Best MacBook Pro Stand
Given that the movement towards remote working is gaining more momentum by the day, it makes sense to ensure you have the most ergonomic setup possible.
While you might feel like you can set your Macbook Pro up on any surface and start typing away, thereโs a good chance you could be compromising your health in the long run.
Most surfaces arenโt going to be at the perfect height for you, which means you could hurt your neck by looking down at the screen and/or make it difficult to type without some form of wrist pain.
Luckily, there are stands you can buy which can turn just about any surface in your home or hotel into a great spot to use your Macbook Pro.
Here’s what to expect in this article:
- Reviews of the best MacBook Pro stand
- A brief buyerโs guide
- Your burning questions answered in a FAQ
Without further ado, here are our top picks…
๐ Our Pick for Best Overall
โญ Our Other Top Picks for MacBook Pro Stands
- Best of the Best: Twelve South Curve
- Runner Up: Rain Design mStand
- Best for Travel: Steklo X-Stand
- Best for Casual Use: TaoTronics TT-SD003
Best MacBook Pro Stand Reviews
Twelve South Curve (โญ Best of the Best)
A MacBook Pro stand that is consistently cited as one of the best around, the Twelve South Curve is simple yet effective.
This is the best MacBook Pro stand for productivity, and provides an excellent ergonomic workspace from which you can work pain-free. If you work from home and youโre looking to replicate the office environment, then this laptop stand should help you to create that wherever you are. So long as you have a flat surface like a table or desk, you should be able to use the Twelve South Curve for all of your laptop needs without any of the discomfort usually associated with long periods of use.
To fit your MacBook Proโs aesthetic, this laptop stand comes in either a matte black or white finish. It has built-in anti-slip silicone pads and bent arms which are designed to keep the laptop in place, even while youโre typing away. Youโll get 6 inches of lift with the Twelve South Curve, which should be just enough to turn any standard surface into an ergonomic workstation.
The other benefit to having a laptop stand like this one, aside from ergonomics and convenience, is that it will optimise air flow to the laptop. 70% of the base will be exposed, which means you will no longer have a hot lap after using the laptop for an extended period of time. This optimised cooling should help keep your laptop running at its best, even if you are doing processor-heavy tasks or gaming.
You can build your own desk setup with the Twelve South Curve, and transform your laptop into a desktop computer. Place it in the centre of a table and grab your keyboard and mouse and youโll feel like you have your very own home office to work from.
Features:
- Available in matte black or white
- Curved design
- Optimises air flow to laptop
- Raises laptop 6 inches
- Anti-slip silicone pads
Rain Design mStand (๐ฅ Runner Up)
The Rain Design mStand is another excellent MacBook Stand that serves its purpose well.
This stand is a much simpler design, and that is reflected in more affordable pricing. Itโs available in three different colors, which are gold, silver, and space gray. This stand will raise your MacBook Pro 5.9 inches, which is a great height for using your laptop at eye level on a flat surface like a desk or table. The incline is just right for typing too, so you shouldnโt need to worry too much about developing RSIs from poor wrist positioning as you use your laptop.
The aluminium design makes this stand both durable and cooling for the laptop. By placing the laptop in the stand you should optimise the cooling, and keep it working well the whole time you are using it. Thereโs also a convenient hole in the back of the stand which functions as a place to feed your charger cable through without creating a tangled mess.
Thereโs not much to dislike about this MacBook Stand, and itโs also easy to carry around with you wherever you go. As a compact stand, you should be able to easily fit it down into a holdall or backpack when you want to be mobile with your new ergonomic work setup.
Features:
- Available in gold, silver, and space gray
- Raises laptop 5.9 inches
- Aluminium design
- Cable management hole
Steklo X-Stand (๐ Best for Travel)
As far as budget and travel-friendly MacBook Pro stands go, the Steklo X-Stand has to be the best option.
This basic adjustable aluminium computer riser is a small contraption that you can easily take with you, making it easy to work remotely wherever you are. This compact device is intended to raise your laptop just enough to give you an ergonomic typing position and ease the strain on your neck.
