Next to your phone, your laptop is probably the item you use for the longest periods daily. But while laptops have a lot to offer, they can’t provide everything. This is where laptop accessories come in, as they help you leverage the functions of your already efficient yet imperfect laptop. From USB hubs to wireless keyboards, here are some of the best laptop accessories you can buy for yourself or your friends:
12 Best Laptop Accessories You Should Get Today
Laptops accessories take on many different forms. Some protect your laptop from the elements and physical breakage, while others expand its functionality to meet your specific needs. Still, others offer to improve your comfort level while using the device. Depending on your needs, you may find these laptop accessories affordable and useful:
All laptops have ports, but it just so often happens they don’t have enough ports to accommodate all the devices you want to plug in. If you find constantly wanting an extra port, either to extract data or to charge multiple devices at the same time, then the Anker USB Hub may be the solution.
The compact device has two USB-C-type ports, two USB A-type ports, a single HDMI port, and a single SD card/MicroSD card port. The USB-C and USB-A ports can transfer files at a top speed of 5 gigabytes per second (Gbps), while the single HDMI port supports media display at resolutions of up to 4K @ 30Hz. The device connects to your laptop via a USB-C port without installation.
The Anker 7-in-1 USB port is available on Amazon for less than USD 35. The device comes with an 18-month warranty covering factory defects.
An unexpected outcome of a year of mandatory remote work is an increased reliance on digital methods of communication, and video conferencing is one of them. If you want to look your best during video calls and meetings, you should get a portable desk light like the Cyezor Video Conference Lighting Kit.
The mini ring light clips onto the top of your laptop screen to illuminate your face and eliminate unwanted shadows to give you a natural and life-like look on video calls. The clip set design of the light allows you to rotate the light towards any direction and angle that you want.
The light has five brightness levels and three color temperatures (white, warm, or natural light) for you to choose from. All controls are available on the in-cable switch, and it has a UWB port at the end that you can use to charge the light.
The Cyezor Video Conferencing Lighting Kit is available on Amazon for less than USD 30.
Most laptops are outfitted with internal storage between 250 and 500 gigabytes (GB) in size, which is often insufficient to store all of your data. An SD card can augment your internal storage by a long shot, and it can both store data directly from your computer as well as transfer data to other devices. When augmenting your laptop storage, you can’t go wrong with the SanDisk Ultra 64 GB.
While 64 GB seems hardly impressive nowadays, that’s not to say that it can’t hold a large volume of files. It should be enough to store up to 9,400 photographs or 20.8 hours of 720p resolution videos. In addition, the card promises to deliver ultra-fast transfer speeds of up to 120 MB/s, equivalent to about a hundred photos per second.
The card comes with its adapter, which you can use to transmute the microSD card into a full-sized SD/SDHC/SDXC card, allowing the card to fit into larger devices with SD/SDHC/SDXC ports. The card works hand-in-hand with a dedicated app for streamlined access and backup of your files.
The SanDisk Ultra 64GB Micro SDXC UHS-I Card with Adapter is one of the most affordable SD cards on the market, and you can get one for less than USD 12 on Amazon.
If you’re using an older laptop, the chances are that it’s more prone to overheating, up to the point where the device overheats and shuts down on its own. If you are starting to see signs of overheating, you may need a cooling pad to prevent your device from breaking down completely. The same applies when using a gaming laptop with bigger CPUs and GPUs.
The Chijire laptop cooling pad looks a lot like a laptop table at first sight, with its flat and rectangular form factor and short legs. It is designed with a metal mesh surface and two turbofans which absorb and dissipate heat from your laptop into the open air.
The metal mesh is inclined at an adjustable 45-degree angle to facilitate heat dissipation. Performance-wise, the cooling pad seems to work well and can keep your laptop cool for as long as you need to use it.
Furthermore, it can fit nearly any type of laptop that is between 12 to 17 inches long. Meanwhile, its base also has a thin, foldable ledge to hold your laptop in place while you use it. The upper ledge of the tabletop contains two USB ports, one for charging an external device and the other for powering up the cooling fans.
You can purchase your own Chijire laptop cooling pad on Amazon for less than USD 20.
With digital meetings on the rise, you can hardly escape a week or a month without needing to talk to other people online. Most people rely on their earphones to communicate, but this shouldn’t be the only option available. If you would prefer a hands-free and open method of communication, then using a speakerphone may be a great idea.
