If you’re a regular AppleToolBox reader, you may have noticed that I have an affinity for accessories. Whether it’s NAS drives, AirPods Max, or even creative new apps, I’m always on the lookout for anything that can enhance my experience with Apple products. And yet, despite my familiarity with quality Apple accessories, I was completely caught off guard by how elegant and effective the MOFT Z stand is.
Out of everything I’ve ever reviewed, this $60 Amazon product might genuinely be my favorite. I knew I was going to order it after the first day that I saw it, but I wanted to give myself some time before making the decision.
That didn’t last long. I ordered it the next day and have been thrilled with it ever since.
In this post, I will do my best to explain what makes this product so great while also giving you a thorough review. I do have some issues with it that I think could be improved upon. And I also think that this isn’t a product for everyone.
That said, my main goal in writing this post is to bring your attention to an excellent product. And no, I am not being sponsored by MOFT to sell you on this thing. This is my genuine, unbiased opinion on this product. I randomly came across it on Amazon and felt compelled to not only order it but share my experiences with it with you.
With all of that out of the way, let’s get into it!
Contents
- What is the MOFT Z stand?
- The MOFT Z stand: Everything that makes this MacBook stand wonderful
- The MOFT Z stand: There is some room for improvement
- It takes some practice to get the hang of the MOFT Z stand
- The black version is more difficult to figure out
- Some positions take up a lot of desk space
- It can be difficult to switch between positions while using the MOFT Z stand
- The standing position of the MOFT Z stand is slightly wobbly
- The 45-degree position is a little too steep for the MacBook
- It’s heavy
- Who should buy the MOFT Z stand?
- If you like the MOFT Z stand, check out the rest of MOFT’s catalog
What is the MOFT Z stand?
So first things first – what the heck am I even talking about?? The name is kind of weird, right? The MOFT Z stand? What is this thing, what does it do, and how is different from any other MacBook stand?
Well, that’s the answer to the first question. The MOFT Z is a MacBook stand. For those that don’t know, a MacBook stand is an ornament for your desk that can prop up your MacBook in different ways.
Oftentimes, these stands are just for decoration and organization. There are lots of stands that hold your MacBook while it’s closed that fall into this camp.
Other stands just elevate your MacBook. That helps bring the screen closer to your eye level. And if your use a secondary keyboard like myself (not the one built into your MacBook) then this can also give you more space to write on your keyboard.
And other stands will even raise your MacBook by a foot or so. This allows you to stand while you work, which is thought to be healthier. At the very least, it allows you to switch between sitting and standing while you work, which is certainly healthier than sitting all day.
The MOFT Z stand does (almost) all of this and more
Out of all of the different kinds of MacBook stands that I just described, the only thing the MOFT Z stand doesn’t do is hold your MacBook while it’s closed. I mean, technically you can close your MacBook and set it on this thing, but it doesn’t store it while closed in any special way.
In other words, the MOFT Z is like having four different MacBook stands in one, plus an iPad stand. It’s this long, flat piece of fiberglass with cuts, bends, and magnets in various locations. Using these spaces of give, bend, and tension, you can fold this stand into five different positions. It’s essentially an origami MacBook stand.
Each position holds your MacBook at a different angle and height. You can go all the way from a slight 25 degree tilt up to a complete standing position. And you can switch between these positions and three others in between in just a few seconds.
If you aren’t sold yet, let me sell it a little harder.
The MOFT Z stand: Everything that makes this MacBook stand wonderful
Over the next few sections, I’m going to cover everything that makes the MOFT Z stand the best MacBook stand available today. Maybe we’ll get MacBook stands that hover in mid-air at some point. But in 2021, I really can’t imagine anything better than this.
And don’t worry – I do have gripes, and I will be covering them below!
Once more, I would like to make it clear that I am not sponsored to be saying this. I paid $60 and wasn’t asked to do so or to review this product by MOFT or anything. Yes, this is a glowing review, but that is only because I am glowing over this product.
