Top 10 Apple accessories you need to create the most effective desk setup

Since its foundation in 1976, Apple has been always been at the peak of modern innovation! The groundbreaking tech giant never fails to surprise us, we always find ourselves biting our nails and squirming with curiosity, whenever Apple announces a new product launch! My Apple devices are some of my most prized possessions – in the sense that I simply cannot do without them! My MacBook holds all the documents and data I hold holy in my life, whereas my iPhone stores the details of every single person I know. I would truly be lost without my gadgets. As ingenious as Apple products can be, it’s always fun to amp them up with a few exciting accessories, and in turn, create the ultimate desk set up for yourself! These innovative designs will help you build an efficient, neat, and streamlined setup, allowing you to boost your daily productivity, and work to your full potential. From a Magic Bridge that merges your Apple keyboard to a handcrafted iPad Pro stand with a magnetic Apple Pencil holder – these accessories are the best work from home investments of 2022.

1. The Orbita iPhone mount

Why is it noteworthy?

The Orbita modular system is a good example of yet another useful utility of the Magsafe technology – giving the user freedom to extend the personal working space on the desktop or laptop without any hassle. The iPhone 13 becomes the second screen according to the designer Andrea Tortone who developed this modular accessory for MiLi. The Apple device can be oriented in any direction – vertical, horizontal, or anything in between to have a productivity-centered approach.

What we like

• Handy for taking up Zoom calls, answering calls, or glancing over at the pop-up notifications right while you’re working on an important project
• Has a minimal and clean look

What we dislike

• No complaints!

2. M1 Mac Mini

We generally fancy our laptops for the ease of portability and convenience. But if you’re someone like the YouTuber Scott Yu-Jan who despises a laptop; you’ll appreciate the Portable Mac Mini that lets you leave the laptop behind, yet travel light with a handy computer at your service when you may need it.

Why is it noteworthy?

Designer Scott Yu-Jan took to YouTube with an idea of a portable M1 Mac Mini, that paired with an iPad Mini, can be a MacBook alternative for the heavy-duty workaholics who would want to enjoy the power of M1 on the go without owning a MacBook. The DIYer, designer, and creator has made the Mac Mini really portable so that it would allow you to take your M1-powered workstation anywhere and use it conveniently as long as you can plug it into a socket.

What we like

• The contraption comes complete with cable holders, a quick-release clasp, and an Allen key
• Portable design
• A good alternative to a MacBook

What we dislike

• Some people might consider this design a bit of a hassle

3. The G4 Charger

The G4 charger is a wonderful throwback accessory that reminds me of that Elago charger that turned the Apple Watch into the Macintosh. Its design, however, doesn’t seem to have aged the way the Macintosh has. Even by today’s standards, the iMac G4 is an incredibly eye-catching device that you’re sure to be amazed by. The charger condenses that beauty down into a small device that is equally good at drawing your attention to the iPhone that sits on it.

Why is it noteworthy?

The iMac G4, with its debut in 2002, was truly a design icon in that it was nothing like anything else that existed in its time. While the world still struggled with boxy plastic computers, the G4 had this intensely beautiful organic design accentuated with chrome details. It hovered above the rest, thanks to its adjustable stand, paving the way for future iMacs which still to this day retain the detail to maintain the right eye level. Eponymously named the G4, this quirky little charger pays a hat-tip to its 20-year-old predecessor. It sports the same dome-shaped base and chrome-plated stand upon which sits the MagSafe wireless charging element that lets you snap your iPhone to it. Once the iPhone comfortably nestles in place, it transforms almost into a miniature computer, hovering above the ground in a way that makes its display easy to view as well as to use, by allowing you to tap and swipe away!

What we like

• The dual joint system on the back of the charger lets you angle and position your phone however you please
• A nifty light within its domed front lights up when your phone begins charging

What we dislike

• It isn’t available yet!

4. Chipofy

The clever little charging cable comes with its own built-in wattage meter that lets you know if your phone is, in fact, fast-charging or not!

Why is it noteworthy?

Thanks to a nifty LED display built right into Chipofy’s USB-C jack, the cable effectively allows you to measure your device’s power consumption as it charges. The display provides different readings for different devices, with larger gadgets like laptops and tablets pulling significantly more power than phones, power banks, and other Type-C peripherals. Is it supremely useful? Well, Marques Brownlee doesn’t seem to think so, but it’s a handy tool that lets you really see whether your smartphone’s 60W fast charging capability actually pulls off what it promises.

What we like

• Comes with a braided exterior that makes it much more durable than those flimsy rubber cables
• Handles data transfers too

What we dislike

• The LED display on the cable doesn’t really do much when you’re transferring data

5. The Magic Bridge

Could it be a coincidence that the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad are exactly the same height? They look, as Twelve South rightfully points out, like they were “separated at birth”, like two siblings longing for each other. The Magic Bridge fulfills that wish, uniting the two long-lost siblings and putting them side by side.

Why is it noteworthy?

