Best travel gadgets 2025: the tech, luggage and apps worth packing 

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All devices featured are chosen on their merits and not because of any affiliation.

Every year, I get asked the same question in slightly different ways. What’s actually worth travelling with now? Not what launched last month, not what looks good in a press photo, but what earns its place when you’re packing for another flight, another train, or another hotel room that all start to blur into one.

After years of writing this list, one thing has become very clear to me. Great travel gadgets are rarely about novelty.

They’re about friction.

Anything that reduces friction on the road tends to survive multiple trips. Anything that adds it, no matter how clever it looks on day one, quietly gets left behind.

The best travel gadgets 2025 reflect that shift more clearly than any year I can remember.

Travel has changed. Luggage allowances are tighter. Carry-on-only trips are more common. Power sockets are less predictable. Cabins themselves are technically quieter than they used to be, yet the overall experience often feels louder and more distracting thanks to how full flights now are and how people use their devices.

At the same time, our reliance on tech has increased.

Phones have become boarding passes, wallets, cameras, translators and entertainment systems. Lose power, lose signal, or lose your bag, and the knock-on effect is immediate.

That’s why the gadgets that matter most today are the ones that solve more than one problem, or quietly remove stress without demanding attention. The things I keep coming back to tend to be boring in the best possible way.

They work. They travel well. They don’t require instructions once you’ve used them twice.

I’ve also learned to be ruthless. Every year, brands get better at telling stories about why their product belongs in your bag. Fewer are honest about the compromises.

Weight, bulk, charging speed, app reliability, compatibility, and battery degradation over time. These things only show up after real use, and that’s where this list comes from.

Some categories have matured significantly. Power banks are a good example. We’ve gone from “will it charge my phone once?” to managing laptops, tablets and cameras from a single brick.

Audio has also improved, particularly in noise cancellation and transparency modes that actually cope with busy cabins and terminals rather than quiet living rooms. Tracking tech has become more reliable, less gimmicky, and better integrated with platforms people already use.

Other areas have stayed surprisingly difficult. Universal cables are still rarely universal. Smart luggage often adds cost without adding reliability. Travel apps can be brilliant one year and quietly abandoned the next.

I’m also mindful that this list gets used in different ways. Some readers treat it as a buying guide. Others come back to it before a big trip. Some want to sense-check whether the gear they already own is still relevant. That’s why you’ll see a mix of familiar names and newer entries here.

For me, what makes a great travel gadget is simple. It should save time, save space, reduce anxiety, or improve comfort. Ideally, more than one. It should survive being thrown into a bag, used half-asleep, or relied on when plans change.

As always, this isn’t a list of everything you could take. It’s a list of what I would take, and what I do take, when travelling regularly. Some items are essentials. Others are quality-of-life upgrades that quickly become hard to give up once you’ve used them properly.

With that in mind, this is my take on the best travel gadgets 2025, counting down the gear, luggage and apps that genuinely deserve a place in your bag.

The Plaud Note Pro is a slim, AI-powered voice recorder designed to capture conversations and turn them into usable text, and it was one of my standout picks from IFA 2025 for precisely that reason. In practice, it works as a dedicated alternative to using your phone for voice notes, with a far more reliable approach to long recordings, background noise and transcription when you’re travelling.

The hardware plays a big role in that experience. It’s thin, light and genuinely pocketable, with a single-button control that makes it easy to start recording without looking at a screen, which matters when you’re tired or moving quickly. Battery life comfortably covered several days of intermittent use, and syncing recordings to the app was fast enough that reviewing notes didn’t feel like a separate task. Crucially, it doesn’t try to replace your phone or laptop. It does one job, does it well, and takes the hassle out of capturing ideas, interviews and reminders on the move.
plaud.ai // amazon.com

What I liked about the Nomad Goods Universal Cable for Apple Watch is that it solves a particular annoyance that most frequent Apple Watch users quietly put up with for far too long. This single cable charges your Apple Watch while also supporting USB-C power delivery for other devices, eliminating the need to pack Apple’s proprietary puck as a separate item.

