Overview
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Proton VPN (Windows)
Best for Privacy Wonks - Jump To Details
Apple iPad Air (2022)
Best for iPad Creators and Advanced Students - Jump To Details
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Best for Overall Noise Cancellation - Jump To Details
Google Maps
Best for Everyone Who Needs a Map - Jump To Details
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
Best for Ultraportable Bragging Rights - Jump To Details
Apple AirTag
Best for Forgetful iPhone Owners - Jump To Details
Lenovo ThinkVision M14d
Best for 16:10 Laptop Pairing - Jump To Details
LaCie Rugged Mini SSD (2TB)
Best Rugged External SSD - Jump To Details
Sony a7C II
Best Compact, Full-Frame Camera - Jump To Details
The Weather Channel (for iPhone)
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Google Translate (for Android)
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TripIt!
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Anker Prime Power Bank
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Citymapper
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NETGEAR Nighthawk M6 Pro Mobile Hotspot 5G
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Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Read our editorial mission & see how we test.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Proton VPN (Windows)
Best for Privacy WonksBottom Line:
Proton VPN offers an excellent collection of features and a nearly peerless free subscription option, making it our top choice for VPNs.
Pros
- Best free VPN subscription yet
- Numerous advanced privacy tools
- Strong customer privacy stance
- Large server network
- Slick, accessible client
- Excellent upload speed scores
Cons
- High latency scores
Learn MoreProton VPN (Windows) ReviewApple iPad Air (2022)
Best for iPad Creators and Advanced StudentsBottom Line:
The 2022 iPad Air offers many of the benefits of the iPad Pro for hundreds of dollars less, making it the ideal tablet for creators.Pros
- Excellent performance
- Works with second-gen Apple Pencil
- Fits existing iPad cases and keyboards
- Light and easy to carry
Cons
- Battery life could be longer
- No millimeter-wave 5G support
Learn MoreApple iPad Air (2022) ReviewBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Best for Overall Noise CancellationBottom Line:
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones pump out robust sound and offer the best noise cancellation of any over-ear models we've tested.Pros
- Class-leading active noise cancellation
- Crisp audio with rich bass
- Adjustable EQ
- Immersive audio modes with spatial effects
Cons
- Expensive
- Adaptive noise cancellation might cause ear pressure
Google Maps
Best for Everyone Who Needs a MapBottom Line:
Google Maps remains the gold standard for navigation apps due to its superior directions, real-time data, and various tools for traveling in urban and rural environments.Pros
- Robust maps with Google Earth and Street View options
- Crowdsourced, real-time traffic data
- Detailed directions for driving, public transportation, walking, and biking
- Offers internal layouts for buildings
- Web-based version
- Lets you download directions for offline use
Cons
- Google’s fuzzy privacy commitment
- Some outdated Street View images
Learn MoreGoogle Maps ReviewLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
Best for Ultraportable Bragging RightsBottom Line:
You'll still find no finer business ultraportable than Lenovo's 12th-generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon, but the latest model suffers from terminal sticker shock for simply decent performance.Pros
- Elegant and light design
- Fabulous keyboard
- Sharp, vivid OLED screen
- USB-A, HDMI, and USB-C ports
Cons
- Sky-high price
- Decent but not class-leading performance and battery life
- No SD or microSD card slot
Learn MoreLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 ReviewApple AirTag
Best for Forgetful iPhone OwnersBottom Line:
The AirTag tells your other Apple devices exactly where to find your lost objects, even if they're miles away.Pros
- Accurate and reliable
- Gives directional cues
- Can send location from a distance
- Replaceable battery
Cons
- No Android compatibility
- No way to ping a phone from the tag
- No hole for a lanyard or keyring
- Anti-stalking tools are limited
Learn MoreApple AirTag ReviewLenovo ThinkVision M14d
Best for 16:10 Laptop PairingBottom Line:
