Making the switch from the company office to working from home has become the new normal, but some users might feel like their home setup is not as well-appointed or productive as it was at the office. It’s time to change that. With the proper equipment and gear, you can turn your boring-old home setup into a workstation powerhouse — ensuring you’ll never need to return to the office again.
At PCWorld, we’ve had to adjust to remote work just like the rest of the world. Our staff has spent countless hours testing and reviewing hardware, which means we’ve been lucky enough to find the best gear and accessories available. Below you’ll find our favorite work-from-home essentials.
Look sharp during Zoom meetings: Anker PowerConf C200 Webcam
Anker
Working from home often requires joining in on video meetings. Whether you love them or hate them is beside the point because you need to join them anyway. And since your laptop’s camera is probably not up to par, you need a reliable webcam like the Anker PoweConf C200. This is a 2K camera with autofocus and an adjustable field of view, as well as a $60 MSRP.
Bring stability and comfort with a laptop stand: Lamicall Adjustable Laptop Stand
Lamicall
A good laptop stand will do wonders for your comfort and health. Not only can a stand keep you in a good ergonomic position, but it will keep your laptop safe and secure on your desk. Plus, a stand makes using a mouse and keyboard with your laptop a lot easier.
You don’t need to drop a ton of money on anything expensive, either. A solid lightweight aluminum stand such as the well-liked Lamicall Adjustable Laptop stand will do just fine. It’ll support almost any laptop, from 10 inches up to 17.3 inches. It allows you to adjust both tilt and height and comes with ventilation holes to help dissipate heat from your laptop.
Store your important files for easy on-the-go access: Crucial X9 Pro SSD
IDG
Sure you might work at home, but you might need something to transport your work files for those occasional trips into the office or just a quick and convenient way to take your data on the go. External drives are a great way to store and back up your files, and their ever-decreasing size means you can now conveniently transport mass amounts of storage anywhere you go.
The Crucial X9 Pro SSD is small enough to fit in your pocket, but capable enough to be your main external drive. It’s also one of the most affordable SSDs on the market and comes with up to 4TB of storage capacity. Plus, the 10Gbps transfer speeds are lightning fast for an external drive. It also comes with USB-C connectivity and includes a Type-C-to-Type-A adapter cable so you’ll have no issue connecting it to whichever computer you’re connecting to.
Block out background noise to help you focus: Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Wyze Labs
While products from the likes of Bose and Sony are great, they are also incredibly expensive. Enter Wyze Labs. The company has created a good pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones for a surprisingly affordable price. While the audio quality might not be able to compete with the more expensive brands, the noise-cancelling is still top-notch. If you’re looking to block out background noise at your home office or while working in a busy café, these headphones will do the trick just fine.
Get every answer with a smart display: Google Nest Hub
Marrying Google’s ever-helpful voice assistant to a 7-inch touchscreen, the Nest Hub smart display is much more than a device to control your music playlist or play ambient white noise (though both use cases can make working from home more pleasant). You can also use the Nest Hub to run fact-checks (“When did Musk become the CEO of Twitter?”); get direct spellings of words that elude spellcheck; verify the dates of important trade shows and other events; set workday alarms and reminders; and pretty much search everything on Google hands-free, receiving both audio and video results on a separate, independent display. Once you start exploring the work-from-home benefits of a smart display, you’ll never stop.
Protect your devices with a surge protector: Anker 351 Power Strip with Surge Protector
Anker
Your tech gear is expensive and power spikes can fry them, making you lose money, work in progress, and lots of time. If you get a power strip with a surge protector, however, you and your tech will be a lot safer. This Anker 15-in-1 model is $30, but often comes with deep discounts, so you can get it for $22 quite often. There are 12 AC outlets for computers and monitors and three USB ports (one USB-C and two USB-A) so you can more easily charge up phones.
Create a full-on workstation: Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core Docking Station
Belkin
Your ultraportable laptop may be perfect for commuting to and from the office, but when you’re working from home you want a dedicated workstation with the ability to connect all of your peripherals. A Thunderbolt dock will help you expand your laptop’s capabilities and allow you to connect to a larger monitor and a full-sized keyboard. You’ll increase your productivity and your body will thank you for the ergonomic upgrade. We’ve tested a ton of Thunderbolt docks and the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core is our favorite budget-friendly option. It gives you the reliable Thunderbolt 3 standard, HDMI and a DisplayPort 1.4 ports, all in a package that is easy to travel with and won’t take up much room on your desk.
