Best Apple-Related Accessories at CES 2022

[MacRumors]

CES 2022 is wrapping up today, and while it was a more muted event because of the ongoing pandemic that saw many exhibitors and attendees cancel, there were still plenty of new product announcements. In our latest YouTube video, we rounded up some of the best Apple-related accessories that we saw this year.

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• Garmin Venu 2 Plus Smart Watch ($450) - Garmin's Venu 2 Plus Smart Watch is an Apple Watch alternative with a 43mm round display. It has all kinds of health tracking features to monitor heart rate, respiration, daily energy levels, stress, blood oxygen level, and sleep, plus the battery lasts for up to nine days. Garmin has also added a microphone so it supports texts and calls using Apple's Siri voice assistant.
• Withings Body Scan ($300) - Withings' latest smart scale packs in a whole host of health-related features. It tracks weight, but it also monitors segmental body composition, heart rate, vascular age, and nerve activity. With the built-in handle, it can also take a 6-lead ECG, which is more advanced than the single-lead ECG feature built into the Apple Watch.
• Targus Find My Backpack ($150) - Accessory maker Targus updated its Cypress Hero EcoSmart Backpack to add built-in tracking functionality that uses Apple's Find My app. The backpack can be added to the Find My app right alongside other devices and it can be tracked with the Find My Network so it's locatable even out of Bluetooth range.
• Hyper Swivel Dock for iMac ($200) - Hyper came out with a turntable dock designed for the 24-inch iMac. It features a 360-degree swivel mechanism that allows the screen to be rotated around as needed. It has a built-in SSD enclosure that supports up to 2TB storage, plus it offers an HDMI port, SD/microSD card slots, a USB-C port, and four USB-A ports.
• Eve Outdoor Cam ($250) - Eve's Outdoor Cam combines camera functionality with an outdoor spotlight, and it uses HomeKit Secure Video for iCloud-based storage, privacy, and motion detection. It works at night, has IP55 water and dust resistance, two-way communication, and a wide 157 degree field of view.
• Chipolo CARD Spot ($35) - The Chipolo CARD Spot is a Bluetooth device tracker meant to be used in a wallet. It's relatively thin at 2.4mm, and it has built-in Find My integration. It will allow you to make sure you don't leave your wallet behind or lose it, and if it does get lost you can locate it with Apple's Find My network even when it's not in Bluetooth range. The only downside is that there's no replaceable battery, but Chipolo has a replacement program.
• Satechi Pro Hub Max ($100) - Satechi built a USB-C hub that's designed to work with the latest MacBook Pro models. It plugs into the side using two USB-C ports, but it adds a 4K HDMI port for dual display functionality that supports up to 60Hz, a Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, micro/SD card readers, and an audio jack.
• Samsung Odyssey Ark - Samsung at CES introduced an absolutely massive curved display called the Arc. It measures in at 55 inches, offers a 4K 16:9 resolution and can be used in either portrait or landscape mode. This isn't coming until later in the year, so there's no price or firm release date.
• NexMonitor ($449) - The NexMonitor is a display with an off-center base that's meant to house a Mac mini. It also has a thick bezel at one side to accommodate an iPhone, so you can have all of your devices right at eye level. The 27-inch display is available with a 2K or 4K resolution and it has a USB-C port, HDMI port, a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-B port, an SD card reader, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

We'll have reviews and additional coverage of some of these products coming in the future, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors and our YouTube channel.

Article Link: Best Apple-Related Accessories at CES 2022

 

[Realityck]

I prefer the Satechi USB-4 Multiport Adapter with 8K HDMI that is priced at $150, then the Satechi Pro Hub Max ($100) which is limited to just using it with 2021 MBPs. Just seems made for multiple USB4 capable devices such as a 24" iMac and 2021 MBP as example.

 

[ignatius345]

NexMonitor ($449) - The NexMonitor is a display with an off-center base that's meant to house a Mac mini. It also has a thick bezel at one side to accommodate an iPhone, so you can have all of your devices right at eye level. The 27-inch display is available with a 2K or 4K resolution and it has a USB-C port, HDMI port, a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-B port, an SD card reader, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

I love the look of this monitor -- and I think the off-center design looks kind of neat with the Mini -- but I can't see myself parking my phone up there next to the screen.

Also, looks clean in that product shot but won't in real life once you plug in a webcam and speakers.

 

[Return Zero]

Surprised the Wemo doorbell doesn't get included on this list. It will be an instant buy for me, provided someone can confirm sustained functionality in direct sunlight.

 

[_Spinn_]

I'm excited for the new HomeKit accessories that were announced.

 

[Analog Kid]

I love the look of this monitor -- and I think the off-center design looks kind of neat with the Mini -- but I can't see myself parking my phone up there next to the screen.

Also, looks clean in that product shot but won't in real life once you plug in a webcam and speakers.

Yeah, they get points for concept. I've got the same practical reservations you do (and also about a 2k display at 27"), but it's refreshing to see a monitor get an interesting design again rather that just try to disappear.

 

[BrownyQ]

I'm really liking that NexMonitor design, even as a second display. Pricing doesn't feel too terrible either, and I'm rather fond of the whole phone stuck next to the display, too.

I'll definitely keep an eye on this one come this summer.

