Whether or not you are a long-time Apple fan or a current convert, investing in the best MacBook equipment can significantly improve your day by day workflow and total expertise. Positive, a MacBook is a strong machine by itself, however including a couple of key extras can actually level-up your setup. From growing consolation with a lap desk to increasing its restricted ports with a USB hub, there are many causes to contemplate some well-chosen equipment.
Want extra space for storing? Exterior drives can make sure you by no means run out of room on your initiatives. Need to shield your funding? A tough shell case is a must have MacBook Professional accent to defend your system from the inevitable bumps and scrapes that include day by day use. In case you use your MacBook for work, whether or not it’s on the go or at dwelling, it’s very easy to alter up your workspace with a couple of considerate add-ons.
Plus, Apple’s seamless ecosystem means nice compatibility between your MacBook and different gadgets, like your iPhone, so you’ll find equipment that work throughout each. Whether or not you’re in search of safety, comfort or one thing to extend productiveness, we’ve rounded up one of the best MacBook equipment to make your setup even higher.
Finest MacBook equipment
Our present favourite webcam will up the video high quality of the entire convention calls you’re taking. The Logitech Brio 500 data 1080p 30fps video, and its improved gentle correction will enable you to put your finest face ahead whatever the atmosphere through which you’re streaming. Very similar to Logitech’s different webcams, the Brio 500 is a plug-and-play answer — simply join it by way of one of many USB-C ports in your MacBook and begin a name. However you may customise issues additional if you need utilizing the LogiTune software program, which helps you to change issues like area of view, distinction, brightness, autofocus and extra. The Brio 500 additionally helps Logitech’s RightSight expertise, which retains you in the midst of the body even whenever you transfer round, much like Apple’s Heart Stage function on its iPads. Admittedly, an exterior webcam will likely be most helpful for these working with an older MacBook that also has a 720p built-in digicam, however even these with new MacBooks can get use out of the Brio 500. It additionally makes an excellent Mac accent. In case you spend most of your days on video calls, you’ll need the additional bump in high quality and superior customizations that Logitech’s accent supplies. — Valentina Palladino, Senior Commerce Editor
- RightSight function retains you in body as you progress round
- Plug and play USB-C connection
- Wonderful auto gentle correction
- Data 1080p video at 30fps
- Dearer than different cams
The built-in cameras on MacBooks could have gotten higher over the previous few years, however they nonetheless don’t embody a canopy for whenever you need a bit of further privateness. Webcam covers like these from Yilador are low-cost and efficient — these are tremendous skinny at 0.027 inches and cling proper over your webcam, permitting you to slip a shutter over the digicam whenever you’re not utilizing it. They’re straightforward to put in, and the adhesive is safe sufficient that the quilt received’t fall off however you too can take away the quilt and stick it onto a brand new laptop computer whenever you ultimately improve. The usual black choice is nice if you need the quilt to mix in with the bezels surrounding your MacBook’s show, or you may go for a enjoyable design that options pizzas, fruits or cute little characters. — V.P.
- Cheap
- Supplies an efficient bodily block
In case you take your MacBook from room to room with you, you’ve in all probability discovered your self working in some less-than-ergonomic positions. If you wish to chill out on the sofa or your favourite armchair and nonetheless get some work performed, a lap desk like this one from LapGear could make it extra comfy, making it one of the helpful MacBook Professional equipment. It has sufficient floor space to suit 13- and 15-inch MacBooks, with further facet house the place you should utilize a wi-fi mouse alongside along with your pocket book. The raised ledge in direction of the underside will forestall your laptop computer from sliding off, and the 2 storage wells on the high are good locations to retailer pens, sticky notes, snacks and extra. — V.P.