When I reviewed it, the standout wasn’t just the concept but how well it was executed. The Apple Watch charging module is properly integrated into the cable rather than feeling like an afterthought, and charging speeds were consistent and reliable when paired with modern USB-C power sources. Build quality is exactly what I’ve come to expect from Nomad. The cable feels robust without being stiff, the connectors are well finished, and it holds up to repeated packing and unpacking without showing wear.
nomadgoods.com // amazon.com

The AirPods Pro don’t need reinventing, but the latest generation adds more innovative features that make an already reliable travel companion even more helpful. What’s changed this time isn’t about chasing better sound for the sake of it, but about making them more capable when you’re moving through unfamiliar places.

Live translation is the most obvious addition, and while it’s not something you’ll use constantly, it’s surprisingly effective for quick, practical moments when travelling, such as understanding directions, basic conversations, or instructions without pulling your phone out. Intelligent noise control adapts more naturally as you move between environments. There’s also a broader shift towards awareness and health features, which quietly adds even more value.
apple.com // amazon.com

What makes the Pebblebee Tag Universal an ideal travel gadget is that it sidesteps one of the most annoying compromises in luggage tracking by refusing to take sides. This is a compact Bluetooth tracker designed to work with both Apple’s Find My network and Google’s Find My Device, which immediately makes it more flexible than most alternatives that lock you into a single ecosystem.

The tag itself is small enough to disappear into a suitcase pocket or backpack lining, but it’s also built with a rechargeable battery rather than a disposable coin cell, which makes it easier to live with over time. Setup is straightforward, tracking updates are dependable, and location pings feel fast enough to be reassuring rather than vague.
pebblebee.com // amazon.com

I moved back to TripIt Pro this year, almost out of necessity, and it became one of the most reliable parts of my travel setup. At its core, TripIt is an itinerary management app that pulls flights, hotels, trains and bookings into a single, chronological view, but what reminded me why it works so well is how little effort it demands once it’s set up.

Forward a confirmation email, and it does the rest, stitching together trips in a way that makes sense when plans overlap or change at short notice. Over multiple trips this year, it consistently had my back when emails were buried, airline apps lagged, or gate changes came through late. TripIt doesn’t try to look clever or reinvent travel planning. It just keeps everything accessible offline, updates itineraries as changes come in, and removes the mental load of juggling half a dozen booking apps while on the move.
tripit.com

The Edifier ES20 Portable Speaker makes the list by doing the basics of a travel speaker properly, without overcomplicating things or pretending to be something it isn’t. It’s a compact, square Bluetooth speaker designed to be genuinely portable, and during my review, the emphasis on clean, balanced sound rather than inflated bass stood out immediately.

Vocals are clear, mids remain present, and the overall tuning works well. Battery life is strong for a speaker of this size, comfortably lasting across multiple days, and USB-C charging means it fits neatly into an existing travel power setup. Bluetooth pairing was quick and reliable throughout testing, with no dropouts that still plague cheaper portable speakers.
edifier.com // amazon.com

It’s fair to say HONOR has had an incredible year. The Magic V5 set new standards for foldable devices, and the 400 Pro delivered plenty of flagship features at a reasonable price. However, it was the Magic7 Pro that won me over. HONOR’s AI features are part of the system rather than bolted on, which means you actually use them.

The hardware backs that up. Build quality feels refined but tough, with a finish that looks great (even with a huge camera housing) and holds up to being carried, packed and used constantly. It’s a phone that feels good in the hand, performs well, and, with how HONOR has factored AI features into it, will make many think they are now power users!
honor.com // amazon.com

What makes this backpack work so well is how little it advertises its capabilities. From the outside, the HyperPack looks like a clean, understated commuter backpack, which is precisely what you want when packed with expensive gadgets. Inside, though, it’s been clearly designed around modern tech.

