Owning a sleek, modern laptop doesn’t mean you need to give up all the ports that make your computer useful. This Casa 9-in-1 USB-C hub only takes up one of your MacBook’s ports, but gives you nine different ways to connect.
And right now, it’s on sale for $99 (regularly $119).
If you want more Thunderbolt ports for your Mac, the Plugable USB4-HUB3A hub offers a trio of them. And they are fully functional, offering up to 40 Gbps transfer speeds and support for 4K monitors. Plus, there’s a USB-A port for good measure.
I put Plugable’s new Thunderbolt hub through a round of testing to be sure it lives up to specs.
What to do with your MacBook or iPad when you’re not using them? You can just leave them lying around but that’s wasteful of space. The iVoler Vertical Laptop Stand holds your computer upright, either when it’s charging or when you have an external screen and keyboard connected. Best of all, its clamp closes on your computer to securely hold it but also easily release it.
I tested the very affordable stand in my home office. Here’s why I love it.
The InnoView 15.6-inch Portable Monitor might be everything you’re looking for in a second screen for your MacBook. First off, it’s beautiful. And it’s very slim and lightweight. Plus it works with a wide variety of devices: Mac, iPad, even iPhone with the right adapter.
I used InnoView’s on-the-go display for both work and entertainment. Here’s all the many ways it impressed me. And its one flaw.
The Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus is for those who want a single battery that can replenish all their gear. All at once. It holds 25,000mAh and can charge a MacBook at up to 100W though USB-C, and has three other ports. But that’s just the start, as there’s a built-in MagSafe iPhone charger and an Apple Watch charger, too.
The power pack went through a round of crowdfunding but has moved past that stage. It is available to order now.
The OWC Mercury Pro U.2 Dual can handle up to eight U.2 SSDs. And it can be pre-configured with up to 64TB. That’s a lot of storage capacity. Or put in your own SSDs. And the external drive enclosure uses Thunderbolt for high-speed connections to your Mac. Plus there’s RAID support.
I put the drive holder through testing. Here’s what I found.
Laut’s versatile Workstation stand makes using a MacBook or iPad at your desk even more comfortable. It folds up into a compact package that you can carry anywhere, and it’s made from sturdy aluminum.
Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store.
Satechi’s just-launched Thunderbolt 4 Dock includes a whopping eleven ports, including three Thunderbolt 4 and four USB-A ports. And there’s also a range of other ports for connecting additional peripherals.
Plus, Satechi launched a pair of USB-C hubs on Wednesday.
The Accell Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station allows multiple peripheral connections to Mac through a single Thunderbolt 4 cable. It turns a single Thunderbolt port into two, while also offering DisplayPort, USB-A, Ethernet and more.
The professional-grade hub is available for purchase starting Monday.
HyperDrive Duo Pro is a 7-in-2 USB-C Hub that plugs into the side of a MacBook to add a variety of ports, including Gigabit Ethernet, USB-A and microSD.
It’s designed to not interfere with the new MagSafe 3 power port on the 2021 MacBooks, but the hub is also compatible with any Apple laptop going back to 2016.
An extra screen on your workstation can do loads to boost your productivity and entertainment. The Desklab Portable Touchscreen Monitor (4K) is a plug-and-play screen for your laptop. And now this portable 4K touchscreen monitor is on sale for just $231.99 (regularly $700) with coupon code CMSAVE20.
Just because you have a laptop doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a multiple-screen setup. Mobile Pixels Trio Max gives you one or two laptop screen extensions in a variety of sizes. And during this Black Friday weekend, you can get any of Mobile Pixels’ screen extensions on sale with coupon code BFSAVE20.
You won‘t need a MacBook with an HDMI port if you have Plugable’s USB-C to HDMI cable. Just run the cable between the external display and your Mac or iPad and you have 4K@60Hz. Even better, it’s currently available at a discount that drops the price to less than $17.
I tested this accessory in my home office to be sure it lives up to its promises.
Don’t tote your MacBook around without a case. It’s just not a good idea. SwitchEasy has a couple of new offerings that bring sleek protection while also adding some color. There’s the EasyStand MacBook Carry Case and the SwitchEasy Thins MacBook Sleeve.
Plus, the EasyStand case props up your laptop for more ergonomic typing.
The HyperDrive 4K Multi-Display Docking Station for 13”-16” MacBook has room for 15 ports, including a trio of HDMI ports that support 4K 60Hz. There’s also Gigabit Ethernet, a trio of USB-A ports, a trio of USB-C ports, memory card readers and more.
Rather than sitting beside or behind the laptop, Hyper’s latest dock props it up.
Plenty of backpacks have an AirTag tracker attached by their owners, but Targus is making one with Apple Find My tech built in. This will allow users to locate the backpack with their iPhone if it gets lost.
The Cypress Hero EcoSmart Backpack won’t launch until spring, but has already been named a CES 2022 Innovation Awards Honoree.
While the 2021 MacBook Pro brings back some classic ports, those who want USB-A need to turn to an adapter like the Satechi Pro Hub Mini. The accessory clips to the side of the notebook and adds a pair of USB-A ports and Ethernet.
Preorders began Wednesday with a 25% discount until the launch.
If you need to add an HDMI connection, USB ports and micro SD and SD card slots to your MacBook or iPad, a USB-C hub is the way to go. The Casa Hub A05 5-in-1 Multi-Function Hub gives you all that for just $55.21 during our pre-Black Friday sale if you use the code SAVE15NOV at checkout.
The Kingston DataTraveler Max is blazing fast. It supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 so the new flash drive can transfer data at up to 1,000MBps. And it uses USB-C so can be plugged into any Mac and most iPads.
I tested Kingston’s speed claims under real-world conditions. And data transfers are so quick it made me want to pitch out all my old flash drives.
A pair of adapters just launched by Hyper let MacBooks with an Apple M1 processor connect to dual HDMI monitors. Apple says the macOS notebooks can only use one external display, but users found a workaround. And Hyper built this workaround into its latest accessories.
There’s a basic HyperDrive Dual 4K HDMI adapter, plus a second version that offers additional ports.
Whether you’ve made the shift to working from home or you simply want to maximize your desk setup, being able to turn your laptop into a triple-screen display — and having best-in-class VPN protection — is the ultimate way to do it.
You can get your hands on both of those today with the VPN Unlimited Lifetime Subscription + Mobile Pixels Trio Bundle. It’s on sale with 25% off today for just $519 (regular price $699).
The Satechi 4-Port USB-C Hub adds a quartet of useful USB-C ports to your Mac or iPad. The days of struggling along with too few ports are over — you can finally connect as many accessories to your computer as you need.
I put Satechi’s new hub through some real-world testing. Here’s how well it works.
No matter how hard you are on your gear, you aren‘t going to destroy the OWC Envoy Pro FX. The 2 terabyte SSD is waterproof and offers military-level drop toughness. Plus the USB-C accessory supports Thunderbolt 3 so data transfers are super fast.
I put the solid state drive through testing. Here’s how it stood up.
Laptop screens are large enough to enjoy movies and work efficiently, but sometimes a little more screen space proves beneficial. Whether you’re developing crucial IT skills or writing the next great American novel, having an additional screen provides more space to work.
That’s why this portable second screen from Ofiyaa is a must-have for laptop-toting professionals. And it’s available for a limited time at just $249.99.
Linedock 16” is for anyone who’s ever thought, “I wish my MacBook had more ports and a longer battery life. And more storage!” The docking station fits under your notebook and adds ten ports, a 99.9Wh battery and up to 2TB of storage.
I tested the version of Linedock for 16-inch MacBooks. It totally blew my socks off.