Melodrama aside, the Magic Bridge is actually a pretty clever device that does more than just fix your trackpad to your keyboard for the sake of it. For starters, it helps declutter your workspace by ‘bridging’ the gap between the keyboard and trackpad, so they don’t individually clutter your desk. It also effectively merges them together into what Twelve South refers to as the ultimate ‘control station’, so you can carry them around and place them on your coffee table, or even on your lap as you work and switch between your Apple devices.

What we like

• Features a clever ambidextrous design that lets you mount your trackpad on either side of your keyboard, depending on whether you’re right or left-handed
• Lightweight yet tough form

What we dislike

• No complaints!

6. The MOLO

The MOLO comes in a monolithic design and can hold a computer or monitor with strength and durability. It can help you ensure your desk is as well organized and functional as you need it to be. A well-managed working environment can enable you to focus on the tasks at hand. Your workstation with a MOLO at the center can inspire you to do your best. As the Molo keeps its place securely on your desk, you can be reminded to be grounded and responsible.

Why is it noteworthy?

Since we are not going back to the office anytime soon, we must continue making sure our work area is clean, clutter-free, and efficient. If you’re on the lookout for new stuff for your home office, you may want to consider improving your desk situation first. Get a computer desktop stand to elevate your monitor or laptop and place your smartphone and other things there. The MOLO is an ideal computer stand with its static design and more.

What we like

• Strength + durability
• You can hide the keyboard underneath the MOLO when not in use

What we dislike

• Seems more like an eye candy, than a highly functional design

7. The iPad Pro Stand

Sculpted into a shape that permits ergonomic usability and comfort, the iPad Pro Stand from Yohann boasts a final form that allows for multi-angled usage, achieved by reducing the light, thin profile to its bare necessities.

Why is it noteworthy?

Keeping track of all of our smart electronics and their accessories can get messy. Depending on what you use them for, smart appliances guide us through the week and keep us on top of our personal and work-related agendas. 2016’s Apple Pencil, for one, was designed for iPad Pro but has a tendency of getting lost. Yohann, a sustainable brand passionate about crafting wooden Apple accessories, created a wooden iPad Pro Stand with a built-in Apple Pencil holder so there will always be a place to store it.

What we like

• Features an exact slot for your Apple Pencil to slink into when not in use
• You’ll never use your Apple Pencil again

What we dislike

• No complaints!

8. The Nomad MagSafe Base One charger

The latest is the Nomad MagSafe Base One charger that makes a first impression that lasts with its glass and aluminum design. It is an official third-party charger you can use for your iPhone as it offers official MFi MagSafe charging. Base One works with most Qi devices, delivering up to a maximum of 15W charging speed. The iPhone charger comes with a weighted metal body complemented by an elevated glass panel. The combination results in a look that can fit most interiors and spaces.

Why is it noteworthy?

Nomad’s MagSafe Base One charger shows a solid metal and glass design, but it is not something delicate to hold and touch. It may remind you of a hockey puck, even with its rounded square shape. However, the weighted build gives it a sturdy form, so you do not have to worry about it easily being damaged.

What we like

• Made using high-quality metal chassis and a premium glass panel
• It can also wireless charge your AirPods

What we dislike

• The 30W USB-C Adapter is not included in the box
• Not sure if it is fingerprint or scratch-resistant

9. The Satechi 2-in-1 Headphone Stand with Wireless Charger

Not many people realize this, but a headphone stand is an essential desk accessory. It would be best if you had something to hold your headphones properly so your pair won’t get damaged when not in use.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Satechi 2-in-1 Headphone Stand with Wireless Charger is an ideal solution because it does more than just carry your headphones. It also works as a wireless charging station for your premium headphones, earbuds, or iPhone. This comes with a USB-C port to charge your headset and a stainless-steel arm with padded grips. It features a hook to keep cables organized and an LED light that will tell you if a wireless device is charging. With all these features, the 2-in-1 Headphone Stand does more than just serve as a headset cradle.

What we like

• Lets you charge and store headphones in style
• The stand can complement any home or office interior with its minimalist appeal

What we dislike

• No complaints!

10. The Satechi USB-C clamp hub

The newly debuted USB-C clamp hub for the 2021 M1 iMac puts 6 different ports right where you need them. From USB hubs to even card readers, Satechi’s nifty little multiport hub has it all, and it conveniently blends right into the iMac’s form factor with a design language that matches the all-in-one computer perfectly!

Why is it noteworthy?

Satechi’s USB-C clamp hub puts all the essential ports at your fingertips. It plugs into one of the USB-C ports at the back and grips onto the iMac using a rotating clamp. The hub comes with 3 USB-A ports, 2 card readers, and one USB-C port on the front, and has data transfer speeds of up to 5Gb/s for the USB ports and 104Mb/s for the card readers.

What we like

• It conveniently blends right into the iMac’s form factor with a design language that matches the all-in-one computer perfectly

What we dislike

• No complaints!