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Supercharge Your New MacBook: 11 Must-Have Accessories to Upgrade Your Setup

 & Eric Grevstad Contributing Editor
 & Jon Martindale Contributor
Our Experts
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No MacBook is an island. While your Apple laptop makes you a productivity powerhouse all by itself, you need some additional hardware to make the most of it, whether it's a MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air, running on legacy Intel or new Apple M1 or M2 silicon. If nothing else, the iconic notebooks' having only Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports means you'll need an adapter or dongle or two to use your favorite peripherals.

We've collected a variety of MacBook accessory options that'll save you time and help avoid frustration (or even disaster). Check them out below. If you're interested in a larger connectivity solution in the form of a desktop docking station, see our guide to MacBook docks. And if your MacBook's speakers aren't doing it for you, we've got roundups of the best earbuds and best Bluetooth speakers.

Best Compact Charger for MacBooks

Anker Nano 100W USB-C Charger

If you travel frequently with your MacBook, a small but versatile charger is a must-have. The $46 Anker Nano supports 100-watt (100W) USB power delivery, so you can get your MacBook back to full charge in just a few hours (or less; it can get a MacBook Pro 14 up to 50% in just 28 minutes). The unit can deliver power to up to three devices at a time via the twin USB Type-C ports and the single USB Type-A port, though this reduces the overall charging capacity for each device. For the full 100W, you need to charge your MacBook by itself.

Another plus: The Anker Nano is much smaller than earlier versions, helping it fit into whatever pack you’re carrying. The pins even fold away, so there’s no chance of them snagging in transit. The included 100W charging cable is a bit short, but it's rated for 5,000 bends—so it’s ready for whatever your travels throw at it.

Best Wireless Keyboard for MacBooks

Satechi SM3 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard

4.0 Excellent

MacBook keyboards are among the best out there, but plenty of people prefer the longer travel and overall extra comfort of a mechanical keyboard. With the Satechi SM3 Slim ($120), you get a mechanical keyboard with a real feel, in a trim, highly portable package. Typing on it feels wonderful; the keycaps are comfortably shaped, with translucent lettering that allows for tasteful backlighting. (It also makes the SM3 easy to use in the dark.) 

Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connection options let you connect the Satechi easily to your MacBook or a range of other devices. Even the aesthetics link up: The keyboard's attractive, understated design blends right in with stylish MacBooks. Despite its slim profile and space-saving design, though, this is a full keyboard with a number pad and directional arrow keys. If you want full desktop-grade functionality for your MacBook, this keyboard is a great way to get it.

Satechi SM3 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard review

Best Wireless Mouse for MacBooks

Logitech MX Anywhere 3S

4.0 Excellent

Modern Apple trackpads are versatile devices with handy, customizable inputs thanks to support for multi-finger gestures. If you're like me, though, you want a full-size mouse when you really want to get some work done. Enter the $80 Logitech MX Anywhere 3S, a fantastic little clicker with impressive ergonomics, long battery life, and quiet clicks. It's the ideal office or travel companion.

With a maximum sensitivity of 8,000dpi, the ability to track on almost any surface, and a handful of remappable buttons, this is a versatile mouse you can customize to your own tastes. It’s compact, too, making it easy to fit in a travel case, and you can even pair it up with three different devices at the same time. (That's great if your office has a BYOD policy.)

Logitech MX Anywhere 3S review

Best External SSD or Hard Drive for MacBooks

Samsung Portable SSD T9

4.5 Outstanding

With modern MacBooks using soldered storage, upgrading the internal SSD isn’t cheap or easy—but you can expand your storage options with a fast external SSD. Our current favorite for modern MacBooks is the Samsung T9, a speedy external SSD with a sturdy chassis, support for 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption, and a range of capacities.

At $288 for the 1TB version, $575 for 2TB, and $1,145 for 4TB, the T9 isn't exactly reasonably priced, but no SSD is these days. Whichever capacity you opt for, you get the same 2,000MBps read speed, which is plenty fast for regular file transfers and even quick enough for you to install games directly to it.

