The new iPad Pro 2021 is great, but I couldn't get it to work perfectly until I called Twelve South's excellent HoverBar Duo ($79, worth every penny). This is the stand of all iPad stands, and it's so good that I doubt Apple regrets making it in the first place.

And before I go any further, yes, the iPad stand is not a new kind of product. But none of the iPad stands I've seen have as much potential as this one. I discovered it one day when I just wanted to take notes on a (not very good) movie.

First, before I introduce the truly unique features, I must compliment Twelve South on the build quality: the hinge on the HoverBar Duo is super strong and solid, so you can move the tablet to any position you want and it will stay put. Tap, poke, and jab. The slate might sway or move a little for a few seconds, but it will stay exactly where you put it.

Fully extended, the HoverBar Duo has a 15-inch arm, which has proven to be perfect in all previous instances of use. It all started when I was taking notes on a very ordinary action movie, 12 Rounds. I wanted to take notes on the keyboard while watching the movie on my big screen TV.

That said, none of the best laptops qualify because you have to move your neck a lot between that screen and the TV. I also like to handwrite on my reMarkable 2 tablet, but would not be able to use it for this purpose as I did not have time to type correct my notes (it converts my handwriting to text, but my handwriting needs a lot of correction). [Luckily, the HoverBar Duo had just arrived and I set it up on the coffee table, between me and the TV. My eyes barely moved, nor did my neck. Comfort won out.

The value of the HoverBar Duo continued at work, where I placed it in its most natural position, next to my work monitor. Now, whenever a call comes in on my iPhone, I can answer it speakerphone style on my iPad. And while the two-screen setup for work is great, I can always find a use for the iPad as a dedicated TweetDeck screen or as a video screen for watching shows, movies, and other clips I'm writing.

(Come to think of it, you may wonder why I don't answer the phone on my computer: I don't always use my Mac.)

In most cases, the iPad stands on the market do not raise the slate as much. They are more like kickstands. That's fine if you don't care about ergonomic viewing eye level. Even those that are nearly the same height only provide a lip for the iPad to sit on, not a reliable clamp grip like the HoverBar Duo.

The HoverBar Duo, on the other hand, holds the iPad Pro securely and can be rotated to any angle you want. So unlike the iPad stands recommended on many sites, which simply lift off the surface, the HoverBar Duo

is either a super tall stand that requires the hassle of clamping to a table, or a stand made for in-store service It is.

Nevertheless, the HoverBar Duo also comes with clamping components and is designed to be mounted to the top surface of a work space. This iPad stand is short, up to 9.5 inches, and while it may look similar, it is not as versatile as it could be.

The bottom of the HoverBar Duo has a groove perfectly sized for the Apple Pencil. Sure, this may not seem like a big deal, but it's something that other iPad stands lack, and Twelve South has thought of everything and it shows.

I don't use the Apple Pencil much, but it's these touches that make me trust the HoverBar Duo and think it's worth the investment.

I love my iPad and iPad Pro very much, but I had never considered buying a stand for my iPad. the Magic Keyboard on my iPad Pro was enough, but it still felt incomplete. with the HoverBar Duo from Twelve South, I can use my iPad I can get more out of my iPad than ever before.

So for those who have spent over $1,000 for the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro ($799 for the 11-inch model), I hope they realize how much better the user experience can be with just $80 more. Sure, the Magic Keyboard is great for focused lap situations, but the HoverBar Duo seems like the missing link to push the iPad to the next level.