I’m not here to sell you the idea of laptop stands—see that story here—but if you’re going to drop a small fortune on an iOS device, it deserves a pedestal that complements its sculptural craftsmanship. Apple has surpassed 2.2 billion active devices as of February 2024, so odds are you own at least one. And if Apple made laptop stands, they would look like Rain Design’s.
Apple devices are known for their elegant simplicity, and Rain Design just gets it. All of its stands disappear behind the device that they’re meant to support and don’t drown your workplace in visual clutter. Most of its products hover between $25 and $65 (excluding the $319 iGo monitor stand) and have iOS-esque finishes—silver, gold, space gray, black, midnight blue, and starlight (that champagne hue)—and most are designed with a cable outlet.
Apple carries Twelve South stands, but I prefer Rain Design’s. They slightly less expensive, with a wider variety of styles and colors. And they’re sturdy, so they’ll still be holding strong even after you’ve replaced your MacBook with its shinier successor.
Stability You Can Rely On
The mStand is my favorite of the bunch. It’s rock-solid, forged from a solid aluminum plate, and designed with a wide base (7.5 x 10 inches) that makes it one of the most stable stands I’ve tested. I very much appreciate the slot underneath to tuck my external keyboard and mouse when not in use. If you collaborate in-person often, the mStand360 model adds a swivel base. Rain Design makes mStand variations for iPhones and iPads, too.
Photograph: Rain Design
If you prefer a little more flexibility, the iLevel2 ($65) lets you dial the height from 5.4 to 7.9 inches with a simple front slider. The mTower ($50) is a vertical stand that enables you to stow your Macbook upright, freeing up valuable desk space—ideal if you use an external monitor. And if you’re someone who intended to work at your desk but somehow ended up on the couch after lunch, the iLap ($45)—with its detachable front cushion—is one of the few lap desks that are just as stable for desk work. (The iRest does the same for tablets; all three cushions are removable to fold down and pack.)
Ready for Action
The mBar Pro+ is the best portable stand. The 5.5-inch elevation feels just right for comfortable viewing and typing. When I’m not toting this to a coffee shop, it stays stationed on my already cluttered desk, ready for when I need a second screen.
If you have a tablet, mBar Pro+, which works with most MacBooks, is also compatible with the 9.7-inch iPad, 10.5-inch, and 12.5-inch iPad Pro in horizontal mode. It folds down to just 9.5 x 6 inches and weighs less than a pound; it’s compact enough to throw into any tote bag, including my Lululemon Boxy Mini Tote. Plus, it comes with a svelte pouch, like all of the company’s portable products. If you prefer lower laptop stands, the foldable mBar pro ($55) and the mBar fixed stand ($25) both raise your MacBook by three inches.
Rain Design isn’t out here trying to reinvent the wheel with flashy features. The company has taken the fundamentals and made them better, offering an assortment of stands that—at the very least—don’t buckle under pressure. Essentially, Rain Design delivers what we all desire: unwavering stability, genuine thoughtfulness, and durability that’ll outlive your Apple device.