The design of the MOFT Z stand is perfect
The first point I want to gush over with the MOFT Z stand is how perfect the design is.
Alright, perfect may be a slight stretch. There are a few changes I would make. But the design is so ingenious and well-executed that the small issues melt away.
It functions exactly as advertised. MOFT’s advertising for this stand was confident, and that confidence was well-placed. There wasn’t any component of this that didn’t work as well as MOFT said it would.
It’s incredibly useful, too. While there are certain angles I prefer more than others, I do switch between them all regularly. This helps me stand while I work, get comfortable, and turn any table into a professional workspace.
The material has a soft texture and solid weight. Every angle works. Some positions seem like they shouldn’t work, but then you find a magnet that you didn’t know was there that keeps it all together.
I mean, just look at a picture of this thing:
And if that doesn’t completely sell you on how well this is designed, see how most of MOFT’s competing sit-stand MacBook stands look:
In addition to looking like your typical bland office accessory, the stand in the above image is $100 more than the MOFT Z stand, isn’t portable, and doesn’t offer different angles. For $160, it just raises your MacBook off of your desk.
The MOFT Z, on the other hand, looks and feels great, offers far more versatility, is unique and eye-catching, and can follow you everywhere.
The build quality is great too
In addition to having a wonderful design, the MOFT Z stand also has great build quality. Again, I expected there to be some fault with the way this thing feels. Maybe the vinyl covering would feel flimsy, as if it would peel off over time. Or the hard inner material would be bendable and crummy.
Nope! This thing is made out of fiberglass, and it shows. It easily holds my MacBook up, and I think it could just as easily hold up a MacBook Pro 16″ without issue.
Not only does this stand feel sturdy while holding a MacBook, but it feels almost indestructible when folded flat. All of the different layers make it very strong. The only thing I worry will break when I toss it in my bag is whatever it lands on.
One thing of note, though, is that the vinyl covering is still vinyl. So I imagine that dropping it on gravel or concrete or cutting it with a blade would damage it quickly.
Every angle is useful and versatile
With products like the MOFT Z stand, you tend to find some excess. It folds into five different viewing angles, but do you need all of those angles?
If you just plan on using the standing mode, then no, you won’t find those other angles helpful. But if that’s your plan, I’d get a standard platform stand for $20 instead.
For those who are interested in this MacBook stand specifically because of the different angles, then I’m pleased to inform you that each angle is pretty distinct.
The 25 degree feels like a slight bump in elevation, just to make your MacBook look a little nicer on your desk.
35 degrees and your MacBook is nearly at eye-level while you work.
The 45-degree option is so steep that it feels like you’re looking up at your MacBook. I wouldn’t even use this unless my MacBook was over my head.
The 60-degree position is perfect for putting your tablet at a nice viewing angle. It’s not ideal for a MacBook, although you can technically use your MacBook in that position if you want.
And of course, the standing mode is great.
Not only are each of these angles useful, but they’re versatile, too! While researching for this review, I saw that a lot of users have come up with their own angles for this stand. I haven’t seen any that I would personally like to use, but the fact that you can add even more is a testament to how flexible this stand is.
Magnets help keep everything in place
As mentioned, one of the key reasons that the MOFT Z stand works as well as it does is due to magnets.
There isn’t an overabundance of magnets. Otherwise, it would probably be annoying to fold it into certain positions.
However, at any angle where you feel doubtful of this stand’s ability to hold its position, you will find a magnet there to keep it in place. And these magnets are strong enough that they effectively hold your Mac at the angle you choose.
If you’ve purchased any Apple products over the last decade, you know that magnets are a big part of making these products feel like magic. They’re employed in this stand to equal effect. They’re invisible until you need them, and it ties the stand together very nicely.
The MOFT Z stand can fit into your bag with ease
Another point I’ve covered in this post is the portability of the MOFT Z stand. In addition to the unique design, this is a big part of what separates this from generic MacBook stands.
Once again, this point is not only unique to this stand but it’s executed extremely well, too. It’s hard to believe how flat this thing can get given how many different positions it can take. And those other positions can take up a lot of space.
