Estimated reading time: 25 minutes
- Mac user Gift Guide: Bags and sleeves
- 1. Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop Sleeve – Wireless Charging MacBook sleeve
- 2. Troubadour Apex 3.0 Backpack – Super-stylish MacBook backpack
- 3. Bellroy Laptop Sleeve – Premium MacBook protection sleeve
- Mac user Gift Guide: MacBook power banks
- 1. Anker Prime laptop power banks – MacBook battery packs
- 2. Ugreen 145W Power Bank for Laptop – MacBook battery pack
- Mac user Gift Guide: Docks and hubs
- 1. Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock – Extra storage MacBook docking station
- 2. Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Dock – Great value dock
- 3. Alogic DX3 Triple 4K Display Universal Docking Station – Add multiple displays
- 4. Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub – Add eight super-fast ports
- 5. Twelve South StayGo USB-C Hub – Super-portable MacBook dock
- 6. Baseus 7-in-1 USB-C Hub – Great-value USB-C hub
- Mac user Gift Guide: MacBook chargers
- 1. Ugreen Nexode RG 65W USB C GaN Charger – Robot-shaped MacBook charger
- 2. Anker 715 Nano II 65W Charger – Tiny MacBook charger
- 3. OneAdaptr OneWorld135 – Travel-friendly MacBook charger
- 4. UGreen Nexode 140W Charger – Best MacBook Pro charger
- 5. Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 GaN Desktop Charger – USB-C MacBook and MagSafe iPhone charger
- Mac user Gift Guide: Mac monitors
- 1. Samsung M8 Smart Monitor, 32-inch – Great budget 32-inch monitor
- 2. Alogic Clarity Pro Touch Display – Touchscreen display for Mac
- Mac user Gift Guide: Mac mice
- 1. Logitech MX Master 3S For Mac – Our favorite Mac mouse
- 2. Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse – Great budget Mac mouse
- Mac user Gift Guide: Mac keyboard
- 1. Logitech Pop Icon Combo – Colorful wireless keyboard and mouse
- Mac user Gift Guide: Mac mini gifts
- 1. Satechi Stand Hub for Mac mini with SSD Enclosure – Add ports and storage
- Mac user Gift Guide: USB-C cables
- 1. Cable Matters Retractable USB-C 2.0 Charging Cable – Reduce cable clutter
- 2. Casetify PowerThru USB-C to USB-C Cable – Fun and colorful
- 3. Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable (1m) – Best Mac cable
- Mac user Gift Guide: Stocking stuffers
- 1. SanDisk 128GB microSDXC Memory Card – Super-cheap portable storage
- 2. PNY Elite-X Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 Flash Drive
- 3. inChargeXS 4-in-1 Keyring Charger
- 4. Pureport Multi-Tool Phone Cleaning Kit
- iPhone Gift Guide: Tech organizer bags
- 1. Tripped Tech Traveler
- 2. Bellroy Tech Kit
- About The Author
What do you buy your favorite Mac user for Christmas, birthday, or Mothers/Fathers Day? We’re going to help you select the best gifts available for users of the MacBook, iMac, and Mac mini.
If not a brand new Mac (check out our Mac Buying Guide if your budget stretches that far), then how about one of the many available Mac accessories, starting at just $10 for something we think everyone should have in their tech kit bag—nad we have ideas for the best tech kit bags if your loved one doesn’t already own one? Throughout the year we have tested and reviewed the best Mac accessories from Apple and trusted companies, and we can recommend the best ones for the people on your list. Whether your friend or family member owns a MacBook Air or Pro, an iMac or a Mac mini, we’ve got some great Mac gift suggestions for you (and them).
In this Mac gift guide we’ll look at some great MacBook bags, power banks, docking stations, chargers, monitors, mice, cables and cheaper but still super-useful accessories, including affordable flash storage.
