The most effective MacBook equipment for 2024

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 mild correction will enable you to put your finest face ahead whatever the surroundings by which you’re streaming. Very similar to 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’ll be able to customise issues additional in order for you 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 once 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 very good Mac accent. Should 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

The built-in cameras on MacBooks might have gotten higher over the previous few years, however they nonetheless don’t embody a canopy for once you need somewhat 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 once you’re not utilizing it. They’re simple 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 once you ultimately improve. The usual black possibility is nice in order for you the quilt to mix in with the bezels surrounding your MacBook’s show, or you’ll be able to go for a enjoyable design that options pizzas, fruits or cute little characters. — V.P.

Should 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. Once you need to chill out on the sofa or your favourite armchair and nonetheless get some work carried out, a lap desk like this one from LapGear could make it extra comfy. It has sufficient floor space to suit 13- and 15-inch MacBooks, with additional facet house the place you should use a wi-fi mouse alongside together with your pocket book. The raised ledge in the direction of the underside will forestall your laptop computer from sliding off, and the 2 storage wells on the prime are good locations to retailer pens, sticky notes, snacks and extra. — V.P.

The Satechi Twin Dock Stand is our prime choose for MacBooks in our docking station information. It allows you to go from utilizing your laptop computer on the highway to having an entire, peripheral-heavy arrange again at your desk utilizing a single (twin) plug. The dock suits neatly beneath your pc 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 will probably get round among 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 through the USB-C passthrough port or do what I do and simply use your MagSafe connector. — Amy Skorheim, Reporter, Shopping for Recommendation

The newest MacBook Execs might 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 will probably 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, one in every of 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 through 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.

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. As our reviewer Sam Rutherford factors out, that looks as if a missed alternative. Belkin’s four-port GaN BoostCharge Professional 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 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 cellphone, however if you happen to’re in search of a dependable wall charger on your MacBook, this may serve you nicely. — A.S.

It will be good if you happen to might seize a random charging cable and have it work accurately with any machine. However not all cables are the identical: If you wish to benefit from 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 alternative when Sam examined out quick chargers for our information. It’s loads lengthy at 10 toes and it’s reasonably priced at $16 (though, we’ve seen it go on sale for much less). Whereas it helps knowledge switch (which is helpful when you’ve got an exterior SSD), it’s not rated for video output. For that, you’ll desire a video cable or one marked as Thunderbolt 3 or 4. — A.S.

Once you take your MacBook on the highway, it’s good to have a solution to juice it again up if an outlet isn’t obtainable. Mophie’s Powerstation Professional AC is an enormous, 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 arms on, plus, it’s going to cost up your different Apple units, 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 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.

There’s a mouse graveyard in my workplace cupboard — units 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 most effective I’ve discovered. It tilts for a extra pure “handshake” grip and has a slow-mo possibility 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 units with the pairing button. You possibly can 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 a very good 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 choose the $70 Ergo Raise. It additionally gives a handshake grip, however with out the curler ball, and has Bluetooth or USB dongle connectivity choices. — A.S.

As soon as you’ve got acquired your stand and mouse, you will in all probability need an exterior keyboard as nicely. For an entire ergonomic setup, we advocate 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 structure angles the keys so you’ll be able to maintain your arms in a extra impartial place, however typing feels very similar to is all the time has. The Ergo K860 from Logitech connects shortly 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 giant so it won’t work for smaller desks. If you would like a wired ergonomic possibility with a very compact footprint — and also you’re ready to take a pair weeks to relearn the way to kind — you’ll be able to strive Zsa’s Voyager. It is a absolutely cut up, programmable mechanical board that I exploit each day.  

I’ve carried Logitech’s K380 keyboard for journey and low store sojourns for 5 years (and I’m at the moment 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’ll be able to change shortly between totally different units. It takes three AAA-cell batteries, however lasts for over a 12 months on a set. The highest-row operate keys assist a couple of Mac-specific shortcuts like quantity, mute, playback management and the Mission Management button that exhibits all of your open apps directly. — A.S.

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 a very good 10 inches so you’ll be able to stand often, switching up your working place with minimal effort. Gravity alone holds your laptop computer to the stand, so possibly don’t depart it unattended, however even with energetic typing, my laptop computer remained secure 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 kind comfortably. The 60-degree formation is simply too steep for a MacBook, however will do an excellent job when you’ve got a pill. — A.S.