Is Apple finally making an iPad stand or is it something else?

John Cusack

October 20, 2015

One of the things missing from the iPad and iPhone accessory roster is a proprietary stand created by Apple, for Apple. After so many years of the iPad being the  most popular tablet in the world, you would have thought the company to launch a stand for it sooner. It looks like the time has come, as a new patent was awarded to Apple today, according to a report from AppleInsider. A patent filed in 2013 has today been approved, describing a responsive kickstand aimed at making the iPad user experience much better. While third-party stands have been available for a long time, this is the first evidence of Apple acknowledging a need for such an accessory.

While the iPad stand seems like a good idea, that’s probably not what this patent is actually about. Most likely, Apple is thinking about launching their own hybrid that will be similar to Lenovo’s Yoga tablets or even Microsoft’s Surface portfolio of convertibles. The iPad Pro is the first attempt of the Cupertino-based giant to create a multifunctional device that is fit for desktop use and tablet use, but the company omitted an important thing: a stand. While the smart keyboard that Apple launched is an interesting option that will most likely be enough, the extra price you have to pay for it ($180) is a bit far-fetched.

Apple does seem to have found a calling when it comes to accessories, as this year we’ve seen the launch of the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard alongside the iPad Pro. The Apple Watch is also an accessory, although a much more advanced one. The iPad stand or mount that the patent describes is more of a multifunctional accessory that can be used as a connector to other types of mounts in itself. The patent describes the iPad mount as a device that uses magnetic connectors to attach itself to the iPad and can be used with multiple other accessories such as tripods and various extenders and holsters.

The idea behind the iPad stand is to make the mount universally usable with all iPads that have magnetic strips on their backs, all the while giving users the opportunity of adjusting the mount or stand according to their needs. Although it is unknown whether Apple will actually make this iPad stand or not, it does suggest that in the future, the company will focus more on providing high-quality. functional accessories for its products.

While the patent does focus exclusively on the iPad stand’s usefulness, we could assume that the stand could be integrated in other future devices, like a new iPad Air 3 or new version of the iPad Pro. An integrated stand has obvious benefits, like Lenovo demonstrated so many times. We might see Apple taking a similar approach to its future tablets, turning them from entertainment centers into full-blown workstations. It would be nice to see Apple catch up to Microsoft and Lenovo in the hybrid department. Do you think it’s plausible or do you think the patent was filed and forgotten?