The Steklo X-stand can increase the air flow to your laptop and reduce the chance that your device will overheat. Weighing just 5.8oz, thereโs no reason why you shouldnโt carry this around with you whenever you need to use your MacBook Pro, from cafes to hotel rooms. This really is an essential purchase if you travel a lot, since it can provide you with an on-the-go ergonomic setup to minimise the risk of wrist pain as you type.
Thereโs a 100% money back guarantee included with the Steklo X-stand too, so if you arenโt completely satisfied with how it works, then you can get your money back easily enough.
Features:
- Weighs 5.8oz
- Compact design
- Increased air flow to laptop
- Adjustable
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Aluminium design
TaoTronics TT-SD003 (๐ผ Best for Casual Use)
If youโre looking to use your laptop comfortably while lounging on the sofa or even in bed, then the TaoTronics TT-SD003 is your best bet.
This laptop stand is more of a mini desk than it is a basic stand, which is ideal for using your MacBook Pro on surfaces that arenโt a table or desk. If youโre one of those people who can work from the comfort of their bed, then more power to you, however it probably isnโt great for your physical health. If the laptop bounces every time you type on your bed, or heats up your lap as you work, then itโs about time you invested in a laptop stand like this one.
The damage you can do to your neck or wrists is worse while lounging than it is on a stable surface like a desk or table, but having the TaoTronics TT-SD003 allows you to work where you feel most comfortable while minimising the risk for injury. Plus, thereโs extra space for a mouse to be used while youโre lounging away, and maybe even a glass of orange juice if youโre feeling especially daring.
The TaoTronics stand comes in brown, black, or a standard wood color finish. It is adjustable up to 35 degrees, and has retractable blockers which ensures that your laptop doesnโt slide off when you reach for your coffee. There are 5 different elevation levels that you can switch between by pressing a button, fulfilling your dream of working in your bed with minimal effort.
This isnโt a stand just for the lazy days though, you can also set it up on a flat surface and create an ergonomic standing desk for yourself. Plus, it folds away neatly and becomes a very portable laptop stand which makes it very convenient for travel. Not to mention the other uses of this stand, such as a reading desk or somewhere to write.
Features:
- Angle adjustable up to 35 degrees
- Retractable blockers
- 5 elevation levels
- Retractable legs for travel
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Ultimate Guide
Selecting the ideal MacBook Pro stand for what you need will depend on a variety of factors.
Youโll have to consider everything from the angle which is best for typing, the height of your eye level, and where you use your laptop.
Other factors include the portability of the stand, the weight, and how it looks.
Height
One of the main reasons you should invest in a MacBook Pro stand is to use your computer at eye level.
A huge health concern that comes part and parcel of working remotely is what happens to your neck when you have to strain it to see your laptop screen.
If your laptop is too low down, which it often will be, you need to lift it up so that it is more level with your eyes.
By bowing your head to see your screen day in and day out, you will likely end up with discomfort at the end of the day, and even worse in the long term.
Just like you donโt want to spend all day looking down at your mobile phone, you donโt want to look down to use your laptop.
So what is the perfect height for your laptop?
Itโs generally agreed upon that your eyes should be an inch or two below the top part of your laptop screen. That way, your eyes can scan the entire screen without help from your neck.
So, depending on how high your current desk or table is, youโll need a stand that can raise your laptop by around 6 inches.
Most stands will raise your laptop up by this amount, but others, like the Steklo X-Stand are geared more towards providing a comfortable incline and angle than they are height.
As a result, think about your current setup and how much you would need to raise your laptop to get it to eye level, and then you can choose accordingly.
The height of your laptop can also be useful for correct typing posture, depending on your chair and the surface you work at.
Angle
The angle is another way a MacBook Pro stand can cater to your current setup, and provide you a more ergonomic workstation.
Many laptop stands will offer the user adjustability as far as the angle you use your laptop from, which can be a very useful feature.
The more you can adjust the angle of your stand and laptop, the more you can cater to your personal needs in the way of your eye level and wrists.
Itโs also very useful to be able to adjust your laptop when youโre dealing with certain issues such as glare from the sun.
While the height of the stand is more important for using your MacBook Pro at eye level, the angle determines how comfortable it will be for you to type on.
How You Use Your Laptop
The way you use your laptop will be one of the biggest factors in the type of MacBook Pro stand you need.
