Best products from r/AppleWhatShouldIBuy
We found 29 comments on r/AppleWhatShouldIBuy discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 67 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Kingston Digital 64GB Data Traveler Micro Duo USB 3C Flash Drive (DTDUO3C/64GB)
- Versatile - DT micro Duo 3C works with newer USB Type-C devices such as smartphones and tablets and is also compatible with USB Type-A ports on existing USB host devices.
- Store more - Extra storage for the latest smartphones, tablets, PC and Mac computers with Type-C ports.
- Fast - USB 3.13 performance for speeds up to 100MB/s and 15MB/s write - so you're not waiting for content-rich files to transfer
Features:
2. Favormates Keyboard Case for iPad 2018 (6th Gen) - iPad 2017 (5th Gen) -iPad Air 1 - Thin & Light - Aluminum Alloy - Wireless/BT - Backlit 7 Color - iPad Case with Keyboard (only for 9.7 inch ipad)
- ★★★FOR 2017 iPad 9.7 inch (5th Gen) / iPad AIR / 2018 New iPad 9.7” (6th Gen) – This heavy-duty & lightweight keyboard case is specially engineered for apple 2017 iPad 9.7 inch (A1822 / A1823), iPad Air (A1474 / A1475 / A1476) and 2018 new iPad 9.7” (A1893 / A1954) , which is easy to access all ports.
- MULTI VIEWING ANGLES –With 130-degree rotating clam shell cover, the keyboard case can be positioned at a perfect angle for your maximum viewing pleasure.
- ADJUSTABLE BACKLIT – it has 7 colors backlight selection & 3 modes brightness settings, which allows you can use the keyboard case at nighttime.
- AUTO WAKE AND SLEEP – Once you open or close the Keyboard case, your iPad would automatically wake up or enter sleep mode. This preserves battery life and extending device longevity
Features:
3. AUKEY USB C Adapter, [3 Pack] USB C to USB 3.0 Adapter Compatible with MacBook Pro 2017/2016 , Google Chromebook Pixelbook , Samsung Galaxy S9 S8 S8+ Note8, Google Pixel 2/2XL - Black
SuperSpeed Connection: Connects USB-A devices (flash drives, keyboards, mice, hubs) to USB-C devices (new smartphones, tablets, laptops). USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) enables up to 5Gbps SuperSpeed data transferUSB OTG Support: Transfer videos, photos, music, and other files between your compatible USB-C...
4. Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector Designed for iPhone Xs (2018) / iPhone X (2017) [2 Pack] - Maximum Protection
iPhone Xs / X Screen Protector, Tempered Glass with 9H screen hardness.Optimized design displays a crystal-clear view all throughout the screen.[Tempered Glass x 2] Case-friendly cutout stays compatible with all Spigen cases.Face ID compatibility and touch-responsiveness guarantee hassle-free access...
5. RhinoShield Full Impact Protection Case Compatible with [iPhone X] | SolidSuit - Military Grade Drop Protection, Supports Wireless Charging, Slim, Scratch Resistant - Classic Black
⚠️COMPATIBILITY: Only compatible with iPhone X.✔️UNPARALLELED SHOCK PROTECTION: Proven with multiple drop tests, certified military grade protection. Absorbs impact of 11 feet (3.4m). Inner honeycomb structure helps absorb 10% more impact.✔️MINIMAL DESIGN: SolidSuit slim design follows t...
6. iPhone Charger Cable 10 Foot, Anker Powerline+ II Lightning Cable, (10 ft MFi Certified) Extra Long iPhone Charging Cord Compatible with iPhone SE 11 Pro Max Xs MAX XR X 8 7 6S, iPad and More (Black)
- Staying Power: Lasts 30x longer than ordinary cables-proven in a laboratory environment to withstand 30,000 bends.
- Amazing Strength: One of the toughest cables ever created, with tensile strength capable of withstanding 175 lbs.
- Universal Compatibility: MFi certified for flawless compatibility with Lightning devices, ensuring the highest possible charging speeds.
- Enhanced Length: No nearby outlet, no problem. Charge from clear across the room while relaxing with an extended 10-foot range.
- What You Get: PowerLine+ II Lightning Cable, welcome guide, hassle-free lifetime warranty, and friendly customer service.
