The perfect MacBook equipment for 2024

Our present favorite webcam will up the video high quality of the entire convention calls you are taking. The Logitech Brio 500 data 1080p 30fps video, and its improved mild correction will enable you to put your finest face ahead whatever the atmosphere during which you’re streaming. Very like Logitech’s different webcams, the Brio 500 is a plug-and-play answer — simply join it through one of many USB-C ports in your MacBook and begin a name. However you possibly can customise issues additional in order for you utilizing the LogiTune software program, which helps you to change issues like discipline of view, distinction, brightness, autofocus and extra. The Brio 500 additionally helps Logitech’s RightSight know-how, which retains you in the midst of the body even if you transfer round, much like Apple’s Heart Stage characteristic on its iPads. Admittedly, an exterior webcam can 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 a superb Mac accent. For those who 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

The built-in cameras on MacBooks could have gotten higher over the previous few years, however they nonetheless don’t embody a canopy for if you need just a little additional 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 if you’re not utilizing it. They’re straightforward to put in, and the adhesive is safe sufficient that the duvet gained’t fall off however it’s also possible to take away the duvet and stick it onto a brand new laptop computer if you finally improve. The usual black choice is nice in order for you the duvet to mix in with the bezels surrounding your MacBook’s show, or you possibly can go for a enjoyable design that options pizzas, fruits or cute little characters. — V.P.

For those who take your MacBook from room to room with you, you’ve most likely discovered your self working in some less-than-ergonomic positions. Once you wish to calm down 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 snug. It has sufficient floor space to suit 13- and 15-inch MacBooks, with additional facet house the place you should utilize a wi-fi mouse alongside along with your pocket book. The raised ledge in the direction of the underside will stop 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.

The Satechi Dual Dock Stand is our high choose for MacBooks in our docking station guide. It permits you to go from utilizing your laptop computer on the street to having a whole, peripheral-heavy arrange again at your desk utilizing a single (twin) plug. The dock matches neatly beneath your pc and has ports for screens, 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 will possibly get round among the multi-monitor limitations older MacBooks have. It’s not powered, which makes it extra moveable, however you’ll have to both run on battery, present energy through the USB-C passthrough port or do what I do and simply use your MagSafe connector. — Amy Skorheim, Reporter, Shopping for Recommendation

The most recent MacBook Professionals 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 equipment like it will likely be a necessity for anybody working with a brand new MacBook Air or an older Mac mannequin. Anker’s hub offers you eight ports: two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, SD and microSD card slots, one Ethernet jack and two USB-C ports, certainly one of which supplies 100W energy to cost your MacBook. The USB-C and USB-A ports can deal with 10 Gbps file transfers, good for an exterior arduous drive or SD card reader, and you may join a 4K/60Hz exterior monitor through the HDMI slot. Anker’s accent could also be ultra-portable, nevertheless it has sufficient energy and flexibility to be the one laptop computer hub you want. — V.P.

In our fast charger guide, Apple’s included 140W power adapter was the quickest to refill an M1 MacBook Professional, nevertheless it solely has a single port. As our reviewer Sam Rutherford factors out, that looks like a missed alternative. Belkin’s four-port GaN BoostCharge Pro 108W charger offers you house for 2 USB-A and two USB-C cables and was the second quickest performer, getting the laptop computer from ten p.c to 75 p.c in about 45 minutes. The beginning value 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 in case you’re searching for a dependable wall charger in your MacBook, it will serve you nicely. — A.S.

It could be good in case you might seize a random charging cable and have it work accurately with any gadget. 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 score. 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 toes and it’s inexpensive at $16 (though, we’ve seen it go on sale for much less). Whereas it helps knowledge switch (which is beneficial when you’ve got 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.

Once you take your MacBook on the street, it’s good to have a method to juice it again up if an outlet isn’t out there. Mophie’s Powerstation Pro 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 p.c to 75 p.c in 89 minutes — and that’s whereas utilizing WiFi, a VPN, Slack and a number of energetic 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 top-of-the-line MacBook equipment you will get your palms on, plus, it should cost up your different Apple gadgets, too. — A.S.

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 by utilizing 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 in your desk, but additionally as a part of your go-everywhere digital-nomad setup. Simply be ready: once I set mine up in public, I at all times get questions from strangers. — A.S.

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 the very 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 change between two gadgets with the pairing button. You possibly can even program the varied buttons to do app-specific issues utilizing Logitech’s software program. It is also a helpful companion for an iPad and makes a superb 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 dear at $100, so chances are you’ll desire the $70 Ergo Lift. It additionally provides a handshake grip, however with out the curler ball, and has Bluetooth or USB dongle connectivity choices. — A.S.

As soon as you have acquired your stand and mouse, you will most likely need an exterior keyboard as nicely. For an entire ergonomic setup, we suggest a keyboard with a cut up and tented design. Not like a completely cut up board, which may take a little bit of relearning, an Alice format angles the keys so you possibly can maintain your palms in a extra impartial place, however typing feels very similar to is at all times has. The Ergo K860 from Logitech connects rapidly through Bluetooth and correctly maintains Mac-specific scorching keys proper out of the field like quantity, brightness and opening Mission Management. That imply’s 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 massive so it won’t work for smaller desks. In order for you a wired ergonomic choice with a very compact footprint — and also you’re ready to take a pair weeks to relearn methods to sort — you possibly can attempt Zsa’s Voyager. It is a totally cut up, programmable mechanical board that I take advantage of day by day.  

I’ve carried Logitech’s K380 keyboard for journey and occasional store sojourns for 5 years (and I’m presently 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 essential ahead delete key and three Bluetooth pairing buttons so you possibly can change rapidly between totally different gadgets. It takes three AAA-cell batteries, however lasts for over a 12 months on a set. The highest-row perform keys assist a couple of Mac-specific shortcuts like quantity, mute, playback management and the Mission Management button that reveals all of your open apps without delay. — A.S.

Moft’s Sit-Stand laptop desk is a two-pound, flat-folding amalgamation of metallic boards, magnets and vegan leather-based that reconfigures right into a surprisingly sturdy prop in your MacBook. Standing mode lifts your laptop computer a superb 10 inches so you possibly can stand often, switching up your working place with minimal effort. Gravity alone holds your laptop computer to the stand, so perhaps don’t depart 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 whereas nonetheless being snug for typing. The 45- and 35-degree preparations get your display 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 awesome job when you’ve got a pill. — A.S.