I’ve been using Macs for well over a decade, and I’ve tried out a lot of different accessories over the years. But with my new laptop, I’ve just been rocking the necessities. So, this is my essential M4 MacBook accessory guide.
Device Protection and Portability
Starting off, let’s talk about protection. MacBooks are fairly strong, but they are susceptible to rain plus bumps and bruises. And if you’re like me, you don’t want to cause unnecessary harm to your expensive device.
So, I rock a case sleeve that protects my device from any harsh weather conditions or bumps that I carry around wherever I go. This one lets me carry my laptop and its accessories with ease. So, it’s an amazing all-in-one, especially on the go. In the section, I’ll also add that you can buy an accessory pouch, which can be super handy for the things we’ll be talking about next.
External Storage Solutions
External SSD for Macs. Configuring your device with more storage than the base model is expensive, and you can’t ever get more after that. So, especially for YouTube, I use external SSDs. These enable me to have essentially limitless storage and backup options at my disposal whenever necessary. I can swap them out anytime and it still costs way less than upgrading the internal storage.
One thing to note is since I travel a lot as a college student, I always opt for the weather resistant external SSDs because those always give me peace of mind in the event of inclement weather.
Maintenance and Daily Essentials
Following that, here’s a quick one, but for those who like to keep their devices clean and also those who have glasses, I like to keep microfiber cloths handy. I keep one in my laptop sleeve and one in my backpack, which both give me super easy access to cleaning my devices. Super simple, super cheap, and super easy. So, I have a few.
Connectivity and Ports
Now, one thing that many of us probably need at least one of is a USB dock. As Apple’s been redesigning its laptops, the company has been bringing back the old ports we know and love, such as HDMI and a micro SD card slot on the MacBook Pros. But if you don’t have a MacBook Pro or you need a different port from what’s available, such as Ethernet, I’d suggest opting for a USB dock with an assortment of different ports, so you don’t need a separate converter for every port. I’d suggest this only if you need it though. Like for me with my microphone, my Blue Yeti. Yeah, I need a USB dock for the USBA connection.
Power and Charging Convenience
One thing that I actually have been able to survive without thus far, though I know many of my classmates cannot, is an extension cable. If possible, I’d recommend finding yourself a USBC extension cable that’s braided. So, you can always just add more to your cable and still have the magnetic mags safe for easy charging when necessary. That way, if you’re ever in a place that doesn’t have a lot of AC outlets, you can always use your extension cable to get to where they might be less convenient.
Audio Gear for Public Workspaces
And lastly, yes, my last essential recommendation is some solid audio gear. I rock the AirPods 4s, which are great for me, but you can definitely go with any solid headphones if that’s more of your style. Point is, when using laptops, you typically will work in a variety of different places. So, if your work involves listening to audio, like video editing, headphones will go a long way in helping you be as productive as possible in a public environment.
And that was my list of essential MacBook accessories. What do you think? Are there any you’d add? Let me know in the comment section down below. my name is Sirius. It’s spelled like spots like s rooster. Just take the tur. Thank you very much for reading and have a wonderful day.