Features:
7. Spigen Ultra Hybrid Designed for Apple iPhone Xs (2018) / Designed for Apple iPhone X (2017) - Space Crystal
Hybrid design made of rigid back and flexible bumperMil-grade certified with Air Cushion TechnologyLong-lasting clarity resistant to yellowingSupports wireless charging and compatible with Glas.tR EZ FitDesigned for Apple iPhone XS Case (2018) / Designed for Apple iPhone X Case (2017)
8. Anker 40W 5-Port USB Wall Charger, PowerPort 5 for iPhone XS / XS Max / XR / X / 8 / 7 / 6 / Plus, iPad Pro / Air 2 / mini, Galaxy S9 / S8 / Edge / Plus, Note 8 / 7, LG, Nexus, HTC and More, Black (AK-A2124111)
- The Anker Advantage: Join the 50 million+ powered by America's leading USB charging brand.
- Advanced Charging Technology: PowerIQ and VoltageBoost combine to provide the fastest possible charge up to 2.4 amps per port or 8 amps overall (Does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge).
- Ultra Powerful: Five ports pump out 40 watts of power, enabling simultaneous multi-device charging. Rated DOE Level 6 for energy efficiency.
- Certified Safe: Anker's MultiProtect safety system and UL certification ensures complete protection for you and your devices. Worldwide 100-240 volt AC input voltage.
- What You Get: Anker PowerPort 5 (40W 5-Port USB Charging Hub), 5ft detachable power cord, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.
Features:
9. Anker USB C Charger 30W with Power Delivery, PowerPort Speed PD 30 for MacBook Pro/Air (2018), iPad Pro (2018), iPhone XS/XS Max/XR/X/8/Plus, Nexus, LG G5, Pixel, MateBook, and More.
Advanced USB technology: USB C and power delivery enable faster charging for more powerful devices. Charge laptops, phones, tablets and more At full 30W speedPremium build: Hard-wearing matte exterior, high-gloss detailing and the cool-blue USB port provide a sleek look and soft lightingTravel ready...
10. SAMSUNG T5 Portable SSD 500GB - Up to 540MB/s - USB 3.1 External Solid State Drive, Black (MU-PA500B/AM)
- Superfast read write speeds: SSD with V-NAND offers ultra-fast data transfer speeds of up to 540MB/s (up to 4.9x faster than external HDDs); Ideal for transferring large-sized data including 4K videos, high-resolution photos, games and more
- Compact and portable design: Top to bottom shock resistant metal design fits in the palm of your hand and easily slides in your pocket or purse to take work and entertainment on the go
- Secure encryption: Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption keeps your personal and private data more secure
- Seamless connectivity: Includes USB type C to C and USB type C to A cables to connect to PCs, Macs, smartphones and other devices
- Warranty and compatibility: 3-year limited warranty; Requires Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks), Android 4.4 (KitKat), or higher; Older versions of the Windows, Mac and Android operating systems may not be supported
Features:
11. CableCreation USB C to Micro B 3.0 Cable (Gen2/ 10Gbps), 1ft USB 3.1 External Hard Drive Cable, Compatible with MacBook (Pro), Galaxy S5 Note 3, etc, 0.3M /Black
【Micro B to USB C cable】: Connects a computer/PC/laptop with a USB Type C port to an External Hard Drive, Smartphone or Tablet for data & charging.【10Gbps Super Speed】: This USB3.1 Type C to Micro B cable supports ultra-fast data transfer rate up to 10Gbps for transferring files from Solide ...
