Tried and tested: the best home office gadgets

It’s not long until June 30 but there are still plenty of work-from-home gadgets you can buy to make your home office more comfy. Here’s our top picks.

Tax time is nearing and these gadgets can help you lift your home office game for the next financial year.

SATECHI ALUMINIUM STAND HUB

A compact but surprisingly comprehensive iPad hub

$180, mwave.com.au

PROS

– Plenty of inputs

– Hidden charging cable

– Solid, aluminium build

CONS

– Only charges horizontally

– Available in one colour

– Pricey for a stand

This innovative accessory can help you do more with that iPad Pro lying on your desk. The Satechi Aluminium Stand Hub folds out to become a solidly built stand for the Apple tablet, complete with a non-slip holster and a USB-C cable that can be hidden away in its base. But what makes this gadget even more useful are all the ports at the back of this device, from USB-A and USB-C connections to spaces for SD and MicroSD memory cards and a HDMI cable, allowing users to get more in and out of their iPad.

VERDICT: ★★★★★

TELSTRA 5G HOME MODEM

A plug-and-play solution for broadband in tricky locations

$85/m, telstra.com.au

PROS

– Simple to set up

– Comes with 1TB data

– A monthly commitment

CONS

– Dependent on 5G coverage

– Must be placed correctly

– Only one plan available

Whether you’re sick of fighting to install an NBN connection to your home, or you’re not ready for a long-term broadband commitment, this 5G gadget from Telstra is a possible solution. The 5G Home Modem could not be easier to set up as it simply needs a power outlet and the right location in your home to find a 5G signal (up high, away from other electronics). Telstra promises it will deliver average download speeds of 378Mbps but your experience will depend on local mobile coverage. It is available on a month-to-month plan, however, giving you an option to return it if the speed isn’t right.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

TWELVE SOUTH HOVERBAR DUO

One of the smartest ways to use a tablet at your desk

$135, twelvesouth.com.au

The Twelve South HoverBar Duo can hold an Apple iPhone or iPad off the desk.

PROS

– Shortcut to second screen

– Useful with all iPad sizes

– Sturdy construction

CONS

– Uses a lot of desk space

– Stiff to position

– Clamp is limited in size

Anyone who has struggled to find a good angle for a video call should appreciate this Twelve South creation. The HoverBar Duo clamps iPads of all sizes in place and holds them off a desk with a stiff, hinged, metal arm. Users can place this beside a computer to use the tablet like a second screen, or use it to keep a smartphone at a high angle for a flattering FaceTime call. The HoverBar Duo also comes with a shelf attachment and tools to install it for use in a kitchen, for example, and can be used to hold an iPad horizontally or vertically.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

HP ENVY INSPIRE 7920e

The scanning, printing, copying machine you needed all pandemic

$189, hp.com.au

PROS

– Multiple functions in one

– Can print from a smartphone

– Prints 15 pages a minute

CONS

– Ink subscription after six months

– Set-up takes a while

– All colours in one cartridge

HP’s newest all-in-one printer is designed for busy families. It features a colour touchscreen to control it, Wi-Fi and a compatible smartphone app to send things to it, and it has the ability to print in black and white or colour, produce glossy photo prints, and scan items with an automatic document feeder. HP is also trying something different in this model: an Instant Ink subscription that will give you six months’ worth of ink before a monthly subscription fee begins. After that time, users can subscribe to ink supplies based on their usage and starting at $2.

VERDICT: ★★★½

TWELVE SOUTH BACKPACK

This accessory could stop the back-of-the-iMac scramble

$70, twelvesouth.com.au

PROS

– Storage where it’s needed

– Holds up to 1kg

– Thoughtful design

CONS

– Installation can be awkward

– For 24-inch iMac only

– No colourful options

This is one of those accessories you might not know you need until you see it. The Twelve South BackPack is designed to add a storage shelf to the back of a 24-inch Apple iMac; the area where users fumble around, scratching USB cables against its body while trying to connect them. The BackPack is designed to add two plastic clips to either side of the iMac stand’s hole, and slip a metal shelf into it. That shelf can be used to hold an external hard drive, a USB hub, or anything up to one kilogram. It also comes with a strap and wire twists to ensure items stay on the shelf.

VERDICT: ★★★★