Level Up Your Home Office: Essential Gear for Ultimate Productivity

The shift to remote work is undeniable. But a makeshift home setup can hinder productivity and leave you longing for the well-equipped office. Fear not! With the right tools and accessories, you can transform your home workspace into a powerhouse, making you wonder why you ever commuted in the first place.

We’ve navigated the world of work-from-home, rigorously testing hardware to identify the best essentials. Here’s our curated list to elevate your home office:

1. Crystal-Clear Communication: Anker PowerConf C200 Webcam

Video meetings are unavoidable. Upgrade from your laptop’s subpar camera with the Anker PowerConf C200. This 2K webcam boasts autofocus, an adjustable field of view, and a reasonable price tag. It ensures you’re seen clearly and professionally in every virtual interaction.

2. Ergonomic Comfort: Lamicall Adjustable Laptop Stand

Invest in your well-being with a laptop stand. The Lamicall Adjustable Laptop Stand promotes good posture, keeps your laptop secure, and facilitates comfortable use with an external mouse and keyboard. This lightweight aluminum stand fits laptops from 10 to 17.3 inches, offering adjustable tilt and height. Ventilation holes prevent overheating.

3. Portable Data Storage: Crucial X9 Pro SSD

For occasional office visits or on-the-go data access, external drives are invaluable. The Crucial X9 Pro SSD delivers pocket-sized convenience with impressive performance. With storage up to 4TB and lightning-fast 10Gbps transfer speeds, it’s a reliable and affordable option. USB-C connectivity and a Type-C-to-Type-A adapter ensure compatibility.

4. Noise Cancellation on a Budget: Wyze Labs Headphones

Block out distractions with noise-canceling headphones. Wyze Labs offers a surprisingly affordable over-ear option that delivers top-notch noise cancellation. While audio quality might not match premium brands, these headphones effectively eliminate background noise in your home office or a busy café.

5. Hands-Free Assistance: Google Nest Hub

The Google Nest Hub combines a smart display with Google’s voice assistant. Beyond music and ambient noise, it’s a powerful work tool. Run fact-checks, verify spellings, confirm event dates, set alarms, and search Google hands-free. Receive audio and video results on a separate display, enhancing your workflow.

6. Power Protection: Anker 15-in-1 Power Strip Surge Protector

Protect your expensive tech from power spikes with a surge protector. The Anker 15-in-1 model features 12 AC outlets and three USB ports (one USB-C and two USB-A) for convenient charging. Keep your devices safe and avoid data loss.

7. Expanded Connectivity: Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core

Transform your ultraportable laptop into a full workstation with a Thunderbolt dock. The Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core offers reliable Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, HDMI, and DisplayPort 1.4 ports. Connect to a larger monitor and full-sized keyboard for increased productivity and ergonomic comfort.

8. Affordable Port Expansion: UGREEN Revodok USB-C Hub

If a Thunderbolt dock is out of your budget, a USB-C hub is a worthwhile alternative. The UGREEN Revodok USB-C Hub provides a variety of USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as microSD and HDMI slots, for significantly expanded connectivity.

9. Stunning Visuals: Dell S2722QC 4K Monitor

Invest in a good monitor for comfortable viewing. The Dell S2722QC is a top-notch budget 4K monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate, integrated speakers, and a range of ports. Its 27-inch display delivers crisp visuals for work and entertainment.

10. Flexible Monitor Positioning: Ergotron LX Premium Monitor Arm

Maximize desk space and improve ergonomics with a monitor arm. The Ergotron LX Premium Monitor Arm offers sturdy, practical support for almost any monitor. It supports monitors up to 25 pounds and features adjustable tilt, rotation, and pan.

11. Ergonomic Comfort: Logitech Lift Mouse and Keychron Q8 Keyboard

Prioritize comfort with ergonomic peripherals. The Logitech Lift mouse, available for left or right hands, minimizes wrist strain. The Keychron Q8 keyboard, while pricier, provides a satisfying mechanical feel and curved design for comfortable typing.

