Review: Twelve South BookArc Flex

i've never jumped at the opportunity to use a dock for my laptop. I prefer using an external monitor and a laptop stand, with my MacBook as the second screen. It's been my setup for the last seven years, and up until now, I had no desire to change it. But when Apple launched the M3-powered 15-inch MacBook Air with support for two external monitors—as long as the lid is closed—I realized I'd have to give in to the world of vertical laptop stands to test it properly. I didn't have room on my desk to let it lie flat.

These stands aren't the most aesthetically pleasing. I'm not that picky about my desk accessories, but I don't want a clunky eye-sore of a stand. And it felt like that's all that was out there. I was super excited when Twelve South reached out about testing its BookArc Flex. It's a beautifully crafted laptop stand, with a minimalist design that would blend in nicely on my desk. It's compatible with a wide range of MacBook models too.

I was confident this would be the answer to my problem. At WIRED, we've had great experiences with Twelve South's products. A lot of the company's products are featured as top recommendations in various buying guides, including the StayGo Mini hub, the Forte iPhone stand, the HoverBar Duo 2.0 stand, and more. These accessories work well and look good. Unfortunately, only the latter applies to the BookArc Flex. And that's not enough to justify incorporating it into your workspace.

Proceed With Caution

The BookArc Flex has a very distinct design, complete with a metal arc on each side and a flexible rubber cradle in between. When you place your MacBook onto the rubber piece, the laptop stand uses the weight of the laptop to lock the arcs against the lid and the base of the machine. It's elevated too, which Twelve South claims is to improve airflow and heat dissipation (to keep the MacBook from overheating) and to also keep it safe from accidental spills.

In theory, it sounds simple to use. Unbox it, place it on your desk, and plop the MacBook into the stand. There was no need to read the instructions. But I was wrong. Whenever I put my 15-inch MacBook Air into the stand, it would lean against one of the arcs and topple over. At one point, I thought I had to somehow mold the middle piece to fit the laptop. After some finessing, I was able to get it to sit securely. But the slightest movement still caused it to fall over.

After this happened a few times, I decided to reach for the brief Owner's Guide, which clearly states that you should “set the MacBook or laptop hinge down,” which means the logo needs to be facing up. I was doing the complete opposite—placing the MacBook with the logo facing down. “Surely, this had to be the issue,” I thought to myself.

But I was wrong. Yes, placing it right side up kept it upright instead of leaning to one side of the stand. However, it didn't help lessen how sensitive it was to movement. It would still fall over whenever I reached over to turn the lamp on behind it, accidentally bumped against my desk too hard, or brushed my hand against the edge of my MacBook while moving my mouse around.

I hated how careful I had to be in its presence, especially when I had any sort of liquid on my desk like a cup of coffee or a can of Monster. I was terrified I might knock over the laptop stand and make the MacBook crash down onto the mug or can, spewing liquid all over my keyboard and monitor. I couldn't even leave my MacBook on the stand when I left the room. The smallest motion would cause it to tumble onto my desk and damage both the MacBook and my peripherals.

The thing is, Twelve South doesn't deny that you need to be cautious with it. The company even says on its website that you should “use common sense. If your office is in a bumpy construction zone, or you have cats walking all over your desk and they have knocked down items before, you might want an entirely different stand like our Twelve South Curve Flex.” I've tested the Curve Flex, and it's great—it's included in our Best MacBook Accessories and Best Laptop Stands guides. It flexes up to 22 inches high, adjusts depending on your setup, and is great for traveling because it's super compact and portable.

But it's not the only alternative. Twelve South still sells the original BookArc, which launched back in 2009. The stand was redesigned in 2015, giving it a smaller and slimmer footprint, which is compatible with the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air (M-series) as well as the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 and M2). It's not as pretty or modern looking as the Flex, and it's much thicker. But it's more affordable. At $30, it's half the cost of the BookArc Flex, and it feels like the better bang for your buck.

It comes with a rubber insert that you need to install out of the box, which is what keeps it secure in the stand. (If you upgrade your machine you can buy a new one for $10.) The BookArc Flex technically solves this problem, since it automatically adjusts to the size of your MacBook (up to 1 inch thick) without the need for inserts, but this is also what makes it less sturdy.

There's also a Cable Catch feature underneath it that holds your cables in place (which is useful when you're plugging and unplugging your MacBook from your monitors). Sadly, this wasn't included with the Flex version. You'll have to position your cables around the stand instead.

Don’t Mess With the Best

Having tried both versions, I easily prefer the original stand. The insert easily pops right into the slot and keeps my MacBook Air snug within the stand. The stand itself is strong and well built too, so it's not as easy to knock over. I simply set it and forget it. With the BookArc Flex, I'm hyperaware of it throughout the workday, which is ironic in an accessory that is supposed to help you stay focused. I'm the opposite of focused with it on my desk.

The only gripe I have with the original BookArc is using it with a case. I'm currently using a Casetify Snap Case, and the added bulk makes it a little tougher to get it in and out of the stand. It also sometimes causes the insert to pop out (forcing me to have to fix it each time). But it's a lot better than trying to balance the additional weight on the BookArc Flex.

Sure, it doesn't look as attractive on my desk, but it's still sleek and compact enough to make way for my external monitors and accessories. More important, it's less stressful than the BookArc Flex. Whether it's typing on a keyboard, sipping from my coffee mug, waving my hands around while talking on video calls, or jotting down notes in my notebook, this new laptop stand is simply too unstable for my messy, chaotic workstation.