Twelve South has been making MacBook equipment for nearly so long as MacBooks have been a factor. Pairing a design sensibility that mirrors Apple’s personal aesthetic with equipment that Apple doesn’t cater for itself, Twelve South has rightfully grow to be one of many go-to manufacturers with regards to accessorizing round your Apple merchandise.
So it was with pleasure that I sat the brand new Twelve South BookArc Flex down on my desk — a revamped model of one of many model’s best-known MacBook stands. It actually seems to be the half, with a striped-back design that Apple itself can be pleased with.
It’s a disgrace then that I simply can’t belief it to maintain my MacBook upright.
Worth and availability
The Twelve South BookArc Flex is on the market now, priced at $49.99. That’s a good sufficient value for a stand versatile sufficient to accommodate even the laptops of the long run. However it’s laborious to suggest due to stability points I’ll element under.
What I really like
It’s an excellent thought in principle, a product aimed squarely at customers hardly ever catered particularly for — the BookArc Flex is designed to accommodate a laptop computer whereas it’s closed and prepared for use in clamshell mode with an exterior monitor, as so many people do with our MacBooks once we convey them again to our desks. It’s a space-saving use case — and stand — that maximizes the true property at your desk for many who don’t want a dual-screen set-up.
To do that, it makes use of what Twelve South calls a ‘saddle’ system. Two arcing arms (because the identify suggests) come collectively to carry your laptop computer in place, clamping your MacBook due to that connective saddle which makes use of the downward-pushing weight of your machine, when positioned on that saddle, to drag the arms tightly collectively.
The underlying thought is intelligent, an train in easy physics meaning you don’t have to regulate the stand to accommodate a complete host of various laptops, not simply Apple’s personal gadgets. Offered your laptop computer isn’t any thicker than an inch, with a display measurement no larger than 16 inches, it ought to match simply high-quality.
It’s a looker too. Measuring simply 2.2 inches tall by 8.43 inches lengthy and three.6 inches deep, and weighing nearly half a pound, it gained’t take up an excessive amount of house in your desk and appears cool within the course of. With chrome, white, or black finishes accessible, it ought to simply sit alongside most desk aesthetics.
However I simply might by no means construct up my belief in its stability.
What I don’t love
Right here’s the factor — I simply don’t suppose the stand is steady sufficient to belief leaving my MacBook in it.
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There are a number of causes for this. Firstly, it’s important to place your MacBook into that saddle completely straight. Ought to it sit at a slight angle, it’ll lean and topple over, with the saddle system unable to appropriately clamp the laptop computer. Secondly, even when a laptop computer is positioned at precisely the proper angle, that clamping drive doesn’t grip tightly sufficient to forestall the laptop computer from leaning ought to your desk get knocked and wobble — and with the stand itself light-weight, the burden of your laptop computer will seemingly pull the entire thing over. I used the BookArc Flex with each a 13-inch M2 MacBook Air and a 16-inch Contact Bar-era MacBook Professional, and each ended up toppling over at the very least as soon as whereas utilizing the stand.
If the BookArc Flex was just a little heavier, its saddle in a position to drop just a little deeper, and its arcing poles curving just a little greater up your laptop computer’s body, it could have proved just a little extra steady. However I used to be by no means satisfied it might maintain regular.
In its protection, Twelve South by itself web site says to “use frequent sense” with the BookArc Flex. “In case your workplace is in a bumpy development zone, or you’ve cats strolling throughout your desk they usually have knocked down gadgets earlier than, you may want a wholly completely different model stand.” However I felt uncomfortable with its stability simply at residence, with nobody else round — and definitely no cats or building-rocking development work to fret about.
Competitors
For those who’re after among the best MacBook stands you’ve acquired loads of higher choices than the BookArc Flex, for my part.
For starters, I’d fortunately suggest Twelve South’s personal Curve Flex stand — it’s a bit costlier at an RRP of $79.99, nevertheless it’s way more steady, and folds all the way down to a compact measurement for taking over the go, too.
My private favourite although is the Lululook 360 Rotating Foldable Laptop computer Stand. It’s a bit chunkier due to its broad aluminum plate, however sits on a really sturdy arm, and a rotatable base that makes angling your display excellent very simple. It even folds down flat for transport and storage. It prices $89.99, so fairly a bit costlier, however far more dependable, too.
Do you have to purchase it?
You should purchase this if…
- You are trying particularly for an upright, clamshell laptop computer stand
- Desk house is at a premium
- Design is extra necessary to you than stability
You shouldn’t purchase this if…
- You don’t need your MacBook to fall over
- You need to use your laptop computer with the display on
Verdict
There’s one thing to the BookArc Flex design that I do actually admire. It’s a wise thought, and it seems to be nice. However it simply isn’t fairly steady sufficient for my liking. This revision of the BookArc Flex has promise — I’m quietly hoping a revamped mannequin will reply my gripes sooner or later — however until you prefer to dwell dangerously, for now I’d say go.
Twelve South BookArc Flex
Backside line: An excellent trying stand that is sadly too shaky to suggest.
