Engadget advises against adhesive screen protectors on MacBooks as it weighs second monitors and Mac mini pricing

Engadget reported that putting a screen protector on a MacBook "can actually do more harm than good." From an aesthetic standpoint the film can scatter more light and reduce overall clarity, and given the size of a laptop display the odds of applying one without air bubbles are slim. The larger threat is to the anti-reflective coating on the top layer of the screen. When the time comes to replace the protector, peeling off the adhesive can leave that coating cracked and peeling. A thick glass protector can also bridge the deliberately small gap between the screen and keyboard, so closing the lid even slightly too hard can send force from the base into the display. For anyone who insists on a protector, Engadget points to the Kensington UltraThin Magnetic Privacy Screen Filter sold on Apple's official website, whose magnetism removes the adhesive risk and whose thinness removes the force-based one.

The same report warns that other accessories carry similar risks. A heavier hardshell case can wear out the MacBook's hinge and trap heat against the machine, so Engadget advises choosing a very light case with vent cutouts that still lets the laptop close fully. Apple warns that any accessory preventing full closure can damage the screen by disrupting the "tight tolerance" between screen and base. Keyboard covers can leave permanent marks on the display because the microscopic gap between screen and keys no longer exists, and a webcam cover can both damage the screen and disable the ambient light sensor. Apple recommends removing a keyboard cover before closing the laptop and using a webcam cover no thicker than a sheet of printer paper.

In a separate piece, Engadget described moving to dual monitors as "the best workflow upgrade you can make," citing studies that indicate gains in productivity and satisfaction. The benefits extend beyond gaming and computer-intensive fields: an insurance worker quoted in the article uses two screens to copy and paste between documents instead of switching tabs, and to keep a Teams chat open on one display. Gamers can play on one screen while managing recording, Discord or a streaming audience on the other, and video-call participants can take notes on one display while watching colleagues on the second. Engadget notes that the second monitor need not be high-end, since specifications such as refresh rate matter most on the display used most often, but advises matching size and pixel density for consistent scaling, adding mounting hardware to align the screens, and setting them at a proper viewing distance and eye height. Laptops may need to be configured to keep running with the lid closed, and most modern MacBooks can drive at least two monitors.

A third Engadget report examined why the Mac mini undercuts Apple's laptops. The $900 base mini ships with Apple's M6 processor, which the article calls vastly overpowered for everyday apps; its weak point is 256GB of storage, which fills quickly with photo and video libraries. The cheaper MacBook Neo introduces compromises such as 8GB of RAM and the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro, while the MacBook Air starts at $1,100 with an M5 chip and 16GB of RAM; Engadget also described a $1,300 price for the Air elsewhere in the same piece. The Mac mini's advantages come from what it omits: no display, no keyboard, mouse or trackpad, and no battery. A replacement MacBook display can cost several hundred dollars without AppleCare, and Apple charges between $150 and $250 for MacBook battery service including labor. The mini also needs no drop resistance or extreme power efficiency, and its cooling relies on a large circular vent at the base that a laptop chassis could not accommodate.

Engadget's buying advice is that newcomers to the Mac ecosystem who do not need a large screen will usually get better value from a MacBook Air, since the display, keyboard and trackpad are included, while the mini suits people who work from a TV or already own a monitor and desktop peripherals. In a desktop setting the mini's two USB-C and three Thunderbolt ports can replace a dock a MacBook would require. A top configuration mini reaches $6,800 with an M5 Pro, 64GB of RAM, 8TB of storage and 10Gbps Ethernet; dropping storage to 512GB brings the price to $3,000, at which point Engadget suggests a Mac Studio starting at $2,500 with an M5 Max chip and 36GB of RAM may offer more value.