The Elgato Stream Deck+ is an oddly compelling Mac accessory that transforms how you interact with your computer. What starts as curiosity quickly becomes essential workflow enhancement. While initially seeming unnecessary, this device's combination of programmable buttons, dials, and touchscreen creates a uniquely powerful control center for your Mac.

At $200, the Stream Deck+ sits in the middle of Elgato's lineup, offering eight programmable buttons, four infinite-scrolling dials, and a touchscreen display. The dials are particularly useful for controlling smart lights, audio levels, and other hardware without hunting through menus. Each button doubles as a screen, displaying custom icons for visual feedback. The companion Mac app, while initially complex, provides powerful automation capabilities through drag-and-drop programming.

The Stream Deck+ also supports optional accessories like a USB hub, XLR dock, and network dock, expanding its functionality. While the USB hub can daisy-chain multiple Stream Decks (despite Elgato's warnings), the real value lies in the device's ability to streamline repetitive tasks. Once you experience the convenience of one-button access to complex workflows, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.