As technology progresses, it seems that we all need more and more smart devices to power through our day productively: a smartwatch for better workouts, a laptop for better work production, wireless earbuds for better listening, and a smartphone for better communication. While all of these high-powered devices work hard to improve our lives, our reliance on them tends to drain their batteries — and sometimes, everything goes critical all at once.
Last chance! Enter to win a Twelve South ParcSlope stand for Mac and iPad [Cult of Mac giveaway]
This week, Cult of Mac is giving away one ParcSlope stand from Apple accessory powerhouse Twelve South.
The ParcSlope is a dual-purpose desktop easel that functions as a typing stand for MacBook and as a sketching wedge for iPad. It elevates your MacBook or iPad Pro for a better working angle and an ergonomic viewing height.
If you win, you can use the ParcSlope stand for all of your tasks. And if you don’t, Twelve South is sweetening the giveaway with a $10 promo code to purchase the ParcSlope for everyone who enters.
Maotoam Pro brilliantly combines laptop stand with 13-in-1 USB-C hub [Review]
Maotoam Pro is two popular desktop accessories in one. It’s both a laptop/tablet stand and a USB-C hub with 13 ports. It can prop up a MacBook or iPad at your preferred angle, and connect it to up to a monitor, three USB devices, Ethernet and more.
I used the stand/hub in my everyday life for days. Here’s why I like it so very much.
Intelli ScoutPro is a power bank for fans of wireless charging [Review]
There are so many external batteries that it’s hard to stand out from the pack, but the Intelli ScoutPro manages it easily. There’s magnetic wireless Apple Watch and iPhone chargers. Plus the dual USB-C ports can output up to 100 watts each. All told, the accessory can hold up to 24,000mAh and handle up to 240 watt.
I put this power bank through its paces, testing all the ways it can recharge Apple devices. Here’s how it stood up.
Satechi’s portable USB-C hub sports 9 ports and hideaway cable
The latest USB-C multiport hub from Satechi is designed with portability in mind. It packs in nine frequently used ports so it’s not too tiny. But designers built in a slot to hold a short travel-ready connection cable to cut down excess bulk.
Apple laptops and tablets lack a variety of ports, but adapters like this one make for easier presentations, data transfers or network connections.
This top-rated cooling pad could extend your laptop’s life
If you use your laptop all day, excessive heat could damage it over time. Thankfully, a cooling pad is all you really need to prevent overheating and extend the life of your laptop. The Havit Laptop Cooling Pad is one such accessory, and it’s on sale now for just $32.95. That’s 13% off the regular price of $37.
Prop up your MacBook for easier typing with the ParcSlope [Review]
Tilting up the base of your MacBook makes it easier to type. And it elevates the screen to be nearer eye level. The Twelve South ParcSlope is a simple, sturdy laptop stand that offers both benefits. And you can use it with your iPad, too.
I used the ParcSlope for several days to see how well it performed in real-world use. Read on to see what I found out.
Plugable 7-in-1 USB-C hub promises top-tier performance on a budget
Plugable freely admits its new 7-in-1 USB-C hub for Mac or iPad is entering a crowded market. But the accessory maker promises its new USBC-7IN1E multiport adapter stands out from cheap competitors with better hardware.
Nevertheless, the cost is just $30.
Ugreen X-Kit cleverly combines MacBook stand with USB-C multiport hub [Review]
Laptop stands make it easier to type as well as see what’s on your MacBook display. USB-C hubs make adding peripherals to your laptop a snap. The Ugreen X-Kit is both a display and a hub. Plus, it’s designed to be used on the go.
I tried out this combination stand/hub to see how well it works with Apple gear. Read on to see what I found out.
Last chance: Save on Twelve South accessories for iPhone, Mac and more
Treat yourself to some awesome new Twelve South accessories and save 20% in the Cult of Mac Store. Everything is discounted — from AirPods and iPhone cases to brilliant MacBook stands.
But be quick! This sale ends at 11:59 p.m. PST today.
Add dual 4K HDMI screens to your MacBook with this slim USB-C Hub [Review]
The Aukey 9-in-2 USB-C Hub (CB-C81) lets you add a pair of 4K HDMI screens to your MacBook. But that’s just the start because it packs in nine ports, despite a relatively small size. It offers a pair of USB-A ports, SD/microSD card readers, Ethernet and more.
After real-world testing, here’s how this multiport adapter stands up.
This inexpensive portable display makes working from home easier [Review]
The Lepow Z1-Gamut external display adds 15.6 inches of extra space to your computer for work or school. And it’s portable, so it can be folded away when not needed. The screen connects easily to a Mac or iPad, and costs under $200.