- MacBook bags and sleeve gifts
- MacBook power bank gifts
- Mac dock and hub gifts
- MacBook charger gifts
- Mac monitor gifts
- Mac mice gifts
- Mac keyboard gifts
- Mac mini gifts
- USB-C cable gifts
- Mac stocking stuffers
- Tech organizer bags gifts
Mac user Gift Guide: Bags and sleeves
The MacBook makes an excellent static computer, especially when hooked up to an external screen or Mac docking station, but it is of course also an excellent portable computer. MacBook owners are likely to carry their Mac laptops around with them either on a daily basis or every now and again.
We have tested the best MacBook bags and sleeves and most are available for all sizes of MacBook. Check that list to see the widest range of MacBook bags and sleeves you can select as a gift. here we’ve picked out a few of our favorites, from simple sleeves to rugged backpacks.
1. Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop Sleeve – Wireless Charging MacBook sleeve
Pros
- Luxury sleeve
- Includes MagSafe wireless charger
Price When Reviewed:
$129.99
Here’s a modern-looking MacBook sleeve with some very modern extras: not only will this padded vegan leather sleeve keep a MacBook safe from bumps and scrapes, it also includes two wireless chargers (one MagSafe compatible at 7.5W for your iPhone, and another 5W Qi charger for your AirPods) and can work as both a deskpad and mousepad to free your workspace of clutter.
Read our full
Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop Sleeve with Wireless Charging review
2. Troubadour Apex 3.0 Backpack – Super-stylish MacBook backpack
Pros
- Super stylish
- Plenty of storage
- Hidden iPhone and AirTag pockets
Price When Reviewed:
$245
Available in Black, Navy, Air Force Blue and Obsidian Green, this 25L MacBook backpack oozes chic luxury and premium design. There’s a generous selection of storage pockets, including one for your iPhone hidden in one of the straps, and there’s even a special pocket for an Apple AirTag. The laptop section is at the back and easy to access, with easily enough space for a 16-inch MacBook Pro. For more details read a full Troubadour Apex 3.0 review at Tech Advisor.
Troubadour sells a wide selection of premium MacBook cases and bags that might better suit your gifting choices.
3. Bellroy Laptop Sleeve – Premium MacBook protection sleeve
Pros
- Premium feel
- Magnetic closure
Price When Reviewed:
$55
Available in Black, Slate, Navy, Bronze and a leather-free Saltbush., the Bellroy Laptop Sleeve is a quality protector for your precious laptop. Outside, the woven, water-resistant material is made from 100% recycled PET bottles. Inside, the quilted microfiber lining features a soft ridge that holds your laptop in place. The sleeve snaps shut with a magnetic bumper.
Browser these other premium MacBook bag and case makers for more ideas:
Stubble & Co has a wide range of quality organized and comfortable MacBook-toting accessories (from $30 to $270) for daily commutes, gym sessions, weekend escapes and longer travels, many with padded laptop compartments and crafted from weatherproof, durable materials.
Laptop cases don’t get much more desirable than the leather range of Woolnut MacBook Sleeves, from $41 to $199.
Mac user Gift Guide: MacBook power banks
You might think that power banks are just for iPhones, and we have tested the best magnetic iPhone power banks. But there are larger-capacity power banks that carry enough charge to revitalize even a 16-inch MacBook that has run out of juice.
MacBook users shouldn’t leave home without one when heading off into the wilderness, on a road trip and flying long haul. Find more in our round-up of the best MacBook power banks.
1. Anker Prime laptop power banks – MacBook battery packs
Pros
- Up to 27650mAh portable power
- Up to 250W total power output
- Up to 3 ports
Compact enough to fit into a travel bag and powerful enough to top up even a high-end MacBook, Anker Prime laptop power banks make a great gift for MacBook users. Each has a smart screen that shows the remaining battery capacity, and some also display the charging usage of each port.
Even the entry-level Anker Prime 9600mAh Battery Pack packs a lot of portable juice, and can charge a MacBook at 65W Output. It even features its own built-in AC plug (U.S. only) so you can connect it straight to a wall power socket without the need for a USB-C charger. It is priced at $89.99 with a Black Friday price of $54.
The 12000mAh Anker Prime Power Bank features two ports with 65W laptop charging and a total 130W output. It’s also priced at $89.99 ($50 Black Friday).
