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Let’s say that you get the majority of your work done on a laptop, and you are looking for some cool accessories to compliment your everyday computing task. Well you are in luck because that is what this article is all about. We went on a shopping spree to find some of the coolest accessories that can come in clutch in certain situations.
Some of the items that you are about to see in this article are actually my personal favorites, and a few are things that I use pretty much every day. If you are interested in any of these I will make sure leave links down below.
Webcam Cover
First up on the list is a simple webcam cover, it attaches to the laptop via an adhesive layer at the back, and its primary function is to cover your webcam when it’s not in use. When you need to use it for meetings so you can simply slide the cover to expose the camera and you are good to go. It’s only 0.6mm thick don’t have to worry about closing the laptop lid. I will say that with modern laptops coming with bezel-less displays you might actually have some trouble installing this given the lack of bezels for the adhesive to actually stick onto. A great example would be this Razer Book 13, there is just no way for me to install this webcam cover, and the same goes for my Dell XPS 15. However, if you are on a slightly older machine or a Macbook then it works really, really well.
Nanda USB Type-C to USB Type-A Adapter
Next up is this USB Type-C to USB Type-A adapter from Nanda. Now this is a 2-pack variant and you can pick it up in different colors, like space gray, silver, rose gold, and yes those are all colours meant to compliment Macbooks, but nothing stops us from using this on a Windows laptop because modern devices these days do come with Type-C ports that support either Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.2 Gen2 spec. The transfer speeds are exactly the same, so you are not losing anything in terms of bandwidth. If you have a laptop that only features USB Type-C ports, something like the Dell XPS 17 that I personally use on a regular basis, then these adapters are excellent and they will come in super handy.
Oxo Screen Cleaner
This next item is something that I consider essential for laptops. It is a laptop and screen cleaner from Oxo, and it comes in this portable form factors so it’s easier to tuck into your backpack. On one side, you this retractable brush that can be used to dust off part of the keys where there is dust particles and debris and things like that, and then on the other side there is this little cap that covers a microfiber cloth, which can be used to simply wipe off the dust on the display. You can also use this to wipe off the smudges on your smartphone, so it’s such an awesome little tool to have as an everyday carry.
SanDisk Dual Drive
Next up is the SanDisk Dual Drive, which is a flash drive that you can pick up in different storage sizes ranging from 16GB all the way up to 256GB. The main trick up its sleeve is the fact that it has a retractable USB Type-C connector on one end and a USB Type-A connector on the other, so this makes it easier to transfer files between a laptop/smartphone to a desktop or the other way around. Honestly, I just cannot emphasize how many times this has come in handy here at the studio, especially when transferring data logs from thin-and-light laptops – which only feature USB Type-C for the most part – to my desktop. It’s such an awesome little thing, and the cool thing is that if you have a smartphone and you want to offload some of the data like photos and videos to your desktop then this is such a useful accessory. All you need to do is plug this into your smartphone, offload some of the data using the SanDisk Memory Zone app, pop it into your desktop, and then back it up.
LED Ring Light
Given that most of us work from home these days chances are you might also be working in a poorly lit environment, and given how crappy laptop webcams the quickest and cheapest way to improve your video quality is by adding more light. That is where this selfie LED ring light comes into play. There is a button right next to the port that cycles between different color temperatures to suit your style, and if you hold that button, you can adjust the brightness level. Now there are a few things to keep in mind before you pull the trigger on something like this. First of all, if you have a laptop with thinner bezels, when you put this on it’s going to cover a portion of the display, which might be a little annoying. Secondly, if you are wearing glasses like I am and you turn this thing on you are going to see the ring light reflect off those glasses, which doesn’t look that pleasing. But if that’s okay with you, then I guess that shouldn’t be a problem. Other than that it does get the job done, especially if you are working in a low light environment need to add a little bit of light. You can also use it on a smartphone to take better quality selfies.