If you want to store sensitive data, the hardware-based encryption gives you great peace of mind. Also, the strong case is drop-tested, so if you end up bashing around this drive while you carry it, it will be none the worse for wear.

Samsung Portable SSD T9 review

Best Protective Sleeve for MacBooks

Mosiso 16-Inch Laptop Sleeve

Let’s face it: MacBooks are expensive, so the last thing you want to do is scratch the case or ding the aluminum finish at the corners. The easiest and cheapest way to protect your MacBook from the most egregious damage is with a svelte carry sleeve like this 16-incher from Mosiso, for the larger-screen MacBook Pro. It’s available in a range of other sizes, too, so it works with multiple types and generations of MacBooks. It includes a shock-reducing sponge interior to cushion your laptop from damage, as well as a fluffy cushion to prevent scratches. You can buy it in a wide range of colors, too, so it’s fully customizable for your tastes and needs. 

You can further improve durability by putting this into a backpack or a carry case. Alternatively, if you want a hardshell cover or something else entirely, check out our guide to the best MacBook cases.

Best USB Hub for MacBooks

Anker USB C Hub, 7-in-1 USB C Adapter, with 4K HDMI, 60W Power Delivery, 1Gbps Ethernet, 2 3.0 Ports, SD and microSD Car

The new MacBook Neo is an awesome value, but it falls short in its port selection: a pair of USB Type-C ports, with one of them running at USB 2.0 speeds. Other MacBooks offer more connectors, but for some everyday situations, they could still use more ports. That makes this Anker USB-C hub a super-handy accessory. For just $35, you get a compact, portable adapter that gives you space for lots of extra USB Type-A and USB Type-C peripherals. It's perfect if you’re looking to plug in a mouse, a keyboard, or a headset.

The Anker also supports SD and microSD cards (for additional storage expansion or importing media), and it can deliver up to 85 watts of power over USB-C, making it easy to charge all your devices. Best of all, you get all those useful options without shelling out for a full-size docking station.

Best Portable Monitor for MacBooks

ViewSonic TD1656-2K

4.0 Excellent

Apple’s Retina Display tech has long set the standard for laptop screens, but what happens if you've got a compact machine and want more real estate on the display? You could buy a bigger MacBook. (Ouch!) Or you could add a portable monitor as a second screen, like the excellent ViewSonic TD1656-2K.

This $360 portable monitor is a little on the pricey side, but it gives you a roomy 16-inch second display at 2K resolution, with a thin, light design that weighs just 2.8 pounds. It even has a built-in stand, helping you to find the best angle for comfortable viewing. It offers pass-through power and USB-C connectivity for fast data and audio/video transfer, too. This display is also touch-sensitive, so you can use it like a tablet, and it even supports multitouch gestures for macOS, something you won’t often find on external displays.

ViewSonic TD1656-2K review

Best Laptop Stand for MacBooks

Branch Adjustable Laptop Stand

Using a laptop stand is a great way to improve your posture while working. It raises the laptop to a more comfortable height, so you aren’t constantly looking down at it and straining your neck. Our favorite laptop stand for MacBooks is the Branch Adjustable Laptop Stand, thanks to its high-quality construction and clean aesthetics that complement the MacBook design.

For $90, you get a solid aluminum frame with a wood-effect fiberboard surface for your MacBook. You can lift your laptop 2 to 7 inches above the desk surface and tilt it to the angle that works best for you. The stand is also collapsible and portable, so you can bring it with you when traveling between home and the office, and it's sturdy enough so that your laptop won’t wobble while you type on it.

Best USB-C-to-HDMI Adapter for MacBooks

StarTech.com 4K 60Hz HDR10 USB-C to HDMI Adapter

Need a larger screen to hold more app windows and boost your productivity? Your MacBook's Thunderbolt ports provide DisplayPort video capability (if you have a USB-C-to-DisplayPort adapter for the monitor cable). But what if you have an HDMI display instead? The way to connect is a USB-to-HDMI adapter like StarTech.com's model CDP2HD4K60H. This $33.99 gadget delivers 18Gbps of bandwidth and supports HDR10 for lifelike images with a higher contrast ratio on HDMI 2.0b displays.