12. Budget-Friendly Comfort: Logitech MK540 Advanced Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

A more affordable alternative to costly peripherals. The Logitech MK540 Advanced Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo offers snappy typing and smooth, reliable mouse performance. Programmable gestures add convenience, and the wireless design reduces clutter.

13. Silent Typing: Logitech MX Keys S

For a slim and silent keyboard, the Logitech MX Keys S is an excellent choice. Its silent keys won’t disturb housemates, and programmable keys and sensor-based backlighting enhance the user experience.

14. Data Security: iDrive Online Cloud Backup

Protect your valuable data with a reliable backup service. iDrive Online Cloud Backup offers comprehensive and versatile features for easy setup and secure data storage.

15. PDF Editing Power: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Manage PDFs with ease using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. This industry-leading software combines features for creating, editing, reviewing, and securing PDF documents.

16. Eye-Friendly Lighting: BenQ ScreenBar

Reduce eye strain and save desk space with the BenQ ScreenBar, a USB-powered desk lamp that attaches to your monitor. It provides focused lighting without reflections.

17. Classic Desk Lighting: IKEA Forså Desk Lamp

A more affordable alternative to screenbars is the IKEA Forså desk lamp. Its adjustable design and straightforward switch provide excellent lighting.

18. Dynamic Workstation: Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk

Combat sedentary work with an electric height-adjustable standing desk. The Jarvis Bamboo Standing desk combines aesthetics with practicality, offering an impressive height adjustment range and solid stability.

19. Budget Standing Option: Fezibo Standing Desk

Get a standing desk without breaking the bank with this Fezibo model.

20. Smart Lighting Control: Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer

Enhance your mood and energy efficiency with a smart light switch. The Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer offers voice control, motion detection, and smartphone integration.

21. Targeted Warmth: Vornado VH200 Heater

Stay warm in winter with the Vornado VH200 Heater. This compact and quiet space heater effectively warms a specific area.

22. Cordless Charging Convenience: Anker 633 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand

Reduce cord clutter with the Anker 633 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand. This 10,000mAh battery provides fast Android charging and keeps your phone securely upright.

23. On-the-Go Power: Ugreen Nexode Power Bank

Keep your devices charged with the Ugreen Nexode power bank. It serves as a wireless charger with a foldable MagSafe pad and offers three ports for on-the-go charging, even for laptops.

24. Clear Audio: Creative Pebble Speakers

Enhance your audio experience with the Creative Pebble speakers. These affordable speakers deliver deep and rich audio for meetings and background music.

25. Powerful Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6

For a reliable laptop, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 has you covered with great performance, glare blocking matte finish, and comfortable keyboard.

26. Portable Chromebook: Lenovo Flex 5i

The Lenovo Flex 5i provides fast performance and versatile with its 2-in-1 form factor.

27. Versatile Mini PC: Acemagician S3A

Overhaul your setup with the Acemagician S3A mini PC, featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, ample RAM, and a solid-state drive. Connect up to three monitors for enhanced multitasking.

28. Compact Storage: Samsung Fit Plus

We all need extra storage, the Samsung Fit Plus is absolutely tiny offering options from 64GB to 512GB.

29. Plant Joy: Plantsio smart pet planter

What better way to add joy to your workspace. Plants improves air quality while also regulating humidity levels in your office.

30. Vertical Storage: Ikea Vattenkar desktop shelf

Even with a mini PC, desk space is limited, so your best option is to go vertical.

31. Digital Handwriting: Remarkable 2

The best thing you can do nowadays is to get a paper tablet that will transform your chicken scritches handwriting to a digital format.

32. Robot Vacuum: Eureka J15 Pro Ultra

Listen, just because you’re home all day, it doesn’t mean that you actually have a ton of free time to clean your home. Delegate that pesky job to a robot vacuum cleaner.