The internal layout is structured without being rigid, with dedicated space for a laptop, tablet, and accessories, keeping everything separated and easy to reach rather than stacked on top of each other. Cables, chargers, headphones and smaller items all have defined homes, and the pack opens wide enough to access what you need, when you need it. The external material is highly waterproof, as I discovered the hard way, yet the internal pockets are soft and well-padded.
hypershop.com // amazon.com

The AirFly Pro 2 earns its place by solving the in-flight audio problem. It’s a Bluetooth transmitter built specifically for 3.5mm audio sources, allowing you to connect your own wireless headphones to aircraft entertainment systems, seatback screens and other legacy outputs. The Pro 2 supports dual-device pairing, so two sets of Bluetooth headphones can connect simultaneously.

Battery life is up to 25 hours, perfect for long-haul flying, and USB-C charging lets it be topped up with the same cable as most other devices in your carry-on. It’s compact, light, and includes a short built-in audio cable, removing the need for extra adapters at your seat. Simple onboard controls make it easy to use without fumbling in low light, and it’s small enough to live permanently in a pouch or pocket.
twelvesouth.com // amazon.com

Numbers are what set the Anker Prime 26K 300W Power Bank apart. With a 26,800 mAh capacity, this power bank is designed to handle more than just phones and tablets. Total output is rated at up to 300W, delivered across two USB-C ports and one USB-A, which immediately puts it in a different category to most travel power banks.

Each USB-C port can deliver up to 140W, enabling it to charge laptops at full speed while still handling additional devices simultaneously. That means a laptop, phone and accessories can all be charged from a single unit. It also supports fast input, allowing the battery itself to recharge quickly when paired with dual compatible high-wattage chargers. The built-in smart display is more than cosmetic. It shows real-time output, remaining capacity, and charging status per port, making power management far more predictable when you’re relying on it heavily.
anker.com // amazon.com

Sound quality is the reason these sit so high up the list. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 are built around 40mm carbon cone drive units, a design choice aimed squarely at reducing distortion and improving detail compared with conventional headphone drivers. Wireless connectivity is handled via Bluetooth 5.3 with support for aptX Adaptive, allowing higher-quality audio and more stable connections across most devices.

Battery life is rated at up to 30 hours with active noise cancellation enabled, which is more than enough for long-haul travel, and fast charging delivers up to seven hours of playback from a 15-minute top-up via USB-C. Noise cancellation is enabled by a six-microphone array, tuned to reduce consistent background noise while preserving the overall sound signature. Build quality is a big part of their appeal as well. Aluminium arms and premium materials give them a solid, refined feel that stands up well to regular travel without feeling heavy or overbuilt.
bowerswilkins.com // amazon.com

I didn’t expect to be converted by this case, but after using it properly over a busy travel year, the Nomatic Method Luggage Carry-On has become the one I reach for without hesitation. The headline feature is its expandable design, and if, like me, you are weak to that spur-of-the-moment purchase because you are away in a different city, that matters more than you might expect. It comfortably swallows those purchases and clothing for longer trips with ease.

Compression panels and the structured internal layout keep everything controlled rather than chaotic, so even when the Method Carry-on is fully loaded, it doesn’t feel like you’re fighting the case. The polycarbonate shell strikes a smart balance between rigidity and weight, protecting contents without exceeding airline limits before you’ve even started packing.

Where Nomatic really impressed me, though, was in the build quality and how well it moves. The spinner wheels glide smoothly across floors and uneven surfaces alike, even when the case is heavy. Despite a fairly gruelling schedule this year, the telescopic handle mechanism still feels like new, with no wobble or looseness.

Zips, corners and stress points all feel designed for repeated use rather than careful handling, and the overall balance of the case makes it easy to live out of across multiple stops. The Nomatic Method Luggage Carry-On finishes my best travel gadgets 2025 list in the top spot as an exceptionally wise investment for any frequent traveller.
nomatic.com* // amazon.com
*Nomatic in the US are known as Gomatic in the EU & UK