Or opt for a less expensive USB-C hub: UGREEN Revodok USB-C Hub
Hiearcool
If you don’t want to drop the cash on a Thunderbolt dock, you should at least consider getting a USB-C hub. Modern laptops tend to lack all of the ports you need to connect peripherals and that’s where a USB-C hub comes in. They are cheap and they allow you to significantly expand your port options. We recommend the UGREEN Revodok USB-C Hub as it gives you a variety of USB-A as well as USB-C ports and microSD and HDMI slots, all for under $20.
Don’t skimp on your screen: Dell S2722QC
Matt Smith/IDG
No matter where you work from, you need to have a good monitor. The Dell S2722QC is easily one of the best budget 4K monitors you can get your hands on right now. Even though it has a $370 MSRP, you can usually get it much cheaper, especially since we’ve seen it as low as $220, although such steep price drops are rare. Even for more than that, this 27-inch is a fantastic buy with a 60Hz refresh rate, integrated speakers, and a handful of ports.
Upgrade that new screen’s ergonomics: Ergotron LX Premium Monitor Arm
Matt Smith/Foundry
A good monitor arm is one of the best upgrades you can make to your home office setup. It’ll open up way more options to move and position your display around your desk and it frees up precious desktop space as well.
The Ergotron LX Premium Monitor Arm is our favorite monitor arm for a reason. It’s sturdy, practical, and can pair with almost any monitor around. The LX Premium is designated as an “entry-level” model, but it comes with specs that you’d expect from something much more expensive. It can support monitors up to 25 pounds and comes with 75 degrees of tilt, plus 360 degrees of rotation and pan.
Consider ergonomics: Logitech Lift & Keychron Q8 keyboard
Foundry
If you’re working from home all day, you need to be comfortable and a standard mouse and keyboard just won’t cut it. Focusing on ergonomics, the Logitech Lift mouse and Keychron Q8 keyboard were built to help keep your hands and wrists in a more comfortable and less injury-prone position.
Michael Crider/IDG
The Lift mouse can be purchased for either left or right hands and comes in a variety of colors. It’s also wireless, which helps you minimize desktop clutter. The Keychron Q8 keyboard is a bit pricey, but gives you the satisfying feel and dependability of a mechanical keyboard while the curved design allows your wrists to rest in a more natural and comfortable position while typing.
Go wireless: Logitech MK540 Advanced Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo
If you don’t want to spend big on a mouse and keyboard, you can find a more affordable alternative in the Logitech MK540 Advanced Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo. Coming in at an affordable $50, the keyboard is surprisingly snappy and has a pleasant tactile experience without too much noise. The mouse provides smooth and reliable use and has a few programmable gestures you can set for your convenience. Both are wireless, so you can do away with all of those annoying cables cluttering your desktop.
Type low: Logitech MX Keys S
Logitech
If you really can’t deal with regular keyboards and just want something slim and silent, then you have to go for the Logitech MX Keys S. I have this particular keyboard and, after years of swapping between various brands, I finally found one that I’ll gladly buy again and again (when and if it breaks). Retailing for $110, this isn’t necessarily a cheap keyboard, but you’ll love it from the get-go.
It’s not just silent enough that you won’t wake your housemates by working later in the evening, but it also comes with programmable keys and sensor-based backlighting, which makes it all seem like magic every time you put your hands over the keys. It’s rechargeable over USB-C, and it will last you for about 7-10 days (maybe more if you don’t write a ton as I do). One piece of advice I can give, however, is to get the black version because the backlighting doesn’t do much in combination with the white keys as far as signaling where certain symbols are, for instance. At least not during the day.
Backup software is a must: iDrive Online Cloud Backup
Many people neglect to consider backup when working from home, but if your IT department isn’t covering you and your data, it’s something that needs to be addressed. Luckily there are relatively inexpensive services such as iDrive Online Cloud Backup that make it simple to do. iDrive is comprehensive and versatile and allows you to set up and use the backup service without any fuss. It’s a one-stop shop to help keep your valuable data safe and secure.
