I upgraded my MacBook Air with this essential cheap accessory

(Image credit: Apple / Future Plc.)

last updated 7 May 2023

When it comes to the best MacBooks, I'm fondest of my MacBook Air, which I bought recently to upgrade an older model so I could get in on Apple's silicon experience (whether you want M1 for a bargain, or more powerful and newer M2). I'm certainly not disappointed with the performance either – but the Mac experience is easy to upgrade for the better too.

It seems almost obvious to kit out your Apple setup with accessories to improve your workflow, which is exactly what this $45 accessory has done for me! I'm talking about Belkin's 7-in-1 adapter, which as someone who still uses older peripherals, means I can benefit from the full-size USB ports, output to a monitor via HDMI, and even plug in a full-size SD card from my camera.

I know, it might not be the most 'exciting' product on the planet, but trust me: for the sake of spending less than fifty bucks it'll deliver back its worth to you instantly. It doesn't eat up a MacBook Air USB-C/Thunderbolt port either really, as there's a Power Delivery 3.0 USB-C slot on the product itself (with 85W power).

Whether you're a creative using one of the best mirrorless cameras and want the ease of card input (there's microSD too), a heavy peripherals user at your desk, or you just need additional inputs whilst on-the-go, I've found Belkin's budget device to be a time-saver.

I think it looks pretty smart too, for something so affordable, especially considering the company makes uber-fancy $400 versions to sit on your desk. I'd rather pay the $45 thanks and am glad I did – I think it's a magical little box that I now can't live without, whether at the desk or when on the go.

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Mike is T3's Tech Editor. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 years and his beat covers phones – of which he's seen hundreds of handsets over the years – laptops, gaming, TV & audio, and more. There's little consumer tech he's not had a hand at trying, and with extensive commissioning and editing experience, he knows the industry inside out. As the former Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for 10 years where he furthered his knowledge and expertise, whilst writing about literally thousands of products, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more.