12. WD 2TB Black My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - WDBCGL0020BSL-NESN
- Secure portable storage with up to 2 TB capacity
- Optional 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- Compatible with Apple Time Machine
- Stylish design complements your creative style
- USB 3.0 connectivity
- Formatted for Mac OS X, reformatting required for Windows
- 3-year limited warranty
Features:
13. WD My Passport for Mac Portable external Hard Drive, 2TB, USB-A ready
- Designed for Mac and Time Machine ready
- Password protection with hardware encryption
- Reimagined design
- Trusted drive built with WD reliability
- USB 3.0 port; USB 2.0 compatible
Features:
14. WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN,Black
2TB Storage CapacityUSB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibilityExtra storage for your photos, videos, music and filesFormatted for Windows 8, 7, Vista & XP; Easily Reformat Drive for MacWD quality and reliabilityOperating Temperature 5 Degrees Celsius to 35 Degrees Celsius
15. PLESON iPhone SE Screen Protector [2-Pack], iPhone SE Tempered Glass Screen Protector, [0.26mm][Updated Version] Case Friendly Bubble Free Screen Protector for iPhone SE/5/5S/5C
Made from High Quality Tempered Glass that offers TRUE HD 99.9% transparency exclusively for Apple iPhone SE, 5S, 5C, 5. Real glass makes for real difference in quality and touch sensitivity!Precise cut and design to ensure maximum protection, offers TRUE HD 99.9% transparency, high sensitive operat...
16. amFilm Glass Screen Protector for iPhone 8, 7, 6S, 6 (4.7 Inch)(2 Pack) Tempered Glass Screen Protector
- Specifically designed iPhone 8, 7, 6S, 6 Glass Screen Protector
- Ultra-clear High Definition with 99.9% transparency to allow an optimal, natural viewing experience
- Ultra thin-0.3mm thickness is reliable and resilient, and promises full compatibility with touchscreen sensitivity
- Highly durable, and scratch resistant - surface hardness 9H and topped with oleophobic coating to reduce fingerprints.
- Includes: 2x GLASS Screen Protector, Wet/Dry Wipes, Squeeze Card, Easy Installation Use Guide, Dust Removal Stickers
Features:
17. Transcend 128GB JetDrive Lite 330 Storage Expansion Card for 13-Inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (TS128GJDL330),Black, Silver
- 128GB (MLC)
- Storage expansion card for MacBook
- Max Read: 95MB/s, Max Write: 60MB/s
- For MacBook Pro with Retina display 13" (Late 2012 - Early 2015). Specifically designed to fit neatly into the card slot of the MacBook Pro
- Free download of Recover software
- 128GB (MLC)
- storage expansion card for MacBook
- Max Read: 95MB/s, Max Write: 60MB/s
- Compatibility with Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan is currently under verification
Features:
18. Inateck 2.5 Hard Drive Enclosure, USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Case, FE2010
Superspeed USB 3.0: Supports transfer rates up to 5 Gbps with UASP transfer protocol. Ten times faster than USB 2.0. Includes top-grade Jms578 chipsetUniversal compatibility: Works with all Windows and Mac OS. Suitable for 9.5mm and below thickness 2.5-Inch SATA HDDEasy-to-use: tool free, no reboot ...
19. Cable Matters USB C to Micro USB Cable (Micro USB to USB-C Cable) with Braided Jacket 3.3 Feet in Black
- Micro USB to USB C cable connects a computer with a Type-C port to a smartphone, tablet, digital camera or legacy USB peripheral device with the common Micro USB port; Low-profile and robust USBC to Micro USB cable clicks into place for a snug and secure connection; Type-C USB to Micro-B cable supports Hi-Speed USB 2.0 data transfer rate up to 480 Mbps
- Legacy companion USB C cable to Micro USB for connecting a smartphone with Micro USB to a computer with Thunderbolt 3 such as the 2016 MacBook Pro; Connect a USB DAC such as the Fiio E18 to a phone with USB-C; Connect a PS4 game controller with Micro-USB to a computer with USB-C; Use an existing Micro-USB power bank to charge a phone with USB-C
- Braided jacket design USB Type C to Micro USB cable provides added durability and a distinctive look and feel; Lightweight USB C to USB Micro cable is easy to handle with a reversible USB Type C connector that plugs and unplugs easily without checking for the connector orientation
- Engineered to last Micro USB to Type C cable with a reinforced braided jacket, sturdy construction, and USB connectors with molded strain relief for frequent unplugging; Fully Shielded USB-C to Micro-USB cable provides superior transmission performance and projects against EMI/RFI noise; Lifetime warranty and product support for this cable provides peace of mind when purchasing
- USB Micro to USB C cable compatible with smartphones such as the Google Nexus 5X, 6P, Google Pixel, HTC 10/Bolt, One Plus 2/3, Moto Z Droid/ Z Force, and ZenFone 3, Huawei P9/Honor 8/Mate 9
Features:
20. CHOETECH USB C Digital AV Multiport Adapter Braided, USB 3.1 Type C to HDMI 4K Adapter with Power Delivery & USB 3.0 Charging Port Compatible with Samsung Galaxy Note 9/S9/S8, 2016/2017 MacBook Pro
3-in-1 USB C Digital AV Multiport Adapter: Lets you connect your USB Type-C device such as a Galaxy S9, MacBook or ChromeBook to an HDMI display, while also connecting a standard USB device and a USB Type-C charging cable.( For Mobile phones, it is ONLY compatible with galaxy S8)USB Type C Port: Wit...
