As an Amazon Associate, Ask Adam earns from qualifying purchases. All of the products listed here have been reviewed independently, and most of them are things I use personally.
A good backup drive
The Time Machine backup drive I recommend is the Western Digital 2TB My Passport Ultra for Mac. This drive is the right capacity for most people, and it connects to standard USB ports as well as newer USB-C ports.
about $99 at Amazon (prices change frequently)
A really fast drive
For the fastest possible backups, and for casual storage or transfer needs, I recommend the Samsung T7. An SSD is way way faster than a hard drive — and with no moving parts, it’s also less likely to fail.
about $139 at Amazon
Putting the ports back in portable
Mac laptops don’t always have every port you need. This external hub adds an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, an SD card reader, and three USB-A ports, and more — and it will pass power through to your laptop.
about $66 at Amazon
Tiny USB to USB-C adapters
Does your new Mac only have USB-C ports?Do you have all sorts of things that plug in to the older style (rectangular) USB port? These compact adapters are your new best friend.
about $17 at Amazon
Charge your iPhone super fast
If you don’t have a fast charger for your phone, you may not know what you’re missing. The 20 watt Anker Nano is super small and can charge an iPhone 11, 12, or 13 up to 50% in half an hour. It’s great.
2 for about $17 at Amazon
Just a camera card reader
Just need an adapter to copy photos and videos off of your camera’s memory card? This is ultra-compact and affordable.
about $18 at Amazon
Hands-free car mount for MagSafe iPhones
The best car mount for iPhones with MagSafe (iPhone 12 and almost all newer iPhones), the ESR HaloLock, holds the phone securely and can charge it wirelessly.
about $30 at Amazon
Universal adapter replacement
Lost an adapter in a move, or to a dangerously frayed cord? These adapters come with interchangeable tips and adjustable output voltage. There are several models, so just make sure you buy an adapter that provides enough amps for your device.
About $15 at Amazon