So is a robust PDF editor: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
PDFs are a staple of any modern digital workplace, but they aren’t always the easiest to edit. There are a ton of great PDF editors out there, but Adobe Acrobat Pro DC has been, and continues to be, the reigning champ. There is no other software that combines the same features for creating, editing, reviewing, and securing your PDF documents. Plus, the subscription-based format means that you’ll always have access to the latest version and won’t need to continually buy new software every year.
Ease eye-strain: BenQ ScreenBar
BenQ ScreenBar
BenQ
To save space on your desk and reduce eye-strain there is no better option than a screenbar — a USB-powered desk lamp that attaches to the top of your monitor. When BenQ debuted its ScreenBar it had us wondering why no one had thought of this extremely practical solution before. It’ll save you desk space and keep you from going cross-eyed from squinting through the reflections on your monitor all day. Admittedly, it’s a bit pricey, but your eyes will thank you in the long run.
The conventional desk lamp option: IKEA Forså
If you don’t want to shell out the money for a screenbar or it just isn’t your style, then the tried-and-true desk lamp can be a great alternative. At just over $30, the IKEA Forså provides form and function to help keep your desk looking chic and well lit.
It comes with excellent adjustability, a cool old-school chrome design, and a straightforward on/off switch to keep things dead-simple.
Keep upright: Jarvis Bamboo Standing desk
When working from home you have a tendency to stay seated for long periods of time even more so than working in an office. And no matter how comfy that fancy ergonomic office chair is, sitting in it all day isn’t ideal. The best way to keep your body happy while working at a desk is to switch to an electric height-adjustable standing desk.
The Jarvis Bamboo Standing desk not only looks nice with its clean bamboo top, but it’s practical too. It comes with an impressive height adjustment range, solid stability (even when maxed out), a great warranty, and decent customization options — it ticks all the boxes for things you want in the perfect standing desk.
If you want a standing desk without paying too much, however, this Fezibo model is a lot more affordable. And I mean a lot. The height adjusts electrically and you can save four memory settings.
Set the mood: Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer
Michael Brown/Foundry
A smart light switch isn’t an obvious necessity, until you have one. Being able to control the lighting system in your home office via voice controls, motion detection, or your smartphone is a simple luxury that can pay dividends — both in your mood and in your energy bill.
The Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer is built to work with the Lutron Caséta ecosystem, but it also provides broad compatibility with different smart products and systems such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and many others. It also has a minimalist design that doesn’t draw attention to itself.
Stay warm: Vornado VH200 Heater
In those cold months of winter you need a way to keep warm and comfortable while you work at home. A space heater such as the Vornado VH200 Heater is a great way to keep your energy bill down while still warming a specific area. The Vornado is small enough that it won’t take up too much room in your office, but powerful enough that it can heat an entire room by itself. It’s also extremely quiet, meaning you can focus on your work without being distracted by an overly noisy fan.
Say no to cables: Anker 633 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand
Anker
A clean desktop can help you stay productive and focused while working at home. One of the best ways to reduce your cord clutter is to switch to a wireless phone charger. It’s also one of the most convenient and hassle-free ways to charge your mobile devices.
Right now there’s no better wireless charger than the Anker 633 Magnetic Wireless Charging stand. This 10,000mAh battery provides some of the fastest Android charging we’ve ever tested, it has a clean, minimalist look, and the magnetic stand keeps your phone securely upright, making checking notifications a breeze.
Be ready to go: Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh power bank
Thomas Bergbold
One of the best ways you can ensure that your devices are charged when you’re at home or on the go is to get a power bank. The Ugreen Nexode power bank will serve you at your desk, but wirelessly charge your smartphone with its foldable MagSafe pad, or on the go via the three ports — two USB-C and one USB-A.
With 20,000mAh capacity and 145W output, you can even recharge your laptop when you’re away from home. We know this is a bit pricey, but given how it’s a 2-in-1 solution with a ton of power, we’re going to put it in the “splurge” category.
Get some computer speakers: Creative Pebble
Creative
A full, booming 7.1 surround-sound speaker setup might be great for watching movies and playing games, but for work you don’t need anything nearly as fancy. If you’re working at home you just want something that will produce clear audio during meetings or while listening to some background LoFi beats to help keep you focused. Save yourself some money and go with the Creative Pebble speakers, which for only $40 produce deep and rich audio that you would expect from something two or three times the price. Plus they don’t take up much space and look really good on a desktop.
