This curvy MacBook stand appeals to the budget

By Ed Hardy • 12:20 pm, August 1, 2023

The Twelve South Curve SE stand holds up a MacBook so the screen is at eye level, making the laptop part of a desktop setup. It’s ergonomic and also cools the computer.

It’s a premium laptop stand made of aluminum but costs substantially less than the company’s other stands.

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A clamshell notebook is very portable, but it’s not the most ergonomic design to work on day in and day out: The screen is too low and too close to the keyboard. Also, sitting flat on a desk isn’t the ideal option for cooling the computer. A stand with a keyboard and mouse takes care of all of these problems.

Twelve South’s Curve SE raises the laptop 6 inches (15cm) above the surface of whatever it’s sitting upon. That makes the screen easier to see, and also lifts the camera for better-looking video calls.

The aluminum stand’s silver finish will match most Macs. And anti-slip silicone pads prevent the stand from scratching the laptop.

The Curve SE fits all MacBooks, as well as rival notebooks with displays between 11 inches and 17 inches. That includes iPads in most clip-on keyboard cases.

Twelve South makes other stands in the Curve series with the same general design. Those are a single piece of aluminum, and cost about $60. The new SE model is priced significantly lower because it comes in three parts that need to be assembled.

That doesn’t mean it’s more portable. “Once assembled, we do not recommend disassembly as it is meant to be a permanent connection,” warns Twelve South.

The new Curve SE costs $39.99, and is available now.

Buy it from: Twelve South

Buy it from: Amazon

Another option is Twelve South’s Curve Flex, a notebook stand that can be adjusted.