ProtoArc's CaseUp Combo originally caught my eye after I saw the company's claim that it "crushes the Logitech Casa.” Challenge accepted. I'm a fan of the Casa—a portable workstation that includes a small keyboard and trackpad and a way to prop up your laptop. A more ergonomic setup for the coffee shop, if you will. But at close to $200, it's expensive for what it is.

The ProtoArc promises to do just as much but for $100. Much more palatable. Like the Casa Pop-Up Desk, the XKM01 CaseUp comes with a wireless keyboard, mouse, and laptop stand—all of which fold neatly into a compact carrying case. Simply throw it into your bag and you have a full work setup at your destination. It's a great solution if you find yourself struggling to feel as productive on a laptop without your usual home desk setup.

I routinely fall into that category, so I was excited to try this new, cheaper solution. After a few weeks with the ProtoArc, I have a few nitpicks, but this entire setup is certainly an easy way to get stuff done without spending a ton.

Optimal Minimalism

The CaseUp Combo arrives neatly packed in a compact storage pouch. Unzip it and you'll find a trifold keyboard, a wireless mouse, an adjustable laptop stand, and a USB-C charging cable. Both the keyboard and mouse pair via Bluetooth, with the option to connect both accessories to two devices (I chose my MacBook Pro and ipads). The entire package weighs 2.64 pounds. It's light enough that I'd often forget I was even carrying it in my bag.

The keyboard, which has scissor switches, is comfortable to type on for long periods and quiet enough to not give me anxiety while using it at a crowded coffee shop. It has a NumPad with some shortcuts as well, like one for screenshots, a lock button for your computer, and Bluetooth pairing keys. There's a USB-C port on the side for charging. ProtoArc claims up to 150 days of standby time when it comes to battery life, and I never needed to charge it in my testing. I wish the keys were backlit, but this is an issue only in dark environments.

The mouse is perfectly adequate too. It's slim but provides enough palm support that my hand doesn't feel like it's cramping up. The scroll wheel and buttons are smooth and responsive. After a short time, I noticed a strange, squeaky noise coming from the left side whenever I'd click. It's not always there, but it's slightly annoying whenever it comes back. Like the keyboard, it charges via USB-C but has a slightly longer battery life of up to 200 days (standby time).

The stand is super adjustable, an important feature, and one way the ProtoArc XKM01 trumps Logitech's Casa, which isn't adjustable at all. It's not only ideal for your posture, but it's also nice to be able to change up the height depending on where you're working. You can adjust it at six levels (between a 10- and 40-degree angle) and it's compatible with a laptop as small as 13 inches and as large as 17.3 inches. I've been using it with my 14-inch MacBook Pro, and I often make adjustments when I'm writing versus when I take a Zoom call. It feels sturdy too.

The stand isn't as obtrusive as the Casa's stand, which is attached to the rest of the case and takes up more surface area, but I do prefer Logitech's system. The entire setup feels a lot neater versus ProtoArc's peripherals, which are larger and more spaced out. For example, the XKM01 CaseUp Combo's keyboard is the same length as both the Casa keyboard and trackpad combined. Naturally, this comes down to how you type—you may prefer the roomier approach ProtoArc offers.

I've mainly been using the XKM01 at the coffee shop near my apartment. Typically, I regret my decision to work away from home as I instantly miss my highly curated workstation (which includes my favorite mechanical keyboard, Apple Studio Display, and Logitech mouse). But I was completely fine at the coffee shop for several hours with ProtoArc's solution, working on a story and answering emails before I realized I hadn't thought about any of these accessories once. (That's a good thing.) I enjoy it enough that I've even pulled it out for use at my kitchen island when I want a change of scenery outside of my home office.

But I'm also a sucker for adorable aesthetics. The CaseUp has a strictly business look that won't look out of place at the corporate office, but it's quite dull—especially next to the Logitech Casa. The Casa comes in pink (my favorite color), complete with accessories to match, and the carrying case looks like a cute notebook. The inside even reminds me of a bento box, and the keyboard has an Emoji button. It makes me excited to sit down at my laptop and get work done (on even the gloomiest days), so much so that I don't mind the extra $80 over the ProtoArc CaseUp.

This can easily be remedied if ProtoArc decides to offer the XKM01 in different colors. But if the colors don't matter to you, then this is an excellent portable workstation. The peripherals are well-built and connect reliably, and the keyboard is nice enough to type on for hours a day. The stand is decently adjustable and, best of all, it's affordable. The whole thing packs away neatly and securely, making it easy to travel with. And you hardly need to worry about battery life. Just make it in pink!