So you lot convey a shiny novel Chromebook too desire to give it a little oomph. There are definitely some neat accessories out at that topographic point to supercharge your Chromebook experience—here are some of the must haves.
The give away of things that are compatible amongst a Chromebook may surprise you, specially given their simplistic nature. That said, equally you lot approach the "what accessories to buy" aspect of Chromebook ownership, though, you lot should at to the lowest degree continue your expectations inwards check—there are withal plenty of one-off products hither too at that topographic point that lack Chrome OS compatibility.
That's also precisely why nosotros decided to seat together a listing of the best accessories you lot tin larn for your Chromebook. Chrome OS is ultimately withal real powerful too versatile, specially when you lot throw the correct tools amongst it.
USB-C to H5N1 Adapters ($8)
Most Chromebooks these days are transportation amongst null but USB-C ports, which tin live on a huge occupation for anyone with, well, whatsoever USB accessories. That's why a USB-C to H5N1 adapter is basically a must convey for anyone amongst a USB-C-only Chromebook, similar the ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 or Pixelbook.
These trivial dongles are only uncomplicated trivial converters that are slow to throw inwards your pocketbook for quick access. They're also cheap, hence you lot mightiness equally good pick upwards a few to convey on hand. There's no shortage of these on Amazon, but the Aukey USB-C is a dependable model from a dependable brand.
USB-C Portable Charger ($100)
The cool thing nearly having a modern Chromebook that charges over USB-C is that anything amongst USB-C PD (power delivery) volition live on able to accuse it, which positions it perfectly for on-the-go charging amongst a portable charger.
Of course, you're going to ask a powerful battery that provides powerfulness over USB-C too has plenty of juice to powerfulness upwards your 'Book. For that, the Anker Powercore is the perfect choice. It packs 20,100mAh of powerfulness too a 30w charging port. You'll live on able to accuse your laptop anywhere you lot desire to amongst this trivial guy. Boom—computing on the larn for everyone.
Google Cast-Enabled Speaker ($50-$400)
Look, it doesn't affair which Chromebook you lot buy, it's withal going to sound like a laptop. If your Chromebook is your principal machine, you're going to desire a means to play music without having to bargain amongst the tinny trivial laptop speakers.
The cleanest too most reliable means to produce this is going to live on amongst a Google Cast-enabled speaker—like a Google Home, for example. If you're looking to continue the cost down, the $50 Google Home Mini is a decent option—it's doesn't convey the best good quality, but it's withal ameliorate than a laid of laptop speakers. There's also the $100 Google Home speaker, which sounds real proficient for its small-scale size. But if you lot inquire us, the best Google Cast speaker correct directly is the JBL Playlist. At $150 it's a trivial pricier than Google Home, but it's a fantastic speaker that also back upwards multi-room audio—the biggest downside is that the Google Home speakers all convey Assistant built inwards too the JBL doesn't. It's purely a speaker.
If you lot actually desire to larn big, there's the Google Home Max, but at $400 there's a possibility it costs approximately equally much (or more?) than you lot paid for your Chromebook inwards the offset place. But you lot produce you.
A Bluetooth Mouse ($50)
Touchpads are cool. But for long run or detailed work, they tin larn tedious. That's when you lot ask an external mouse. While at that topographic point are plenty of USB mice out at that topographic point (even wireless ones), there's no ask to necktie upwards a USB port on your computer—a Bluetooth mouse volition check the nib perfectly.
While Bluetooth tin live on sketchy, it's stable plenty to piece of work a mouse real reliably. And if you're looking for ane of the best Bluetooth mice you lot tin get, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is a bully choice. It's extremely reliable, ergonomic, too withal portable. If portability (and price) aren't an upshot for you, hence the larger MX Master 2s ($75) is also a bully choice.
A Game Controller ($45)
Chromebooks convey never been rigid inwards the gaming department, but the add-on of Android apps actually opened that door—there are a lot of bully fourth dimension killers available for Android, too many of them piece of work flawlessly on Chromebooks too.
If you're into taking the gaming thing to the side yesteryear side degree on your Chromebook, adding a controller to the mix is a corporation means to produce it. Not every championship inwards the Play Store volition offering controller support, but it's definitely an improvement for all the ones that do. And when it comes downward to it, it's difficult to trounce the SteelSeries Stratus XL. This is our orbit pick for best Android controller, hence that applies hither too. It's good made, has all the buttons you'd ask from a controller, too only mostly industrial plant good amongst Android games. As a bonus, you lot tin also run it on your Windows machine if you lot convey one.
USB-C Dock ($50)
If you're a "one figurer to dominion them all" form of user, too a Chromebook happens to live on your weapon of choice, hence you lot belike know at that topographic point are times when a amount desktop sense would only be… better.
The proficient intelligence is that you lot tin easily construct a desktop of your Chromebook amongst ane uncomplicated tool: H5N1 USB-C Dock. These docks volition allow you lot connect peripherals similar an external monitor too USB H5N1 devices, equally good equally offering a full-size SD bill of fare slot—all over a unmarried USB-C port. These docks are also designed to powerfulness the device using USB-C PD (power delivery), hence it's everything you lot ask all inwards ane package. Just plug ane cable inwards to transform your 'Book into a amount desktop. It's killer.
There are a lot of options out there, but if you're looking for a dock that covers an external screen, adds a dyad of USB H5N1 ports too SD bill of fare reader, equally good equally an ethernet port, the Choetech USB-C Multiport Adapter is the means to go. It also supports USB PD at 60w, hence it's plenty powerful.
At alone $50, it's a bully buy.
The Other Stuff: Keyboard, Monitor, Laptop Stand
Once you lot connect your Chromebook to a dock, you'll ask to throw another accessories at it larn the amount desktop experience. Namely, a keyboard too external screen. If you're actually looking for a construct clean setup, a laptop stand upwards is also bully to have.
When it comes downward to it, there's a proficient run a peril you lot already convey a keyboard too monitor lying around, and—thanks to bully standards for mice/keyboards too monitors if they're non ancient—they should piece of work amongst your Chromebook. But if you lot don't convey anything handy, hither are our favorites:
- Logitech K810 Bluetooth Keyboard ($100): This Bluetooth keyboard is a bully add-on to whatsoever desktop setup, too it looks bully side yesteryear side to the MX Anywhere 2 or Master 2s mice nosotros talked nearly earlier. Plus, since it's Bluetooth, it won't necktie upwards a USB port on your dock.
- ASUS VE278H 27″ FHD Monitor ($160): If you're looking to add together a big, brilliant covert to your Chromebook mix without spending a lot of money, it's difficult to trounce this 27-inch ASUS screen.
- COTEetCI Aluminum Laptop Stand ($25): The bully thing nearly this stand upwards is that it tin live on used 2 dissimilar ways: amongst the laptop opened upwards (as a riser), or amongst the laptop unopen too docked vertically. Super versatile, too alone $25.
The best business office nearly all these accessories is that non a unmarried ane of them is Chromebook specific. All of them are accessories that heighten your Chromebook but volition piece of work only equally easily amongst whatsoever other laptop or desktop computer. Snap upwards whatsoever accessory you lot want, knowing good that you lot tin plug the mouse, monitor, or USB-C hub into your side yesteryear side figurer amongst ease.
