mobile gadgets, especially when it comes to watching movies and TV shows in bed or while on a flight or road trip. However, I'll be the first to admit that I struggle to integrate the iPad (and most Android tabs) into my daily laptop-and-smartphone-centric digital lifestyle. My smartphone's screen is big enough to be convenient for everyday media consumption, and my notebook is powerful and multifaceted enough to serve workhorse duties, while also being lightweight enough not to break my back.
...I've learned that, even with an out-of-date model, there's plenty of supplemental utility to squeeze out of the tablet form factor.
Over time, my iPad has lost its luster -- it's no longer shiny and new, nor is it cutting edge. I feel guilty that I never fully took advantage of its computational power when it was a state-of-the-art tech product, and that frustrates me to no end. In recent times, however, I've had a rekindled interest in making the iPad a useful extension of my tech hardware portfolio, and I've learned that, even with an out-of-date model, there's plenty of supplemental utility to squeeze out of the tablet form factor.
Whether it's an old, forgotten iPad model that's collecting dust, or a newer model that simply doesn't get used much outside of media consumption while on vacation, here are three ways in which the average iPad can be repurposed or even recontextualized as a tech gadget.
Use it as a secondary monitor
It's free real estate, and so you might as well make use of it
I often feel cramped when working on my 13-inch laptop display, but it's not pragmatic to dock to an external monitor when I need to be productive and mobile at the same time. There's a growing selection of dedicated portable external displays on the market, but I've come to realize that they aren't necessary when my old iPad can serve as a competent display in its own right.
Using Apple's rather well-implemented Sidecar feature, I'm able to offload app windows from my MacBook onto my iPad, and it doesn't require much computational power from the latter device at all. With the help of some handy third-party utilities, you can even use an iPad as an external display for a Nintendo Switch or for any number of other devices.
Turn it into an emulation station
Even older iPads can run retro games without breaking a sweat
Old tablets (as well as old smartphones, for that matter) make exceptionally great retro game console emulation devices. Even the oldest, least powerful iPad from back in the day is capable of emulating classic-era video games without a hitch, and doing so is far more accessible now than ever, thanks to Apple allowing emulator apps onto the App Store as of 2024.
There are a number of hardware add-ons that can help transform any nondescript tablet into a truly full-fledged gaming system, but, ultimately, you can get by with nothing more than an external Bluetooth controller and perhaps a stand to prop up the display with. Some of the best emulator apps currently available for the iPad include Delta, PPSSPP, Folium, Gamma, and RetroArch.
Transform it into a smart hub
Smart home controls, a digital photo frame, an oversized clock -- the sky's the limit
When Google launched its Pixel Tablet back in 2023, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Rather than attempting to usurp the laptop form factor, it embraced its tablet-y nature by leaning into always-on utility via its Hub Mode. Unfortunately, iPads are yet to receive the 'Hub' treatment, despite the legwork already being done in the form of the iPhone's Standby Mode.
In any case, it's still possible to turn any old iPad into a makeshift smart display, though it'll require just a bit of creativity. There are several apps on the App Store that provide screensaver-like functionalities, complete with large, readable clocks and digital photo frame modes. Put together with lock screen widgets and control center modules for controlling smart home appliances, the iPad isn't far off from the rumored smart display Apple is reportedly working on behind the scenes.
Here are some of my favorite applications that can turn an iPad display into something useful at all times:
Due to the risk of display burn-in, I don't recommend leaving any application perpetually running on-screen in the foreground if your iPad model is one with an OLED panel. If static images remain on-screen for too long, they can leave behind permanent visual artifacts. Generally speaking, this isn't a concern on tablets with LCD-based display panels.