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The best travel tech gadgets aren’t the flashy ones. They’re the bits that stop a trip going wrong: a phone that dies at the gate, a plug that won’t fit the hotel socket, a suitcase that ends up in a different country to you. This list sticks to seven things that genuinely earn a spot in your bag, whether it’s a long weekend in Spain or a long-haul flight.
This is a researched round-up, not a hands-on review. Specs come from the makers’ pages and the Amazon UK listings, and the flight rules come straight from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, all linked as we go.
Prices change often. Tap Check price on Amazon for today’s price.
Quick picks
- Best power bank for flying: Anker Nano Power Bank 10,000mAh, with its own USB-C cable built in.
- Best plug for anywhere: MOMAX 1-World 70W travel adapter, with UK, EU, US and AU pins plus five USB ports.
- Best for lost luggage worries: Apple AirTag (2nd generation) 4-pack, for iPhone owners.
- Best for long flights: Sony WH-1000XM6 noise cancelling headphones.
- Best for seat-back screens: Twelve South AirFly Pro, so your wireless earbuds work with in-flight films.
- Best for the beach or pool: Kindle Paperwhite (2024), waterproof and glare-free.
- Best free upgrade: a travel eSIM, which you set up on the phone you already own.
1. Anker Nano Power Bank: power that’s allowed on the plane
A power bank is the one travel gadget almost everyone needs, and it’s also the one with the strictest rules. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, power banks must go in your hand luggage, must be protected against short circuits when not in use, must not be recharged on board, and you can carry a maximum of two. Ones up to 100Wh need no airline approval, 100Wh to 160Wh need the airline’s say-so, and anything over 160Wh isn’t allowed in passenger baggage at all.
A 10,000mAh bank like this one sits comfortably in the no-approval band. Anker UK lists 30W charging both ways, a built-in USB-C cable plus spare USB-C and USB-A ports, and a weight of 215g.
The CAA also says you shouldn’t use a power bank to charge other devices on board, so top your phone up in the terminal and keep the bank for when you land.
Worth packing if: your phone holds your boarding pass, your maps and your photos, which is to say: you’re travelling in 2026. We stock the Anker Nano Power Bank, and you can browse more in our power banks shop.
2. MOMAX 1-World 70W: one adapter for most of the world
Forget a bag of single-country plugs. A universal travel adapter slides out the right pins for wherever you are. The MOMAX 1-World listing on Amazon UK describes a 70W GaN charger with three USB-C PD ports and two USB-A ports, plus UK, EU, Australian and US plug types.
One honest warning: travel adapters change the plug shape, not the voltage. Before you plug in a hair dryer or anything that isn’t dual voltage, check the label on the device itself.
Worth packing if: you visit more than one country a year, or you’re fed up of borrowing a hotel’s spare adapter. Only travelling in the UK? A small charger like the Anker Nano 30W from our chargers range is plenty.
3. Apple AirTag (2nd generation): know where your bag is
Drop a tracker in your checked bag and you can see roughly where it is in the Find My app. Apple UK says the second-generation AirTag has its loudest speaker yet and a longer Precision Finding range, and the Amazon UK listing says its replaceable battery lasts more than a year.
The really useful travel feature, according to the Amazon UK listing, is that you can share an AirTag’s location temporarily with trusted contacts or with over 50 airline partners if your bag goes missing.
It’s built for Apple’s network, so you’ll need an iPhone or iPad to set it up. Android owners should look for a tracker designed for Google’s own finding network instead.
Worth packing if: you check a bag, own an iPhone and want peace of mind at the carousel.
4. Sony WH-1000XM6: noise cancelling for the long haul
Engine drone is the thing that wears you out on a long flight, and good active noise cancelling takes the edge right off it. The Amazon UK listing for the WH-1000XM6 describes Sony’s flagship noise cancelling, a foldable design with a durable case, and up to 30 hours of battery life.
Over-ears like these are closed-back by design, which is what you want on a plane. Our guide to open-back vs closed-back headphones explains why.
Worth packing if: you fly more than a couple of hours at a time, or you commute on noisy trains. On a tighter budget? Our shop stocks the Sony WH-CH720N and the soundcore P20i earbuds, and there’s more in our headphones and earbuds range.
5. Twelve South AirFly Pro: wireless earbuds on a seat-back screen
Seat-back screens still use a 3.5mm headphone socket, which is no good if you only own wireless earbuds. The AirFly Pro plugs into that socket and streams the sound over Bluetooth. Its Amazon UK listing says it can pair two sets of headphones at once and uses Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX Low Latency (our Bluetooth codecs guide explains what that means).
Battery figures differ between listings: one Amazon UK page quotes 16+ hours and another quotes 25+ hours, so plan on the lower number. Some planes use a two-prong socket. Twelve South says that without an airline adapter you’ll likely only get sound in one ear.
Worth packing if: you’ve ever sat through a film with the airline’s scratchy free headphones.
6. Kindle Paperwhite (2024): a library that survives the pool
The Amazon UK listing for the 2024 Paperwhite describes a 7-inch glare-free display, 16GB of storage, IPX8 waterproofing, USB-C charging and up to 12 weeks of battery life, so you can leave the charger at home on a short trip.
Worth packing if: you read on holiday and want to stop rationing books by suitcase weight. We stock the Kindle Paperwhite (2024) without ads too.
7. A travel eSIM: the gadget you already own
The cheapest travel upgrade isn’t a gadget at all. Most recent phones support eSIM, which means you can add a local or travel data plan without hunting for a SIM shop or fiddling with a tiny tray at the airport.
Our step-by-step guide to eSIM vs physical SIM in the UK walks you through it on both iPhone and Android.
Worth doing if: you use maps, translation apps or ride-hailing abroad and don’t want a nasty bill when you get home.
Verdict: which travel tech gadgets should you pack first?
Start with the two that prevent a bad day: a flight-legal power bank and a universal adapter. If you check bags, an AirTag is a small price for peace of mind. For long flights, noise cancelling headphones plus an AirFly turn a cramped seat into something closer to a sofa.
See how we test and choose products. Taking files or a camera along? Our best portable SSD UK helps you back up photos on the road, and our best gaming gifts under £50 UK guide has more gift ideas if you’re shopping for a traveller. Kitting out the home office for when you get back? Try cool tech gadgets for your desk.
FAQ
Can I take a power bank on a plane in the UK?
Yes, but only in your hand luggage. The UK Civil Aviation Authority says you can carry up to two, they must be protected against short circuits, and they must not be recharged on board. Power banks up to 100Wh need no airline approval, 100Wh to 160Wh need approval, and over 160Wh aren’t allowed.
Does a universal travel adapter convert voltage?
No. It changes the plug shape only. Phones and laptops are usually fine because their chargers handle different voltages, but check the label on anything else, especially hair dryers and straighteners.
Do AirTags work with Android phones?
No. AirTag needs an iPhone or iPad to set up and uses Apple’s Find My app. Android users need a tracker built for Google’s finding network.
Featured image: Travellers with suitcases at Málaga Airport train station, photo by Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0.