As you shop, you may notice that USB-C-to-HDMI adapters fall into two price groups, with this StarTech.com product in the higher-priced half. The reason is that under-$20 adapters are likely to support 4K (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) resolution at only 30Hz, which can cause flicker and eyestrain compared with the more desirable 60Hz refresh rate.

Best USB-C Battery Pack for MacBooks

Portable Charger RAVPower 20000mAh 60W PD 3.0 USB C Power Bank 2-Port Power Delivery Battery Pack High-Capacity External

Ever been traveling with your MacBook and urgently need to finish an important assignment—but your battery's nearly dead, with no power outlets in sight? The first time it happens, you'll learn to carry a USB-C portable battery pack like the RAVPower PD Pioneer 20,000mAh 60-Watt Portable Charger ($69.99).

The Pioneer (model RP-PB201) features one Power Delivery (PD) port and one QuickCharge (QC) port, allowing you to charge your laptop and phone simultaneously. Its 60-watt PD output means it can charge your Apple laptop just as efficiently as the original charger, bringing a 13-inch MacBook Pro to 60% charged in just an hour. And its high capacity means it can charge an iPhone 11 Pro Max from empty to full 2.6 times before draining.

The Essential Insurance Policy for MacBooks

AppleCare+

This might sound like an odd addition to our list of MacBook accessories, but the reality is that accidents happen with mobile electronics. While AppleCare+ isn't the kind of product you're going to use every day, it just might be the most valuable addition to your laptop in the event of a drop or an electrical surge.

New MacBook models include 90 days of complimentary technical support and one year of hardware repair coverage under Apple's limited warranty. AppleCare+ offers many more options to extend your warranty, add accidental damage coverage, and replace your device in case of theft, among other services. You'll also get 24/7 phone and chat access to Apple tech-support experts. For more on plans and pricing, check out our complete guide.

About Our Experts

Eric Grevstad

Eric Grevstad

Contributing Editor

My Experience

I was picked to write PCMag's 40th Anniversary "Most Influential PCs" feature because I'm the geezer who remembers them all—I worked on TRS-80 and Apple II monthlies starting in 1982 and served as editor of Computer Shopper when it was a 700-page monthly rivaled only by Brides as America's fattest magazine. I was later the editor in chief of Home Office Computing, a magazine about using tech to work from home two decades before a pandemic made it standard practice. Even in semi-retirement, I can't stop playing with toys and telling people what gear to buy.

The Technology I Use

I wish I still had my TRS-80 Model 4P, Laser 128 (educational toymaker VTech's Apple IIc clone), Psion Series 5, and ThinkPad 701C with the fold-out "butterfly" keyboard.

My main machine is a Lenovo Yoga 9i all-in-one desktop with a 13th Gen Core i9 and 32-inch 4K display running Windows 11 Home, Microsoft 365 Family, and Norton 360 with LifeLock. My wife and I get 400Mbps Spectrum internet as part of our homeowners' association fee, but I pay a fortune for streaming services.

I also have a Google Pixel 7 Android phone and pay Mint Mobile $15 a month. We share a Volvo XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid; I'd have a car of my own, but it seems wasteful to buy a Corvette E-Ray to drive 10 miles a week.

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Jon Martindale

Jon Martindale

Contributor

Jon Martindale is a tech journalist from the UK, with 20 years of experience covering all manner of PC components and associated gadgets. He's written for a range of publications, including ExtremeTech, Digital Trends, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Lifewire, among others. When not writing, he's a big board gamer and reader, with a particular habit of speed-reading through long manga sagas. 

Jon covers the latest PC components, as well as how-to guides on everything from how to take a screenshot to how to set up your cryptocurrency wallet. He particularly enjoys the battles between the top tech giants in CPUs and GPUs, and tries his best not to take sides.

Jon's gaming PC is built around the iconic 7950X3D CPU, with a 7900XTX backing it up. That's all the power he needs to play lightweight indie and casual games, as well as more demanding sim titles like Kerbal Space Program. He uses a pair of Jabra Active 8 earbuds and a SteelSeries Arctis Pro wireless headset, and types all day on a Logitech G915 mechanical keyboard.

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