The iMac can be an all-powerful machine, but unless you know how to accessorize it correctly, you are not using it to its full potential. Almost no device is used to its full potential without the right accessories to go along with it. Given the good amount of money that you have probably spent on this gorgeous machine, you definitely have to consider investing a little bit in your desk setup – maybe for some of the best iMac accessories out there.
The iMac has been around for a while and thanks to Apple not changing the dimensions too much, a lot of gadgets for the previous generation iMac are compatible with the new one. Most of them are recently upgraded to handle the high speeds that the new iMac can handle. There are many accessories available out there for you and choosing might be hard. To help you with your search, I’ve compiled my list of the top 5 must have iMac accessories.
This is our take on the five must-have iMac accessories in 2019:
| # | Image | Brand | Price |
| 1 |      |
Satechi | $50 |
| 2 |    |
Oyen Digital | $88 – $1260 |
| 3 |       |
Version Tech | $36 |
| 4 |       |
ProHT | $25 |
| 5 |       |
Twelve South | $35 |
1. Satechi iMac USB Hub
- For 2017 iMac and iMac Pro
- Adjustable Grip
- Available in Silver and Space Gray
- 1x USB-C port
- 3x USB 3.0 ports (up to 5GB/s)
- 1x SD Card reader slot
- Connects with thunderbolt
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a MacBook, iMac or a Mac Pro — having more ports is always a welcome trait. The Satechi iMac USB hub attaches to your device and gives you three new USB 3.0 and one USB-C ports which you can access right at the front of your device – the perfect addition to your iMac accessories list. Thanks to this design you will no longer have to go behind the screen to plug-in your commonly used devices, such as your smartphone.
Thanks to the new USB 3.0 technology, the Sabrent USB hub for the iMac has impressive transfer speeds. It can reach up to 5 Gbps with USB 3.0! It can fit either the 21 or 27-Inch iMac models. It is ultra slim and barely noticeable thanks to the matching colors and materials.
2. Oyen Digital Shadow External SSD
- 128GB – 4TB Capacity
- USB-C, USB 3.1, 3.0
- Sturdy aluminum housing (protection, heat dissipation)
- Up to 500 MB/s Transfer speed
- Included USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB 3.0 cables
- 3-Year warranty
If you work with big files or want to have additional storage, the Oyen Digital portable Solid State Drive is the perfect addition to your list of iMac accessories. The device comes in a sturdy aluminum housing. It protects your data and dissipates heat to ensure that your external SSD works at its optimal speeds all the time. It is extremely thin and lightweight, making it a perfect travel companion as well. It fits perfectly any iMac, MacBook or other USB-enabled devices. Depending on your specific needs, you can choose whether you want 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB or 4TB of storage.
The Shadow External SSD comes with USB-C connectivity, thanks to which it is capable of transferring a lot of data in short periods of time. It is perfect for those looking for an external drive on which to work on. The USB3.1 Gen2 transfer speeds can reach up to 575MB per second. Inside the package, you will find USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB cables. A three-year warranty backs the product and ensures that no manufacturing mistakes will affect you. If this device doesn’t fit what you’re looking for — check out our review of the five best external HDDs and the five best external SSDs for Mac.
3. VersionTech Superdrive Disk Reader/Burner
- USB 3.0 Connectivity
- Up to 5Gbps
- 8x DVDR Write Speed
- 24x CD Write Speed
- 2MB Buffer memory
- USB Cable included
- No drivers required
It doesn’t matter whether it’s an iMac, MacBook or any newer ultrabook, they lack an optical drive for DVD and CD reading/writing. If you have a collection of DVDs or if you use them for your job — you will need an external DVD drive. Thankfully, nowadays the fast transfer speeds of USB devices allow for quick and reliable disk readers to be cheaper than ever. The VersionTech Superdrive comes in a silver-colored casing and connects to your iMac with a USB 3.0 cable (with USB 2.0 backward compatibility).
The VersionTech Superdrive is very easy to install — just plug-and-play. There are no drivers or software required to be installed on the iMac or any other computer for the optical drive to function adequately. Thanks to the UBS 3.0 technology, the device can reach speeds of up to 5Gbps. The DVDR writing speed is 8x while the CD writing speed is 24x. There are 2MB of buffer memory to prevent any damage from being done to the data. The USB cables, as well as a user manual guide and a warranty, are included in the package.
4. ProHT iMac Glass Stand
- 13″ to 32″ iMac, TV or Monitor stand
- Durable tempered clear glass
- 44lbs max load (or 20KG)
- 4.63lbs weight (or 2.1KG)
- L x W x H Dimensions 22.05″ x 8.27″ x 3.15″
- 8mm thick glass
You might be asking yourself now… Why do I need a monitor stand for my iMac? You might not know it, but it will not only give you more space on your desk, but it is also good for your health. The ProHT Glass stand works perfectly for the iMac and can give you all the benefits possible. Some of us spend a lot of time in front of a computer, and that causes problems — both for our posture and for our eyesight. Putting your iMac on a monitor stand will bring the display to the level of your eyes, removing excessive strain on the eyes. This way you also don’t have to look up or down — you give your back and neck an excellent straight position. Having a hunched posture will result in less stamina in front of your computer.
The ProHT glass stand comes with a durable tempered glass panel that can withstand up to 44 pounds or 20 kilos iMac, TVs or monitors. The glass panel itself is 8mm thick. The stand itself weighs about 4.63 pounds or 2.1 kilos. It is 22.05 inches in length, 8.27 inches in width and 3.15 inches in height. Lifting your iMac on a stand leaves perfectly enough space for your keyboard and mouse to fit under it, thus leaving you a lot of free space on the desk for when you want to use for a different task.
5. Twelve South BackPack
- 21″/27″ iMac or Apple Display compatibility
- Can handle up to 3.5lbs (Or 1.5KG)
- Available in Matte Black and Silver colored models
- Hangs on the front or back
- Integrated vertical pegs with a soft silicone coating
- Integrated cable rails
Adding an external SSD to the iMac accessories list seems nice, but there really isn’t a right place to leave it to rest. In this case, you might want to check out the Twelve South BackPack. This accessory for iMac can be installed on either the 21-inch or 27-inch iMac or Apple Display models. It attaches to the stand of your iMac/display and rests solely on gravity. Its intuitive design allows it to handle weights of up to 3.5 pounds or 1.5 kilos.
The BackPack can be put either on the front or the back sides of the iMac / Apple display. It comes with special integrated vertical pegs covered with a soft silicone coating. They prevent whatever is on top to move without damaging it or leaving any signs at all. The integrated cable rails make it easy for you to arrange your cable situation seamlessly.
Overall, the most important one is the ProHT glass stand, at least for me. I’ve had a lot of problems with my posture and ever since I started using a stand for my iMac — my overall productivity and posture have been improving little by little. Having an additional SSD is essential if you are working with videos or any other big files. Unless it is for something that gives you money, spending a lot of them on a portable drive is not the best investment for you. USB Hubs are always useful — I’ve never, ever had enough USB ports on my devices. This still hasn’t changed to this day.
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