Desk Set-up
My desk set-up for productivity. More detailed information below.
Last updated: 6st September, 2024
Detailed Breakdowns
1. iPad Air 5 w/ Accessories
with Accessories
Got the iPad Air 5 as an anniversary gift from work.
Paired with the Logitech Combo Touch case, Pebble Mouse 2, I’m able to do development work and enjoy entertainment even when travelling. When I’m home, I place it on the Hagibis Rotating Tablet Stand for easy view and access.
I’ve been looking to get a newer iPad for note-writing to fully transition over to digital notes.
I’ve been using it with GoodNotes 6 for a few months now and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
2. Orico 5-Bay HDD Dock
Disk Management & Backup
As a designer and developer, storage is always a problem, especially when you take into account PSDs, RAW video files as well as data dumps. I purchased the Orico 5-Bay HDD Dock to help with the ease of adding & swapping different disks.
The dock also comes in clutch for when I need to set up new disks and has the function to clone disks too.
3. Edifier R1280DBs
Bookshelf Monitors
Considering my Macbook Pro is docked in clamshell mode and all monitor speakers are crap out of the box, I needed a good speaker solution. At first I was using a sound bar, but very soon found the sound to be very flat.
The Edifier R1280DBs is one of the best speaker for their price point. You can easily find a new pair for below SGD$150.
4. Scarlett 2i2
Audio Interface
The de-facto home studio interface for many years, it’s no question why the Scarlett 2i2 has a spot on my desk for the past 2 years.
It supports 2 universal inputs for a guitars and microphones which is perfect for a home studio.
5. Sharge Powerbanks
Portable Chargers
The Sharge Elevator is a 5200mAh MagSafe power bank. I bought it together with the Sharge Internet Host Key as a collectible.
The Sharge IceMag, another MagSafe power bank with a 10,000mAh capacity was purchased for its novelty mini fan. It is supposed to lower the temperature while charging. After trying it out for a few months, I do not feel any difference. On the contrary, my phone sometimes feels warmer when using the IceMag compared to the Elevator.
I wouldn’t recommend getting the IceMag.
The Sharge Capsule Gravity was too cute to pass, I added all 3 colorways along with the Flow since it is also on 67% discount and kept one permanently on my speaker shelf.
It features a built-in Pomodoro alarm that you can activate by flipping it horizontally. I use it frequently to focus on tasks.
6. Divoom Ditoo Plus
Retro Pixel Art Bluetooth Speaker
A novelty toy I got as a gift, I quickly find the Divoom Ditoo Plus in a very welcoming spot right in the middle of my set up.
I rely on it for my mobile notifications as I get sucked into my bubble of work easily and tend to miss calls and notifications on my mobile when it’s left charging at the side.
I do not recommend using it as a bluetooth speaker due to the sound quality but I chuckle every time my neighbour(s) accidentally connect to it and it starts playing some weird music.
7. Gravastar Alpha65
Decorative GaN Charger
I bought a pair of the Gravaster Alpha65 Charger on impulse as the Crystal Blue colorway is limited to only 2,000 worldwide. I kept the limited edition one BNIB and bought another Dawn White to pair with the Charcoal Gray. I bought these purely for aesthetics.
To date, I have only used them once. I consider them just as a couple of decorative expensive desk toys.
8. Dual Prism+ W280 Max
4K HDR10 Monitors
Upgraded from a single W270 Pro, I upgraded to the W280 Max to cater for 4K content and productivity.
It’s not really suitable for gaming considering it’s capped at 60 FPS. The W280 Max has also since been discontinued and succeeded by the W280 Ultra.
9. Mi Computer Monitor Light Bar
Desk Lighting
I’m someone who loves to work in the dark (well, with SOME light). The Mi Computer Monitor Light Bar is pretty much what is preventing me from ruining my eyes.
It illuminates my desk, ensuring I can see what’s on my desk no matter the time of day. I keep it on the warm light setting for a softer ambiance with the controller knob within arms reach.
10. Logitech C920 & SmallRig Encore DT-30
WebCam and Camera Rig
Since the MacBook Pro is in clamshell mode on the desk, I bought the Logitech C920 HD Pro after using my spare iPhone 11 Pro as a webcam.
The webcam sits comfortably, mounted on the SmallRig Encore DT-30 Desk Mount with Holding Arm behind the laptop stand so I don’t have to keep adjusting it as I take the laptop out for travel.
11. SGUAI Smart Coffee Cup
Caffeine Container with Style
Received the SGUAI Smart Coffee Cup from One2World as a gift. I’ve been using it as a coffee cup whenever I need caffeine.
It’s more of a gimmick than anything useful, although it can keep my drink warm for an average of 3-4 hours, it’s not any better than any other coffee cup.
The only interesting part is the LCD panel, which you can customize with text, pixel art or animation via Bluetooth using their companion app.
12. UGreen Nexode 300W GaN Charger
Desktop GaN Charger
13. Sharge Phantom Cable
C-to-C 240W Charging Cable
The Sharge Phantom cables are one of the best cables I’ve used. I like the texture and feel of it, and the logo that lights up is subtle and aesthetic. I keep a couple of them in my power bank pouch as well as a few of them lying around the house for whenever I need them.
I have them all in white, and that it can support 240W, and can pretty much future-proof my charging needs. I have two of them permanently on my table.
