MacBook accessories

Love doesn’t have to be complicated. I can fall for a product just because it’s simply perfect, even though what it does isn’t very complex. That’s what happened with the new Casemade Leather Laptop Case.

It’s made of top-quality cowhide leather, with a wool interior… including a pocket. It zippers closed and cushions the computer without unnecessary bulk.

I’ve been happily carrying my notebook in this case because it’s simply beautiful and designed exactly right for what it does.

Professionals who need an SSD with terabytes of storage and crazy-fast data transfers have a new option: the OWC Express 1M2 80G. The drive offers up to 8TB of capacity, and because it uses Thunderbolt 5, the SSD offers 48GBps real-world data transfers.

It’s available in a range of storage capacities, or users can insert their own NVMe M.2 SSD.

Rolling Square claims, “Supertiny is the smallest 65W GaN Charger ever.” It’s definitely very small, but can still quickly power up a MacBook or other full-size computer.

I put the claims to the test and came away impressed. I do have one caution, though.

If your job or your dream setup requires connecting five external monitors to your Mac, you need Plugable’s UD-7400PD. It supports up to four 4K displays and one 8K display… even on MacBooks that are supposed to be limited to one external screen. No rival dock can match that.

As a bonus, the dock adds USB-A ports, an Ethernet port and more.

The Espresso 15 Pro offers everything Apple users want in a high-end portable monitor. 4K? Yes. Gorgeous. Oh, yeah. Touchscreen? Got it. USB-C? Check.

It has an all-aluminum body that makes it look great from any angle. And as a bonus, it comes with an innovative stand that lets you position the screen where you want it, even above your notebook.

I used the Espresso 15 Pro display in my home office and when working remotely, and am simply blown away. Here’s why.

Ever tried juggling spreadsheets, emails and a dozen open tabs on one tiny screen? That’s a one-way ticket to frustration. A laptop screen extender like Mobile Pixels’ Duex Plus DS can help.

This 13.3-inch portable second monitor might just become your laptop’s new best friend. The second screen instantly upgrades your setup, whether you’re working remotely, traveling or just flexing your multitasking skills. And for just $179.99 (regularly $259.99), it’s a deal too good to pass up. You can get this deal by using code DISPLAY20, but only through March 30 (and only while stock lasts).

Don’t buy a separate stand and hub for your iPad until you check out the Zagg 6-port Media Hub that launched Wednesday. Add an HDMI port, a USB-A port and more to your tablet without taking up any more space on your desktop than a stand alone would.

Plus, it got a big brother: the Zagg Pro Dock is a stand for MacBooks with 10 ports, including dual HDMI and Ethernet.

These are part of a collection of new hubs from Zagg with a range of port options.

Add ViewSonic to the list of companies making a 27-inch, 5K monitor to compete head-to-head with the Apple Studio Display.

As with so many of the rivals, the ColorPro VP2788-5K is considerably more affordable than Apple’s offering. And it doesn’t look half bad.

The new Plugable USBC-E5000 5Gbps USB-C Ethernet Adapter lets you add a wired internet connection to your MacBook. Simply plug it into a USB-C port on your computer for data transfers at up to 5Gbps, or 5000Mbps.

The affordable adapter, which launched Tuesday, also works with iPad and even recent iPhone models.

You know the feeling: You’re midflight, knee-deep in an important email or crushing it in a gaming session — and your laptop battery hits 1%. Panic mode activated. But with the Iniu Leopard 140W power bank, that nightmare (technically, it’s called nomophobia) never needs to happen again.

This airline-approved power bank isn’t just another bulky battery pack, either. It’s a fast-charging, multidevice powerhouse that can revive your MacBook Pro to 59% in just 30 minutes or juice up your iPhone 15 Pro Max to 71% before you finish your coffee. Loaded with advanced features and designed for everything from smartphones to gaming consoles, it’s the power solution you didn’t know you needed — but definitely do. And it’s on sale now for just $93.99.

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The espresso Display 15 doubles down on appearance. Not only does it have a great-looking LCD, its aluminum-and-glass exterior makes the screen match a MacBook or iPad perfectly.

Even better, it comes with a clever magnetic stand that can hold the display above your notebook, or beside it if you prefer.

espresso’s 17-inch Pro version from 2023 is the best portable monitor I’ve used, so I went into my review of the smaller version with high expectations.