The eMeet USB speakerphone is designed to sit next to your laptop, allowing you to communicate with your friends and colleagues completely wirelessly. The mooncake-shaped device looks very business-like with its speaker holes and control buttons arranged in a slightly downward arch. Performance-wise, the speakerphone delivers an excellent combination of great volume as well as clarity of sounds.
Moreover, the eMeet USB speakerphone can connect to a variety of devices, starting with your laptop via a USB-C port for a wired connection or a USB dongle for a wireless connection. It can also connect to your smartphone via a 3.5mm AUX-IN port, as well as an external speaker via a 3.5mm AUX-OUT port. A small slot is also at the bottom of the speakerphone to store the USB dongle.
The eMeet USB Speakerphone is available on Amazon for less than USD 60. In addition, eMeet also offers a one-year warranty for factory defects.
In the era of remote meetings, portable webcams are a must-have. Not only are these devices useful for online meetings, but they also tend to be cheaper than your typical video camera. When it comes to delivering HD quality streaming in an affordable package, the Depstech webcam is your best option.
The clip-on webcam attaches to the top of your computer, and it can be easily removed when not in use. The device plugs into your computer via a USB-C type connection with no special drivers or installation required. Moreover, the lens has a removable cover that protects your privacy and helps keep the lens clean.
The device supports full HD video streaming and recording, with a maximum resolution of 3840×2160 resolution at 30fps. Aside from its HD streaming capability, the device has other special features to offer. To be exact, it features noise filtering, which allows the microphones to filter out background noise; as well as face tracking, which keeps the subject in focus and eliminates distractions.
The Depstech Webcam with Microphone is one of the most affordable webcam options you can find on Amazon, costing no more than USD 70. The device also comes with a tripod and privacy cover.
There might be instances when you need to project the content of your PC onto a larger display, either for presentation or media streaming purposes. The easiest and cheapest way to do this is to use a television screen as your second display, for which you will need a reliable HDMI cable. On this note, Amazon Basic’s Premium-Certified HDMI cable may be your best option.
The certification just means it can deliver the highest possible frame rate and resolution requirements. While the label is not a requirement for all cables, it’s certainly reassuring of the cable’s capabilities. So if you want to make sure that your connection can handle the best resolution from your laptop or gaming console, then this certified cable is the best way to go.
Aside from being able to connect your PC to your television as a second display, the HDMI cables will also allow you to connect your television to other devices, such as your PS5 or Xbox, Blu-Ray DVD player, or HDR media streamer.
Amazon’s premium-certified HDMI cable retails for less than USD 12 on their online store. They offer the cables in different lengths, including 3, 6, 10, and 15 feet.
Also Read: Luna Display Wireless Display Extender for Mac
If your laptop doesn’t have an HDMI cable, you’re going to need an extra cable to connect your laptop to a standard HDMI cable. Since most laptops have USB-C-type ports available, you’re likely going to need a USB-C to HDMI adapter cable.
Anker’s USB-C to HDMI cable lets you connect your laptop, tablet, or even mobile phone to any display via USB-C to HDMI conversion. The USB-C end of the cable plugs into your laptop or mobile phone, while the other end plugs into a standard HDMI cable that plugs into the display.
This cable is also made to last, with an aluminum casing that allows for greater heat dissipation and a reinforced and braided nylon cable that is designed to withstand the pushes and pulls that come with daily use.
The Anker USB-C to HDMI adapter cable is available on Amazon for less than USD 20. The device comes with an 18-month warranty covering factory defects and workmanship issues.
While most people can get away with using the standard touchpad that comes with their laptops, some can’t do without a mouse. Suppose you’d like a mouse that is ergonomic, customizable, and ambidextrous all at the same time. In that case, we highly recommend Logitech’s G300s optical gaming mouse.
The Logitech G300s gaming mouse has a symmetrical form factor, meaning it can be used with either hand. The device’s ergonomic shape and rubber-padded insides allow the mouse to be held comfortably and easily. The lining of the mousepads lights up with customizable RGB lights, marking the mouse as a gaming mouse. Meanwhile, the blue bottom pads glide smoothly across most surfaces without a dedicated mousepad.
