The Best Laptop Accessories You Shouldn't Live Without

You need peripherals to get the most out of your machine. These are the ones you should buy.

PublishedJanuary 24, 2022

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Dell XPS 13 — Photo: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

It might seem counterintuitive, but the need for accessories and peripherals has only grown as laptops become more advanced. Modern notebooks need to be slim and lightweight with super thin display bezels—physical requirements that lead to some inherent limitations. Few ports, poor speakers, awful webcams, and shallow keyboards are some of the problems we regularly encounter when reviewing laptops.

Fortunately, almost every shortcoming can be overcome with the right accessory. Whether you’re looking to enhance productivity, make content consumption more immersive, or create the perfect home office for remote work, it can all be done by choosing the perfect peripheral.

If you just bought a new laptop or are looking for ways to get the most out of the one you already own, then we encourage you to consider some of the products on this list.

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USB Hubs and Docking Stations

What better accessory to buy than the one that enables you to use more accessories? USB hubs and docks are a must for anyone who owns a portable laptop with a meager selection of ports, like the XPS 13, MacBook Air, and others of this breed.

It might seem obvious to augment your new laptop with a USB hub or dock, but it’s crucial you buy the right one. Really think about how you use your laptop before you start shopping. Do you connect it to your TV? Add HDMI to the list. How many peripherals—headsets, mice, or keyboards—need a USB-A? If you own a mirrorless camera or backup photos onto expandable phone storage then make sure your hub has an SD card slot. Make a list of all the I/O you need then buy the smallest (and ideally, most cost-effective) hub available. This Anker USB hub is an excellent option for most users because it’s small, contains the most popular ports, and even supports pass-through charging.

There are a few more important things to consider. First, does your laptop have a USB-A or USB-C port? If your device has a single USB-C port used for charging, you might consider connecting to a USB-A hub or buying a USB-C dock. As for the difference between a hub and a docking station: the former relies on your laptop to power additional devices while a dock—like this one from Dell—connects to an outlet and sends power to your laptop while also accommodating various ports. Docks, which are heavier and pricier, can turn your laptop into a desktop replacement, while hubs are great for travel.

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Wireless or Wired Mouse

Logitech MX Anywhere 3 — Photo: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

Even the best laptop touchpads are no replacement for a mouse. Giving you faster and more precise cursor movement, a good mouse will improve your productivity regardless of what you need it for, be that gaming, work, editing media, or simply browsing the web. Books could be written about the different types and styles of computer mice, but I’ll keep things simple by going over the main ones and throwing out a few recommendations.

First, you need to decide between wired and wireless. Most people will prefer wireless for their convenience, and newer models that use a USB receiver have minimal input lag (or latency) and long battery life. However, wired mice tend to have quicker response times, making them a great choice for gamers, and they’re typically cheaper than their wireless counterparts. I tend to shy away from Bluetooth-only mice because pairing can be a pain and latency is significantly higher than using a 2.4Ghz receiver.

I use Logitech’s G502 Lightspeed, a wireless gaming mouse that can be paired with a wireless charging mat so you never need to plug it in. It’s expensive, at $120 plus about the same for the mat, but this bestseller has a super responsive sensor, an ergonomic design with adjustable weights, and 11 customizable buttons. There is a much cheaper wired version, and if you don’t want a gaming mouse, the Logitech MX Master 3 is about as good as it gets. If you need an ambidextrous mouse, the Razer Viper is a great choice, and for a vertical grip, we turn back to Logitech with the MX Vertical.

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Portable Monitor

Portable monitors are exactly what you think they are: standalone displays that connect to your laptop via USB. Once connected, they act as a stationary monitor, allowing you to duplicate or extend your laptop screen.