With a maximum 200W output, three ports, and 100W laptop power delivery the 20000mAh Anker Prime Power Bank is maybe the sweet spot for most MacBook users. With an MSRP of $129.99 it’s reduced to just $78 around Black Friday.
At the top end, the 27650mAh Anker Prime Power Bank is powerful enough to totally recharge a 14-inch MacBook Pro and has a 140W USB-C output to fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Even the mighty 27650mAh battery pack is within the limits of most airlines for carry-on, so one of these could keep your laptop going right through a long-haul flight.
2. Ugreen 145W Power Bank for Laptop – MacBook battery pack
Pros
- Portable 25000mAh power
- 145W total power output
- 3 ports
Price When Reviewed:
$99.99
Boasting a meaty 25000mAh battery, this air-travel-friendly laptop power bank in a slab shape can recharge a fading MacBook Pro back to full power and still have enough power over to fast-charge your iPhone—indeed you can charge both at the same time, along with your AirPods or Apple Watch as this MacBook power bank has three USB ports. A handy LED battery-capacity percentage indicator shows you how much power is left before you leave home.
Ugreen
Ugreen also sells a range of Nexode Power Banks (pictured above) in the same pillar shape as the Anker Prime battery packs, with capacities of 12000mAh, 20000mAh and 25000mAh— available at the Ugreen store and Amazon and Amazon UK.
Mac user Gift Guide: Docks and hubs
A docking station or hub gives your connected MacBook access to multiple ports, many of which are more powerful than the few that are built into the MacBook. Look out for fast USB ports, Ethernet for wired Internet access, video display ports, card readers and more.
For more details and options, read our Best Picks roundup of the best Mac docks and hubs. For cheaper alternatives, check out the best USB-C adapters for Mac.
1. Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock – Extra storage MacBook docking station
Pros
- Thunderbolt 4
- 19 ports
- Built-in speedy SSD enclosure
- 100W PD
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
Price When Reviewed:
$299.99
It’s certainly an expensive gift but the Sonnet Echo 20 is our favorite Thunderbolt 4 dock, boasting a ton of fast ports plus an SSD enclosure so you can add up to 8TB of inexpensive flash storage to your MacBook’s desktop setup. With two downstream TB4 ports and a dedicated HDMI 2.1 port you can add up to two 4K displays at 60Hz or a single 6K screen at 60Hz—Macs packing a M2/M3 Pro/Max/Ultra chip support up to 8K for the single display option.
Read our full
Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock review
2. Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Dock – Great value dock
Pros
- 13 fast ports
- 2.5Gb Ethernet
- Two HDMI 2.1
- 30W USB-C port
Price When Reviewed:
$199.99
The Wavlink Thunderbolt Triple Display Docking Station is so named for its display capabilities with Windows laptops, and Macs can manage only two external 4K displays at a healthy 60Hz refresh rate, which is down to Apple limitations rather than the manufacturer. However, it is a great value two-display Thunderbolt 4 dock with fast USB ports, super-speedy Ethernet and top-end card readers.
Read our full
Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station review
3. Alogic DX3 Triple 4K Display Universal Docking Station – Add multiple displays
Pros
- 12 ports
- 100W PD
- Triple 5K displays
Price When Reviewed:
$299.99
It’s not Thunderbolt but this USB-C dock offers support for up to three 5K displays if you install DisplayLink software—even with for MacBooks with plain (non-Pro or Max) M1/M2/M3/M4 chips. It also packs a bunch of non-display ports, such as three USB-A and a spare downstream USB-C port, plus fast SD and MicroSD card readers and Gigabit Ethernet.
4. Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub – Add eight super-fast ports
Pros
- 4x Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 4x 10Gbps USB-A ports
- 150W total power
Price When Reviewed:
$199.95
You don’t need a full docking station if you add some adapters to the eight ports on this compact, powered Thunderbolt 4 hub. As well as three downstream TB4 ports, there are four fast USB-A ports. You can add Ethernet adapter and a card reader to create your own customizable and updateable dock.
Read our full Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Element Hub review.
