10 Non-Apple Accessories to Get For Your iOS, Mac Products

While Apple offers useful accessories for its products, there are many third-party accessories available that also work quite well—and are much cheaper.

The Twelve South BookArc Stand for MacBook is a $50 must-have for anyone who wants to keep a tidier desk. Once MacBook owners are done using the computer, they can simply place it into the arc-like stand instead of leaving it flat on their desk. The idea is to make the MacBook look like a file, sitting vertically and uncluttering otherwise cluttered desks.

Although Apple sells some nice storage solutions for Macs, the G-Technology G-Drive is worth considering. The device comes with 1TB of storage and works with USB 3.0 for faster data transfers. Better yet, it’s designed to be mobile, so it’s reinforced with aluminum and can be plugged into any Mac. One other note: It’s compatible with Apple’s automatic backup service Time Machine. It costs $80.

Bretford has developed a different way to mount the Apple Display. The company’s MobilePro is hung from a wall and comes with a retractable arm. On the other end, the device connects to the back of the display, leaving no need for the stand. The MobilePro is capable of rotating the monitor 360 degrees and folds to a 3-inch depth, so users can place the display against the wall. It’s a little expensive, though, at $140.

When watching a movie or videos on the iPad, it’s always nice to have a stand that props up the device, so users can sit back and relax. The Twelve South Compass 2 is exactly that. Compatible with the iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPad Mini lines, the $40 device is simply a stand that’s designed for users to watch videos. A secondary leg in the back can be flipped down to adjust its viewing angle, and it can be folded up and tucked into a bag for mobile use.

The folks over at FiftyThree have developed a stylus called Pencil. The $60 device, which looks like a real pencil, allows users to “write” on any iPad’s screen, effectively turning the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini into an iPad Pro, which already supports stylus input. That said, the Pencil is designed to work with FiftyThree’s Paper app, so don’t expect it to deliver stylus functionality across iOS.

The Belkin Dual Charging Dock is designed for those who have multiple Apple devices and want to charge them at the same time and in the same place. What’s more, it’s designed for different generations of Apple devices. So, on the front is the newer Lightning connector, which can be used to charge devices with that port. On the back, Belkin offers the older 30-pin connector. The idea, according to Belkin, is to allow customers to charge their iOS devices “regardless of … age.” It’s a little pricey, though, at $80.

Belkin gets another nod in this roundup with its TrueClear InvisiGlass Screen Protector. Fitting both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s lines, the screen protector is designed to minimize screen damage, like scratches and scuffs. While that means it likely won’t deliver a shatterproof iPhone display, it’ll at least protect the screen far more effectively than if it’s left bare. The accessory costs $35.

Apple might sell all kinds of iPhone cases, but Evutec adds another dimension to its design. The company has developed a wooden case that not only protects the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s lines from damage, but also adds the interesting design element. The stylish case is shock-resistant and comes with TPU lining to prevent the iPhone from scratches that could otherwise be caused by the case. The Evutec Wood SI Snap Case is available for $50.

For those who want a case that can double as a wallet, there are options. One of those options is the Sena Antorini. The device is designed to protect the iPhone from falls and, when closed, completely covers the screen. However, it also has a pouch on the inside that can be used to hold a driver’s license, credit cards, cash and more. The leather-based case costs $65.

For those who don’t want to see the Apple TV all the time, Innovelis has a solution. The company’s TotalMount Pro is a mount that allows users to attach the Apple TV to the back of their television. In addition, the mount includes a remote holder, so users can keep the Apple TV remote with the actual device while it’s not in use. One other tidbit: It includes “cable management units,” so users can organize the Apple TV power and HDMI cables. Not bad for $30.