9 ultrabook add-ons to power up your portable PC

You can never have too many accessories for your ultrabook computer.

USB hubs, custom charge cables, sleek and slick storage drives, high-end wireless earphones and mini memory cards with massive capacities — they all make great ultraportables even better. These nine peripherals are all new, they’re unique, and they’re all guaranteed to upgrade your ultrabook.

The tech industry is expected to widely adopt the new USB-C connector, and an increasing number of laptops and tablets equipped with such ports will be released in the near future. However, peripherals based on the ubiquitous Type-A USB port are still on the market, and many of the best USB gadgets from the past few years are based on USB-A. So it’s a good idea to have an adaptor such as the Nonda USB-C to USB 3.0 mini adapter handy. The sturdy aluminum alloy adapter is affordable, too, so you might want to buy more than one.

Price: $11 [ Find it on Amazon – *What’s this?* ]

The Griffin BreakSafe magnetic USB-C power cable is just what the doctor ordered for Apple users who lament the loss of Apple’s MagSafe connector. The BreakSafe connector end can be left plugged into a laptop’s USB-C port, or you can simply use it as a normal USB-C cable that safely disconnects when pulled without tugging your laptop along with it. Griffin’s cable works with power adapters up to 60 watts, and its strategically positioned magnets ensure the charger is always aligned correctly.

Price: $40 [ Find it on Amazon ]

Wish that new ultrabook had more ports? Belkin’s USB 3.0 3-port hub with Gigabit Ethernet adapter offers three USB 3.0 ports so you can plug in more USB peripherals. However, it’s not your average USB hub, because a built-in 1Gbps wired Ethernet port lets you quickly transfer files via a wired network, and provides Internet access in locations without Wi-Fi.

Price: $50 [ Find it on Amazon ]

The Magnetic Organization System (MOS) elegantly uses magnets to keep accessories, such as charging tips, USB cables, stereo plugs, and other magnetic items, organized and within easy reach. It’s available in aluminum, black and white, and each MOS unit comes bundled with three magnetic ties to help wrangle all your chaotic cables.

Price: $15 (black or white) and $30 (aluminum) [ Find it on Amazon ]

As its name suggests, the Lexar JumpDrive S45 USB 3.0 flash drive is a portable storage unit with between 32GB and 128GB of capacity. Unlike a typical flash drive, the S45’s minimalist design means it’s unobtrusive and doesn’t need to be constantly moved around. Its fast 150MBps-read and 45MBps-write speeds make light work of even the largest file transfers, thanks to the gadget’s USB 3.0 support.

Price: $18 (32GB) to $48 (128GB) [ Find it on Amazon ]

MicroSD memory cards are no longer just for smartphones, as evidenced by an increasing number of ultraportable devices, such as Microsoft’s Surface Pro, that feature built-in microSD card slots. A new, 200GB version of Lexar’s 633x microSDXC UHS-I card is now available. It can add ample storage capacity to your ultrabook, so you can store your high-definition audio and 4K media files without eating into your precious built-in memory.

Price: $95 [ Find it on Amazon ]

Samsung’s Portable solid stat drive (SSD) T3 weighs just 1.8 ounces (51 grams), but offers read and write speeds that rival the performance of many mainstream SSDs. Data can be pumped through its 5Gbps USB 3.1 (Gen 1) interface at up to 450MBps, which makes the portable drive perfect for keeping large files that won’t fit in your Ultrabook’s internal storage.

Price: $150 (500GB) [ Find it on Amazon ]

Jaybird’s latest wireless earphones, called Jaybird Freedom, offer a high quality and unobtrusive audio experience, whether you listen to music via Spotify on a smartphone, or iTunes on an Ultrabook. The Freedom headphones have an all-metal housing, and Jaybird says they’re the smallest earbuds ever designed. They’re both sweat-proof and low profile, which means they’re suitable for outside and office use. And it’s easy to find a snug, comfortable fit thanks to the six different ear tips and three ear fins that ship with Freedom.

Price: $200 [ Find it on Amazon ]

The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is the latest version of the company’s popular MX Anywhere travel mouse. The MX Anywhere 2 has an even slimmer “pico” wireless transceiver that plugs into an USB port, and it can also connect to your Ultrabook or Surface tablet via Bluetooth. The MX Anywhere 2 can be configured to work with three different devices, and a button on its underside lets you quickly toggle between gadgets. The mouse has a built-in, rechargeable battery, as well, which makes the MX Anywhere 2 slightly lighter than its past generation.

Price: $80 [ Find it on Amazon ]