If you listen to music or podcasts while you work, Kanto’s YU2MB desktop speakers will be a big upgrade over the ones in your laptop or monitor. The compact desktop speakers have a dual-driver audio system powered by a 100W Class D amplifier and feature a built-in DAC, plus USB and aux ports for dongle-free connectivity. If you want extra bass, and have space under your desk, you can connect a powered subwoofer.
$ 359Sitting in an uncomfortable chair for eight or more hours a day can reduce your focus and cause back pain. Branch’s Ergonomic Chair has eight points of adjustment, including height and tilt, plus removable arm and lumbar rests. The chair’s wheels can roll on hard surfaces and rugs. A pro model with additional points of adjustment, adjustable lumbar, and more premium materials is also available.
$ 249Any aspiring podcaster should consider Rode’s NT1, an XLR and USB condenser microphone that can be connected directly to your PC, or through an audio interface like Focusrite’s Scarlett Solo. The mic comes with a shock mount and pop filter, so you can attach it to a mount and avoid unwanted distortion in your recordings. Rode also includes an XLR and USB-C to USB-C cable.
$ 26It’s helpful to have a notebook on hand to jot down quick notes, ideas, or sketches before you get distracted by the next notification on your phone or computer. The pages of Daily Bliss’ Stone Paper Notebook are waterproof, so you won’t lose everything if a glass of water spills on it, and its elastic binding will keep the book closed when you carry it around.
$ 30Some desk upgrades are functional and make your workspace a little more fun, and that’s definitely true of Ikea’s Tarnaby. Its single bulb is surrounded by a glass enclosure that makes it look like an old-school kerosene lamp. Its brightness knob lets you dim or raise its luminosity, so you can raise it in stages as the sun goes down.
$ 25Most modern mice can be used on any surface, but Razer’s Gigantus V2 was designed with materials that allow your mouse to glide easily with almost no surface tension. The XXL-sized mat is wide and deep enough to fit a keyboard, mouse, and your computer monitor. The padding will also be more comfortable under your wrists than a hard desk.
$ 36Many monitors don’t offer height-adjusting stands, and staring at a screen with your neck craned at an awkward angle can cause soreness. Mount-It’s monitor arm replaces your monitor’s stand and lets you position your display at the height and angle of your choice. It’s compatible with monitors between 13 and 32 inches that support VESA 75 x 75 or 100 x 100 stands.
Govee RGBICWW Flow Plus Light Bars
$ 36$ 6040 % off$ 36You don’t have to be a gamer to appreciate what Govee’s Flow Plus Light Bars can add to your desk setup. You can set them vertically or horizontally on top of your desk, mount them to the bottom, or even attach them to the back of your monitor with the included stands. Their colors can be changed through Govee’s app, or through a smart speaker with Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant.
Qlt Qiaoletong Epiphyllum Set
$ 27$ 297 % off$ 27Many people keep flowers on their desk, but they need to be watered and can cause a mess if they tip over. Qlt Qiaoletong’s 835-piece Epiphyllum set has none of those downsides. Instead, you get a potted plant with four epiphyllums in various states of bloom, along with a few additional plants shooting up from the “dirt.” Orchid and Rose sets are also available if you want more options.
Grovemade Desk
$ 2900$ 32009 % off$ 2900Let’s face it, no desk upgrade is as significant as a brand-new desk. Grovemade’s Desk has a simple name, but it’s packed with interesting features. The height of this standing desk can be adjusted from 25.25 inches to 50.5 inches. It has a multi-compartment slide-out drawer, a six-outlet surge protector with a durable braided cord, and a ventilation slot to keep your gadgets from overheating inside the desk’s drawer.
$ 479Concentrating can be hard in a noisy office, or a home office with pets or a partner around. Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 S3 noise-canceling headphones can help you block out the noise so you can focus better. The Bluetooth headphones last up to 30 hours per charge, so you shouldn’t have to worry about charging them more than a couple of times a week.
