With lockdowns becoming a distant memory, perhaps you're planning to take a road trip. Once you have gotten your documents — e.g. passport, vehicle permit, and travel insurance — in order, you may want to think about the tech gadgets to bring along. For starters, those with young children may appreciate a tablet filled with TV shows and games to entertain them. Alternatively, you may wish to read an ebook or two, or listen to some tunes to pass the time. Here are five gadgets that will make your road trip more enjoyable.
Asus ZenBeam Latte L1
Roughly the size of a Thermos flask, this portable projector is just about bright enough to use in the car in the day. However, its battery life may only be good enough for one 90-minute movie. But fret not, you can also use it as a Bluetooth speaker. It's rated to last 12 hours in this mode, which should be long enough for most road trips.
Apple iPad Air (2022)
As mentioned earlier, I would consider a tablet, like the latest Apple iPad Air an essential travel gadget for families with young children. The new model has a large and bright screen, the audio is especially great for videos. Not to mention games run buttery smooth on its M1 chip. If you don't mind a smaller screen, the iPad mini is a good alternative, too.
Creative Outlier Pro
With its superb battery life and good active noise cancellation (ANC), the Creative Outlier Pro is great for road trips. The ANC significantly reduces ambient noise like the drone of the car engine, so you can better enjoy your music. The bass is also pretty good, though these earbuds are heavier than previous versions.
Kobo Libra 2
If you like to read on the go, I highly recommend the Kobo Libra 2. It's lightweight, water resistant, and thanks to its 7-inch E Ink display, has outstanding battery life. You can also borrow ebooks directly from the library through its OverDrive platform. Drivers, too, may find it useful, as the Libra 2 can play audiobooks from Kobo's store via Bluetooth.
ZMI 50W Power Bank + Charger
It's a no-brainer to bring a power bank on a road trip to keep your smartphones and tablets topped up. But what makes the ZMI different is that it's also a power adapter, so you can carry one fewer accessory. Its capacity is good enough to fully replenish most modern smartphones. And when plugged in and used as a power adapter, it will recharge most mainstream notebooks, too.
Any purchase you make through our links may generate a commission. It supports our work, but does not dictate our editorial reviews. See our FAQ here.