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If you’re gaming, you should consider refresh rates (a higher number means smoother gameplay if you have a powerful enough PC), but for office work the standard 60Hz is all you need.
Laptop stands
If you don’t have a permanent work space set aside for a monitor, a stand can make working on your laptop a lot more comfortable and convenient.
The key things to look for are an angled design that lets you type without straining your wrists, and gaps in the material wherever your laptop’s vents are to allow airflow and prevent overheating.
A lot of premium laptop stands, including the Bonelk Elevate and Twelve South Curve Flex, are adjustable, so you can set them at the height and angle you want, or fold them down for easy storage after work.
Expect to pay $80+ for a good stand.
Cameras
Cameras built into laptops tend to be pretty ordinary and are rarely at a good angle so, if you spend time in meetings, it can be a good idea to buy a discrete camera.
Logitech’s webcams are relatively ubiquitous, and for good reason; the latest Brio 300 produces a clear HD image and can introduce a lot more light into dim surroundings at $130. But even the $50 Logitech c270 will improve on most laptop cameras.
If you have a nice digital camera, check the manufacturer’s website for software that lets it act as a webcam via USB. Sony, Canon, GoPro and Nikon all offer this. If your model isn’t supported, you can get USB dongles that take an HDMI from a camera and appear as a webcam on your computer. You can find these as cheap as $22, though most are Chinese clones of Elgato’s $150 Cam Link.
If you’re an Apple user, you can wirelessly use the camera on your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, which is a great solution. All you need is a way to prop your iPhone up at a decent height, and there are heaps of mounts and stands available if you want something a bit safer than leaning it on a bookshelf.
Apple users can pair their iPhone to a Mac wirelessly for use as a webcam.
Keyboards
For years, mechanical keyboards have been only for gamers and the snobbiest of typing purists, but the work-from-home boom has seen many more people discovering how much more accurate and pleasant these devices can be.
You can buy a mechanical keyboard for as little as $30, but they aren’t all created equal. Many offer “tactile” or “clicky” feedback, which can be great for training your fingers to type fast and accurately but, on cheaper keyboards, can be uneven or annoying.
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Something else to keep in mind is that keyboards for gaming typically have RGB lighting, meaning a colorful glow under the keys. That is cool for office work, too, as it helps you see the key labels in darker conditions, but it’s important to find out how it works; can you change the colors, does it need special software, can you turn it off?
My favorite for work is Razer’s $280 Pro Type Ultra, which keeps things classy with a white and silver design and plain white lights. The keys have neither tactile nor clicky feedback – they move silently up and down – which took me a few days to adjust to but makes things comfy and quiet. You can use it wired, or put the rechargeable battery to use in either 2.4GHz mode (with the included dongle) or multipoint bluetooth. Wireless use is great for a tidy space or for quick setup, and mine’s been going for close to 200 hours without needing a charge.
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