$ 120Genki’s Moonbase is an aesthetically pleasing multi-device charger with three AC outlets and four USB-C ports. RGB LED accents around the outlets and its color-matched braided cable will make your desk pop. It has a maximum output of 240W, which should be enough to charge multiple gadgets, including your laptop, at top speed while providing power to your monitor and other accessories.
$ 120The MX Master 3S is a favorite among many Verge staff members because of its comfort and customization. The mouse’s thumb rest and curved shape allow you to grip it comfortably, and its side and top button can be remapped within the Logi Options Plus app, which can save you time. The MX Master 3S can be connected via Bluetooth, via its included 2.4GHz receiver, or wired with its USB-C cable.
$ 55Your feet shouldn’t hurt after sitting at your desk. C Cushion Lab’s Ergonomic Foot Cushion will keep your feet more elevated, and the wave-shaped ridges within feel great. You should use the cushion with socks to prevent it from getting dirty, but the outer lining is removable and machine washable if it starts to look (or smell) a little funky.
$ 150Elgato’s Stream Deck is a powerful, compact desk tool that can help automate your work. Each of its buttons can be programmed to a function of your choosing, from adjusting your screen’s brightness to opening a folder, app, or website. A screen beneath each key lets you create a custom image, so you’ll know what each button does at a glance.
Rain Design iLevel2 Laptop Stand
$ 65$ 58-12 % off$ 65If you use your laptop with its display open while connected to a monitor, it’s helpful to keep them at the same elevation to avoid moving your neck up and down dozens of times each day. Rain Design’s iLevel2 laptop stand is height-adjustable between 5.4 and 7.9 inches, and angles your computer’s keyboard toward you, so you can still type on it if you’d like to.
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1, Dock Stand)
$ 70$ 9022 % off$ 70Nobody wants to leave their desk with a dead phone or earbuds, especially before a long commute home. Anker’s MagGo 3-in-1 stand has a magnetic phone charger, an Apple Watch charger, and an earbud case-sized wireless charging pad. The magnetic phone charger supports speeds up to 15W, and can be tilted to keep your smartphone screen at a comfortable angle for when you want to check notifications.
Nextmug Self-Heating Mug
$ 100$ 13023 % off$ 100A long meeting or last-minute assignment shouldn’t keep you from enjoying a hot cup of coffee or tea. Nextmug’s self-heating coffee mug has a built-in heating element that keeps your drinks at 130, 140, or 150 degrees Fahrenheit. It runs on a battery and wirelessly charges via the included docking coaster. A spill-resistant lid will reduce the chances of your clothes or gadgets getting ruined if it’s tipped over.
$ 8We’re all guilty of having a desk that’s a little messier than we’d like, but you can wrangle unruly cables with a 16-pack of OHill’s adhesive cable clips. You can attach them anywhere on your desk, then thread cords through them to keep them secure (and potentially out of sight). The package includes clips that hold one, two, or five cables.
Ugreen Revodok Pro 106
$ 20$ 14-43 % off$ 20A lot of newer laptops don’t have as large of a port selection as older ones, but Ugreen’s 6-in-1 USB-C Hub will spare you from carrying single-port dongles. It has an assortment of USB-C and USB-A ports, with one USB-C port that supports passthrough charging at up to 100W. There’s also an HDMI port, so you can connect your laptop to a monitor or projector.
$ 20It’s easy to lose track of time and forget to take breaks throughout the day, especially if you work from home. Time Timer’s pomodoro timer lets you set up to a 60-minute timer, but you can visually see the timer hand change colors as time runs out. It doesn’t make a ticking sound, but you can set an audible alert to go off once it’s done.
$ 80Free your fingers from fatigue by switching away from a keyboard with thin keys and short travel. Keychron’s K2 is an 84-key Bluetooth mechanical keyboard with brown switches that will make a satisfying click when pushed. It can be paired with three devices, which you can switch between using the function and 1, 2, or 3 keys. A built-in backlight can help you type more accurately in the dark.