Updated 11 November 2026
A Mac is only as useful as the screen, keyboard and ports you put around it. This guide covers what to look for in displays, docks, external storage and input devices, with official Australian prices for Apple’s own options.
For help choosing the computer itself, see how to choose a Mac laptop, how to choose a desktop Mac, and laptop vs desktop — how to decide.
Displays
Apple currently sells two displays in Australia: Studio Display, from $2,599, and Studio Display XDR, from $4,799. The older Pro Display XDR page now redirects to Studio Display XDR, so treat Studio Display XDR as the current high-end Apple panel.
Studio Display is the 27-inch 5K monitor most Mac buyers should look at first if they want an Apple display. Shop configurations also list $3,099, $3,299 and $3,799, which correspond to options such as nano-texture glass and a VESA mount rather than the tilt-adjustable stand. We have not assigned each of those prices to a specific option here, because the shop page did not present a single, clearly labelled matrix in the text we captured. If nano-texture or VESA matters to you, configure the display on Apple’s Studio Display shop page and use the price shown there.
Studio Display XDR starts at $4,799, with other listed configurations at $5,299, $5,499 and $5,999, again covering glass and stand or VESA choices. This is the panel for colour-critical work if you want Apple’s current XDR display and are prepared to pay for it. For many people, a good third-party 4K or 5K monitor will be a better spend; we have not quoted those prices because they vary by retailer.
What to look for, whoever makes the panel: a resolution and size you can sit comfortably from, a stand or arm that fits your desk, brightness you can live with in your room, and a connection your Mac actually has. Current MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro Liquid Retina models use Thunderbolt 4; MacBook Pro with M5 Pro or M5 Max, Mac mini with M5 Pro, Mac Studio and some other recent Macs use Thunderbolt 5. Buy a cable and, if needed, a dock that matches the port. A cheap HDMI adapter will work for a second screen; it will not give you the same bandwidth as a proper Thunderbolt or USB-C DisplayPort connection.
Keyboards, mice and trackpads
Apple’s current USB-C Magic accessories, with official AU prices, are:
- Magic Keyboard (USB-C): $149
- Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for Apple silicon Macs (USB-C): $209
- Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad (USB-C), listed in Apple’s Mac accessories shop: $279
- Magic Mouse (USB-C), white: $119; black is listed at $149
- Magic Trackpad (USB-C), white: $179; a higher $209 figure also appears in the shop alongside the black finish
If you already have a recent iMac, the keyboard and mouse in the box may be all you need. On a Mac mini or Mac Studio, budget for a keyboard and either a mouse or a trackpad. Touch ID on the keyboard is the one Apple accessory many people find worth the extra money, because it makes signing in and paying with Apple Pay easier than typing a password.
Third-party keyboards and mice are often cheaper and, for some typists, better. That is a personal choice. If you need Windows-style keys, a quieter switch or a more conventional mouse, you are not obliged to stay in Apple’s range.
Docks, hubs and cables
Apple sells adapters and cables rather than a full docking station. Official examples from the current Mac accessories shop include a USB-C to USB Adapter at $29, a 240W USB-C Charge Cable (2 m) at $45, and the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter at $115, which can connect a Mac to an HDMI display and a standard USB device.
For a proper dock — power delivery, an SD card reader, several displays, 2.5Gb Ethernet — you will be looking at third-party Thunderbolt docks. Generic rules of thumb: match Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 to the Mac you own; check how much power the dock can send back to a laptop; check how many displays it officially supports with your chip; and buy one documented cable rather than a drawer full of mystery dongles. A $29 USB-C adapter is fine for a USB flash drive. It is not a substitute for a Thunderbolt dock.
External storage
Apple no longer pretends you can cheaply upgrade the SSD later, so the first storage decision still happens when you buy the Mac. Our laptop and desktop guides make that point for a reason. External storage is how you expand afterwards.
For Time Machine and general files, a reliable USB-C or Thunderbolt SSD or hard drive is enough. For video, photos or scratch disks, prefer a Thunderbolt SSD and a short, good cable, and be wary of very cheap enclosures that cannot sustain their advertised speeds. We have not named or priced third-party drives here. Look for a drive with a clear warranty from a brand that actually supports Australian customers, and remember that a backup you never test is not a backup.
If you are still choosing between a laptop you can close and a desktop you can load with ports, laptop vs desktop — how to decide is the better starting point than any single accessory.