Ok. Here we go! It’s impossible to tell you what the best of everything is, since the best for me, isn’t necessarily the best for you. So here’s my setup, and reasons why.
My iPhone XS is protected by one of two cases.
I use the Spigen Full Coverage Tempered Glass screen protector . It’s the least intrusive screen protector I have used. I love it. Combined with a case, it’s virtually invisible and it covers the entire screen without negative affects on Face ID or screen clarity. They are also cheap.
I have a Apple Watch Series 4 Nike+ and it’s protected by a RhinoShield CrashGuard NX. This is the only case I’ve found that fits, and doesn’t wear or tear like some of the other TPU cases out there. It’s saved my watch many times from hits and scuffs.
I’ve searched long and hard for a screen protector for my Watch I like, and ill be honest, I haven’t found a single one that doesn’t peel, and if it doesn’t (like glass) it will crack or chip. Many non-glass screen protectors distort the hell out of the display. In other words, screen protectors for the watch just aren’t worth it.
In the car, I use Anker PowerLine II USB to Lightning Cables. These cables are bulletproof. They have always maintained a great connection for me, they are braided and have been super durable when shoving them into small spaces like behind headliners, plastic trim etc in the car. The PowerLine v1 has a rubber coating instead of a braided line if you want a more subtle look.
For charging, beside my bed I have the Bestand 3 in 1 Qi Charger.
It charges my watch, AirPods and iPhone. It does require a multi USB port charger to power everything, so I use an Anker 40W, 5 port USB charger. This is perfect because I just have another long Anker PowerLine II cable going to the other side for my wife (she only has an iPhone).
I also carry a genuine Apple USB-C to Lightning cable and a Anker USB C Power Delivery 30W charger in my “Go Bag” just in case I need to quick charge my iPhone on the go.
I hope this helps!
Refurbs are in a very good shape - Apple repairs and double-chekcs them itself so they are almost like brand new. First of all, if you want your laptop to last 5+ years, invest into 16GB of RAM.
Also, the 2015 model doesn't have an USB-C port which also will be a big thing in the future. It's not like the legacy ports will disappear but the all-in-one concept of USB-C and strong pro-USBC policy of Apple will eventually put USB-C on top of I/O and will force manufacturers to focus on USB-C peripherals.
Also, you don't need a "plethora of dongles" to bridge the gap for now. You need:
https://www.owcdigital.com/products/usb-c-dock
or
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hyperdrive-thunderbolt-3-usb-c-hub-for-macbook-pro#/
Also, you can get another smaller USB-C hub if you needed to plug in things on the go, such as:
http://www.satechi.net/index.php/type-c-usb-hub-gunmetal
And there are plenty of USB-C + USB-A flash drives if you need that for school as well:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingston-DataTraveler-Micro-Flash-Drive/dp/B010HWCFDA
And when it comes to 2017 vs. 2015 - better screen, better and more power efficient processor, better graphics card (in both 13" and 15") faster SSD, bigger trackpad (you may or may not find it better), different keyboard (you may or may not find it better - I personally do like the 2017 one more), better speakers, lighter, smaller, no glowing Apple logo on the back, no MagSafe.
Honestly, the only thing that the 2015 model has going for it is the presence of legacy ports (which, as you can see, can be easily fixed with a single dongle on the 2017) and, for some, keyboard. I'd go for the newer model and I'd also save up a bit and upgraded to 16GB RAM. It's not necessary, but it will be a nice thing to have especially in the future.
> Web development (VSCode/PhpStorm, GitHub)
All Mac compatible.