14. ORICO Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Thunderbol 3 Dock
I’ve been hunting for a TB3 and above dock to turn my setup into a one-cable connection for a long while and finally found the ORICO TB3 Dock to be within a decent budget.
My monitors are connected via the DP and USB-C port from this dock, the rest of the USB peripherals are daisy-chained via a USB 2 hub to one of the USB 2 ports to reduce cables from the dock. The dock is hidden from view behind the bottom monitor.
15. Tecware Haste CDR 900
Cordura Military-Spec Grade Deskmat
The Tecware Haste Cordura 900 Mouse Mat rests right on top of a custom-printed desk mat that covers the entirety of my desk to cover up the old stains and heat damage my antique wooden desk accumulated over the years.
Considering I tend to snack and eat at my desk when I work from home, the Tecware Haste has been a godsend as the Cordura material allows me to just simply wipe it down and it doesn’t stain even if crumbs or soup drips on it.
16. Skyloong GK 104 Pro & Hagibis Wrist Rest
Keyboard and Wrist Rest
Saw Hipyo recommend this keyboard on his TikTok. Immediately bought it to replace my old Keychron K3 v2.
The Skyloong GK 104 Pro features two LCD panel and 3 knobs. Those who know me well enough knows I cannot resist the knobs.
The larger LCD panel is also able to display the GIF of your choice. The smaller LCD can turn into a quick calculator with a switch on the side.
The Hagibis Wrist Rest replaced my old HyperX wrist rest as I loved how I could store smaller items inside for quick access.
It currently holds some thumb drives, the remote for my speakers, a pen, some USB-C to USB-A adapters, a microSD to C adapter, as well as a SIM ejector tool.
17. Logitech MX Master 3S & DeltaHub Carpio 2
Productivity Mouse and Anti-Carpal Tunnel Wrist Skates
I frequently work into the dead of the night and the virtually silent clicks, the horizontal scrollbar, and the hotkeys, the productivity-focused Logitech MX Master 3S is the obvious choice here.
Coupled with the DeltaHub Carpio 2.0, neither my hands nor my fingers has complained about the long hours I spend on my desk.
18. Lenovo Smart Display 7
Voice-Command Home Assistant
A Christmas gift given by my company. The Lenovo Smart Display 7 is the main hub of my home automation and occasionally tells me about the weather when I ask.
19. IKEA Tertial Work Lamp
Main Ambience Lighting
Being a fan of industrial design and aesthetics. The IKEA Tertial Work Lamp is an obvious choice when it comes to deciding on a desk lamp.
I fitted it with a Tapo Multi-Color Smart Lightbulb, which I control via Google Home.
20. Shure MV7 & Samson MBA18
Studio-Quality Microphone & Arm
One of the best microphones you can get for video conferences and podcasting in 2023 without having to purchase a bunch of other peripherals.
The Shure MV7 is the little brother of the SM7B. It can plug directly to your computer via USB and does not require an additional CloudLifter to remotely sound good, unlike it’s elder brother.
The microphone is mounted on the Samson MBA18, a desk clamp-styled extendable 18-inch Microphone Boom Arm.
Allowing me to shift it away when not in use to save precious desk space.
21. Apple 15" M1 Max MacBook Pro
Main Workhorse of the Set-up
Being the core of my set-up, the 2021 M1 Max Macbook Pro is my daily driver for the past 3 years. I got it on launch as my old laptop screen was cracked. Luckily, I only had to endure the cracked screen for just 1 month prior to this purchase.
I spec’d mine with 32GB of unified memory, 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU in Space Grey. This ensures I can use this laptop for years to come.
Can’t live without this now.
22. Aulumu M01 & Daily Tech Carry
One-Stop Charging Solution for My Daily Tech Carry
I got the Aulumu M01 Wireless Charging Station to streamline my charging. It’s able to charge my phone, earbuds and watch all at once.
Ever since upgrading to iOS 17, the standby mode has been too aesthetic for me to ignore. I love how the notifications pop up and grab my attention while I’m working too.
It is also able to fold together into a flat pad too.
I acquired the Apple Watch Series 9 this year to help with my sleep and notification management. The Apple Pay feature is also something I’ve wanted to make use of for quite awhile.
After using my Sony XM4 for a little more than 2.5 years, I decided to upgrade to the Sony WF-1000XM5.
In addition to the smaller size, Sony also upgraded the earbuds to a material more malleable and comfortable, which also helps to block out more noise.
I can’t commute without these nowadays.
I bought the iPhone 15 Pro Max in March 2024 to replace my old iPhone 13 Pro, which I have been using for the past 2 years.
The 13 Pro’s camera module has already shown signs of giving up, with the 1x zoom camera dead, and the 3x zoom camera having white spots.
This is also the first time I’m using a phone larger than 16.1″. I would love to stay with the Pro series, however, the 5x optical zoom exclusive to the Pro Max was too enticing.
I equipped the phone with the Aulumu A15 Vegan Leather Case and attached the G05 4-in-1 Phone Kickstand with Box Opener via MagSafe.
23. Wowstick 1F+
Main Workhorse of the Set-up
My go-to electric screwdriver set. I have it within arm’s reach beside my charging station. The Wowstick 1F+ also comes with an elegant stand. There’s also a small light that illuminates the screw when you turn it on.
It also comes with a magnetic pad to make sure you don’t lose the screws when you unscrew them.