- Area for pens Publish-Its and different small objects
- Makes working from the sofa extra comfy
- Backside lip retains your laptop computer from sliding
- Would not match a 16-inch MacBook Professional
The Satechi Twin Dock Stand is our high choose for MacBooks in our docking station information. It helps you to go from utilizing your laptop computer on the highway to having a whole, peripheral-heavy arrange again at your desk utilizing a single (twin) plug. The dock suits neatly beneath your laptop and has ports for displays, Ethernet, and loads of equipment with two USB-C and two USB-C connections. It connects to the 2 USB-C inputs on a Professional or Air, which suggests it might get round a number of the multi-monitor limitations older MacBooks have. It’s not powered, which makes it extra transportable, however you’ll must both run on battery, present energy by way of the USB-C passthrough port or do what I do and simply use your MagSafe connector. — Amy Skorheim, Reporter, Shopping for Recommendation
- Tucks beneath a MacBook for a neater desk
- Good number of ports
- Handy on/off swap
The most recent MacBook Execs could have a bevy of ports, however they’re the one Apple laptops which have that degree of connectivity. Anker’s 555 USB-C hub and MacBook Professional equipment like it is going to be a necessity for anybody working with a brand new MacBook Air or an older Mac mannequin. Anker’s hub provides you eight ports: two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, SD and microSD card slots, one Ethernet jack and two USB-C ports, one among which supplies 100W energy to cost your MacBook. The USB-C and USB-A ports can deal with 10 Gbps file transfers, excellent for an exterior arduous drive or SD card reader, and you may join a 4K/60Hz exterior monitor by way of the HDMI slot. Anker’s accent could also be ultra-portable, however it has sufficient energy and flexibility to be the one laptop computer hub you want. — V.P.
- Extra inexpensive than a dock
- Two USB-A ports and microSD slots
- Only one USB-C downstream port
In our quick charger information, Apple’s included 140W energy adapter was the quickest to refill an M1 MacBook Professional, however it solely has a single port, which doesn’t make it the most effective MacBook Professional equipment. As our reviewer Sam Rutherford factors out, that looks like a missed alternative. Belkin’s four-port GaN BoostCharge Professional 108W charger provides you house for 2 USB-A and two USB-C cables and was the second quickest performer, getting the laptop computer from ten % to 75 % in about 45 minutes. The beginning worth can also be about $10 cheaper than Apple’s. The BoostCharge Professional wasn’t the highest choose in our 100W-plus class as a result of it lagged when powering an Android telephone, however for those who’re in search of a dependable wall charger on your MacBook, this can serve you nicely. — A.S.
- Refills MacBooks rapidly
- 4 ports to cost a number of gadgets directly
It could be good for those who may seize a random charging cable and have it work appropriately with any system. However not all cables are the identical: If you wish to make the most of a quick charging brick or the quick-charge port of an influence financial institution, you’ll want an influence supply cable with a excessive wattage ranking. Anker’s USB-C to USB-C 100W cable was the conduit of selection when Sam examined out quick chargers for our information. It’s loads lengthy at 10 ft and it’s inexpensive at $16 (though, we’ve seen it go on sale for much less). Whereas it helps knowledge switch (which is helpful in case you have an exterior SSD), it’s not rated for video output. For that, you’ll need a video cable or one marked as Thunderbolt 3 or 4. — A.S.
- Permits quick charging
- Lont 10-foot size
- Sturdy braided twine
If you take your MacBook on the highway, it’s good to have a strategy to juice it again up if an outlet isn’t obtainable. Mophie’s Powerstation Professional AC is a large, 27,000mAh energy financial institution with 20W USB-C and USB-A ports, a 60W USB-C energy supply port and a 100W AC plug. In our assessments, it recharged a 16-inch MacBook Professional from ten % to 75 % in 89 minutes — and that’s whereas utilizing WiFi, a VPN, Slack and a number of lively tabs in Chrome. The 140W energy brick that comes with that laptop computer is simply too power-hungry for the 100W AC port, however plugging the USB-C finish of the MagSafe cable into the Powerstation labored nice. It’s the most effective MacBook equipment you will get your palms on, plus, it should cost up your different Apple gadgets, too. — A.S.
- Excessive capability for a number of costs
- Sub 100Wh dimension is TSA-compliant
- Can energy small equipment
Hunching over a MacBook all day is homicide in your again and neck, so it’s sensible to make your on a regular basis setup extra ergonomic through the use of a stand paired with a separate keyboard and wi-fi mouse. The Roost Stand adjusts to seven totally different heights and might accommodate as much as a 16-inch MacBook Professional. It folds as much as a slim stick and weighs simply over six ounces, making it not solely good on your desk, but in addition as a part of your go-everywhere digital-nomad setup. Simply be ready: once I set mine up in public, I all the time get questions from strangers. — A.S.
