Desk space is the most precious resource in most office spaces, so I’m guessing the same may be true at your work or home. This is especially true for those who connect their laptops to external monitors, which take up even more space while providing the invaluable resource of more screen acreage. You’re also probably rethinking your desk layout if you bought the new MacBook Air M3, our new best laptop pick, which gained support for dual external 8K displays.
I see my desk as a constant work in progress that I’m always looking to improve. That said, the market isn’t short on all the ways to streamline your setup, with many costing a lot. But then I recalled the Twelve South BookArc Flex laptop stand, which seems practically made to hold these new MacBooks. And at a penny under $50, it’s priced to sell.
If you love using your laptop with an external display but wish you had more desk space, the Twelve South BookArc Flex is perfect for your MacBook.
How I found the Twelve South BookArc Flex
I’ve actually known about the BookArc Flex for years because Twelve South is a one of my favorite tech accessory brands (I love its well-designed HiRise 3 Deluxe stand for Apple accessories). But while I never thought I needed the BookArc Flex before, my interest grew when Apple rolled out the MacBook Air M3, which supports dual external displays if its lid is closed. That feature didn’t sound so grand, as keeping a shut 15-inch MacBook Air lying flat on my desk would mean losing a 13.4-by-9.4-inch rectangle of desk space.
Enter the Twelve South BookArc Flex, a pair of metallic arches that frees up a ton of space by holding your MacBook upright in its cradle that connects both sides. Of course, this works for Windows-based laptops too, provided you’ve got your power settings adjusted properly (you can find all the appropriate settings by searching “lid” in the Start menu). All you really need to do is make sure your laptop is under 1-inch thick and that its screen is 16 inches or less, which includes all the best MacBooks.
Why the Twelve South BookArc Flex is a score
In a perfect world, more tech accessories would be like the BookArc Flex. It’s relatively affordable, sleek and easy to use, and it does what it’s supposed to do. I’ve set it up with multiple MacBooks but primarily used it with a 14-inch MacBook Pro M2 Max, where the footprint has decreased from 12.3 by 8.7 inches to 12.3 by 3.5 inches (before, again, all the connected cables). That’s over 50% less space taken up, giving me more room for all sorts of things, such as mail, review units and the trio of beverages I always manage to accrue on my desk. Plus, my laptop is elevated off the surface so it sits above any accidental spills.
Setting it up is very simple, as you place your closed laptop horizontally in its cradle-like arms at a 90-degree angle, with the Apple logo facing up (if you’re using a MacBook). Then the weight of the notebook will pull the two arms of the stand in, though you may need to move it slightly to get it at the right perpendicular angle. Once it’s set up, everything feels super sturdy, which isn’t surprising from its durable-feeling materials.
If you’ve never used a closed laptop, don’t worry — it works fine in my testing. All I need to do to wake my MacBook is start using my wirelessly connected Logitech Wave Keys keyboard, and the system simply turns my connected Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor on. Then I’m off to the races. Performance isn’t hampered either, as I notice no difference when I work with over 100 Google Chrome tabs open, edit images in Adobe Photoshop and manage messages and calendar events in Microsoft Outlook.
While I was almost concerned about losing access to my laptop screen while it’s closed and docked, I quickly realized I didn’t need it. Further testing also revealed how the BookArc Flex works (or doesn’t work) with laptops made by companies other than Apple. The Dell XPS 14 fits well with the BookArc Flex, as all its ports are on the left and right sides, but the power-drawing ports on the back edge of the Alienware m16 R2 rule that gaming laptop out of consideration.
After a week of use, the Twelve South BookArc Flex is my favorite little tweak to my home office in ages. But it’s not just a favorite of mine for how much space I’ve saved on my desk; I also love its ease of use and luxurious look. The only issue you’ll have is picking a color: the Black and White options are $49.99 and often on sale, and its Chrome, Silver and Space Gray variants are a little extra at $60. Having used both, I can’t pick a favorite. Just go with the color that matches your desk and laptop the best.