Jelly Comb Wireless Mouse
Next up we have the Jelly Comb 2.4GHz wireless mouse. Now you might be asking yourselves “It’s a mouse, what’s so cool about it?” Well if you are tired of wireless mice that only come with a USB Type-A receiver I’ve actually got some good news for you, this mouse actually comes with a pretty low profile Type-C receiver so it’s perfect for thin laptops. As a bonus you also get a USB Type-A adapter, so you can leave that one on your desktop, leave a Type-C on your laptop, and then switch back and forth by just pressing the button on the mouse, which works really, really well.
There is also a nice little compartment to store these adapters, which is convenient for travel. The mouse is powered by a AA battery, but keep in mind that it does not include one so you will have to arrange that separately. Also, there is no Bluetooth support, which is something that I can live with considering the price. As for the mouse itself, it’s pretty basic, the body is mostly made out of plastic and the primary left and right buttons feel mushy. In other words it’s the opposite of tactile.
They actually market this as one of their features in the product webpage, which is interesting. There is a DPI shift button right beside the scroll wheel that cycles between 1000, 1500, 2400 DPI, and the tracking has been pretty good from my everyday usage. I wouldn’t use this for gaming particularly, but if you just want something for general use this will get the job done. Plus, really the ultimate reason to buy this mouse is that that Type-C receiver is just awesome.
elec Space Wireless Mouse
This next item is something that I thought would give you a nice giggle. This is the elec Space wireless mouse shaped like a ladybug. When I saw this on Amazon I thought to myself that I needed to try it out to see if it’s actually any good, but also it’s so cute. Now this isn’t a Bluetooth mouse, it only uses a 2.4GHz wireless receiver, and there is a nice little compartment where you can store that receiver. And also keep in mind that it’s powered by a single AAA battery. Now this isn’t a practical mouse by any stretch of the imagination because I experienced some weird liftoff distance issues. It was actually pretty horrible, so gaming or just even regular usage is trash. Also, there is a DPI shift button that is hidden in one of the black spots, which I think it’s well thought out. Overall though this is something that I would use as a prop, but definitely not as a main mouse.
Mushroom Stand
Next up we have something called the Mushroom Stand – actually that’s what it says on the box – but it’s really a portable laptop stand. Basically, you get these two risers that are magnetically attached to each other for portability, and once you detach them you can simply place them on your desk and then rest your laptop on top for a slightly elevated angle. This gives you get a more comfortable viewing and typing experience, plus it also helps with airflow, which is a nice bonus. Now the stands themselves are wrapped in the silicon material, so they do a pretty good job of holding the laptop in place. I will say that the stainless steel o-rings do tend to come off easily, so you are better off removing them and then using it as is. Other than that this is a nice little accessory to have if you want to get a more ergonomic laptop setup.
RAV Power Charger
Moving on we have a USB-C charger from a RAV. What is really cool about this charger is that it features two USB Type-C ports that support PD charging up to 65W, and there are two USB Type-A ports that can be used to charge your smartphone or your tablet. Now there are a few things to keep in mind before you pull the trigger on something like this. The first thing is to make sure that your laptop actually supports PD charging. Most modern laptops do come with a Type-C port, but if you want to make sure that your laptop features it you can just go to the manual or the product webpage for your respective laptop and just check to see if it supports PD. The Razer Book 13 that I have over here supports it up to 65W, so this works perfectly. The other thing to keep in mind is that the power output distribution can vary depending on how many ports you actually use at the same time. If are using both Type-C ports at once you are only going to get 45W and 18W respectively, or if you are using all the ports you won’t be able to get the full power delivery for your laptop.
Now the charger itself is pretty compact, it’s smaller than the OEM charger that Razer provides for the Book 13, so that is pretty cool. Keep in mind that you do not get a USB Type-C to Type-C cable in the box to charge your laptop, that is something that you will have to purchase separately. You also have to make sure that you can an E-MARK certified cable like this one that supports up to a 100W, so that’s something to keep in mind.
RAW Power Battery Bank
Next up we have a portable battery bank from RAV Power. Now the cool thing about this power bank is that it comes with a USB Type-C port that supports PD charging up to 60W, which is nice if you want to charge your laptop when it’s inside your backpack. Now I wouldn’t necessarily use this if you are doing some intensive tasks, because it only supports 60W PD charging. and if you are using something that supports 65W you won’t be able to get the full potential of that CPU. It’s really meant for charging your laptop and not really running something off of it. I think it could do idle tasks if you want to just extend your battery life, but nothing intensive.
