Should you’re seeking to take your desk setup to the following stage, that is the information for you. Head under for a few of my favourite merchandise that may enhance your working setup, starting from equipment to decorations and extra. The entire issues on this record are issues I’ve personally used and may vouch for.
Wi-Fi 6E routers
Wi-Fi is right here, and it provides some substantial efficiency and reliability enhancements. Should you’re seeking to make an improve to your property setup, now’s a good time to do it. Right here’s a rundown of Apple’s gadgets that help Wi-Fi 6E:
- iMac (24-inch, 2023)
- MacBook Professional (14-inch, Nov 2023)
- MacBook Professional (16-inch, Nov 2023)
- MacBook Professional (14-inch, 2023) or MacBook Professional (16-inch, 2023)
- Mac mini (2023)
- Mac Studio (2023)
- Mac Professional (2023)
- iPhone 15 Professional or iPhone 15 Professional Max
- iPad Professional 11-inch (4th technology) or iPad Professional 12.9-inch (sixth technology)
Our favourite Wi-Fi 6E {hardware} comes from Eero, which provides whole-home mesh techniques at compelling costs.
Satechi desk mat
Visually, one in all my favourite upgrades to a work-from-home desk setup is the addition of a pleasant desk mat. My suggestion on this class comes from Satechi, which provides an eco-leather desk mat in a trio of various colours at a compelling $39.99 worth level.
I’ve been utilizing these for some time and discover them to be very sturdy and versatile, because of the dual-sided design. Notably, one of many sides doesn’t function a Satechi emblem, which makes it one of the best facet.
200W USB-C 6-port GaN charger
You’ll be able to by no means have too many USB-C ports for charging your numerous equipment and gadgets. Satechi’s USB-C 200W GaN Charger packs six USB-C ports that may cost any of your equipment or gadgets at full pace.
I’ve grown to love having this factor on my desk, so I all the time have a spot to cost no matter machine wants some juice at any given time. It’s dear, however it’s well worth the funding.
OWC Thunderbolt 4 dock
One of many extra integral additions to my setup this yr was the OWC Thunderbolt Dock, a model we additionally went hands-on with earlier this yr.
The OWC Thunderbolt Dock I’m utilizing in my setup provides 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports with help for as much as 40Gb/s switch speeds, 4 USB-A ports, an SD card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack, and gigabit Ethernet. I’ve the dock mounted on the underside of my desk, so it’s hidden and out of the way in which, however its ports are nonetheless accessible.
Laptop computer stands from Twelve South
Should you or the individual you’re shopping for for makes use of a MacBook at their desk, the addition of a devoted laptop computer stand is usually a appreciable ergonomics enchancment. I’ve been a fan of the Twelve South Curve for over 4 years and may extremely suggest it to MacBook customers.
Twelve South additionally provides the ParcSlope as an alternative choice for MacBook customers, and it even is available in an up to date matte black end that appears modern on any desk.
Another choice from – you guessed it – Twelve South is the Curve Flex, which you’ll see above. This one encompasses a premium aluminum construct that’s adjustable. It may be raised or lowered proper to your liking.
Nomad Stand One
Nomad makes a few of my favourite equipment for iPhone, and the corporate’s newest Stand One isn’t any exception. The Stand One is a premium vertical charger with built-in MagSafe help. It’s constructed from aluminum and options an built-in 2-meter braided USB-C cable. It may cost your iPhone at as much as 15W speeds.
The Nomad Stand One is out there in two colours: silver/white or carbide.
Whereas the Nomad Stand One is a beautiful iPhone charger, you would possibly choose one thing with a 2-in-1 design. My favourite possibility right here is the Belkin 2-in-1 Wi-fi Charging Stand with MagSafe, whereas one other extra inexpensive possibility is out there from Satechi.
This stand from Belkin is expensive, however it encompasses a sturdy design with an upright MagSafe stand to your iPhone and an built-in spot to your AirPods within the base. It may cost your iPhone on the quickest attainable MagSafe speeds, as much as 15 watts. It makes use of a single-cable design for powering the MagSafe charger and AirPods charger.
Keychron Q5 mechanical keyboard
I made the leap to a mechanical keyboard this yr, and I haven’t seemed again since. I’m personally utilizing the Keychron Q5, which encompasses a backlit design, a built-in quantity knob, USB-C connectivity, and a customizable design.