5. Twelve South StayGo USB-C Hub – Super-portable MacBook dock
Pros
- 8 portable ports
Price When Reviewed:
$99.99
It might be only USB-C rather than Thunderbolt but this hub offers a lot in a very portable form: 85W passthrough charging via USB-C, 4K HDMI Port, three USB-A ports (including one that can charge at 7.5W), Gigabit Ethernet port, and both SD and MicroSD card readers. It comes with a 1m USB-C cable plus another 5-inch travel cable that sits within the hub case. There’s a cut-down version, the StayGo Mini, that has HDMI, one USB-A port and a headphone jack that’s built for the iPad but works just as well with a MacBook.
6. Baseus 7-in-1 USB-C Hub – Great-value USB-C hub
Pros
- 7 ports inc 4K HDMI
- 100W PD
- Great value
Price When Reviewed:
$39.99
You might not need 15 or more extra ports for your MacBook, and this USB-C hub has seven that should cover most needs, including 100W passthrough power and an HDMI port that supports a 4K display at 60Hz, as well as card reader ports for inexpensive extra storage. If you need Gigabit Ethernet the Baseus 9-in-1 goes that step further.
Mac user Gift Guide: MacBook chargers
Who wants to unwrap a present to find a USB-C charger inside? We think you might be surprised. Apples chargers are great but they are dull and mostly can charge just one device. Premium third-party USB-C chargers boast multiple ports and are still much smaller than the charger that Apple shipped with its MacBook. Some (wall chargers) plug straight into the wall socket, some have a longer power cable, and some USB power strips even include extra AC power sockets.
13-inch MacBooks require at least a 45W charger; 14-inch MacBooks can charge with a 65W charger but work best with 100W. The mighty 16-inch MacBook Pro demands a 140W charger for fast-charging.
For more details and options, read our Best Picks roundup of the best MacBook chargers.
1. Ugreen Nexode RG 65W USB C GaN Charger – Robot-shaped MacBook charger
Pros
- Cute robot-shaped charger
- 3 ports
Price When Reviewed:
$49.99
Chargers might ordinarily be quite dull, functional products but three cheers for Ugreen is at least trying to add some humor and personality into the market with the RobotGaN series-available in black or friendly robot purple. This micro-sized wall charger offers 65W power—enough to charge even a 14-inch MacBook Pro—and three ports: two USB-C and one old-school USB-A port. The LED screen shows a different expression based on the charging status and even the robot’s little boots are magnetic. If any charger makes a user smile, it’s this little but powerful cutie.
2. Anker 715 Nano II 65W Charger – Tiny MacBook charger
Pros
- Compact
- 65W
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Price When Reviewed:
$32.99
Suitable for all the MacBooks apart from the mighty 16-inch MacBook Pro, this dinky little charger is selected as a great gift because it is so tiny that it will delight anyone used to lugging around a giant charger.
3. OneAdaptr OneWorld135 – Travel-friendly MacBook charger
Pros
- 135W
- Four ports plus one power socket
- Travel plug adapter
Price When Reviewed:
$129
If your Mac user friend is a keen traveler, then this triple-function charger will save them from foreign-socket frustration. Not only does it boast four USB ports—two at 100W, enough for any MacBook plus a couple of other devices—it includes a passthrough power socket that will fit just about any nationality plug type and works as an adapter into US, European, Australian/NZ/Chinese and British wall sockets. There is also a slightly cheaper OneWorld100 available in Black if you don’t need all that simultaneous charging output.
4. UGreen Nexode 140W Charger – Best MacBook Pro charger
Pros
- 4 ports
- 100W
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Price When Reviewed:
$149.99
Suitable for all MacBooks, the four-port Ugreen 100W wall charger, with a foldable U.S. plug, is an excellent choice of versatile power adapter. It may not be as pocketable as some mini chargers, but it is still highly portable. It has multiple charging options, such as 65W for laptop and 30W PD for light-laptop powering plus lower outputs for phones and other devices. Using three ports you could charge at 45W, 30W and 22.5W. Using all four, it can support laptop power delivery at 45W and 30W plus two devices each at 10.5W. And it can fast-charge a 14in MacBook Pro using one of the 100W PD ports.
5. Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 GaN Desktop Charger – USB-C MacBook and MagSafe iPhone charger
Pros
- 3 ports
- Compact 2-in-1 charger
- 100W
- 15W MagSafe adjustable iPhone stand
Price When Reviewed:
$179.99
Here’s a compact desktop charger that offers two 100W USB-C ports and one 22.5W USB-A port at the front and a fully certified 15W MagSafe tiltable charging pad for iPhones 12/13/14/15. Using all four charging options you could power at 15W (iPhone), 45W MacBook via one of the USB-C ports, 25W with the other, and the remaining 10W via USB-A. It comes with a 2m power lead to connect to your wall socket.
Read our full
Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 GaN Desktop Charger review
Mac user Gift Guide: Mac monitors
They’re not the cheapest Mac gifts but a monitor sure does look impressive wrapped up. For cheaper Mac gifts, keep scrolling.
Every Mac mini needs a monitor but you can treat a MacBook user to a bigger screen, either connected directly or via a Mac docking station, see above. Here we have picked out a budget and a touchscreen monitor, and you’ll find more of our favorites in our feature on the best Mac monitors.
1. Samsung M8 Smart Monitor, 32-inch – Great budget 32-inch monitor
Pros
- Great price
- Bright, colourful 32-inch display
- Adjustable stand (tilt and height
Price When Reviewed:
$530
Unlike Apple’s 27-inch Studio Display, Samsung’s M8 provides a larger 32-inch display with 4K resolution and also allows you to adjust the height of the screen without paying an extra £400/$400. It doesn’t support color standards for graphic design or professional-level video-editing, but it does support the sRGB standard and HDR10 to produces a bright, colorful image that will work well for general office work and web browsing, as well as streaming video and simple graphics and photo-editing work.
2. Alogic Clarity Pro Touch Display – Touchscreen display for Mac
Pros
- Impressive 4K 60Hz touchscreen
- Fantastic adjustable stand
Price When Reviewed:
$1,199
Apple doesn’t offer any screens with a touchscreen display outside of its iPhones and iPads. The Alogic Clarity Pro Touch offers Mac users a large, premium touchscreen on a monitor that boasts one of the best height-adjustable, tilt and pivot stands that we’ve tested. It’s a precision, 10-point multitouch, One Glass Solution (OGS) touchscreen that combines the monitor’s protective layer with its input layer via a conductive medium keeps the Clarity Pro Touch’s screen as thin as the other Clarity monitors, while maintaining the monitor’s bright picture.
Mac user Gift Guide: Mac mice
Apple pioneered mouse use back in the 1980s but its own mice have always aimed for minimalism rather than functionality. There are better third-party mice out there for Mac users: check out our roundup of the best Mac mice.
You don’t get a mouse included when you buy a MacBook, but we find them much easier to use than the laptop trackpad.
1. Logitech MX Master 3S For Mac – Our favorite Mac mouse
Pros
- High-speed mode
- Horizontal scrolling
Price When Reviewed:
$99.99
Logitech’s MX Master 3S mouse has a smoothly curved surface that fits the palm very well, along with a thumb rest for extra comfort. It has the usual left/right buttons and a scroll wheel, but the scroll wheel works in two different modes, with a high-speed mode for zooming through long documents and web pages, as well as a slower mode that provides greater precision and tactile feedback. There’s also a second wheel on the side, which allows you to scroll horizontally, and two more buttons that can be programmed using the Options app. Battery life is good too, at around two months–twice that of Apple’s Magic Mouse or Trackpad.
Read our full
Logitech MX Master 3S For Mac review
2. Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse – Great budget Mac mouse
Pros
- Allows for very accurate scrolling
- Curved ergonomic design
- USB-C charging
Price When Reviewed:
$29.99
Having a spare mouse is useful if your Apple Magic Mouse runs out of juice and you have to charge it with the cable port unhelpfully situated on its base, leaving it unusable while charging. And MacBook owners will appreciate a mouse to free them from continual finger action on the MacBook’s trackpad.
