Did you know you can turn an iPad into a second monitor? There are different ways of doing this, through both software and hardware. In this blog post I will go through the different processes to do this.
Second Mac display using Sidecar
Apple released Sidecar for modern iPads (those that can run iPadOS 13 and newer) and modern Macs (from 2016 onwards)
The Mac supports gestures and Apple Pencil, and the iPad can be used as a Touch Bar for Macs that don’t have that feature.
Free Sidecar and Sidecar patcher
Apple only allows Macs that run an OS newer than Catalina and iPads that support the Apple Pencil to use Sidecar.
Free Sidecar and Sidecar patcher are more involved to get the iPad to work with the Mac.
Splashtop Wired XDisplay HD
Splashtop have an app for iPhone, iPad (running iOS 7.0+) and Android (4.0+) for Windows 7 and newer as well as MacOS Mountain Lion to High Sierra. The app does not work with newer Mac OS versions and only works over USB.
Duet Display
Duet Display is a piece of software that allows you to use the iPad as a Remote Access device, as a second monitor and even as your sole monitor.
iPad as a monitor
You can reuse the display of an iPad using a suitable LCD driver board. The iPad 1 and 2 used the same screen, and these are easy to find display boards for them. It does mean the display has to be removed from the iPad, as the driver board won’t fit inside the iPad case, and none of the other components are used.
Aliexpress sell a case and board for an iPad 1 or 2 here, for iPad 3 and 4 here, and iPad 5 here.
