From an ultra-light, ‘out of the world’ laptop to a portable speaker to an Android tab that aces work and play, we round up some of the finest gadgets that make the perfect travel accessories for your next trip
ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition | Rs 114,990 onwards
If ever you make it on one of Elon Musk’s space trips, this is the laptop you need. This special Edition ASUS notebook celebrates 25 years of the MIR space mission with space exploration inspired design; a must have for space geeks. The unboxing experience mimics visuals from a spaceship while the keyboard deck resembles a space capsule cockpit, with multiple Easter eggs. It’s not just the packaging, the laptop boasts of a premium design language with an aluminium alloy design and a Zero-G titanium finish.
You get one of the most vibrant displays on any laptop. The laptop’s standout feature is the 14-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800 pixels) 90Hz OLED touchscreen. It’s all screen — ASUS stretches the screen: body ratio to 92 per cent with a taller 16:10 screen aspect ratio. Blacks are deep and colours are vibrant, while the Harman Kardon-tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos audio add to its binge watch creds even as you travel. Just what you need on a long flight.
That’s not the only display on the laptop, there’s a customisable 3.5-inch OLED ZenVision display on the lid. The laptop incorporates a couple of travel-friendly security elements like a fingerprint sensor on the power button for Window Hello authentication and electronic privacy shutter for its webcam.
The Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is propelled by top-of-the-line 12th Gen Intel H series processors that combine performance cores and efficiency cores for the ultimate balance between power and battery life. We managed about seven hours of battery life with the 63WHrs battery under the hood during some hectic travel. ASUS has bundled a 100W charger in the box that takes your notebook battery level from 0 to 100 per cent in about two hours. Aside from the hardware specs, it’s the unique space exploration theme and premium design that set this apart.
Xiaomi Pad 5 | Rs 26,999 onwards
Are you one of those who’d prefer to carry your tab and leave your laptop behind during a short business trip or a holiday where you need to plug into work only occasionally? While tabs have upped the content consumption game, they haven’t quite nailed the productivity angle. Apple’s iPad OS was one of the game changers for the iPad’s pitch as a serious productivity device, while Samsung’s DeX solution mimics a laptop navigation experience. Android has also unveiled 12L, a long overdue spin on Android for larger Android screens. Now Xiaomi comes to the party with its new tab backed by MIUI for Pad, a new user interface designed for the tab.
The Pad 5 is designed to slip into your slimmest messenger travel bags and looks every inch premium. It’s under seven mm thin and weighs just over 500 gms. Like most of its rivals, the Pad 5 scores on the entertainment front.
Colours are punchy on the 10.95-inch WQHD+ display that peaks at 500 nits and features a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s the perfect binge watch screen; the Dolby Atmos quad speakers don’t just deliver a wide sound stage but also boast of a clever auto detect feature that uses the gyroscope to match the sound with the orientation of the tab. Perfect for when you’re on the move as you travel.
The Pad 5 has the firepower to get the job done. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor combines with a choice of six GB RAM. There’s a choice of two storage options — 128 GB or 256 GB. You can add the Pad Keyboard and Smart Pen for extra productivity while you travel. These accessories add to the Xiaomi Pad 5’s appeal as a device that is ready for work + play.
JBL Flip 6 | Rs 11,999
Whether it’s your favourite podcast or a high-energy playlist that gets you up and running, it’s great to start your day on a familiar ‘note’, especially when you’re on a business trip. But not all hotels provide Bluetooth speakers and some of the in-room speakers don’t quite cut it. The JBL Flip 6 is light enough to throw into your cabin bag and punches way above its weight.
The Flip 6 stays in the same design mould as the previous gen Flip 5 and weighs about 550 gm. You can place it vertically or horizontally — hence the name. It’s geared for the elements and the pool deck thanks to its IP67 (dust- and waterproof) certification. The companion JBL Portable app gives you basic controls to customise the bass and treble settings to suit your travel playlist. The speaker pairs instantly with Android and iOS devices.
The key test for Bluetooth Speakers is how they fare at high (70 per cent and above) volume levels. The Flip 6 passes this with minimal distortion. The sound set up includes dual passive radiators, a powerful racetrack-shaped woofer, and a separate tweeter for better high-frequency extension. It all adds up. JBL‘s Flip 6 delivers a satisfying soundstage while the portable form factor makes it a compelling travel accessory.
Ashwin Rajagopalan is a Chennai-based content architect, writer, speaker and cultural intelligence coach. He writes extensively on travel and culture, food and drink, gadgets and trends.
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