GB
  
You are currently viewing the United Kingdom version of the site.
Would you like to switch to your local site?
3 MIN READ TIME
INPUT DEVICES

INPUT DEVICES

Your MacBook Neo can connect to keyboards, mice, hubs and more

D ESPITE BEING AN entry–level laptop, the MacBook Neo is built to Apple’s exceptional quality standards. Rather than plastic, it has a recycled aluminum enclosure. Its Magic Keyboard also has good key travel on a par with the MacBook Air, and it boasts a responsive, precise Multi–Touch trackpad.

But you can still improve your experience. An external keyboard may give you backlit keys — something the Neo lacks — and it will enable you to set the computer on a stand so you can use it like a desktop machine. A mouse can reduce wrist fatigue and offer enhanced precision, while a hub will extend the MacBook Neo connectivity beyond its two USB–C ports.

Unlock this article and much more with
You can enjoy:
Enjoy this edition in full
Instant access to 750+ titles
Thousands of back issues
No contract or commitment
Try for 99p
SUBSCRIBE NOW
30 day trial, then just £9.99 / month. Cancel anytime. New subscribers only.


Learn more
Pocketmags Plus
Pocketmags Plus

This article is from...


View Issues
Mac|Life
October 2026
VIEW IN STORE

Other Articles in this Issue


START
YOUR NEXT FREE UPGRADE
BY THE TIME you read this, Apple will
THE TEAM
Andrew Cottle Art Editor It is lovely to
START
THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF APPLE
News in brief
A bite of the Apple
CRAVE
THE GEAR WE’RE LUSTING AFTER
WHEN AI GOES ROGUE
Artificial intelligence (AI) models escaped their test environments and accessed real computer systems — should we be worried?
> THE SHIFT
Apple AirPods are wonderful objects — except when you have to clean out someone else’s wax–encrusted pair
Feature
iOS 27 SUPER GUIDE
Must–try tips, tricks, & secrets
CREATE
Clean up messy files
Bring order to chaos by organizing your photos, videos and documents
Organize your day the easy way
Get planning help from Structured — an award-winning organizer
Power up your menu bar
Discover a better way to manage app menu bar items
Follow the moon on your iPhone
Tracking lunar phases wherever you are
Keep in touch with all your friends
Amato helps to keep friendships alive
Check the weather before a trip
Look up weather conditions so you’re prepared before you leave
The next version of Wi–Fi is ready to step out into the wider world
Wi–Fi 8 is designed for large, busy networks in
ASK
Double–click of doom
DOUBLE–CLICKING A document to open it in the right
> Build a large iCloud Photos library
How can I transfer thousands of photos and videos from an external drive to create a Photos library shared in iCloud? I use an iPad as my main “computer”, but it doesn’t have enough free space to do this efficiently. Would a Mac be better?
> Load email content privately
The Mail app warns me for incoming messages that network settings prevent content from loading privately. Apart from Avast One Security and its VPN, my iPad has fairly standard settings. How can I restore email privacy?
Quick–fire questions & answers
DOES LOCKDOWN MODE OMIT LOCATIONS FROM IMAGES? No, it
Quick–fire questions & answers
HOW RELIABLE IS iCLOUD DRIVE STORAGE OF FILES? No
> Location Services need Wi–Fi
My iMac is connected via wired Ethernet, and its Wi–Fi is disabled. Why can’t it find and set its location?
> Stricter server security
How does stricter network security in macOS 27 Golden Gate affect our family server?
> Send batches of emails
How can I distribute our club email to its 110 members? If I add too many as BCC copies, the email is rejected in the Mail app.
Quick–fire questions & answers
CAN I STILL USE AIRPORT UTILITY IN macOS 27?
> Mac slow to respond
Why does my Intel Mac get taken over by kernel_task and become so slow to respond?
> Changing disk encryption
I’ve heard that macOS 27 Golden Gate no longer supports Mac OS Extended (HFS+) encryption. How can I upgrade to it, while still being able to access old encrypted backups?
> Warnings in First Aid
When I run First Aid in Disk Utility, it warns for many items the “Resource Fork xattr is missing or empty for compressed file”, but there aren’t any compressed files there. How can I fix that?
Quick–fire questions & answers
HOW DO I QUICKLY TOTAL THE SIZE OF MANY
FEATURES
MACBOOK NEO
Boost your enjoyment of Apple’s colorful, affordable laptop
NEXT–LEVEL OUTPUT
Check out these audio, printing and network essentials
POWER TO GO
Ensure your MacBook Neo is protected, powered up and ready to go
Best Apple products ever
The best Apple products aim to make a dent in the universe. We explore the most iconic — and a few flubs where we wonder what went wrong
REVIEWS
Iris Photos
Use AI–powered tools to browse photos and clips in new ways
Aspekt Touch 32–inch Docking monitor
A supercharged touch display
Chess Peace
A new twist on an ancient classic
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5
Wireless noise–canceling headphones with an epic soundstage
Atonemo NTS Radio Player
Digital streaming and radio on your analog gear
BBEdit 16
Still the Mac text editor king
Marshall Stanmore IV
Beefy Bluetooth speaker that sounds as good as it looks
Best of the best
Can’t find the hardware or app you’re looking for in our reviews section? Then check in here — we’ve highlighted the best in every major category, as voted for by us
iPhone X
Graham Barlow on the game–changing 2017 iPhone redesign
next month
macOS 27 SUPERGUIDE Discover everything that’s new! ALSO
Chat
X
Pocketmags Support