> Handful of tabs at any given time (5-15)
You'll be fine since MacBook Pros come with 16GBs of memory minimum now. As someone who frequently has a bunch of Firefox and Safari tabs open at the same time for days at a time... I can confirm.
> I know there's the bootcamp option, so I was thinking to dual-boot Windows 10 with macOS, but someone mentioned Parallel's to me and I'm not sure I see the value of that over dual booting
The biggest advantage of Parallels is that it gives you the ability to dual-boot simultaneously, you could literally have Windows open in a window as opposed to restarting the system and using one OS at a time.
From the way I see it, it looks like you'd be able to use MacOS as your main, and if you used Parallels, you could just have Windows open at the same time for anything macOS can't cover (though I'm sure what it can't do for you would be relatively little). By the way, I remember hearing that a lot of the trackpad gestures and Touchbar don't work in the Windows boot in Bootcamp, just so you know.
As for the drive size, I think macOS and Windows are less than 30GBs each, so 256GBs for that alone would be fine, but keep in mind how big the apps you'd use are, along with how big the files associated with them are. Check how much storage you're using on your Surface right now, and you'll be able to tell whether your need 512GBs or not. Either way, you might want to consider getting one of these anyway (and maybe one of these).
Speaking of which MacBook Pro to get, one thing I want to point out is that you might want to consider how much GPU power you need. Now I don't know how much VMs might tax a GPU or if you're using anything that's GPU accelerated, but you could save some money by considering a 2015 MBP. The difference in CPU performance wouldn't be that bad and I'm pretty sure the SSD is about the same, but the big thing is you'd save hundreds of dollars if you don't need a beefy GPU. Though new models do have a much better trackpad, speakers, and Touchbar (which is great for TouchID at least), so also keep that in mind when considering which model to get.
By the way, I'm not sure if it applies to refurbished models, but try to see if you can get an AppleCare+ plan.
I have a couple of Western Digital My Passport drives that I use for movies and such. I would recommend buying one exclusively for Time Machine and using that to back up. Then buy one for your other random stuff. Time Machine doesn't like sharing drives, although you can if you partition it. But the drives are so inexpensive that it's easier to just buy one exclusive drive for it. Mine are 2TB and cost around $80-90:
WD 2TB Black My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - WDBCGL0020BSL-NESN https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WJOVCOS/
WD 2TB Black My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - WDBP6A0020BBK-WESN https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LQQH8E2/
Those are preformatted for macOS. You can buy the regular one too, but at least for Time Machine you would want to reformat it if you did that. If you are sharing between a Mac and PC, you would want the non Mac version:
WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D0L5BH8/
WD 2TB Black USB 3.0 My Passport Portable External Hard Drive (WDBYFT0020BBK-WESN) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LQQHF2W/
You will also need USB-C to USB Micro-B adapters for them. I have these and they work great:
CableCreation USB 3.1 Type C (USB-C) to USB 3.0 Micro-B Cable, Micro USB 3.1 USB-C for Apple The Macbook, Chromebook Pixel and More, 1ft/0.3M in Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012V56992/
iPhone SE. If he's skating and such it's more of a brick than iphone 6. If you get him the iphone 6 i would suggest a case. Better yet check out Swappa.com might be able to pick up at iphone 6s. The iphone 6 bends and I've been to the apple store and a lot of people bring in their 6 when I was getting my camera issue fixed and it's mainly from the bend. This guys 6 bent and he couldn't get any reception and another guys screen stopped working. Although I'm not sure if you use Swappa it'll get to you on time (23rd). I highly suggest SE since it's got new hardware, and really durable. I had the iphone 5s and it was literally a brick. If you want to get the 6 I'd go for 6s. Cases and Screen protector straight off Amazon. Go with Spigen for case or caseology both good brands and have thin cases. Screen protector any tempered glass works as long as it's 3.5-4 stars you should be fine. Both fairly cheap 8 dollar screen protector and 10 dollar case aprox.
TL:DR: iphone SE is great, new hardward and a brick. iphone 6 bends and has issues not sturdy. Swappa.com good place to buy used phones. Has people verify iMei and everything. iPhone 6s recommended solid and good if you want to go for 6 just get the 6s last longer and won't bent.
