10 Essential Tech Gadgets for Your Carry-On in 2025
July 18, 2025
Overview
Traveling in 2025 demands the right tech to stay connected, productive, and entertained. This guide features 10 essential tech gadgets perfectly sized for your carry-on, ensuring a seamless travel experience. From noise-canceling headphones that create a personal oasis of calm to portable power banks that keep your devices running, discover the must-have tech that will transform your trips. Stay ahead of the curve and travel smarter with these carefully selected gadgets designed to make your journey easier and more enjoyable, no matter where you're headed.
Senior Editor
Our top picks
The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Ultimate Peace: Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones, $449.99
The Most Reliable Portable Power Bank for Travelers: Anker 337 Power Bank, $64.99
The Best Universal Travel Adapter for Global Adventures: Epicka TA-105C Travel Adapter, $23.99
The Smartwatch for Staying Connected on the Go: Apple Watch Series 9, $249.66
The Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker for Music Lovers: JBL Charge 6, $199.95
The Best E-Reader for Reading on the Go: Kobo Libra Colour, $217.79
The Most Secure Travel Router for Private Wi-Fi: TP-LINK AX1800 Router, $109.00
Noise-Canceling Headphones: Your Travel Oasis
Escape the chaos with premium noise-canceling headphones for a peaceful journey.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones
$449.99
The Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones transform any noisy environment into a peaceful haven with their excellent noise cancellation. Their 30-hour battery life is ample for most trips, though slightly less than some rivals. During our review, we found its audio quality and comfort made up for the lack of water resistance—ensuring you travel in comfort and style with your carry-on.
The Good
• Exceptional noise cancellation effectively minimizes external noise across various environments.
The Bad
• Battery life of 30 hours with ANC on is average compared to competitors offering longer durations.
• Lacks water resistance, making them unsuitable for use in wet conditions.
Battery Life: 30 hours / Noise Cancellation: true / Water Resistance: None / Charging Ports: USB-C
AirPods Max - Blue
$549.00
Our experience with the AirPods Max - Blue found them to offer exceptional sound quality, elevating your travel audio experience with lossless sound. The noise isolation is excellent, although the 20-hour battery life is less than some competitors. Despite the high price, the premium build enhances comfort, and integration within Apple's ecosystem is seamless, making it a luxurious addition to your carry-on.
The Good
• Exceptional sound quality with support for lossless audio via USB-C.
• Robust noise isolation and seamless connectivity within the Apple ecosystem.
• Premium build quality with comfortable design.
The Bad
• High price point compared to competitors.
• Limited battery life of 20 hours, which is less than some competitors.
• Included Smart Case offers minimal protection and functionality.
Battery Life: 20 hours / Noise Cancellation: true / Water Resistance: None / Charging Ports: USB-C
Portable Power Banks: Stay Charged On-The-Go
Never run out of juice; these power banks keep your devices alive.
Anker 337 Power Bank
$64.99
In our experience, the Anker 337 Power Bank stands out with a hefty 26800mAh capacity, effortlessly charging your phone over six times. This energy powerhouse is slightly bulkier at 495g, but its ability to charge three devices simultaneously outshines its micro-USB recharging. Whether on a long flight or a remote adventure, we found it to be a reliable companion in keeping your devices going.
The Good
• High capacity allows charging most phones over 6 times.
• Dual input ports enable faster recharging in just over 6 hours.
• Three USB ports allow simultaneous charging of multiple devices.
The Bad
• Weighs approximately 495g, making it relatively heavy for portable use.
• Uses Micro-USB for recharging, which is outdated compared to USB-C.
• Large size may not be convenient for all travel situations.
Battery Life: N/A / Noise Cancellation: false / Water Resistance: None / Charging Ports: USB-A,Micro-USB
Universal Travel Adapters: Power Up Anywhere
Essential for international travel, ensuring your gadgets stay powered up.
Anker Nano Adapter
$25.99
The Anker Nano Adapter is a true travel essential, boasting a compact design that's easy to pack for any adventure. We love its ability to charge up to five devices at once, which is perfect for keeping all your gadgets powered in over 200 countries. While it doesn't support voltage conversion, making it unsuitable for high-power appliances, its versatility with USB-A, USB-C, and AC ports more than makes up for it during our testing.
The Good
• Compact design makes it highly portable for travel.
• Supports charging up to five devices simultaneously.
• Compatible with over 200 countries, enhancing its versatility.
The Bad
• Does not support voltage conversion, limiting use with high-power appliances.
• USB-A ports may charge devices slower when all ports are in use.
• Thumb sliders protrude notably, affecting the sleek design.
Battery Life: N/A / Noise Cancellation: false / Water Resistance: None / Charging Ports: USB-A,USB-C,AC
Epicka TA-105C Travel Adapter
$23.99
The Epicka TA-105C Travel Adapter impressed us with its robust design and multi-port charging capabilities, suitable for international explorers. While the USB ports charge devices slower and it lacks a grounding feature, its compact build makes it ideal for carry-on convenience. Despite its limitations with high-power appliances, its ability to operate in over 150 countries makes it a dependable travel companion.
The Good
• Solid build quality ensures durability during travel.
• Multiple USB ports allow simultaneous charging of several devices.
• Compact design makes it easy to pack and carry.
The Bad
• USB ports lack quick charging support, leading to slower device charging.