Even still, you can unfold this stand into a flat rectangle in just a few seconds. I just compared the size of this stand when it’s flat to my 12″ MacBook, and there isn’t much of a difference. They’re about the same length, though the MOFT Z is about an inch wider and a few millimeters thicker.
I have a laptop pouch in my backpack, and both my MacBook and this stand fit in there at the same time nicely.
The color options are pretty good – but I want more!
The last point I wanted to touch on is the color options. I like them! If you read my recent AirPods Max review or even my post on the new colorful iMac, you know that I love color. I’m tired of all the Space Grey stuff and want some more pop!
The MOFT Z brings that pop. While the colors are muted, they’re far from dull. They’re deep, vibrant, and contrast nicely with the black. The duotone effect looks great and goes another step towards setting this stand apart from its banal competitors.
My one complaint with the MOFT Z stand colors is that there aren’t enough! There are only four – black, grey, orange, and light blue. I would love to see yellow, green, and pink in future versions.
The MOFT Z stand: There is some room for improvement
That’s all of the positive stuff I have to say on the MOFT Z stand! Now, on to my criticisms.
I realized while putting this post together that I have more complaints than compliments. That may sound like a bad thing, but it’s actually the opposite.
This stand does what it’s supposed to do so well and with such simplicity that there isn’t much to say on the good stuff. It holds your MacBook in various positions very well, looks cool while doing so, and is easily portable. What else can you say?
In my opinion, there isn’t a single complaint against this thing that makes it a dealbreaker. Instead, my criticisms are directed at future versions of this product. They’re suggestions for improvement, not reasons why you shouldn’t buy this thing.
It takes some practice to get the hang of the MOFT Z stand
The first issue I have with the MOFT Z stand is not unique to me at all. That complaint is that this stand has a bit of a learning curve.
It makes sense if you think about it. It’s a laptop stand that starts as this flat shape. Then, by folding it in various origami-like flows, you can turn it into five different MacBook stands. Not exactly a familiar concept to most of us!
Still, I didn’t expect this learning curve when I first received this stand. I did eventually get the hang of it after a day or so. And there are three of the five positions that I can easily swap between from muscle memory.
You do get a little card with directions on it to help you figure these steps out. However, there aren’t any written descriptions. Just images that kind of walk you through each angle-folding process. It’s certainly not impossible to follow but you will probably be fiddling with it a bit before it clicks in your head.
The black version is more difficult to figure out
My second point was also reflected in customer reviews of this product. I bought the black version of the MOFT Z stand since it was on sale at the time, and in hindsight, I regret getting this color.
Not because it doesn’t look nice (it’s fine) but because it makes it harder to fold this stand into different positions. That’s because it’s important to know which side is the top and which is the bottom when you’re folding it.
The colored versions of this stand are duotone. So the top is one color while the bottom is black.
But the black version is just black all around! This doesn’t make it hard to fold it into different positions. But it does add an extra few seconds each time where you have to figure out which side is right-side up.
I would compare it to flipping a USB cable around a few times before plugging it in to make sure the orientation is right. It’s not difficult, but it is tedious.
Some positions take up a lot of desk space
Another issue I have with the MOFT Z stand is that certain positions take up a lot of space. The 35 degrees position is by far the worst offender, which is a shame because it’s my second favorite position after standing.
I’m not sure how avoidable this issue is. After all, each position was surely meticulously created by the design team at MOFT. I certainly don’t have a better idea for the more spacious positions.
Even still, the 35-degree position is so long that I have to push it to the side of my desk at an angle to be able to fit my Bluetooth keyboard on my desk. The standing position is also pretty space-hungry.
It can be difficult to switch between positions while using the MOFT Z stand
Another minor complaint is that it’s a little tricky to switch from one position to the next after you’ve set up the MOFT Z stand.
When you pull it from your bag, fold it into a position you like, and set your MacBook on top, it’s not tricky at all. And so long as you keep it in that position until you leave, you won’t run into any issues.