Laptop Fan Cooler
The last accessory that we have is a laptop fan cooler. Now this isn’t one of those traditional cooling pads where you get this large fan at the bottom, instead it’s a side mounting solution that attaches to the side vent of your laptop. Out of the box you get the cooler itself, a USB cable to power the fan, a plastic plate for temporarily mounting the unit, a metal junction plate with 3M adhesive and foot pads for a permanent setup, and silicon shrouds for different sized laptops. Setting it up is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is find the right silicon shroud for your laptop that fits appropriately, attach it to the cooler, pop on the plastic plate at the bottom, place it next to the side vent, and then use the pre-installed clips to secure the cooler in place. After all of that you just have to plug in the included USB cable to power on the cooler.
The cooler itself comes with an LED display that shows the temperature in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, and it can be adjusted by holding the M button for 3 seconds. There is also an auto setting that is enabled by default when you power on the cooler, it adjust the fan speeds based on temperatures, but you can set the speeds manually by pressing the plus and minus button. The RPM range is between 2600-5000, which does get really, really loud. You seriously need some noise canceling headphones because it gets really loud.
One thing to consider is compatibility, because this is not meant to work with every single laptop that’s out there in the market. It is only specifically designed with laptops with a clear side vent or a rear vent where you can attach the shroud. In fact, if you go through the product page of this cooler, it will tell you what kind of laptops it supports. Obviously you can’t use this on a thin-and-light laptop like the Razer Book 13, but anything that is 0.8″ or 20mm and thicker will work perfectly fine. Basically, compatibility is certainly going to depend from one laptop to the other, so make that your laptop is listed on the product page.
I did end up testing this on an ROG Zephyrus GA502, it is a few years old so it’s a good representation of how this thing will actually work. Oddly, the side vent on my laptop is on the right hand side, so when you have it in this position the LCD display is going to be facing the other way around and you can’t really see the settings. Now if you’re intrigued as to whether this fan actually works, let’s take a look at temperatures over time. As you can see without the cooler installed the CPU temperature spike all the way up to 87°C, and then a few minutes later they dipped back around 81°C. With the cooler installed and set to auto mode it still spiked to 87°C, but as time goes on it dipped down to 79°C, which is a few degrees cooler than before. Now with the fan set to 3,800 RPM it brings down the CPU temps by a few more degrees. When you max out the RPM at 5,000 the CPU temps get even lower at around 75°C.
Now I was curious to see if this would affect clock speeds, but that didn’t really happen. That makes sense because this cooler’s useful depends from one laptop to the other. If you have a laptop with a CPU that runs really hot and that throttles, then something like this can help dissipate that heat and potentially help boost those clock speeds. However, in my case with the Ryzen 7 3750H doesn’t run super hot so it made no difference. This is a cool accessory for sure, and I love the fact that even on one of their product pages they made it look like the front grill of a Ferrari sports car. Overall it gets the job done and it’s a cool accessory, but I’m going to let you all make the call on whether you find this thing particularly useful.
Conclusion
That concludes my haul of cool accessories for your laptop. Let me know what you think and if you found any of these interesting. Like I said earlier some of these items that you have seen are things that I use on a regular basis, and if you have come across any cool accessories let me know because I’m already on the lookout more stuff.
Webcam Cover – https://geni.us/camcover (note warnings from Apple!)
USB C to A – https://geni.us/CtoA
OXO Cleaner – https://geni.us/OXOcleaner
Sandisk Dual Drive – https://geni.us/dualdrive
Webcam Light – https://geni.us/camlight
Jelly Comb Mouse – https://geni.us/jellymouse
Ladybug Mouse – https://geni.us/bugmouse
Magnetic Laptop Stand – https://geni.us/lapstand
Ravpower PD Charger – https://geni.us/PDcharger
Anker USB-C Hub – https://geni.us/USBHUB
PD Charging Cable – https://geni.us/PDcable
RavPower 60W PD Power Bank – https://geni.us/RAV60W
Laptop Cooler (LOL!) – https://geni.us/Lapcool