• Adapter is not grounded, potentially affecting safety for devices requiring grounding.
• Not suitable for high-power appliances like hair dryers due to a 10A fuse limitation.
Battery Life: N/A / Noise Cancellation: false / Water Resistance: None / Charging Ports: USB-A,USB-C,AC
Smartwatches: Stay Connected and Organized
Track your fitness, receive notifications, and manage your itinerary with ease.
Apple Watch Series 9
$249.66
In our tests, the Apple Watch Series 9 proved to be an essential travel companion with its bright OLED display and enhanced performance. Although its 18-hour battery life calls for daily charging, the convenience of managing notifications and fitness tracking makes it worth it. The new S9 SiP chip adds improved functionality, ensuring a smoother travel experience, even if its design remains largely unchanged.
The Good
• The Apple Watch Series 9 features a brighter OLED display with up to 2,000 nits maximum brightness.
• The Series 9 introduces the S9 SiP chip, providing improved performance and on-device Siri capabilities.
The Bad
• The watch offers an 18-hour battery life, requiring daily charging for regular use.
• The Series 9 lacks significant design changes compared to its predecessors.
Battery Life: 18 hours / Noise Cancellation: false / Water Resistance: IP68 / Charging Ports: None
Portable Bluetooth Speakers: Soundtrack Your Journey
Enjoy high-quality audio wherever you go with these compact speakers.
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3
$84.99
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is a mighty little speaker with 14-hour battery life and 360-degree sound, making it perfect for on-the-go music lovers. Its robust IP67 rating means this speaker can handle both water and dust, ideal for outdoor adventures. While its micro-USB charging is a bit outdated, this doesn’t overshadow its impressive performance and ability to double up for stereo sound during our review.
The Good
• The speaker offers impressive 14-hour battery life, exceeding expectations for its size.
• Its IP67 rating ensures it is both waterproof and dustproof, making it suitable for outdoor use.
• The Wonderboom 3 delivers 360-degree sound with balanced audio and strong bass.
The Bad
• The speaker uses a micro-USB charging port instead of the more modern USB-C.
• It lacks a visible battery indicator, making it hard to quickly check the remaining charge.
• The Outdoor Boost mode sacrifices bass quality to increase treble and volume for outdoor use.
Battery Life: 14 hours / Noise Cancellation: false / Water Resistance: IP67 / Charging Ports: USB-A
JBL Charge 6
$199.95
The JBL Charge 6 speaker is a standout with its impressive 28-hour battery life and rugged IP68 build—ideal for extended adventures. Its ability to act as a power bank for your devices adds to its versatility. While the bass response may dip at higher volumes, our review shows that its overall durability and sound quality make it a solid travel choice. Just remember to pack your own USB-C cable!
The Good
• The JBL Charge 6 offers up to 28 hours of battery life, ensuring extended playback time.
• The speaker is waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof with an IP68 rating, making it highly durable for various environments.
• It features a built-in powerbank, allowing users to charge their mobile devices while listening to music.
The Bad
• At higher volumes, the speaker's bass response diminishes, leading to a less balanced sound experience.
• The JBL Charge 6 lacks a built-in microphone, preventing hands-free calling functionality.
• The package does not include a USB-C charging cable, requiring users to purchase one separately.
Battery Life: 28 hours / Noise Cancellation: false / Water Resistance: IP68 / Charging Ports: USB-C
E-Readers: Carry Your Library
Lightweight and compact, perfect for catching up on reading on the go.
Kobo Libra Colour
$217.79
The Kobo Libra Colour e-reader, with its 7-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 screen, offers a unique color reading experience perfect for comics and graphic novels. Our experience highlights its waterproof capability, ensuring poolside peace of mind. While the display may appear muted and the stylus is sold separately, its light weight and long battery life make it an excellent travel-friendly option for avid readers.
The Good
• The 7-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 color screen enhances the reading experience, especially for comics and graphic novels.
• Stylus compatibility allows for note-taking and highlighting directly on the e-reader.
• The device is waterproof, meeting IPX8 standards for up to 60 minutes in 2 meters of water.
The Bad
• The stylus is sold separately at an additional cost, increasing the overall investment.
• Charging time is relatively slow, taking over two hours to reach full capacity.
• The color display may appear muted, which might not meet expectations for vibrant visuals.
Battery Life: 25 hours / Noise Cancellation: false / Water Resistance: IPX8 / Charging Ports: USB-C
Travel Router: Secure Your Wi-Fi
Create a secure and private Wi-Fi network wherever you are with a travel router.
TP-LINK AX1800 Router
$109.00
We found the TP-LINK AX1800 Router to be a reliable choice for creating a secure Wi-Fi network on your travels. Its support for Wi-Fi 6 ensures faster speeds, and the price point is commendable given its features. While lacking advanced gaming capabilities and security features, its ease of setup via the TP-Link Tether app is highly convenient, making it a solid choice for staying connected on the go.
The Good
• Supports Wi-Fi 6 and OFDMA for faster speeds and improved connectivity.
• Easy setup process aided by the TP-Link Tether app.
• Affordable price point for its feature set.
The Bad
• Lacks support for MU-MIMO, which may affect performance with multiple devices.
• Does not support HomeCare or HomeShield security features.
• Not recommended for gaming due to lack of advanced features.
Battery Life: N/A / Noise Cancellation: false / Water Resistance: None / Charging Ports: AC