 

[diddl14]

Waiting for Apple to bring Desktop Mode to iPhone! Would be so cool to plug in a monitor, connect mouse/keyboard and have a full macOS ?

(maybe not very useful but still…)

 

[44267547]

Ok, so my vote goes for the ‘Chipolo card spot’ wallet location.

I have one major question, the battery is non-replaceable, so does the card alert the user when the battery is in need of a replacement or running low[?] Because to me, if there’s no indicator that the battery is low after two years, then what good is that product if you lose your wallet if it’s not alerting the user. I do think the price is fair, which is $35 for one card, which isn’t that much money for the insurance of your wallet.

If Chipolo or someone who else is educated on this product or has the answer to that, that would be helpful.

 

[munpip214]

Garmin can do 9 days of battery life?! Apple really needs to step it up.

 

[fwmireault]

I have one major question, the battery is non-replaceable, so does the card alert the user when the battery is in need of a replacement or running low[?]

You will be noticed on your iPhone if the battery is low. Source

 

[ignatius345]

Yeah, they get points for concept. I've got the same practical reservations you do (and also about a 2k display at 27"), but it's refreshing to see a monitor get an interesting design again rather that just try to disappear.

To be fair they do also offer it at 4K for $100 more. (Though I'm not sure why anyone would pick the 2K version at that small of a price difference.)

 

[Detroitconeydog]

The samsung ARK IS THE KING! Man, I wish they can be much more affordable!

 

[svish]

Satechi hub and Samsung Ark are good

 

[cocoua]

All garbage or “one year products”

Except the garmin which is an evolution from previous device

 

[EntropyQ3]

To be fair they do also offer it at 4K for $100 more. (Though I'm not sure why anyone would pick the 2K version at that small of a price difference.)

Well, they are completely silent on things like colour gamut, backlight flicker, adaptive sync, ….
Without that information it’s hard to evaluate these screens.

When information is just lacking, it’s typically not a good sign. I like the concept enough to look them up though, unfortunately what is there doesn’t inspire confidence. It’s all surface.

 

[-DMN-]

To be fair they do also offer it at 4K for $100 more. (Though I'm not sure why anyone would pick the 2K version at that small of a price difference.)

The 2K refreshes at 100hz vs only 60hz with the 4K.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Bummer that only the 2k version of the Nexmonitor has a high-ish refresh rate, given that the M1 is capable of 120fps, easy.

 

[nylonsteel]

nex monitor - site does not specify tilt, height, rotate features
too bad - i can live with my current setup

 

[Arran]

For a sec, I thought that was an old Sony Discman on the Youtube link!

 

[amartinez1660]

Well, they are completely silent on things like colour gamut, backlight flicker, adaptive sync, ….
Without that information it’s hard to evaluate these screens.

When information is just lacking, it’s typically not a good sign. I like the concept enough to look them up though, unfortunately what is there doesn’t inspire confidence. It’s all surface.

Ah, solid points.
I was liking it so much instantly besides feeling it practical, that I was skeptical with myself if I had just been casted a marketing spell or something.

Will keep an eye for those, seems great for a secondary screen nevertheless and the phone thing I find it great, I do quite some iOS dev and the phone + cable being around the table can be annoying (very very minor though), with this you can launch-debug a build and it’s going to be there at the eye level. When needing to interact with the touch though, it will most likely be picked up.

 

[cupcakes2000]

To be fair they do also offer it at 4K for $100 more. (Though I'm not sure why anyone would pick the 2K version at that small of a price difference.)

Aside the resolution, the 2k one has better specs. But as others have said.. hard to tell really without them putting much more info on their website.
Also I wonder if you can attach the phone horizontally - it would go over the edge a bit but still.

 

[Plinga]

I love the look of this monitor -- and I think the off-center design looks kind of neat with the Mini -- but I can't see myself parking my phone up there next to the screen.

Also, looks clean in that product shot but won't in real life once you plug in a webcam and speakers.

Can’t you use the iphone as a webcam? Add wireless speakers/headphones too

 

[ignatius345]

Can’t you use the iphone as a webcam? Add wireless speakers/headphones too

I probably wouldn't want a webcam off to the side like that -- and connecting my phone all the time for that also sounds like PITA that would require extra software.

As far as wireless speakers, sure, but you still have the speakers on your desk vs them being integrated.

 

[permanoob]

To be fair they do also offer it at 4K for $100 more. (Though I'm not sure why anyone would pick the 2K version at that small of a price difference.)

This 2K monitor is better than the 4K version for MacOS. The 27 inch monitor with 4K is 163 PPI. That does not work well with MacOS according to everything I have read, you will have scaling or performance issues. Mac OS needs displays within a few PPI of 110 or 220. That’s natural for MacOS. All their own displays are this. It’s no coincidence that the imac is 4.5K, the ASD is 5K, and the Pro XDR is 6k. It keeps almost the exact same PPI for all those different screen sizes. The 2K version of this monitor is the right PPI. It’s 108 PPI, which is exactly the same spec as Apple‘s last thunderbolt display from years ago. It will work better with MacOS than the 4K. And you get a better refresh rate. Yes, slightly lower resolution, but that’s something you probably will notice less over time compared to possible scaling or performance issues.
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