Accessories that will help you get more out of your MacBook
A lone MacBook is a powerful and impressive device. However, add some accessories into the mix, and they’ll enable an almost magical experience.
There are a ton of options of accessories for a MacBook, even so, many that it is difficult to see which ones will help you to get work done on your Mac. Finding the accessories that’ll fit your needs can be tricky, so it helps focus on the essentials. However, some accessories benefit power users as well as casual ones.
Mouse
Having a reliable, precise mouse for your MacBook is essential. Even though MacBook’s have best in class trackpads, they don’t quite manage to beat the experience a mouse provides.
There are several excellent mice out there. Which one you should get to accompany you, and your MacBook heavily depends on your needs.
My biggest advice when buying a new mouse is to look for wireless connectivity, preferably via Bluetooth, and a USB-C charging that allows you to use it even while charging (sorry Apple Magic Mouse 2).
Personal Recommendation
My personal recommendation for a mouse is the Logitech MX Master 3. It has all the things I want it to have plus so much more. Starting with the essential features, it has wireless connectivity via Bluetooth and even has multi-device support. With just a press of a button on the mouse’s underside, you can switch the device you want it to control. It charges via USB-C and has enormous battery life. Over the half-year I’ve owned it, I had to charge it once.
In addition to these core features, the mouse features Logitech’s Magspeed scroll wheel. It is the best scrolling I’ve ever seen, switching seamlessly from precision scrolling to the fast, 1’000 lines of text in a second scrolling.
Furthermore, the mouse features a gesture button that is perfect for the Mac, a thumb scrolling wheel, and two customizable buttons. The sensor is also outstanding and works perfectly on almost any surface.
The only slight drawback of this mouse is the size. Since it is an ergonomically designed and feature-packed mouse, it is a bit more on the bulkier side.
However, if you are looking for one of the best mice out there, the Logitech Master MX 3 is undoubtedly a good fit for you.
USB-C Hub
When getting a new MacBook, you’ll get four Thunderbolt 3 ports at most. Because not everyone uses peripherals with USB-C connectivity, owning a USB-C hub is crucial.
Having one protects you from the awkward moment when you have to explain your coworker that you can’t read a USB stick, but it will also boost your flexibility.
When looking for a USB-C hub, it is essential to make sure the one you choose has all the ports you want it to have, such as an SD-Card reader and HDMI.
It is also crucial that look out how many ports the hub will need to work. There are several options out there, some only need one Thunderbolt 3 connector others need two.
Personal Recommendation
For me, a USB-C hub needs to be portable and have a lot of input options. Hence I chose the Satechi ST-SCMA2M. It comes in proper Mac colorways, and henceforth doesn’t take away the beautiful aesthetics of a Mac, it also gives me a broad range of input options. It features an HDMI, an SD-Card reader, a micro SD-card reader, two standard USB type A readers, and a USB-C port, which allows for passthrough charging.
The Satechi ST-SCMA2M also only needs one Thunderbolt 3 port to connect, so that’s perfect for me.
The sleek form factor and the multitude of ports are perfect for me, and I can only recommend this hub for everyone.
Headphones
Listening to music while getting work done just makes the whole process so much more enjoyable. However, to be able to listen to your music all the time, you need a pair of headphones.
Even though all MacBooks feature a headphone jack, when looking for headphones to go along with your Laptop, I strongly recommend looking for wireless headphones.
No matter your budget, you’ll find good wireless headphones in every price category, from sub 100$ to +300$.
When choosing the right headphones to accompany you and your MacBook, I advise you to think about the essential features. Do you need good microphones because you find yourself in conference calls a lot? Do you need active noise canceling because your workspace is too loud otherwise?
Make a list with the features you want to have and then look for the headphones that’ll provide that. Nowadays there are so many valuable options, there is one for everybody.
Of course, getting Apple headphones (Beats also included) you’ll get some features the other headphones can’t provide, so I recommend looking into the Apple headphones first. However, the features they offer are by no means game-changing, and if you find yourself liking the headphones of another brand more, go for them.
