The best travel tech gadgets: 24 must-have items for your next trip

Manage electrical needs with a voltage converter

Bestek Universal Travel Adapter 220V to 110V

When you’re traveling from the US to Europe, you don’t just need a different type of plug for your chargers and gadgets, but also a voltage converter because Europe runs on a different electrical grid format.

The Bestek Universal Travel Adapter converts 220V outlets to US-standard 110V, ensuring your devices don’t burn out. It’s not only affordable, regularly costing less than $30, but it has three AC outlets and four USB ports. It also comes with extra adapters for other regions.

The Baseus Enercore CG11 is also a fantastic pick, as it’s suitable for use anywhere in the world, with slide-out plugs for the USA, EU, and UK. There are also two ports—one USB-C and one USB-A—as well as a USB-C retractable cable. This thing’s usually under $40 when on sale, so it won’t set you back too much.

Take control of tangled cords

Rolling Square inCharge 6 Keychain Charger Cable

Rolling Square

If you’re like most travelers, you bring multiple electronics to make the most of your experience—we’re talking camera, phone, laptop, headphones, etc. But along with all of these items, you’ll need to carry all of their charging cables. That can take up space and lead to a tangled web of cords in your bag if you’re not careful. With the $20 Rolling Square inCharge 6 Keychain Charger Cable on Amazon, you have the option of USB-C or USB-A inputs and Micro-USB or USB-C outputs all in a cable that’s small enough for your keychain.

Or get a retractable cable instead

Baseus 100W Retractable USB-C Cable

Baseus

If you’d rather have a simpler cable, then this Baseus 100W US Retractable USB-C Cable will do the trick. The retractable design ensures it’s going to be safe in your luggage, preventing any type of tangling issues and considerably lowering the chances of your cable breaking. You can get this one in two length versions—3.3ft and 6.6ft— and you can pay as little as $10 on the shorter one if it’s on sale.

Keep your devices charged with a portable power bank

Anker Nano 3-in-1 10,000mAh Power Bank with Wall Charger Plug and Built-In Cable

Traveling is always fun, but ending up with a dead phone battery in an unknown place can be terrifying. This Anker Nano power bank serves two roles in one: it can plug into a wall outlet and recharge your gear at the hotel, and it’s a portable power bank when you’re out and about. Its 10,000mAh capacity is enough to charge most phones two times, and it has a built-in USB-C cable that delivers 30W charging. It retails for $53, but you can find it closer to $35 on sale.

Make that hotel outlet actually useful

Anker Prime 6-in-1 Travel Power Strip

Anker

One of the main issues we all have when traveling is that it’s tough to find multiple outlets in your hotel room. You’ll get one by the bedside table and another that’s taken up by the TV. Well, this compact power strip from Anker makes good use of a single outlet, turning it into six: double AC outlets, double USB-C, and double USB-A, with a maximum output of 140W across those USB-C ports. It’s perfect for laptops, smartphones, and all your other gear you’re carrying. The flat design and detachable power cord makes it easy to pack away, too. This $80 travel power strip is often on sale, sometimes under $60.

Never lose your valuables again

Ugreen Finder Duo Bluetooth Trackers

Ugreen / Amazon

We’ve all been there: You arrive at your destination and you’re waiting for your checked bag to show up on the carousel, but it never does… Baggage handling is at it again! With Bluetooth trackers, you can easily keep tabs on where your bags are and maybe even help TSA locate them when they get lost. Ugreen’s Finder Duo Bluetooth Trackers come in a 4-pack, they’re compatible with both Apple and Android devices, they’re rechargeable via USB-C, and they last for up to a year on a charge.

Enjoy in-flight movies without annoying headphone cables

Twelve South AirFly Pro Bluetooth Adapter

Ugreen, Twelve South

Twelve South’s AirFly Pro Bluetooth Adapter for $54.99 on Amazon (although it’s frequently on sale) allows you to turn any audio jack into a wireless Bluetooth transmitter. Simply plug in the device to the headphone jack on the back of the airplane seat and connect your wireless headphones. Then sit back and relax while you enjoy the in-flight entertainment on your Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones. Alternatively, you can go for the Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Adapter, which is a more affordable option at $28.99. Either will allow you to connect up to two earbuds or headphones.

