Hands-on: Five must-have Mac accessories to simplify your setup

Since I've been overhauling my setup in conjunction with the new Mac Studio over the past few weeks, I've also taken the opportunity to add a few new accessories. This includes a new OWC Thunderbolt Dock, a nifty Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad accessories from Twelve South, and more. Head below to learn more.

OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock

One of the more essential additions to my setup is the OWC Thunderbolt Dock, a version that my colleague Jeff Benjamin got his hands on earlier this year.

The OWC Thunderbolt Dock I used in my setup offers four Thunderbolt 4 ports supporting transfer speeds up to 40Gb/s, four USB-A ports, an SD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack and Gigabit Ethernet. I mounted the dock on the bottom of my desk so it's hidden and out of the way, but its ports are still accessible.

The OWC Thunderbolt 4 dock really isn't as useful on the new Mac Studio as it is when I use the 14-inch MacBook Pro in clamshell mode. That's because Mac Studio offers its own versatile selection of ports.

But if you're looking for a way to free up ports in Mac Studio itself, then this OWC dock is a great option. It's also great for clearing out your desk and minimizing snaking around the back of your Mac Studio. If you order from OWC, I also highly recommend the company's Thunderbolt 4 cables, which are much cheaper than Apple's.

Magic Keyboard with Touch ID

If you're using an Apple Silicon-powered Mac and haven't added the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID in settings, you're in serious trouble Missed opportunity. Being able to finally use Touch ID on a desktop Mac is a game changer. This includes Apple Pay authentication, access to your password manager, and making App Store purchases.

Of course, this means you have to be happy with the form and design of the Apple Magic Keyboard, but not everyone is. I'm still hoping Apple will release a standalone "Magic Button" with Touch ID at some point, but for now, this is a must.

Magic Bridge

Speaking of Magic Keyboard, if you’re using your Magic Keyboard with your Magic Trackpad, popular accessory manufacturer Twelve South A very nice MagicBridge accessory is provided. MagicBridge turns the separate Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad into "an all-in-one control surface that organizes your workspace."

You do lose some flexibility in moving the trackpad around the desktop, but in my setup I prefer the one-piece design. I use the Logitech MX Master next to the Magic Trackpad, so I can move the MX Master around as needed, and have a clean setup with the Magic Bridge bringing my Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad together.

Stream Deck

I’ll have another more in-depth story later, but I also recently added a Stream Deck to my Mac setup . I'm still learning the world of the Stream Deck, but now I use it for Mac automation and smart home control purposes.

Satechi Leather Table Mat

#Last but not least, the accessory I am most frequently asked about when I feature it in product pictures Probably the Satechi Eco-Leather Deskmate. This is purely a visual addition to my setup, with a leather desk pad to rest my keyboard and trackpad on. Made from premium eco-leather, it's designed to protect your desk while also serving as a soft resting place for your wrists and hands.

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