Do-it-all productivity: Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6
Lenovo
You need a laptop while working at home and there are none more suited to the task than the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6. It sports great performance thanks to its Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 CPU, Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics, and 32GB of RAM. It will not only easily tackle any word processing and spreadsheet work you throw at it, but it can also handle web-browsing while you’re on your “lunch break.” It has a 1920×1200 display with a glare-blocking matte finish, which is ideal for viewing in any environment, and a comfortable keyboard for marathon typing or coding sessions.
Back to basics: Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
If you want something a little more portable (or affordable) than a full-fledged productivity machine like the Lenovo ThinkPad, then look no further than the Lenovo Flex 5i—we’re big fans of Lenovo laptops here, can you tell? This Chromebook has fast performance and a versatile 2-in-1 form factor. Meaning you can either use it as a regular laptop or flip the screen around and use it like a tablet. It’s also portable enough to take to the coffee shop when you need a change of scenery. So long as you don’t require Windows while working, the Flex 5i is a great everyday option.
Choose to go tiny: Acemagician S3A
Acemagician
One way to completely overhaul your WFH setup is to get a mini PC. This Acemagician S3A, for instance, features an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, a hefty 32GB RAM, and a solid 512GB SSD. Plus, you can always upgrade your setup to add more RAM and storage.
And since it was made for multitasking, this mini PC even enables users to connect up to three monitors via the HDMI, Display Port, and type-C ports. Now that’s an awesome combo! Plus, this mini is also super affordable, especially since you can often get it on sale.
Why not get some tiny storage too: Samsung Fit Plus
Samsung
We all need some extra storage space, right? Right. We already discussed the importance of having a portable SSD on hand, but having a flash drive can be even better in some instances. Well, the Samsung Fit Plus is a solid choice because it’s absolutely tiny — Bluetooth-dongle-level small.
It comes in so many capacity options that there’s no way you won’t find one for your needs. From 64GB to 512GB, you can pick whichever one you want, and it’s fairly frequently on sale. The Fit Plus would have been a nice option even without the constant discounts, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to save a few bucks.
Get some green in your life: Smart Pet Planter
Plantsio
One thing that will instantly make you feel better when you’re working long hours is a little bit of plant joy. This absolutely adorable Plantsio smart pet planter will wink at you while you’re working, smile if you pet it, take a nap when it’s bored, and happily join you on trips around your home.
If you want to go full green-thumb, you can get a hydroponics growing system and start a mini garden on your desk, growing up your planets with an LED light. Whichever option you choose, having plants nearby will reduce your stress levels while also improving air quality and regulating humidity levels in your office.
Add some space: Ikea Vattenkar desktop shelf
Ikea
Even if you have a mini PC, desk space is limited, so your best option is to go vertical. This Ikea Vattenkar desktop shelf is perfection, offering you two sizable trays on the side of your desk. You’ll mount this one with C-clamps and it won’t go anywhere — trust me, it’s stable. You can put little plants on in, store your pens, add your charging cables, and so on. Efficient and affordable.
Basil Kronfli / Foundry
The best thing you can do nowadays is to get a paper tablet that will transform your chicken scritches handwriting to a digital format. The Remarkable 2 is a fantastic paper tablet that keeps distractions away, allowing you to stay focused.
If you don’t want to shell out as much, the Boox Note Air 4C is also a fantastic option, featuring a color ePaper screen. If you really don’t want to go that far, you can just get a paper-feel screen protector for your tablet, like this iPad one, which will give you the traction you need to feel like you’re writing on paper and not on a shiny screen.
Delegate floor cleaning: Eureka J15 Pro Ultra
Gabriela Vatu
Listen, just because you’re home all day, it doesn’t mean that you actually have a ton of free time to clean your home. So, what better way to do it than to delegate this pesky job to a robot vacuum cleaner? The Eureka J15 Pro Ultra is just about everything you can want: It vacuums, it mops, it automatically dumps the dirt and hair and debris into the station, and then lets the station clean the mops, air dry them and then clean out the base too. It’s as hands-off as it’s going to get without getting a robot vacuum that can hook up to the water source itself.