Personal Recommendation
In my opinion, one of the best headphones to go alongside your MacBook are the Apple AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro provide a decent active noise canceling. They are very portable and perfectly integrated into the Apple ecosystem.
Especially if you are looking for one pair of headphones for all your needs, including to pair it with other devices, then your MacBook, the AirPods Pro is almost perfect.
The sound is extraordinary for earbuds, and the battery life of about 4.5 hours with active noise canceling should be enough for almost everybody.
The AirPods Pro aren’t without their drawbacks though, they are pricy, and when compared to other headphones in their price category, the sound isn’t that glorious anymore.
However, due to their small size, the one headphones for all needs aspect, and their good active noise canceling, recommending the AirPods Pro as headphones alongside your MacBook isn’t hard. Additionally, the fact that Apple manufactures them gives them a unique connection with the MacBook and allows easy use.
External storage
One of the best utility apps that come pre-installed on the MacBook is Time Machine. Apple’s backup program is fantastic, and everyone should take advantage of it. To do so, you need a reliable external hard drive or SSD storage.
Additionally, having an external storage solution allows you to free up space on the MacBook’s internal storage.
When looking for the right external storage solution, the most important thing is reliability. If you find yourself needing the backup, you want to be sure that your external storage is ready to go.
Another critical factor is the type of storage, hard drive, or solid-state storage (SSD). Both have their advantages and drawbacks, but they are both valuable options.
SSD’s usually come in at a little higher price but have higher write and read speeds, where hard drive mostly costs a bit less but can’t provide as fast speeds. It is said that SSD’s don’t have the same lifespan as hard drives, however, although this is technically true, no regular user will ever have problems with this.
Personal Recommendation
I wouldn’t recommend going all out on a high capacity, lighting-fast external SSD as your solution for external storage, except you need the fastest speeds to transfer data.
In my opinion, western digital’s “my passport” line is a reliable option for everyone. The hard drives offer a quick transfer speed and very high capacities while maintaining a fair price. They also have no known reliability issues, and personally, I use two of them as my storage solutions.
For time machine, I use a LaCie rugged 4TB hard drive that I got as a present. However, while it looks fancy and also is very reliable, the price of this hard drive is only justified by its looks, and there are more valuable options.
A backpack
Laptops standout feature is their portability. MacBooks are powerful machines that’ll go where ever you take them. Whether you use it to get work done on the train, edit videos in the airplane, or take your lecture notes in the auditorium, the MacBook is part of your daily carry.
In order to enable that portability of a MacBook or, for that matter, any Laptop, you’ll need a means of transportation for it. I strongly recommend a backpack for transporting your MacBook. It is easier to carry than a sleeve, and it also has room for additional things you take around.
When getting a Backpack for your MacBook, make sure it has a good pocket for your device. It should be padded well, and if there are zippers close to it, look for a lining that separates the zipper from the MacBook.
Once you’ve made sure that the backpack has a functional pocket for your MacBook and does not damage it while carrying around, find a bag that fits your needs. If you carry around a camera with you a lot, maybe you want a backpack that allows you to take your camera with you also. Do you need waterproofing?
As with the headphones, make a list and look for the backpack that ticks all the boxes for you.
Personal Recommendation
To carry around my 16’ MacBook Pro, I use Douchebags the “Backpack”. With a dedicated Laptop compartment right against your back, it keeps the MacBook safe from all the other stuff I lug around daily. The main compartment is also easily accessible and has enough space for everything I need to carry around.
Additionally, the “Backpack” has a simple, yet modern and fresh look that perfectly complements the MacBook. If you are also into photography, there is a camera inlet that fits perfectly into the “Backpack”. So carrying around your camera and the MacBook is easy and secure.
While it has a little steep price, it ticks all my boxes and is the perfect means of transportation for my MacBook.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay kind out there.
Raffael
About the writer Raffael Hüberli
I am a 19-year-old swiss student at the University of St.Gallen. I am into financing, tech, and sports, as well as writing.