But if you decide that you want to go from standing to sitting, you’ll probably find the transition a bit annoying.
That’s because the process of folding into the different positions is a bit involved. You have to lift the stand from the table and maneuver it around. So you have to set your laptop off to the side as well as any cables, drives, and accessories.
In other words, you have to completely reset your workspace every time you want to change positions. You can’t just pop it into another position instantly.
That may not sound like a big deal. And at home, it’s usually not. But if you’re at a coffee shop or library, especially one where table space is limited, then you’ll probably avoid switching positions to avoid making a scene.
The standing position of the MOFT Z stand is slightly wobbly
Though it seems minor to me, I can see how this one would be a problem if you had a bigger laptop.
When in standing mode, you’ll notice that putting too much pressure on the lower half of your MacBook’s keyboard area (where you would normally rest your wrists) causes the stand to tilt towards you.
That’s because the bottom of the stand isn’t secured in any way. There aren’t any magnets or clips there. You can tilt the stand towards yourself with ease.
Now, I wouldn’t say that this means you shouldn’t set your MacBook on this stand while it’s in the standing position. Whenever your MacBook is just resting on the MOFT Z stand in this position, it’s pretty secure.
However, I do think you need to be careful not to flop your wrists on it too forcefully, and to be aware that you can pull it towards yourself pretty easily. This would cause your MacBook to fall to the ground, which is no good!
Again, the reason I don’t think this is a major problem, despite sounding like one in writing, is because you can easily feel the tension while you type and use your MacBook. It’s just as easy to not knock your MacBook down as it is to knock it down. Just be mindful of this while typing and you should be fine.
The 45-degree position is a little too steep for the MacBook
I mentioned earlier that the 45-degree position is steep. So steep that I wouldn’t even use it unless my MacBook is overhead.
That’s because this position angles your MacBook screen downward.
Now, if you had a laptop that could bend back further than the MacBook screen can, then this won’t be a problem for you. However, the MacBook hinge only goes back so far. And even when pushed back all the way, the 45-degree position of the MOFT Z stand makes it hard to see your Mac screen.
To me, this is the one position that’s not very helpful. But again, if you have a non-MacBook laptop, you might not have this issue. My old Windows laptop could open to 180 degrees, so this wouldn’t cause any issues for that computer.
It’s heavy
This is yet another pretty minor point. The MOFT Z stand is heavy! According to Amazon, it’s just under 2.5 pounds. That’s more than my MacBook, which weighs just over 2 pounds.
That might not sound like much, but I feel it when it’s in my backpack. It’s not unbearable, though it is heavy enough that I only bring it with me if I need it.
The extra weight is due to this stand being made from fiberglass. It makes it super durable, but also a little hefty.
Who should buy the MOFT Z stand?
And that’s it! That’s everything good and bad about the MOFT Z stand. Now we’re on to the Sixty Dollar Question: Who should buy this thing?
In my opinion, the MOFT Z stand is the perfect MacBook stand for someone who wants a stand that they can bring with them.
If you plan on keeping your MacBook at your desk 24/7, then the portability and flexibility of this stand might not be useful to you. You could find a much cheaper stand for $20 that will elevate your MacBook at an angle you like.
It’s also a great option if you like to switch between positions while you work. For instance, I like to go back and forth between sitting and standing. The MOFT Z stand makes this easy to do.
So yeah! Unless you just want to raise your MacBook off your desk slightly or keep it in a permanent standing position, I think the MOFT Z stand is a great option. Possibly the best.
If you like the MOFT Z stand, check out the rest of MOFT’s catalog
The MOFT Z stand, while great, is far from the only great product MOFT offers. They have other MacBook, iPad, and iPhone stands that are simpler and more affordable. Many of these other stands are “invisible”, meaning that they adhere to the back/bottom of your device, unseen until unfolded. Pretty cool stuff!
For more reviews, accessories, and news on all things Apple, check out the rest of the AppleToolBox blog. I’ll probably be reviewing more MOFT products in the future, so stay tuned for those!
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