Drown out environmental noise with noise-canceling earbuds

AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2

Apple, Bose

Flying on an airplane is loud with roaring engines, crying babies, and snoring passengers. That’s why you need noise-canceling headphones, which have become essential for flights. And because bag space is at a premium, your headphones need to be small.

Not just for iPhone users, but for anyone who needs good headphones, the Apple AirPods Pro 2, which typically go for around $260 on Amazon, continue to be the best choice due to their convenient size and noise-canceling capability. If you’re an Android user, you can also look into the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, which provide excellent noise cancellation and superb sound quality at about half the price.

Or get some noise-canceling headphones

Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max

Apple, Sony

If earbuds aren’t for you, then perhaps a pair of proper headphones will do the trick. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are easily some of the best noise-canceling headphones out there, delivering phenomenal audio and a comfortable build. These $280 headphones are often on sale for less than $250. Apple fans may want to look into the Apple AirPods Max 2 that are also known for industry-leading active noise cancellation. They retail for $549, but we’ve seen them as low as $430 during sales.

Capture and print your favorite memories

Fuji Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera

Fujifilm

Sure, you could bring a giant DSLR camera with multiple lenses and an extra carry-on bag to store it all… or if you aren’t shooting professionally, you can opt for a retro instant camera like the Fuji Instax Mini 12 for $160 on Amazon. Just like an old-school Polaroid, you can snap a photo and instantly print it out to capture any moment. Just be aware that you’ll need to purchase and carry film separately.

Keep your wires from getting crossed

Bellroy Tech Kit Organizer

Bellroy

Bellroy is known for making great tech cases and kits, and the Bellroy Tech Kit Organizer for $59 on Amazon is our favorite. This well-designed, travel-friendly bag allows you to keep all of your cables and small peripherals stored and organized with ease. The folio style means that you can lay the entire kit flat for easy access to everything stored inside. Plus, the fabric is waterproof so you shouldn’t have to worry about a little liquid spilling on your precious gear.

Play games en route to your destination

Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, or Backbone One

Backbone, Nintendo, Valve

The Steam Deck OLED starting at $789 on the Steam Store is a great handheld gaming system that allows you to play your favorite PC games on the go. Play games from your Steam library or load up on new titles for your next vacation. Gaming makes those long-haul flights a breeze. If you’re more of a Nintendo fan or you’d rather go for a different platform, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a fantastic gaming console for $449.

If you’d rather just play on your phone, but have an upgraded experience, the Backbone One is a mobile gaming controller that will mold to your phone, whether that’s an Android or iPhone model, and will help you play anything you want, including titles in your Xbox, PlayStation, or Steam libraries. This $100 gadget is often down to $70.

Keep your hands and wrists happy while typing on the go

Logitech MX Keys Mini Keyboard

Logitech

Laptop keyboards are cramped and can lead to serious wrist pain if you type on them for long enough. Save your carpal tunnel and grab a wireless keyboard like the Logitech MX Keys Mini. This compact keyboard is not only easy to travel with, but offers convenient features such as a semi-customizable layout, multi-device switching, and more. And the most important part is that it offers a great typing experience with comfortable and quiet keys that won’t bother your fellow travelers. The MX Keys Mini retails for $100 on Amazon.

Carry a library everywhere you go

Kindle Paperwhite

Amazon

Reading material is a great thing to have on vacation, but books are heavy and take up precious space in your luggage. Instead, opt for an e-reader like the Kindle Paperwhite for $159.99 on Amazon and bring an entire library’s worth of books with you. The Paperwhite version comes with an anti-glare screen and adjustable brightness settings, making it perfect for a bright beach or dark airplane.

Grab a mobile hotspot to stay online even without Wi-Fi access

Solis Go Mobile Hotspot and Charger

Those who travel a lot know that Wi-Fi is essential. From being able to work while on the road or just looking up restaurant recommendations in another country, it’s invaluable for getting the most out of any travel experience. The Solis Go Mobile Hotspot and Charger offers pocket Wi-Fi for travelers, with reliable global coverage across 140 countries. Plus, it comes with 1GB of free data every month (forever!) along with a one-time 30GB global data plan. It costs $159.99 on Amazon before registering for any additional Wi-Fi plans, but that’s a one-time-only fee and you can then use it on all your future trips. It’s also a power bank!