I’ve been using a Lenovo ThinkVision M14 for the past few years to recreate my office setup when I’m on the go. Whenever I’m at a cafe or working in the loft of my local climbing gym, I’ll slide the razor-thin monitor out of my backpack then connect it to my laptop via USB-C when it’s time to work. It may not be as large as the monitor I have back at home, but this portable solution helps me be productive when my office walls feel like they’re closing in and it’s time to find another stop to work at.

Alternatively, you can buy an attachable portable monitor that physically mounts itself to your laptop lid so it looks as if you have one continuous screen. They work fine but add heft to your device and aren’t as stable on non-flat surfaces like your lap.

Keep in mind that portable monitors draw power from your device so anticipate shorter battery life when you’re using one. If you can, plug your laptop into an outlet when you’re connected to one of these monitors—one display is better than none.

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External Webcam

Razer Kiyo — Photo: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

1080p cameras are finally arriving on laptops, but until then, an external webcam remains an important piece of kit for anyone who spends hours each day on Zoom calls.

It was almost impossible to find a decent webcam early on in the pandemic, but supply has finally caught up to demand, and at the same time, nearly every company manufacturing some form of hardware released its own version. So, which one should you buy? Well, I’ve never had to make an easier recommendation: the Logitech C920S. It’s a $60 external 1080p webcam with a privacy shutter, and for the past four years has been my most reliable laptop accessory. If you want even better quality and have the budget, the Razer Kiyo Pro and Logitech Brio are excellent 4K options.

If you want to take your video chat game up another notch, consider buying a video light. Nothing harms an image worse than poor lighting, so something as simple as this $26 mountable laptop light will prevent you from ever looking dark and grainy.

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Cleaning Supplies

OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe — Image: Amazon

Laptops can get disgusting if you’re not careful. Cosmetics aside, a laptop left dirty for too long can start acting up—grime that gets into the keyboard can make it more difficult to type, and if dirt and dust build up underneath, your laptop can potentially overheat.

Having a can of compressed air, a microfiber cloth, cotton swabs, and some dish soap (diluted with water!) are always a good idea, but now there are devices purpose-built for cleaning a laptop. One of those is a mini vacuum for your laptop keyboard that sucks up crumbs and other filth that sneaks its way into the cracks between those small squares. You could also use a Rocket Air Blaster.

You might have heard of the brand OXO for its kitchen utensils, but it turns out the company makes something called the Sweep & Swipe, a cleaning tool with a brush on one end and a microfiber pad on the other, which essentially makes it an oversized lens cleaner pen. It’s a useful $11 tool that you can pull out of your drawer to prevent crumbs start accumulating on your keyboard.

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External Storage

Whether your laptop is running low on storage or you need a more permanent, reliable place to save photos, videos, and other files, owning an external hard drive will help you sleep at night.

The good news is that storage is now extremely cheap—to the point where you can buy a 5TB HDD for only $100. I recommend going with at least 1TB, which will run you about $50. If you need a rugged option for fieldwork or taking with you during travel, the Adata HD710 is an affordable option. You could also go the SSD route for faster data transfer speeds, but these cost more per GB.

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Speakers and Headphones

Bose 700 — Photo: Adam Clark Estes (Gizmodo)

Most laptop speakers are fine for casual solo listening, but music lovers should really invest in a good set of speakers and/or headphones.

Wireless earbuds are becoming increasingly popular, but I find over-ear headphones to be more comfortable to wear throughout a workday. My preferred pair are the Bose 700, though sticker shock from the $400 price is understandable (they go on sale, I promise!). They sound amazing and their built-in mics are actually better than those on my webcam.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 are a direct competitor to the Bose, but they cost a bit less. You could also go with a good pair of wired cans, and in fact, I still rock my Sennheiser HD 6xx (Massdrop’s $220 version of the HD650) on the reg. MacBook users will appreciate Apple’s AirPods Max, which are expensive as hell but sound amazing and let you easily switch audio between your Apple devices.

