But one of the things I love most about USB-C is that it enables a single-cable connection between my 16-inch MacBook Pro and everything I need to connect to on my desk. A single USB-C cable from my monitor carries power, video, and data. All my external drives are connected to the monitor, so connect one cable, and I’m done. If your MacBook sees unusually heavy use, and you want to eke out every single iota of performance, my experience suggests you’ll be better off with the passive horizontal stand that exposes the full surface area of the MacBook, for optimum cooling. But for my use, even when editing 4K video in Final Cut Pro, there was no issue.

But first let’s have a before shot of my desk with the 13″ Macbook Pro w/Retina display and the 29″ LG monitor. The Macbook has 4 cables attached: MagSafe, USB, 3.5mm audio cable and video cable. That exposed MagSafe connector and cable detracts a bit from the overall sleek look of the setup, but it was probably the right choice given that users will always be connected to a monitor, but have the option of ditching the power cable virtually all day if they wish (thanks to the 13-inch MacBook Air’s 12-hour battery life). The stylish white plastic stand looks like something Apple would have designed itself, and keeps your MacBook Air sat vertically on your desk, so it doesn’t take up much room while you’re using it. As a piece of design, it’s certainly a triumph.The next step is to place one of the plastic adapter tools over the end of the MagSafe connector. There are two tools, made specifically for the style of MagSafe included with the Macbook Pro. Thunderbolt 4 does have technical benefits, such as smarter daisy chaining of devices and faster storage tech. Read our feature on Thunderbolt 3 vs Thunderbolt 4 vs USB-C. Connecting dual displays to a MacBook Until, that is, we got Gigabit broadband. Just, you know, because it was available. That genuinely does deliver gigabit speeds, but needs a wired Ethernet connection, so that meant a second USB-C cable with an Ethernet adapter.

Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Read our editorial mission & see how we test.In many ways, today’s MacBook Pro models rival—and even exceed—the capabilities of their desktop alternatives, while of course offering the compelling advantage of portability. But the old desktop computer still has a few advantages of its own. For example, despite being tethered to a fixed location, a desktop computer’s footprint is often smaller—recent iMacs are little more than “fat” monitors, and the Mac mini takes up half the desk area of a MacBook Pro—and Apple has gone out of its way to minimize the number of cables required to operate them.