Cases: iphone se https://www.amazon.com/Protector-Tempered-Updated-Version-Friendly/dp/B01LNB7KQG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482183266&sr=8-1&keywords=iphone+se+screen+protector+glass
https://www.amazon.com/Incipio-iPhone-Ultra-Feather-Shockproof/dp/B0098FKJ0Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1482183289&sr=8-5&keywords=iphone+5s+thin+case
iphone 6/6s https://www.amazon.com/iPhone-Screen-Protector-amFilm-Tempered/dp/B01415QHYW/ref=sr_1_4?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1482183320&sr=1-4&keywords=iphone+6s+screen+protector
https://www.amazon.com/Spigen-iPhone-Coated-Surface-Excellent/dp/B010MVJDF4/ref=sr_1_3?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1482183337&sr=1-3&keywords=iphone+6s+case+spigen
edit: I should mention I highly recommend SE cause he skates. Main reason, due to phone will last longer if he keeps it in his pocket or drops it. If he skates and is somewhat careful with his phone iphone6 (but pref 6s it won't bend and cause issues)
Edit 2: https://glyde.com/buy/used-iphone-6 check out glyde, 6 is 240 starting. I'm not sure how fast they ship but Glyde is pretty good too
2015 13" MacBook Pro.
Plenty powerful for day to day, nice screen, decent battery life, 3-4 years of life in it even as a base model.
One thing to know - refurbished models from Apple are like new. Think you can get it for $1,100. Yep - http://www.apple.com/shop/product/FF839/refurbished-133-inch-macbook-pro-27ghz-dual-core-intel-i5-with-retina-display
One thing to note - they only have 128 GB of storage. But there are several add ons out there that sit in the SD card slot and add storage to your computer. https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-JetDrive-Storage-Expansion-TS128GJDL330/dp/B00MTHLURE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484262147&sr=8-2&keywords=Transcend+jetdrive+lite
You really can't go wrong with any of them - but this model is a good "starter" Mac that gets a lot of people to join the dark, I mean, good side. Even if you got that model used from eBay or even Gazelle or Swappa I'd still recommend this model.
I bought my sister one of these hubs last year for her 12" MacBook. It has power, USB A, and HDMI. No issues at all so far. I did a review of it here.
I have a few of their other products as well that I use with my Nexus 6P, and all of them haven't been an issue. This includes their braided USB A to C cables that i really like and their USB C male to female USB A adapters. All three of these feel high quality and made with aluminium.
Besides that, Anker had an issue with only one of their cables, and they were pretty quick and good about recalling it, so I would still trust their cables, which are generally pretty good quality. I also use monoprice cables and they are great. Cable Matters has a braided Male Micro USB to Male USB C cable that I personally don't own, but I've seen recommend on Reddit several times.
I haven't ever used Thunderbolt 3, so i don't have any recommendations for that.
So far these are the best three options I've found:
With the 12-inch MacBook, I'd get the latest you can. The processor is a little underpowered compared to the rest of the lineup, so a more recent model might mean the machine is usable for longer.
That being said, if you're already looking at the MacBook, then it's probably a good machine for you. You're going to be familiar with the tradeoffs (nothing a good docking station or set of adapters can't mitigate). I'm not going to defend the 11-inch Air; mine is a 13-inch and I love it, but if portability is your primary concern, then you can't get much more portable than the MacBook.
AFAIK it must be usb3 + uasp. Yeah it's kinda hard on finding exact information about this. Anyway mine is this: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B01FQ49IES/ and with a Samsung 850 EVO I get those max speeds. It is actually faster than what I used it on my busted 13" mid 2010, because that was only sata2 internally so I just had 225MB/s when was internally attached.
I don't think Thunderbolt should be trusted, every couple years connectors change, speed change, new Macs have a different connector etc.. I just stick to usb
I have been using the AUKEY Adapter for 3/4 months now and haven't had any issues, its very simple and just works. https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Adapter-2-Pack-MacBook-Samsung/dp/B01AUKU1OO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1503516252&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=USB+A+to+USB+C&psc=1
Enjoy the new Mac!
Thanks that looks perfect and I'm thinking of doing the same thing as you, i.e., remove the SSD from my dead MacBook and pop it in the enclosure as a 512GB external disk for a new one.
Amazon UK link for those who do not speak Italian