Summer is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to start making vacation plans. As our nation gradually reopens, many of us are looking to unwind by traveling this year. Whether you’re making a weekend getaway or escaping the daily grind a little while longer, you’ll need tech that can keep up so that you can stay connected — and Swappa can help you get the tech you need for less.
Today, we’re highlighting some of the best tech for traveling. In other words, phones and tablets with great battery life, cameras to capture the memories, and video games to keep your kids entertained. Keep reading for our picks on the top tech for traveling.
Smartphones with great battery life
Vacations provide a much-needed escape from the mundane, but that shouldn’t come at the cost of isolating yourself from your friends and loved ones. Whether you’re firing up Google Maps for GPS navigation, using your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot, or simply looking for a way to keep your kids entertained, you’ll need a phone that’s up for the task. Here are the iPhones and Androids with the best battery life.
Which iPhone has the best battery life?
We recently looked at iPhones with the best battery life and found that newer and larger models such as the iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max typically offer the best endurance.
According to Apple’s own battery life estimates, the iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max can deliver a staggering 20 hours of video playback. This should come as no surprise, given that both iPhones pack energy-efficient processors and massive batteries. They’re also fantastic smartphones all around, thanks to their class-leading cameras with Deep Fusion and Smart HDR, vibrant Super Retina XDR displays, and speedy internals.
What if you want something a bit more affordable or are looking for a device that’s a bit more pocket-friendly? Fortunately, there are plenty of smaller iPhones with great battery life that don’t break the bank. With an impressive 18 hours of video playback, last generation’s iPhone 11 Pro has the best battery life out of all medium-sized iPhones. In fact, it even edges out the current-generation iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro with an additional hour of endurance — at about half the price.
If you want something even more affordable, consider the iPhone Xr or iPhone 11 instead. With 16 or 17 hours of video playback, both of these phones pack enough juice to keep you untethered for longer. And with prices starting at just $260, they won’t break the bank.
Which Samsung Galaxy phone has the best battery life?
Not everyone resides within Apple’s iOS ecosystem. For those who would rather rock a Samsung, there are plenty of affordable options with great battery life.
Similar to what we saw with iPhones, newer and larger Samsung phones tend to offer better battery life than older and smaller models. That means that you’ll get the longest runtimes out of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21.
All three Galaxy S21 phones feature the energy-efficient Snapdragon 888 processor and massive batteries ranging from 4000 to 5000 mAh. Out of the three, our pick goes to the Galaxy S21 Plus, which strikes the perfect balance by delivering flagship specs, great battery life, and premium build quality — at a starting price of just $515 on Swappa.
Those looking for something even more affordable should check out the Galaxy S20 FE 5G. With a powerful Snapdragon 865 chip, 120Hz high refresh rate display, and 8GB of RAM, the S20FE is one of the best Android phones you can buy in 2021. Prices start at just $345, with new deals popping up every day. Find the best deal by clicking below!
Best tablets for traveling
Modern flagship smartphones typically have massive screens and equally mammoth batteries, but sometimes, you need something even bigger. We recently took a look at the best tablets in 2021 and found the 10.2-inch iPad 8th Gen and 7.9-inch iPad Mini 5 to be the best iPads for most people.
The iPad 8th Gen and iPad Mini 5 are both powered by the speedy A12 Bionic chip, offer Apple Pencil support, and can last up to 10 hours on a single charge. Since they’re practically identical in terms of specs and price, pick whichever size you prefer.
Best mobile video games
If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll want to keep them entertained. Although the phones and tablets we highlighted above are more than capable of gaming on the go, they simply can’t compare to a dedicated video game system such as the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite. Both Switch consoles grant you access to a massive library of over 3000 award-winning games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (best side quests), Mario Kart 8: Deluxe, and many more.
So which Nintendo Switch model should you buy? We recently compared the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite and found that it really boils down to where you’re looking to play. If you want a console that is equally great at gaming at home or on the go, get the original Nintendo Switch because it can dock to your TV. But if you’re primarily playing outside the house, pick up the portable-only Switch Lite for about half the price instead.
Best travel cameras
Traveling takes you beyond the mundane by opening the doors to new settings and experiences. There’s no better way to capture these memories than with a great camera. Although the best camera is the one that’s with you, choosing the right camera for the job can mean the difference between a captured memory and a blurry mess of pixels.
Best action cameras for traveling
If you’re looking for a lightweight and extremely durable camera that can go wherever you go, you’ll want to pick up an action camera from GoPro or Samsung. GoPro’s flagship HERO 8 starts at just $230 on Swappa and can record 4K video at 30 fps and take 12MP stills. If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, consider picking up the 4K-capable Samsung Gear 360 2017 4K for just $115 on Swappa.
Best cheap mirrorless camera for traveling
If you don’t need a ruggedized camera, and only care about the video and image quality, consider picking up a mirrorless camera instead. There are plenty of options to choose from on Swappa, and one of our favorites is the Sony Alpha a6000.
The Sony a6000 features a 24.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor capable of 11 fps continuous shooting and 1080p video recording at 60 fps. It also features a 3-inch tilting LCD and a fast Hybrid AF system with 25 contrast-detect and 179 phase-detect points, making it excellent at tracking moving subjects. Best of all, the a6000 starts at just $400, meaning that you can capture stunning images and video without breaking the bank.
Which iPhone has the best camera?
Smartphone cameras are getting better and better with each passing generation. For a lot of us, it doesn’t really make sense to carry a separate camera — especially when space is at a premium.
Due to their high-end camera hardware and innovative computational photography features such as Deep Fusion, Portrait Mode, and Smart HDR 3; the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max can capture stunning images and video that rival much larger cameras. Both devices have a triple 12-MP rear camera array with ultrawide, wide-angle, and telephoto lenses. In addition, these iPhones are capable of 4K video recording at 24, 30, or 60 fps. And regardless of resolution or frame rate, they can capture video in full HDR with Dolby Vision.
Swappa’s Quick Picks
Made it this far and still not sure what to buy? No worries; here are our quick picks:
- Large iPhones with the best battery life: iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Smaller iPhones with great battery life: iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone Xr
- Samsung phones with great battery life: Galaxy S21 Plus, Galaxy S20 FE 5G
- Best tablets for traveling: iPad 8th Gen, iPad Mini 5
- Best portable video game systems: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite
- Best action cameras: GoPro HERO 8, Samsung Gear 360 2017 4K
- Best affordable mirrorless camera: Sony Alpha a6000
- Best iPhone cameras: iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
No matter your destination, you’ll need tech that can keep up. Swappa is the best way to stay up to date on the latest tech for less. And we keep you safe too. Our expert moderation team reviews listings before they go live in order to weed out scams and junk devices. So what are you waiting for? Get the best deals on all your travel tech by clicking below.