Mac user Gift Guide: Mac keyboard
Up your desktop joy with a colorful new wireless keyboard or matching keyboard and mouse set. For more choices look through our round-up of the best Mac keyboards.
1. Logitech Pop Icon Combo – Colorful wireless keyboard and mouse
Pros
- Four fun colors to choose from
- Nice key feel and quiet keystroke
- Smart functions for AI and multitasking
- Long battery life
Price When Reviewed:
$69.99
The Logitech Pop Icon keyboard and mouse combo is available in four fun colors—Rose & Off White, Lilac & Off White, Graphite & GreenOff, and White & Orange—but isn’t just desk decoration. Both keyboard and mouse are great quality input devices. The fact that they liven up your office or home space is a real bonus.
Read our full
Logitech Pop Icon Combo review
Mac user Gift Guide: Mac mini gifts
We love Apple’s compact desktop Mac mini—twinned with your own choice of external display (see above), it’s much more flexible than the 24-inch iMac. We don’t appreciate its lack of front-mounted ports or the fact that you can’t add internal storage after purchase. But we do have some tips on how to upgrade a Mac mini and a Mac mini gift idea that will delight your mini friends.
1. Satechi Stand Hub for Mac mini with SSD Enclosure – Add ports and storage
Pros
- SSD bay
- Front-facing ports
- Card readers
Price When Reviewed:
$99.99
This inexpensive USB-C hub adds much-needed ports to the front of a Mac mini setup. These ports include SD and microSD card readers, which are lacking from the mini itself. You can buy a slightly cheaper version without the SSD enclosure but we advise spending the extra as it gives you the chance to add extra internal storage later. If your Mac mini has a 512GB internal SSD, then a 1TB or greater SSD within the hub offers excellent and speedy Time Machine backup or just extra space for your files.
The latest version accepts faster and cheaper NVMe SSDs.
If you or your loved one has the new 2024 Mac mini M4, you’ll have to wait till spring 2025 for the Satechi mini hub for that model.
Read our full
Satechi Stand & Hub for Mac Mini review
Mac user Gift Guide: USB-C cables
Oh come on, you’re seriously suggesting a power cable makes a great gift? Yes, we are. The cable that shipped with the MacBook is fine but there are more able, more colorful, and more robust cables that we’d be happy to unwrap from shiny gift paper.
Modern Macs use Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 cables, which look like USB-C cables but are capable of faster data transfers and charging. In general, buying a Thunderbolt 4 cable makes the most sense as it will be backward compatible with USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 and also future-proofed even if you don’t yet own a newer Mac.
Check out our roundup of the best USB-C and Thunderbolt cables for Mac. Pair one of these with a USB-C charger, see above, for the fastest charging, or connect and daisy-chain multiple devices via a Mac docking station.
1. Cable Matters Retractable USB-C 2.0 Charging Cable – Reduce cable clutter
Pros
- Retractable
- 60W
- Tangle free
Price When Reviewed:
$16.49
It’s USB-C rather than Thunderbolt and is pretty hopeless at data transfer (limited to USB 2.0’s 480MBps compared to Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps) but this is a neat travel cable or spare charging cable that won’t tangle in a pocket, bag, or drawer.
2. Casetify PowerThru USB-C to USB-C Cable – Fun and colorful
Pros
- Colorful
- 60W
Price When Reviewed:
From $28
Let’s face it, cables are just too black or white, so this colorful and robustly braided USB-C to USB-C charging cable should brighten anyone’s day.
3. Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable (1m) – Best Mac cable
Pros
- 240W Power Delivery
- 40Gbps data transfer
- 8K monitor support
- Robust braided design
Price When Reviewed:
$39.99
Thunderbolt 4 is backwards compatible and future-proof so is worth spending extra on when considering a new or spare cable for your Apple device. Yes, it’s more expensive than USB-C but this tough cable supports 240W PD 3.1 laptop charging, 40Gbps data transfer, and full 8K video support.
Mac user Gift Guide: Stocking stuffers
Aside from the gift ideas listed above, there are some great gifts available for smaller budgets.
