I like to travel light. Which is why I prefer to carry a thin-and-light laptop for work trips, even if it may feel more cramped than a larger notebook. But outside of essential gadgets like your notebook and smartphone, you may also want (or have) to carry other gadgets during your daily commute to work or school. That's when you should be looking at the most portable options available. Here are 5 gadgets that aren't strictly necessary, but are nice to have. And they won't weigh you down.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
If you have an iPhone, it's a no-brainer to pick the Apple AirPods Pro 2 for your true wireless listening needs. The latest version packs significant improvements in noise cancellation, while the transparency mode, which is already very good, gets even better. Music playback is fantastic, with punchy bass and spatial audio.
Kobo Clara 2E
Why buy a standalone ebook reader when you can read ebooks on your phone? Well, sometimes it's nice to have a device that can last for weeks on a single charge. For those who enjoy reading on your commute, the 6-inch Kobo Clara 2E is perfect for one-handed use. You can even fit it in the pocket if you're wearing baggy pants. And you can borrow ebooks from the National Library in Singapore for free, as well as buy and listen to audiobooks from Kobo.
Samsung T7 Shield
A portable solid-state drive (SSD) is a must-have for those who work with large files such as photos and videos. But if you're always on the go, it's prudent to get something that's a bit more sturdy, like the Samsung T7 Shield. It's clad in a rubber material that will survive a drop of under three metres. It's also water- and dust-resistant, too. Performance is also great with over 1,000MB/s in sequential read and write speeds.
Prism+ Nomad Ultra 13
The Prism+ Nomad Ultra 13 is a 13.3-inch portable monitor that you can easily carry everywhere. You connect it to a laptop or computer to use it. It's definitely more of a niche product, but those who need such a device will find the Nomad's OLED screen to be vivid and bright enough to use outdoors in the day. It also has a good number of connectors, including two USB-C ports and a mini-HDMI port, as well as the cables for these ports.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack
Need a solid and sturdy backpack to carry all your gear? Consider the Peak Design Everyday Backpack, which comes with plenty of space — it comes in 20L and 30L versions. There's sufficient space for a 16-inch laptop, a slot for a tablet, as well as a stretchy pouch for your wallet. It also has three dividers that make it easy to partition the space.
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