The mouse comes with a dedicated app that lets you customize RGB lighting and DPI settings. With a max DPI of 2500 and a 1-millisecond report rate, tracking with the mouse should be very fast and accurate. In addition, the app also offers the option to move some of your keyboard functions onto your mouse for immediate access.
The Logitech G300s Gaming mouse is available on Amazon for less than USD 25. Logitech offers a 24-month warranty for the device covering factory defects.
If you are left-handed, check out the best left-handed mouse for gaming and everyday use.
A common concern for anyone who buys a laptop nowadays is that two small USB-C ports just don’t cut it anymore. To accommodate more USBs and devices on your laptop, you would need to use a USB hub that can both pass-through data and charge your devices. And out of all the options, the Kingston Nucleum USB is the absolute best.
The Nucleum is a minimalistic, white-colored box with a 5-inch cable that connects to the USB-C port of your laptop. Sitting opposite to the USB-C cable at the other end of the device is an HDMI port. This port is for connecting your laptop to an external display like your television. The rugged aluminum casing protects the internal wiring from the elements and keeps it away from magnetic interference.
The rest of the ports are distributed across the left and right ledges of the Nucleum, with the left ledge supporting USB-C, USB-A, SD, and microSD ports. On the other hand, the right ledge carries a single USB-C port with a power icon indicating pass-through for charging and a USB-A port. With a total of seven ports of various types, surely this should be more than sufficient for your daily port requirements.
The Kingston Nucleum USB Hub is on the more expensive side of the pricing scale, with a retail price between USD 70 to 80 on average. Kingston is offering a two-year warranty for the device.
With a picture quality that’s the result of trying to do too much on a limited budget, your laptops’ integrated webcam doesn’t perform all too well compared to a dedicated webcam. If you’re looking for a video conferencing solution with excellent camera quality and a wide-enough field of view, then you might want to consider the Logitech C920 webcam.
The Logitech C920 is a little bulky for an external webcam, weighing 170 grams or 6 ounces. But behind its bulky factor is a powerful 1080p camera flanked by LEDs and microphones on both sides. All of this gear allows the device to record and stream video at 1080p in 60fps and take 5-MP photos. Its 78-degree field of view allows multiple people to join in the frame.
The apparatus attaches to the top of your laptop screen or display. But if that doesn’t work, or if you prefer to have it another way, it also has a built-in tripod mount to attach to a stand. Moreover, the device also has a hinge to adjust the direction of the camera. In addition, the rubber base at the bottom of the device helps to keep it in place.
The Logitech C920 is available on Amazon for USD 60 to 70. The device comes with a two-two year warranty.
Most laptops are the same in that they have built-in keyboards, but not all keyboards are the same in that some of them are bad. If you have a hard time typing or gaming with your laptop’s keyboard, it may be time to switch to a laptop accessory like the Razer Cynosa.
You can easily mistake the Razer Cynosa for your typical stock-level keyboard until you get to the keys. Its membrane keys have a quieter, softer push for a more subdued typing flow than their mechanical counterparts. While it lacks haptic feedback, it does have specs that allow it to respond and register keystrokes instantaneously.
RGB lights keep the keyboard well-illuminated, even in dark rooms. It’s also water-resistant, but only on its exterior and not in the crevices between the keys. The keyboard also features adjustable components to match your comfort level, with a three-way cable routing and adjustable legs.
Razer Cynosa V2 works with Razer’s Synapse software. The software allows you to control the functions of the keyboard, including customizing RGB colors, programming your keys, creating profiles for various games, and downloading updates and new software from Razer.
The Razer Cynosa V2 Gaming keyboard is a highly affordable unit that costs less than USD 60. If you want to check out additional options, here is a comprehensive list of the best wireless keyboards that offer a better typing experience.
Final Thoughts on the Best Laptop Accessories for You to Buy
Laptops are powerful machines with many capabilities, but they don’t have everything. Some components, like webcams and ports, are available, but they don’t measure up to what you want and need.
This is what laptop accessories are for, and with the right accessories, you can extend the functions of your laptop to meet your needs. Conversely, these accessories will also help you take advantage of your laptop’s abilities, so you don’t have to spend on more expensive, standalone gadgets.
With an ocean of affordable and useful laptop accessories out there, you should be able to accomplish so much more.