Get one cable to charge them all
Keeping our devices topped up means carrying around power packs and cables that eventually need a bag of their own. Personal tech is supposed to be convenient. If you’re carrying a tangle of cables, it’s time to simplify your setup.
Minix USB-C hub couples 4 useful ports with 480GB of storage [Review]
Minix Neo Storage Plus handles two jobs. It’s a multiport USB-C adapter, adding USB-A, HDMI and Ethernet to Mac or iPad. And this accessory is also an SSD, bringing 480GB of storage.
We tested all the features of this multifunction hub. Here’s how it stands up to real-world use.
Sleek new WD My Passport SSD offers 2 TB of storage, blazing-fast speeds [Review]
Even in a world where everything can be stored in the cloud, there’s still a role for an external drive. Especially if it’s high-performance, and can go anywhere. Western Digital’s new solid state drive is slim and light, but also rugged. And the WD My Passport SSD holds up to 2 TB of data, and is far faster than a traditional hard drive.
Here’s how this newly-released peripheral stands up to real-world use with a range of computers.
Click together your perfect power strip for all of your Apple devices
At home, at the office, lots of devices, just a few. We all have different power needs that change all the time. So what good is a powerstrip that can’t change with us? This adaptable, stackable powerstrip makes lets you build your perfect power solution.
Put your laptop to work with hot Labor Day deals on MacBook accessories
Working from home means building little battle stations for our MacBooks and other essential gear. So for Labor Day weekend, we pulled together some great deals on awesome accessories for getting the most out of your laptop at home and elsewhere.
From portable power and data hubs to extra screens and sleek monitor stands, these discounted MacBook accessories will work wonders when it comes to leveling up your setup.
Enhance your video calls with special lenses, lighting and more
Nowadays much of our human contact happens through a screen. From Zoom meetings to vlogs, podcasts and livestreams, the cameras on our phones and computers are the world’s window into our lives. The lenses, lighting and other gear in this kit can help improve the view.
Get more productive with Vissles’ attractive portable display [Review]
A portable monitor makes you more productive on the go. And the 15.6-inch Vissles-M is a thin and lightweight LCD screen that easily connects to a Mac or iPad Pro through its USB-C port.
I tested this affordable external display in a variety of conditions, and used it for both for work and fun. Here’s how it held up.
Instantly triple your MacBook’s screen real estate with this add-on
Few things improve productivity like having more screen space to play with. Plenty of us rely on two screens to keep our workflows straight. And if you’re a gamer, you might want even more screen so your experience is truly immersive. With this lightweight add-on, you can get all of the above straight from your laptop.
Score the portable charging gear you need for all your Apple devices [Deals]
Whether traveling or staying home, we’re all using our devices way more than we used to. More use means less juice, so we rounded up some of the best charging gear in the Cult of Mac Store. That includes a 3-in-1 charging cable, a combination power pack and phone stand, a combination speaker and charging hub, and more.
This tiny 4-port charger pumps 100 watts to all your gear
Sanho’s HyperJuice wall charger that debuted Monday isn’t much bigger than a credit card but still has room for a pair of USB-C ports that can put out 100W, dual USB-A ports that max out at 18W, and swappable power prongs.
It uses Gallium Nitride (GaN), a new semiconductor material that’s more efficient than traditional silicon used in current chargers. It lets Sanho create this ultra-portable wall charger.
These steel-jacketed Lightning and USB-C cables resist fraying and tangling [Deals]
Mobile devices depend on Lightning and USB cables to stay charged and synced, so it’s a bummer that those cables are so prone to fraying and breaking. Even in perfect shape, standard Apple cables tend to last just a few months. Not so with these Iron Man-worthy cables from Evercable.
Samsung credit-card size SSD holds up to 2TB [Review]
The Samsung T7 holds an amazing amount of data considering its svelte design. This Solid State Drive isn’t much bigger than a business card but holds up to 2TB. And it can be passed around between multiple computers — it’s compatible with Mac and iPad Pro, as well a wide variety of other devices.
I loaded up this recently-released SSD with a variety of files and put it through some real-world testing. Here’s how it stood up.
AirTab becomes world’s lightest 15.6-inch touchscreen monitor
Travelers looking for a lightweight external monitor for their MacBook can turn to AirTab. This comes in at only 1.1 pounds and 0.19 inches thick.
And the AirTab Touch adds a 10-point touchscreen without increasing the bulk.