Along with these advantages, I’ve discovered my change to the Keychron Q5 to be a big ergonomics enchancment. The elevated design has considerably decreased wrist ache throughout lengthy writing periods compared to one thing like Apple’s Magic Keyboard.
The Keychron Q5 is considerably dear at just below $230, however there are additionally extra inexpensive mechanical keyboard choices on the market. One in every of our favorites is the Logitech MX Mechanical wi-fi keyboard, which can be extra compact than the Keychron possibility in addition to wi-fi.
Satechi headphone stand
Satechi’s 2-in-1 Headphone Stand is likely one of the issues on my desk that I get requested about most frequently. It encompasses a hook design to carry your headphones, with a base that doubles as a Qi charger to your iPhone or AirPods.
On the again of the 2-in-1 Headphone Stand are two separate USB-C ports. One in every of these is a UBS-C enter port that may be related to energy, whereas the opposite is a USB-C output port.
The only USB-C enter gives sufficient energy for the Qi charger within the base, in addition to to energy the second USB-C output. The Qi charging pad gives as much as 7.5W of energy and works with any Qi-supported machine, together with iPhones, AirPods, and extra.
Below-desk headphone mount
Another choice for headphone storage comes from Elevation Lab. The Anchor Below-Desk Headphone Stand mounts to the underside of your desk utilizing adhesive and may maintain as much as two pairs of headphones on the identical time.
HomeKit gentle strips
For accent lighting, you may by no means go incorrect with some HomeKit gentle strips to your desk. Whether or not you place them behind your desk or beneath, they will present atmosphere and personalization to your desk setup. HomeKit compatibility means that you can management the brightness and colour out of your iPhone or utilizing Siri.
HomeKit gentle strips have gotten considerably cheaper through the years, with choices now coming in at beneath $50 from dependable producers on Amazon.
Philips Hue Play Gentle Bar
A better-end possibility for desktop accent lighting comes from Philips Hue and the firm’s Play Gentle Bar. These can present some lovely accent lighting to your workplace and desk, both with a stand or by being mounted to the again of your show.
These, nevertheless, are pricier than a fundamental gentle strip, and also you’ll additionally want a Philips Hue Bridge for full performance.
HomeKit desk lamp
Rounding out our give attention to lighting is a fundamental HomeKit-capable desk lamp. You’ll be able to decide up a modern HomeKit desk lamp from an organization like Meross on Amazon for beneath $50. I’ve personally been utilizing this Meross desk lamp for a very long time and haven’t had any issues with it.
The rationale I’ve included a number of completely different lighting equipment on this information is that I feel having delicate and customizable lighting round you will be nice for productiveness. That is very true in the event you’re working in a room or workplace with brilliant fluorescent overhead lighting.
Logitech MX Grasp 3S
I’ve been singing the praises of Logitech’s MX lineup of mice for years, and completely nothing has modified. The most recent Logitech MX Grasp 3S is a supremely wonderful mouse to your Mac. Ergonomically, I discover it to be considerably higher than one thing like Apple’s Magic Mouse.
The MX Grasp 3S can be absolutely customizable utilizing Logitech’s Choices software program on the Mac. You’ll be able to assign the completely different buttons to macOS options, like mission management, expose, the app switcher, and far more.
Below-desk Storage Shelf
On the lookout for a strategy to maintain litter off your desk? This HumanCentric Below Desk Storage Shelf is a superb possibility. It attaches to the underside of your desk utilizing adhesive strips and can be utilized to retailer issues like your keys, pockets, AirPods case, and extra.
This may not seem to be essentially the most thrilling accent selection, however belief me once I say I’ve beloved including this to my setup.
Ember Temperature Management Good Mug
Should you’re a espresso drinker who finds themselves getting distracted and letting your espresso get chilly, the Ember Good Mug may also help remedy that downside. There’s a companion app for iPhone that permits you to management the temperature, and the battery contained in the mug can maintain your espresso heat for as much as 80 minutes.
Below $20 WFH upgrades
To spherical out this information, I assumed it’d be useful to incorporate some extra inexpensive desk and work-from-home equipment.
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