The Geo Digital Pencil from ESR costs a quarter of what Apple Pencil Pro does, but both iPad styli support Find My so they can be easily located. And they cling magnetically to an iPad, and can be used for writing or sketching.

In addition, ESR also unveiled a mouse that magnetically attaches to a MacBook for easy portability.

Need more ports for your MacBook? This affordable docking station for MacBook Pro or MacBook Air packs a whole desktop’s worth of ports into a compact form that connects with a single USB-C cable.

Eliminate the mad search to find the proper dongle for the task at hand. Get the 13-in-1 Docking Station with Dual HDMI for just $44.97 (regularly $70) for a limited time.

The espresso Display 15, an ultra-thin 15-inch monitor, launched Tuesday. It boasts an aerospace aluminum casing, not the usual plastic, but a lower price than previous high-end portable displays from this company. It gets power and data from a MacBook or iPad via a single USB-C connection.

It’s paired with Stand+, an ergonomic stand with a surprising trick.

The Plugable 15.6” USB-C Portable Display connects to MacBook or iPad to add more screen space, but that’s only the start: it’s also a hub with a pair of high-speed USB-C ports available for external drives, a keyboard, etc.

As a person who regularly works outside of the office with an iPad Pro, I’m more than qualified to test this accessory for road warriors who are perpetually short of USB-C ports. Here’s why I love it.

Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K w/ Integrated Cable lets users charge their iPhone or other device without needing to worry about a separate USB-C cable. And it can juice up two devices at once.

Those who need more power can turn to Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro 3-Port Laptop Power Bank 20K.

The ProtoArc XK01 Tri-Fold Bluetooth Keyboard is ready to make your business trips more productive. It’s full size, with a numpad and function keys, too. But it folds down to fit easily in a briefcase.

It’s available solo, or with a travel mouse, or as the centerpiece of a bundle with the mouse plus a USB-C hub and multi-port wall charger.

I fully tested the folding keyboard with my 13-inch iPad Pro, plus the other components, too.

Chargeasap Connect Pro is a charging and data cable with a built-in power meter and swappable magnetic connectors. It’s ready to power up a broad variety of devices at up to 100W, and iPhone at up to 27W.

The high-quality cable is 4.75 feet long, and it comes with three magnetic connectors. And with the meter, you always know how much current is flowing.

I tested it with my Apple devices, and a bunch of others, too. Here’s how it performed.

Happily, powerful USB chargers keep getting smaller. The new Plugable 40W Dual USB-C Charger is the most portable one I’ve ever used, but it still puts out enough juice to keep a MacBook, iPad and/or iPhone going.

I went hands-on to test the capabilities of this affordable accessory.

Western Digital expanded its WD, WD_BLACK and SanDisk Professional product lineups with 2.5-inch portable HHDs that, for the first time, can hold 6TB of data.

Despite what some might expect, pricing is not through the roof. The new high-capacity hard drives (not SSDs) are available for under $200,and all cost less than $230.

Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank is loaded with great features, including two USB-C ports, 12,000 mAh of capacity, a max of 65W output and a built-in status display.

But what sets it part from the pack is its design. It’s slim enough to go easily into bags designed for MacBook and iPad. And it’s relatively lightweight, too.

I tested the Baseus Blade 2 with my gear. Here’s how well the accessory lived up to its promise.

On sale: Baseus is offering $30 off the regular cost. But the deal ends soon.

Those looking for loads of screen space can connect a pair of HDMI monitors to their MacBook with the newly released Plugable USBC-6950M adapter.

And it can do this with Macs that ordinarily support only one external display.

The Satechi SM1 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard offers a 75% layout with low-profile brown switches. It can connect with up to four computers, whether Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, etc.

The wired/wireless keyboard debuted at CES 2024, and is available now.

The espresso 17 Pro checks every box in a premium portable display. It sports a 4K resolution, touchscreen with stylus support, and a sleek design ready for on-the-go use.

The 17-inch screen is brilliant as a productivity enhancement when away from the office, but it’s also intended for digital artists to use everyday. Or just anyone who’d like a touchscreen Mac.

I tested the espresso 17 Pro in my home office and while traveling. Here’s why I love it.

The KYY K3-3 Portable Monitor adds a high-quality second screen to your Mac or iPad. Even some iPhones. It’s 15.6 inches and has a 4K resolution, so it’s designed for work and play wherever you go.

I tested the reasonably priced second screen in my home office and when working remotely to see how it stands up to real-world use. I like it more than I expected to.