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I am a freelance writer who works from home. I like to make the most of my remote job by traveling, but I work from my desk for at least two weeks a month. Earlier this year, I realized that my laptop wasn’t cutting it for me, and I purchased the M4 Mac Mini, which I consider to be the best value-for-money Apple device.
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Alongside the compact M4-powered device, I had to purchase a few other accessories. Over the span of six months, they’ve held up well, and most of them are now on sale ahead of the holidays. Here’s the gear I’ve been using to get work done, along with my recommendations for it.
This Satechi accessory is made for those who want to add more storage and ports to their Mac Mini. It is designed to fit the Apple computer’s enclosure and sit underneath it. So it looks clean on the desk, unlike other port extenders that might protrude.
One of the USB-C ports is occupied in connecting it to the Mac Mini. Additionally, you get three USB-A ports, with two featuring USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 connections that support up to 10 Gbps. The third one is a USB-A 2.0 port, capable of transferring data at speeds of up to 480 Mbps. There’s another SD 4.0 UHS-II slot, which operates at up to 312 MBps.
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On the inside, you get an M.2 NVMe SSD slot to add storage to the Mac Mini. According to the company, the SSD enclosure element supports a bandwidth of up to 10Gbps, depending on the inserted drive and other usage factors. This is a solid device to add to your work desk, especially with frequent discounts.
The Nomad Universal Cable is another great addition to your workspace, as it eliminates the need to juggle multiple cables. It is a USB-C to -C connector with built-in adapters for USB-A and Micro-USB. I love it because I don’t have to look for a Micro-USB charger for my Hyperice massager or a Type-A wire for data transfer from my dad’s Windows laptop.
The Type-C Nomad Universal Cable also offers up to 240W (5A at 48V) charging with a USB-C PD compatible charger. It is built to last with a Kevlar Aramid fiber and nylon outer weave. Additionally, it features an integrated cable tie to facilitate cable management.
I use this Logitech mouse for its ergonomic design and multipurpose buttons. I have complete control over how the 3S glides, clicks, and interacts with what’s on-screen without feeling fatigue in my wrist. You also get “Quiet Click” switches, which produce 90% less noise than the MX predecessor.
The MX Master 3S is paired with the Logi Options+, and you can use it to assign functions to the seven programmable buttons. It is the most productive mouse I have ever used. On the bottom of the mouse is a combination of four skates and a Darkfield high precision sensor, which help glide the MX Master 3S effortlessly on my deskmat.
I used to have a Logitech MX Keys S for the longest time but the full-size version wasn’t for me. I needed something compact to fit my desk more comfortably. If you can type on a minimal slanted angle and need a compact Bluetooth keyboard, the Satechi Slim X1 is a solid choice. It also looks pretty similar to the Apple Magic Keyboard.
It offers a soft key response, which I like. However, if you prefer tack-sharp feedback on your keyboard, it is better to look elsewhere. That said, I love having backlit keys, multi-device support and more in a slim profile.
I bought the Marshall Emberton 2 as my portable Bluetooth speaker three years ago, but it has become my desktop speaker now. The Mac Mini’s speakers are average, and whenever I need to watch a movie on the 27-inch monitor, I pair it with my Emberton 2.
This Marshall speaker offers clear and pleasing sound without sounding too sharp in higher frequencies and with a good bass response. It was also my go-to Bluetooth speaker deal for the holidays.
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