Easily update accessories for your MacBook Pro or Mac mini

Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and number pad for $160.

(or without Touch ID and number pad for $99)

Apple’s Magic Keyboard is my favorite keyboard to pair with a MacBook or Mac mini. If you opt for the Touch ID version, you’ll get Apple’s unique ability to unlock your computer with your fingerprint. But beyond Mac compatibility, the main reason I use this keyboard is battery life.

I get weeks of use between charges on my Magic Keyboard, compared to about a week (with on and off between uses, which I don’t have to do with an Apple keyboard) on my next favorite Satechi Mac keyboard. The keys on the latest generation keyboard with Touch ID are slightly faster than the previous generation keyboard. I use a later generation keyboard on a daily basis and it feels more tactile than the built-in keyboard on my 2020 MacBook Pro. So the later generation Magic Keyboard is by no means soft.

To be clear, this will not satisfy mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. But if what you’re looking for is fast travel and a stylish design – in other words, Apple’s approach is the way to go.

Ditching the number pad can save you a few bucks, and if you don’t need either Touch ID or a number pad, you can save the most money by buying the latest generation Magic Keyboard rather than the latest Touch ID and number pad.

Good

• Tactile, comfortable keyboard
• Touch ID integration lets you leave your MacBook closed and still sign in with your fingerprint.
• Weeks of battery life

Badly

• No backlight

Apple Magic Trackpad for $112

Apple’s Magic Trackpad is not so much magic as it is a trackpad. It’s essentially a MacBook trackpad taken off the laptop and placed (slightly tilted) on your desk. It is an indispensable tool in my workflow. Regular multitaskers like me can’t do without easy, gesture-based access to macOS Mission Control (aka the app switcher). It has become second nature to me to switch from task to task, step by step, without interruption or slowdown.

Porting this functionality to a Mac mini is a no-brainer for me, and the latest generation improves click feel and responsiveness. Compared to the first generation, it takes less effort to press. It also continues to support the Apple Force Touch gesture, which adds another programmable feature for particularly hard taps.

Good

• Brings all Apple MacBook trackpad gestures to the desktop.
• Slim, simple design that’s easy to travel with
• Weeks of battery life

Badly

• Ergonomics are tiring, need wrist support to help

$14 Gimars Keyboard and Mouse Wrist Rest

Most keyboards, mice and especially trackpads are not very comfortable in terms of ergonomics. Apple is no exception. Whether we’re talking about the built-in set on a MacBook or the standalone peripherals the company offers, pairing them with a good set of wrist rests is essential to improve comfort.

Gimars wrist rests feature a combination of memory foam and gel. It gives your wrists a “floating”feel and the Lycra cover is soft and breathable. It feels both plush and supportive.

Good

• Plush but supportive
• No foreign chemical odors
• Still bouncy and soft after over a year of use
• Moisture absorption
• Many color options

Badly

• No, it’s a wrist rest that does the job perfectly.

Universal Dock: $400 CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are the two Apple laptops with the widest selection of ports. They have three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, and an SD card slot. If you only need one or two other specific ports, or need portability, you can always go the a la carte route and buy separate adapters, but that can add up quickly.

Among the many ports are three Thunderbolt 4, three USB-C, five USB-A, DisplayPort 1.4, SD and microSD 4.0 UHS-II, 2.5Gb Ethernet, two 3.5mm audio outputs (one front and one rear), and one 3.5mm audio input. It can also support one 8K display or two 6K displays at 60Hz for M2 Pro based devices such as 14″and 16″MacBooks. Easy access to all of these ports, both on the back and front, makes the TS4 a great option for both MacBook and Mac mini.

Good

• Adds 18 ports to your computer
• Can charge your 14″or 16″MacBook at full speed and other devices at the same time.
• Relatively compact

Badly

• Expensive

Use your iPhone as a webcam with the Belkin iPhone Camera Mount with MagSafe for MacBooks ($30) and Macs ($40).

Apple Continuity Camera feature

Belkin makes adjustable mounts for MacBooks and Macs that use MagSafe to secure your iPhone to your computer or desktop display. They can set your phone in portrait or landscape mode and tilt it down by up to 25 degrees. Both are compatible with iPhone 12 and up running iOS 16 and 2019 and up MacBooks running Ventura. Both iPhone and computer must be signed in with the same Apple ID.

Good

• Gives your Mac or MacBook a high resolution, higher fidelity webcam
• Suitable for any MacBook or monitor
• Adjustable

Badly

• Some may not like the aesthetic of mounting the phone on the screen.

Ultra-beautiful monitor: LG UltraFine series

inch UltraFine 4K monitor

If you’re already using a suitable dock like the one we recommend, you can save a couple of bucks and get a few inches with LG UltraFine USB-C 27″or 32″monitors. They still support 4K at 60Hz, but lack the power and other extra ports found on the more expensive Thunderbolt model.

Whichever you choose, you can expect solid viewing angles, rich colors, and a smooth image that’s even good for gaming in a pinch. If gaming is your main goal, you might want to look at something with a higher refresh rate of 90 or 120Hz.

Good

• The Thunderbolt 3 version works like a Thunderbolt docking station.
• Powering Your MacBook
• Compatible with MacOS allows you to adjust the brightness from the keyboard (Thunderbolt version)

Badly

• Some models are going up in price

Universal mount for Mac mini for $15.

A clean desk is essential for a comfortable workspace, and the HumanCentric Mini Mount for Mac gives mini users a variety of ways to achieve that cleanliness. VESA compatible mount fits all Mac Mini models. You can mount it under a table, on a wall, or even on the back of a VESA monitor. It comes with drywall and VESA screws and when installed it still lets air through for cooling. At $15, this is an aesthetic and organizational upgrade that’s hard to beat.

Good

• Mounts on the wall, behind the monitor, under or on the table
• Compatible with all Mac mini models from 2010 onwards.
• Provides space for heat dissipation
• Comes with VESA screws and drywall anchor screws.

Badly

• Does not include short wood screws

Various a la carte accessories

If you’re looking for a very simple custom setup, sometimes all you need is the right cable or adapter. Below are a few items that you may find useful.