Lenovo's ThinkVision M14d portable monitor pairs well with laptops that match its 16:10 aspect ratio. A sturdy, tiltable stand and a quality IPS panel distinguish this winning mobile display.Pros
- High (2.2K) resolution for a portable monitor
- Bright with high contrast
- Sturdy hinged stand with great tilt range
- Supports USB power delivery and DisplayPort over USB
Cons
- Pricey
- Limited to USB-C connectivity
Learn MoreLenovo ThinkVision M14d ReviewLaCie Rugged Mini SSD (2TB)
Best Rugged External SSDBottom Line:
LaCie's Rugged Mini SSD has the same iconic pumpkin-orange bumper as most of its other ruggedized offerings, but it's a smaller, more portable design. It's a good choice if your computer has a USB-C port that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x2.Pros
- Striking, iconic design and color scheme
- Can achieve high throughput when paired with a computer that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
- Performed well on PCMark 10 Overall benchmark
Cons
- Slower speeds when connected to a computer without a Gen 2x2 port
- Relatively weak water- and dust-resistance ratings
Learn MoreLaCie Rugged Mini SSD (2TB) ReviewSony a7C II
Best Compact, Full-Frame CameraBottom Line:
The Sony a7C II squeezes a stabilized, full-frame sensor into its small, sturdy housing, making it a good option for globe-trotting creators and anyone who prefers a slimmer camera that doesn't sacrifice image quality.Pros
- Stabilized full-frame sensor
- Impressively small body style
- Magnesium build with dust and splash protection
- Best-in-class autofocus system
- Long battery life
Cons
- Just a single card slot
- Mechanical shutter has some limitations
- Undersized viewfinder
Learn MoreSony a7C II ReviewThe Weather Channel (for iPhone)
Bottom Line:
The Weather Channel app provides everything you need to stay ahead of the elements. And now it includes a well designed Apple Watch integration.Pros
- Polished design
- Notification tray widget
- Hourly and extended forecast
- Social reporting
- Apple Watch integration
Cons
- No customization
- Locked interface forces excessive scrolling
- Lots of ads
Learn MoreThe Weather Channel (for iPhone) ReviewGoogle Translate (for Android)
Bottom Line:
Google Translate works well for quick translations of a few words or a single sentence, but not large chunks of text. Image recognition isn't sensitive enough.Pros
- Clean, simple user interface.
- Fast.
- Stable.
- Voice dictation.
- Accepts input from text, voice, and optical character recognition (camera), depending on language.
Cons
- Very few languages accept all three input methods.
- Optical character recognition input were weak.
- Requires Internet connection.
Learn MoreGoogle Translate (for Android) ReviewTripIt!
Bottom Line:
TripIt! offers a unique and worthwhile service in that it automatically finds email confirmations for upcoming travel plans and collates them into complete itineraries. A dated Web interface and some of the default settings hold it back from greatest, though. The mobile apps are far better.Pros
- Unique freemium travel-organization service.
- Automatically creates itineraries from confirmation travel emails.
- Pro membership offers several worthy features.
Cons
- Generates excess and unnecessary email by default.
- Dated Web interface.
Learn MoreTripIt! ReviewAnker Prime Power Bank
Bottom Line:
Learn MoreAnker Prime Power BankCitymapper
Bottom Line:
Learn MoreCitymapperNETGEAR Nighthawk M6 Pro Mobile Hotspot 5G
Bottom Line:
Buying Guide: Our Favorite Frequent-Traveler Picks: Top-Rated Tech to Take on Your Next Trip
Whether you're making good use of your time off or you're living and working as a digital nomad, you need the right technology to keep you connected and productive while you're traveling. Pre-pandemic, I traveled often for work, and I only wanted to carry the most portable and effective gear in the air, on the road, or while riding the rails. As a writer and photographer, I didn't need much more than a mirrorless camera, a tablet, and my phone loaded with a host of helpful apps. Other careers require more robust mobile setups, so I consulted a few well-traveled PCMag team members for portable hardware suggestions for this list of the technology you need when you travel.
Before you travel, remember to download a workout app and create the perfect playlist on your music streaming service of choice. After taking a scroll through the suggestions below, check out PCMag's longer list of travel apps, suggested apps for bus and train travel, and a list of the best travel cameras to take on your next trip.
