Key Takeaways
- In this guest post, tech expert Dave Dean from Too Many Adapters shares this tips and suggestions to help you decide which tech items are best for you
- It’s a question I’m often asked —�?and for good reason. There are pros and cons to each device and, with overlapping features, picking the one that’s
- There are a lot of issues to think about with each device: size, weight, costs, insurance, and security. Striking the right balance between them all i
In this guest post, tech expert Dave Dean from Too Many Adapters shares tips and suggestions to help you decide which tech items are best for you and your trip — and which you can leave at home.
“Should I bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone?”
It’s a question I’m often asked — and for good reason. There are pros and cons to each device and, with overlapping features, picking the one that’s right for your trip can be confusing.
There are a lot of issues to think about with each device: size, weight, costs, insurance, and security. Striking the right balance between them all isn’t easy, but it is possible.
As a tech guy, I carry a lot of devices (and a lot of chargers) but for those not obsessed with every new device on the market, you only need one device — you want to keep it simple on the road. Here are the pros and cons of carrying a smartphone, laptop, or tablet with you on the road (as well as some gear suggestions).
Smartphone
Everyone travels with a smartphone these days. They’re our camera, our map, our translator, and our way to stay connected with friends and family back home. They’re light, small, and perfect for minimalist travelers who want to keep things simple.
Unless you’re intentionally trying to travel unassisted by technology, you’ll probably have a phone with you.
Not sure if you want to travel with only a phone? Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons:
- They replace multiple devices. There’s no longer a need to pack a separate flashlight, map, music player, or alarm clock.
- It’s easy to get connected when you need to, even if you’re not using cellular data. Cafés, airports, and train stations usually have free Wi-Fi available.
- There are hundreds of useful travel apps out there that work both online and offline. Currency converters, translation tools, navigation helpers, guide books, itinerary trackers, and more can help make your travels easier (not to mention Netflix and other entertainment apps).
- The biggest con is battery life — it’s rare to find a smartphone that will last more than a day of normal use. Long flights, bus rides, and days of exploring often result in a dead phone before you get to your accommodation. With everyone else in your dorm room also wanting to charge their gadgets every night, even finding a power socket isn’t always easy (this means you’ll likely want to buy an external battery charger).
- Although phones are getting larger, a smartphone screen isn’t ideal for entertainment — books and movies aren’t so great on a small screen.
- Websites without mobile-friendly versions get annoying very quickly.
- Typing on phones is fine for updating your Facebook status or sending a quick message, but you’ll end up frustrated if you’re hoping to do much more.
Recommendations If you aren’t planning on using your device for work, don’t mind a small screen, and just need to use basic apps like maps and translation, a phone is your best choice. If you’re not picky, any basic smartphone will do. However, if you want something with an excellent camera, consider a Google Pixel 4 or an iPhone 11 (older Pixels will also suffice, as will any iPhone from the 8 and up).
If you’re on a budget, Huawei and Motorola both make affordable phones. The P Smart from Huawei and the Moto One Macro are both under $150 USD.
Tablet
Since the iPad came out a decade ago, tablets have exploded in popularity. They offer a larger screen than a smartphone and better battery life too. But they are more expensive and take up a lot more space as well.
Tablets are a great ‘middle of the road’ option for travelers who want a bigger screen (for movies or books) or need to do more computer-related tasks and want a larger keyboard — but who don’t want to lug around a laptop.
They’re also a great choice for anyone traveling with kids since you can fill them with fun apps, games, and offline TV shows.
- While you might not have standard calling or texts, tools like WhatsApp and Skype can be good replacements if your Internet speed is fast enough. All of the apps work as well or better than on a phone, and the larger screen makes many tasks a little easier.
- Battery life is usually longer than a smartphone, especially when in flight mode or just using Wi-Fi.
- If your tablet does have a cellular data option, you’re in luck there, too — tablets usually have an unlocked SIM card slot. Pick up a local, data-only SIM and you’re good to go.
- Size is an issue. Even the smaller 7-8″ versions won’t really fit in your pocket unless you’re wearing a large jacket. They’re also heavier than smartphones, especially if you have a full-size tablet.
- Taking photos with tablets is a pain. The case gets in the way, the camera’s aren’t great, and they are just not convenient to haul everywhere.
- While the screens are bigger, the apps and input are usually exactly the same as a smartphone. That means typing is still slower than using a proper keyboard, and software options for doing real work are limited. While you can use a Bluetooth keyboard to speed up your typing, that’s yet another piece of technology to buy, power, and carry around.
Recommendations For those looking to do more with their device, especially watch a lot of movies, a tablet is a lot easier on the eyes. When it