Not everyone uses their laptop in the same way.
While some will use it for casual gaming on the couch, others will need to type all day on it for work.
Itโs important to consider what you spend the majority of your time doing on your laptop, since you want to be using it in an ergonomic way more often than not.
So if you enjoy gaming on the sofa most of the time, you should find a stand that optimises this setup, even if you have to spend an hour a day doing some serious typing.
The great thing about a lot of laptop stands is that they will adapt to you, and can be used on multiple surfaces without an issue.
Casual
Casual use of the laptop encompasses everything from gaming on the couch to watching videos in bed.
For this purpose, youโre going to want to find a laptop stand thatโs highly adjustable, since you wonโt always be in the same upright position.
You should look for a MacBook Pro stand that can adjust to your position whether you are reclining, laying down, or sitting up.
One that has an adjustable angle, and ideally can adjust in height too should you need to type at any point.
We would strongly recommend a stand like the TaoTronics TT-SD003 for casual use, given its versatility and aptitude for all kinds of surfaces.
The stand from TaoTronics is more of a mini desk than a conventional laptop stand, and as a result provides you with all of the flexibility you need to use your laptop anywhere.
Whatโs so great about this stand is that you can get your mouse on it if you need to, which will help with general productivity and gaming too.
It also has retractable barriers which will prevent your laptop from sliding off as you reach for your coffee, which is a common problem when using a standard tray.
The retractable legs increase its suitability for travel, making it a mini desk you can use just as well in your bed as you can a hotel room.
When youโre not using it for your laptop, the TaoTronics stand doubles up as a stable surface to make it easier to read or write while you lounge around.
Travel
If youโre looking for an ultra travel-friendly MacBook Pro stand, then youโre going to want to find one which is compact, lightweight, or easy to fold away.
The main priority for travel is keeping things light and not having to lug around awkwardly big pieces of equipment.
As such, your laptop stand should be very minimal in construction, and shouldnโt take up too much space in a backpack or other item of hand luggage.
While a lot of MacBook Pro stands will suffice for travel, some like the Twelve South Curve have an unconventional shape which can make for some Tetris-style configuration which isnโt ideal when youโre in a hurry or struggling for space.
Non-conventional stands like the mini desk from TaoTronic can be great for travel, but this one is slightly heavy and on the larger side.
What we would recommend for travel is a MacBook Pro stand like the Steklo X-stand, which goes to show you donโt need anything big or bulky to hold your laptop up as you travel.
Whatโs great about this nifty little stand is that it folds down to the size of a bottle opener, making it easy to store away. Itโs so small you could even get away with carrying this laptop stand in your pocket if you were really tight for space.
The Steklo adjustable stand might not offer you the same amount of height and angle adjustability as some of the other MacBook Pro stands, but it definitely makes up for that with its portability.
If you just need a small device to prop your laptop up and make typing a more comfortable experience, then this should fit the bill.
Work
If youโre looking to get some serious work done with your laptop, or general productivity, then youโre going to need a stand that works best for you.
Chances are you have access to a flat surface in your house, be it a table or desk.
However, just because you have a table or desk, it doesnโt mean you have an ideal home office setup ready to go.
While it might seem incredibly convenient to just open up your laptop on your kitchen table and get to work, you could be risking your health in the long term.
Itโs rare that you will find a surface to work on which is optimal for your neck and wrists.
More often than not, you will be craning your neck to look down at the screen, and typing at a position that isnโt the most natural.
This could result in short term discomfort, and long term pain if you donโt do something about it.
Working full shifts or even just a few hours a day with poor working posture can be detrimental to your health, so you need to address this sooner rather than later.
To work well remotely, you want to be able to create your own pop up ergonomic workstation. The best way to do this, is to invest in a laptop stand that adapts to your posture and positioning.
For this purpose weโd recommend either the Twelve South Curve
or the Rain Design mStand.
Our top pick, the Twelve South Curve, is an almost flawless laptop stand which provides optimized cooling for your laptop, 6 inches of lift, and anti-slip silicone pads to hold your device firmly in place.
The Rain Design mStand is a more affordable option available in several colors and has a very handy hole in the design which lets you plug in your charger without getting all tangled up.