1. SanDisk 128GB microSDXC Memory Card – Super-cheap portable storage
Pros
- Inexpensive portable storage
Price When Reviewed:
$25.99
Laptop storage is super expensive, but adding more storage in a tiny portable form is now possible at ridiculously low prices with MicroSD cards. With the included adapter this will slot into the current MacBook Pro range or connect with any Mac via a docking station or hub. Storage capacities go all the way up to 512GB— that’s half a terabyte!
2. PNY Elite-X Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 Flash Drive
Pros
- USB-C flash drive (64/128/256GB)
- Inexpensive portable storage
Price When Reviewed:
FRom $11.99
We’ve all got a drawer full of flash memory sticks with the old-school USB-A connector, but few of us have a USB-A port on our Macs anymore—now we have USB-C and Thunderbolt ports. Now you can delete those drives and throw them away or use them as locked-away backup drives, and replace them with USB-C flash drives that will fit your newer Mac and also will fit in whichever way up or down you place it in the port! There are quite a few USB-C flash drives available now but we’ll pick out the PNY Elite-X Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 Flash Drive, available in capacities from 64GB to 256GB and Read/Write speeds as high as 200/100MBps.
3. inChargeXS 4-in-1 Keyring Charger
Pros
- USB-C, USB-A and Lightning cables
- Device to device charging
Price When Reviewed:
$29.90
Despite the increasing ubiquity of USB-C as the cable connector for all devices, you are sure to have a Lightning device among your Apple goodies—say your AirPods case or Magic Mouse—or something that requires the older rectangular USB-A. The keyring-sized inCharge XS includes swappable connectors that will solve all your charging challenges. It can handle USB-C to USB-C, USB-A to USB-C, plus USB-C to Lightning and USB-A to Lightning options.
It supports charging up to 240W so can be used for your MacBook, and will also handle data transfers. It also includes a clever proprietary chip that allows for charging laptops, tablets, and Bluetooth speakers using a USB-C device as a power source when you are away from a power socket, so you could take power from one device to another. A tied protective cap keeps the cables protected when not is use.
4. Pureport Multi-Tool Phone Cleaning Kit
Pros
- Cleans fluff from USB ports
- Cleans cable connectors
Price When Reviewed:
$24.99
If your device stops charging via its cable, it’s understandable to think it’s old and broken. What is more likely the reason that your wired charging isn’t working is a dirty charging port or duff cable. Ports full of fluff is more likely with an iPhone that goes in and out of your pocket but if you travel often with your MacBook or leave your desktop Mac in one place uncleaned for months then you run the risk of messy ports. It’s good practice to occasionally clear out the ports (very gently!). This cleaning kit is designed for phones but will also work on Macs with Thunderbolt ports, cleaning ports, and cables. It will, of course, also come in handy with your iPhone. If your iPhone is older than the 15 family, you’ll need the version for Lightning ports.
iPhone Gift Guide: Tech organizer bags
Where do you keep all your accessories when not in use? Over at sister site Tech Advisor, we have tested the best tech organizer bags and there should be one that’s a perfect gift, whether as a desk tidy or for travels.
1. Tripped Tech Traveler
Pros
- Multiple compartments
- Color choices
Price When Reviewed:
$44.95
Available in a range of colors, the Tripped Tech Traveller is a premium, medium-sized tech bag that’s as happy sitting on your desk or in your tent as it is in your suitcase or backpack. It boasts multiple compartments and is tough enough for travel—made from tough 900D Polyester with weatherproof YKK zippers, soft protective padding, and a leather handle and zipper pulls. There are two internal pockets (one mesh so you can see what’s inside) for extra security for your most valuable kit, such as SD cards or a mini SSD. One external side pocket is big enough for your phone or whatever else you need fast access to. In the center, there are nine different-sized, divided, tight pockets for cables and small devices.
2. Bellroy Tech Kit
Pros
- Color choices
- Tough shell
Price When Reviewed:
$59
We also love this tech case that is very well organized and will open flat so you can easily see all your cables and gadgets at a glance. If you know a friend who carries a lot of gear with their iPhone, there’s no better gift.
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