Safe web surfing everywhere you go

NordVPN

If you’re going to connect to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, you absolutely need to have a VPN on your devices. We’ve tested most of them and our top recommendation is NordVPN, which we found to be the best overall VPN in our tests. It’s easy to set up and it comes with a built-in antivirus and password manager, so you have a 3-in-1 solution. NordVPN quite frequently goes on sale, and you can get it right now for under $90 for a two-year plan.

Never worry about safe tap water again

Philips Water GoZero Self-Cleaning Water Bottle

Philips

Whether you’re traveling to a new city or going camping, you always need access to clean and potable water. The Philips Water GoZero bottle uses UV technology to ensure your water is safe to drink. Available for $60 at Amazon, it eliminates up to 99.999 percent of bacteria and 99.9 percent of viruses in just a few minutes. Even when empty, the cap can disinfect the bottle and remove odors. Made out of stainless steel and double-walled, the bottle effectively keeps your drinks hot for up to 12 hours or cold for up to 24 hours.

Mount your smartphone on anything

Perilogics Universal Phone Holder Mount

Perilogics

This Perilogics Universal Phone Holder Mount for $12.99 on Amazon allows you to clip your phone onto an airplane seat for hands-free convenience. Maybe you loaded up the latest season of your favorite show or have a game to occupy you on that long-haul flight. Either way, holding your phone with a craned neck for hours is bound to give you a strain. Just hook this bad boy up to the back of the seat in front of you, then sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Travel with an ultraportable laptop

Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1

If you need an ultraportable laptop, the Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1 is a fantastic pick because it weighs just about 2 pounds. We gave this one a 4-star rating, appreciating the fantastic battery life and excellent 2-in-1 versatility. It starts at $850, but it often goes on sale. You can also check out our best laptop roundup for even more options.

Increase your screen real estate with a portable travel monitor

Arzopa A1 Gamut Portable Monitor

Matt Smith

Wish you could take a second monitor with you when traveling? Portable monitors are a thing, and they come in clutch whether you need to work on the go or just want to play games at the airport. We really like the Arzopa A1 Gamut, which delivers good image quality for an extremely budget-friendly price—usually about $80 on Amazon, less if you can spot a good deal. It also comes with useful connectivity options and a solid build quality that’ll stand up to the rigors of travel. 

Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD

IDG

If you plan on taking a million photos and videos while traveling and you want to safely back them up without relying on the cloud, then what you need is a portable SSD. The Crucial X9 Pro is the best portable SSD for most folks because it’s not only affordable but also super-fast. We gave the X9 Pro a near-perfect score and our Editors’ Choice award, impressed by its 10Gbps performance and small form factor. Even though memory and storage prices have skyrocketed in the last year, this ultraportable external SSD still retails for a reasonable $140.

Back up your pics with a card reader

Ugreen USB-C microSD Card Reader

Ugreen

This tiny USB-C card reader is a great way to connect a microSD card to your laptop that lacks a microSD slot, which you might want to do when transferring photos and videos off certain cameras. It doesn’t hurt that it’s super affordable at under $10.

Stream content in your hotel room

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD

Amazon

What if you could watch all your favorite shows and movies no matter where you travel? The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD makes it easy to bring it all with you. Just pop this into a hotel TV’s HDMI port, connect it to the hotel’s Wi-Fi network, and resume watching. It’s also super affordable, available for $35 but frequently on sale for $20 or less.

Turn your car’s infotainment wireless

Carlinkit 5.0 Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Adapter

Carlinkit

If your car’s entertainment system still requires that you plug in your phone, then here’s a nifty solution for you. This Carlinkit 5.0 Adapter plugs into your car’s entertainment system and allows you to wirelessly connect to it using both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It works with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning you can now wirelessly run CarPlay or Android Auto even if your car’s infotainment system isn’t natively wireless. At $55, it’s worth it for the added convenience.