Both are sturdy and will let you create the perfect home office setup to get all of your work done pain-free.
Design
The design of the MacBook Pro stand is important for several reasons.
The weight, durability, and portability are a few of the factors that should come to mind as you consider which stand is best for you.
Although less important, you can also take the color and aesthetic of the stand into account, should you want a more stylish setup.
Weight
The weight of your laptop stand is important for several reasons.
The first of which is the stability.
Depending on how you use your laptop, you might want it to be more or less stable.
Typing on a laptop can cause shaking and wobbling, so reducing that with a stand is a great idea.
Stability is also related to the way in which the stand sits on the table, some have rubber feet which can come off after a while which isnโt convenient if you move around a lot.
If itโs too light and flimsy, then it could be easily knocked over, and throw you off your flow.
The other consideration with the weight is the suitability for travel. If itโs too heavy, you might have more difficulty carrying it around with you.
Durability
The material of the stand will in large part determine its durability and this is important if you want something thatโs going to last a long time.
Especially if you are a MacBook Pro fan and arenโt likely to buy a different laptop in future, youโll want a durable stand that lasts anywhere up to a lifetime.
Portability
The portability of the MacBook Pro stand boils down to the weight, the size, and the design features of the laptop stand.
The weight will determine how easy it is to bring the stand with you when you travel.
The size and shape will make it more or less easy to fit it into a backpack, and the best example of a compact stand is the Steko X-stand.
The design features can also influence the portability of a laptop stand.
One example of this is the TaoTronics mini desk which has retractable legs making it easy to take with you.
Air Flow
An extra consideration when selecting a laptop stand is air flow.
Laptops can overheat often depending on how you use them, thereโs no avoiding that.
However, to reduce the frequency with which they do overheat, there are several things you can do to increase the airflow and cool them down.
Some laptop stands are much better for improving the air flow than others.
Our top pick the Twelve South Curve is a great example of a stand that optimises the cooling of the device.
It exposes 70% of the laptopโs base which is great for preventing overheating, which should be handy if you use your laptop a lot for high performance tasks and gaming.
Overheating isnโt good for your laptop, and can slow down the performance.
While you donโt necessarily buy a laptop stand for the increased airflow it provides for your personal computer, it can be a nice bonus to help keep things working as they should.
This is more important if you use your laptop for multiple hours a day, as casual use probably wonโt be as taxing for your MacBook Pro.
Some stands like the one by TaoTronics wonโt provide the same cooling benefits as others, which is worth bearing in mind if you feel like youโll need to minimise overheating.
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Frequently Asked Questions About MacBook Pro Stands
What is a laptop stand?
A laptop stand is a product which can support a portable computer and hold it up to various heights.
Itโs worth investing in a laptop stand if you have to do any amount of work from home or while travelling, since it can save you from neck and wrist pain.
By holding the laptop up to the right height for you, this product can alleviate discomfort while using the laptop and contribute to a far more ergonomic setup.
How can a laptop stand improve my health?
A laptop stand can improve your health in a number of different ways.
The number one issue with using a laptop is that unless you have a surface thatโs at the perfect height for you, youโre going to have to put strain on certain parts of the body to use it correctly.
Usually itโs the neck and wrists which suffer most from improper use, so a laptop stand can help ensure that you arenโt left with a stiff neck at the end of a long day or some form of wrist pain or RSI.
How high should my laptop stand be?
Your laptop stand needs to accommodate your height, so that the screen will be at eye level.
It is generally considered that if your eyes are an inch or two below the top of your laptop then that should be the perfect setup.
This of course will depend person to person, and will also vary based on whether you are sat at a desk or standing.
Wonโt it be a pain to carry a laptop stand around wherever I go?
Most laptop stands are designed to be set up all over the house, so manufacturers take portability and weight very seriously.
After all, the main reason you have a laptop is so that you can take it with you and have a computer at your fingertips.
As a result a lot of the laptop stands youโll find will either be lightweight, compact, easy to fold away, or all three.
A Final Word From Run Gun Shoot
Investing in a laptop stand could be one of the best things you do, especially if you work remotely.
You canโt put a price on your health, and it isnโt worth risking neck or wrist pain by using your laptop in an unnatural position while at home or travelling.