- Folds up for journey
- Adjustable top for higher ergonomics
- Can help a 16-inch MacBook Professional
- Takes up extra desk house than a monitor arm
There’s a mouse graveyard in my workplace cupboard — gadgets I’ve tried and discarded as a result of they didn’t assist with my shoulder aches. The answer was a curler ball mouse and Logitech’s MX Ergo is one of the best I’ve discovered. It tilts for a extra pure “handshake” grip and has a slow-mo choice for extra exact actions in Photoshop and different apps. The scroll wheel is speedy however exact, as is the trackball and you may swap between two gadgets with the pairing button. You may even program the assorted buttons to do app-specific issues utilizing Logitech’s software program. It is also a helpful companion for an iPad and makes an excellent Mac accent as nicely.
My solely gripe is the antiquated micro-USB charging port, however the battery lasts lengthy sufficient that I solely have to make use of it as soon as each few months. It’s expensive at $100, so it’s possible you’ll desire the $70 Ergo Raise. It additionally affords a handshake grip, however with out the curler ball, and has Bluetooth or USB dongle connectivity choices. — A.S.
- Ergonomic handshake tilt
- Trackball reduces arm motion
- Lengthy battery life
As soon as you have bought your stand and mouse, you may in all probability need an exterior keyboard as nicely. For an entire ergonomic setup, we suggest a keyboard with a cut up and tented design. In contrast to a completely cut up board, which may take a little bit of relearning, an Alice structure angles the keys so you may preserve your palms in a extra impartial place, however typing feels very similar to is all the time has. The Ergo K860 from Logitech connects rapidly by way of Bluetooth and correctly maintains Mac-specific sizzling keys proper out of the field like quantity, brightness and opening Mission Management. Meaning it’s going to additionally work as a Mac accent.
One factor to notice is the quantity pad and built-in wrist relaxation make it fairly giant so it may not work for smaller desks. If you need a wired ergonomic choice with a very compact footprint — and also you’re ready to take a pair weeks to relearn find out how to sort — you may attempt Zsa’s Voyager. It is a totally cut up, programmable mechanical board that I exploit day by day.
- Comfy Alice cut up is not troublesome to sort on
- Mac-specific keys work out of the field
- Rapidly connects by way of Bluetooth
- Takes up a variety of house
- Wrist relaxation is not detachable
I’ve carried Logitech’s K380 keyboard for journey and low store sojourns for 5 years (and I’m at present typing on it). It places up with tough therapy and connects simply to a roster of machines, together with Mac, iOS, Home windows, Android and Chrome OS. It has a that crucial ahead delete key and three Bluetooth pairing buttons so you may swap rapidly between totally different gadgets. It takes three AAA-cell batteries, however lasts for over a yr on a set. The highest-row operate keys help a couple of Mac-specific shortcuts like quantity, mute, playback management and the Mission Management button that reveals all of your open apps directly. — A.S.
- Compact for journey
- Three system buttons for straightforward switching
- Contains arrow keys
- Small dimension can really feel cramped
Moft’s Sit-Stand laptop computer desk is a two-pound, flat-folding amalgamation of metallic boards, magnets and vegan leather-based that reconfigures right into a surprisingly sturdy prop on your MacBook. Standing mode lifts your laptop computer an excellent 10 inches so you may stand often, switching up your working place with minimal effort. Gravity alone holds your laptop computer to the stand, so possibly don’t go away it unattended, however even with energetic typing, my laptop computer remained steady and wobble-free. It folds into 4 extra positions for sitting, together with a 25-degree angle that elevates the display screen whereas nonetheless being comfy for typing. The 45- and 35-degree preparations get your display screen to eye degree, however you’ll want an exterior keyboard to sort comfortably. The 60-degree formation is simply too steep for a MacBook, however will do an important job in case you have a pill. — A.S.
- Creates a sturdy base
- Adjusts to create one standing and a number of sitting positions
- Premium really feel