Honest Reviews & Buy/Skip Lists

Honest Reviews & Buy/Skip Lists

ByEvan Parker

If you spend all day (and night) working from a laptop like I do, you know your gear either makes your life easier—or just eats up space and budget. I’ve tested a lot of stuff over the years while chasing deadlines everywhere from North Carolina to Lisbon. So here’s my brutally honest round-up: what actually sticks around on my desk, what I regret buying, and the few things I wish I’d found much sooner. No hype, no tech-bro nonsense. Just real results, organized by category, with quick buy/skip bullets and notes from the trenches.

Stands & Laptop Risers

Current Desk Heroes:

  • Rain Design mStand — The classic. Heavy, stable, and keeps my MacBook cool. Survived three international moves. Downside: No height adjustment.
  • Moft Invisible Stand — Folds flat, weighs nothing, sticks to your laptop. Great for travel, but not for marathon sessions.

Buy if:

  • You want your laptop at eye level to save your neck.
  • You need portability (Moft) or rock-solid stability (mStand).

Skip if:

  • Your desk already has a riser, or you use an external monitor full-time.
  • You hate anything that adds weight to your bag.

“I once tried a $12 Amazon stand that collapsed mid-Zoom call. Never again.”

Product Pros Cons Price (USD)
Rain Design mStand Sturdy, reliable, cools laptop Fixed height, bulky for travel ~$45
Moft Stand Portable, lightweight, cheap Not for heavy typing, limited angles ~$25

USB-C Hubs & Docks

What I’m using now:

  • Anker 7-in-1 USB-C Hub — Never overheats, all the ports work, and it survived a coffee spill. Short cable, though.
  • Caldigit TS3 Plus Dock — Overkill for most, but if you’re running dual monitors and Ethernet, it’s flawless. Pricey, but worth it if you’re stationary.

Buy if:

  • You plug in more than two things at once (mouse, keyboard, SSD, camera, etc).
  • You want one cable to rule them all.

Skip if:

  • You mostly work from a tablet or don’t need extra ports.
  • You’re on a tight budget (the Caldigit is definitely a splurge).

“Returned three hubs that dropped Wi-Fi or made my screen flicker. Anker’s the only one that just works.”

Product Pros Cons Price (USD)
Anker 7-in-1 Hub Reliable, compact, affordable Short cable, can get warm ~$35
Caldigit TS3 Plus Loads of ports, stable power Expensive, not portable ~$250

Desk Mats & Surfaces

Still using:

  • Orbitkey Desk Mat — Looks good, hides coffee stains, and has a magnetic cable organizer. Not cheap, but after two years, still looks fresh.

Returned:

  • Random PU Leather Mats from Amazon — Cheap, but curled at the edges after a month and smelled weird. Lesson learned.

Buy if:

  • You want to protect your desk and keep cables tamed.
  • You like having a designated “work zone.”

Skip if:

  • You’re fine with a bare desk.
  • You eat at your desk (crumbs will haunt you).

“Desk mats are like phone cases: you only notice the bad ones.”

Product Pros Cons Price (USD)
Orbitkey Desk Mat Durable, good cable management Pricey, shows dust ~$80
Amazon PU Leather Mat Cheap, lots of colors Curls, chemical smell ~$15

Lamps & Lighting

Wish I’d bought sooner:

  • BenQ ScreenBar — Clips on top of your monitor, no glare, adjustable color temp. I finally caved after a year of eye strain. Not cheap, but worth every penny.

Still in rotation:

  • Xiaomi Mi Desk Lamp Pro — Sleek, dimmable, and works with Google Home. Great for side lighting.

Buy if:

  • You work in the evenings or in a basement (been there).
  • You want less eye strain and no desk clutter.

Skip if:

  • Your workspace already has perfect lighting.
  • You’re allergic to anything “smart.”

“The ScreenBar is the difference between ‘I’m working late’ and ‘I’m going blind.’”

Product Pros Cons Price (USD)
BenQ ScreenBar Space-saving, great light quality Expensive, needs monitor ~$110
Xiaomi Mi Desk Lamp Pro Sleek, smart features Limited reach, app required ~$60

Audio: Headphones, Speakers, and Mics

What’s earned a permanent spot:

  • Sony WH-1000XM5 — Best noise cancellation I’ve used, comfy for hours, battery life is real (35h+ easily). If you’re on Zoom a lot, the mic is just “OK.”
  • Rode NT-USB Mini Mic — Plug and play, sounds great for meetings and podcasts, small enough to stash in a drawer.

Returned:

  • Jabra 75t Earbuds — Good for the gym, but call quality tanked after a few months. Not for work calls.

Buy if:

  • You want to block out family noise, traffic, or construction.
  • You record podcasts or do a lot of calls.

Skip if:

  • You don’t need noise cancellation.
  • You never use a mic for work.

“Bought the Sony XM5s for a transatlantic flight—now I wear them for every focus session.”

Product Pros Cons Price (USD)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Top-tier ANC, long battery, comfy Pricey, mic is average ~$350
Rode NT-USB Mini Great sound, easy setup No mute button, short cable ~$100
Jabra 75t Small, good for music Poor call quality, battery fades ~$120

Quick Reference Checklist

  • Best Stand for Travel: Moft Invisible Stand
  • Best All-Around Hub: Anker 7-in-1
  • Desk Mat Worth the Money: Orbitkey
  • Lighting Upgrade: BenQ ScreenBar
  • Headphones to Actually Keep: Sony WH-1000XM5
  • Mic for Remote Work: Rode NT-USB Mini

Useful Links & Tools

Some links above may be affiliate. You pay the same price, and this blog may earn a small commission. Thanks for supporting honest, hands-on reviews—no sponsorships, just gear that works (or doesn’t).

Similar Posts