Dedicated USB speakers are a rarity these days due to the emergence of smart speakers like those from Sonos, the Google Nest, and Apple HomePod. Then you have the endless Bluetooth options from brands like Bose, Ultimate Ears (UE), and JBL. The good news is that any of these will work with your laptop and will save your ears from distorted, bass-absent sound.

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Microphone

Laptop webcams get the bashing they deserve, but let’s take a second to dunk on laptop microphones, because they are just as bad. You probably work with someone who uses their laptop speakers during video calls—you know, the person who always sounds crackly and distant. We can do better than that.

A simple $40 microphone like the Blue Snowball will make you sound clear and present on video calls with colleagues or family. You could even use it for podcasts or streaming, although you might want to upgrade to the Blue Yeti for professional recording. It’s a simple-to-use, plug-and-play USB mic that works for Windows and Mac—most importantly, it will make your voice sound crystal clear while reducing unwelcome background noises.

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Adjustable Laptop Stand

You already have to stare at your laptop screen for eight hours straight, so don’t strain your neck doing it. Adjustable laptop stands let you throw out your stack of books for something more elegant and convenient. The best of them raise your laptop screen to be closer to eye level so you can maintain good posture.

This one from obVus lets you adjust the height of the laptop from two inches to 21 inches and even has an adjustable hinge so you can tilt the device toward you. Also, a cut-out on the aluminum tray prevents your laptop’s vents from being covered.

Another solution short of buying a standing desk is a laptop desk riser, which is essentially an elevated, adjustable platform for your notebook. This way, you can raise the laptop to eye level or go for the even healthier option and convert your normal desk into a standing one.

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Cooling Pad

Let me preface this by saying that not everyone needs a cooling pad. In fact, a minority of laptop owners should use this accessory. However, for those people—I’m referring to folks who play video games or run intensive programs for hours on end—a cooling fan will prevent their laptop from overheating. Without one, you risk thermal throttling, or when your laptop deliberately slows down to use less energy, and put your notebook’s components at risk.

I won’t sugarcoat it: These things are ugly. They’re large, some have obnoxious RGB lighting, and they take up valuable desk space. Despite those annoyances, the $35 or so you’ll spend on a good cooling pad is worth the reassurance of knowing your laptop is no longer in danger of overheating.

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Backpack and Sleeve

Timbuk2 backpack — Screenshot: Timbuk2/YouTube (Other)

You don’t need me to tell you the importance of buying a laptop bag or backpack and protecting your device in a sleeve when you’re carrying it around. But no laptop accessories page is complete without recommending a few of the best backpack and laptop sleeve models.

Much like clothes shopping, this one is subjective—there are endless options in various colors and styles, and frankly, the best advice I can give is to go with the one that speaks to you (just make sure it has a padded laptop slot!) If you don’t know where to start, the Timbuk2 Authority is a nice slim bag, as is the eBags Pro Slim. Personally, I own an Osprey backpack that doubles as a hiking bag—it’s lightweight and durable enough to take on camping trips and the padded laptop and tablet sleeves do a good job protecting my Dell XPS 15 and iPad Air.

When it comes to laptop sleeves, you want something that will fit your laptop snugly, so make sure to buy one that’s made for your laptop’s specific screen size, and read reviews to get a better idea of the fit. Of course, make sure they are sufficiently padded but not bulky, and it doesn’t hurt to have an outside pocket or two for storing USB hubs and such.

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Webcam Cover

Image for article titled The Best Laptop Accessories You Shouldn't Live Without — Image: Amazon

Many new laptops, especially those for commercial customers, come with a built-in webcam cover or a physical kill switch, but several popular consumer models don’t (I’m looking at you, Apple). If you’re still using a square of duct tape to prevent snooping eyes from spying on you, then it’s time to spend $5 on a more refined solution.

These little bits of plastic stick to the top of your display and slide open and closed. There’s nothing super fancy going on here: It’s just a piece of black plastic covering your lens. You can get some pretty basic ones for cheap, but come on, look at how frickin’ adorable these plant ones are.

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