Picking up a laptop in the Black Friday sales can save you hundreds. But why stop there? You can save even more money by accessorizing your laptop with the extra things it needs while the sales last.
What kind of things might it need? A laptop stand, external hard drive or SSD, and peripherals like a mouse and keyboard will make using your laptop a whole lot easier. Then again, you’ll also want a laptop sleeve and surge protector to keep it safe and sound and extend its lifespan. Here we’ve put together a shortlist of laptop essentials to consider as you shop.
Laptop essentials to consider
- USB hub: Get one to expand the number and kind of ports available for your laptop. Hiearcool USB-C hub is a very affordable and capable USB-C hub with myriad ports, including 2 x USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots, and a HDMI port. Get if for $30 on Amazon.
- Laptop stand: A laptop stand can position your laptop so that it’s more comfortable to use, aids ventilation, and protects it from bumps and scratches. The Lamicall laptop stand is adjustable and portable and is large enough to accommodate laptops ranging in size from 10 to 17.3 inches. See it on Amazon from $36.
- External SSD storage: An SSD is the fastest form of external storage and it’s also less prone to physical damage than an external hard drive. Samsung’s T7 1TB portable drive offers blisteringly fast data transfer speeds and is currently 38 percent off the marked price. Get it on Amazon for $99.
- External hard drive: This is the cheapest option for storing your files if you need a lot of storage space and don’t have a big budget. Western Digital is a household name for HDD storage — its My Passport HDD comes with password protection and defense against ransomware to keep your files safe. The 2TB option is available for $69.
- Laptop sleeve: A good quality sleeve will protect your laptop from the inevitable bumps, scratches, and drops that happen over time. Amazon’s choice for laptop sleeve is the BOOEUDI, which is shockproof and made from neoprene. Browse sizes at Amazon.
- Surge protector: Use one to stop shifts in power voltage from damaging your laptop. The Belkin 6-outlet Wall Surge protector is ideal for a laptop, providing you with six AC outlets and 2 USB-A ports to charge your laptop safely. It’s just $22 on Amazon.
- Cooling pad: A cooling pad can prevent your laptop from overheating and extend its lifespan. The Havit is portable and comes with USB and power switch design and is ideal for 15.6 to 17-inch laptops. It’s down to $28 on Amazon.
- Mouse: Using a mouse instead of just your laptop’s trackpad is essential if you’re going to do any kind of gaming on it; it can also speed up productivity if your laptop is mainly used for work. A mouse you can rely on for all your needs, be it work or gaming, and that feels comfortable is the Razer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeed. Find it for $60 on Amazon.
- Keyboard: In the right setting, a full-sized external keyboard can make typing or playing games on your laptop a lot quicker and easier. It’s expensive but the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro Wireless is one of the most comfortable keyboards we’ve used at PCWorld for work and gaming thanks to the linear optical switches in its keys. The wireless version costs $199 at Amazon or else a wired version is $250 at Razer.
- Docking station: A docking station prevents you having to swap out dongles and adapters to fit your laptop’s limited number of ports. The Anker 568 USB-C docking station provides you with 11 ports for your devices, including one with USB 4 capability for 100W charging of your laptop. Find it for $241 on Amazon.
- Antivirus software: Antivirus software is essential from the first day you use your laptop, to protect it from viruses, malware, hackers, and other online threats. As well as virus protection, Norton 360 Deluxe offers a comprehensive protection against threats including antivirus scans, malicious link and attachment screening, dark web monitoring, a VPN, and parental controls. It’s available for just $20 on the PCWorld Software store.
- VPN subscription: A VPN subscription will provide you with anonymity and privacy while you’re online by hiding your online activity. ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs, featuring a comprehensive selection of countries and extra security features like ad- and tracker-blocking and a password manager. See the ExpressVPN Black Friday offer.
If you plan on picking up more than one item in the Black Friday sales, be sure to also check out our handy accessory lists for monitors, desktop PCs, TVs, smartphones, and tablets, which tick off the main accessories you’ll need for each of these items.