9 essential gadgets that will upgrade your summer holiday instantly — all under £30
Affordable buys to keep you cool, comfortable and entertained on your travels, while keeping an eye on your home.
Summer holiday season is almost upon us, and I'm getting organised for my own annual excursion. I have a number of non-negotiables when it comes to holidays — and browsing the current Amazon Prime Day sale, I spotted that several of them are heavily discounted right now.
I also spotted a few more gadgets in the sales that I think would make excellent additions to my luggage, and I've rounded up all of my finds below, starting with nine instant winners for under £30 each, then moving on to some higher-priced devices that I'm sorely tempted by.
One of my absolute essentials for travel is a great pair of noise-cancelling headphones. We've tested both of the budget-friendly pairs I've included below, and were blown away by their performance for the price, but honestly I was spoiled for choice in this area — I have a separate guide to cheap headphones and earbuds that's worth checking out if neither of these appeal.
• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale
At the top of my travel wishlist is a pair of Loop Quiet ear plugs. I've heard nothing but good things about this brand's products, and as someone with sensitive ears and a strong desire not be to bothered while travelling, they look like they could be a game changer (I'll be pairing them with my blackout sleep mask for an undisturbed flight).
I also think this might be the year I invest in a video doorbell for extra peace of mind while I'm away. Amazon has some big discounts on Blink and Ring products for Prime Week, so it seems like a no-brainer.
Top travel tech
Pros
- Super-low cost
- Long-lasting battery
- Decent sound, for price
Cons
- Cheap-feeling build
- No app or EQ
- ANC is light-touch
Pros
- Solid ANC
- Lightweight build
- Truly low price
Cons
- Poor eartip fit
- Lean battery life
- Aggressive transparency mode
Bonus buys if you want to blow the budget
The below picks are outside of the sub-£30 budget, and require a bit more consideration before buying. However, they're all so heavily discounted that I felt it would be remiss of me not to at least mention them. We've tested most of these products, and they all scored highly — in particular the DJI Mini 4K (4.5 stars) and the Sony WH-1000XM5 (which we awarded a perfect five stars). I've linked said reviews under the 'More details' button if you want to find out more.
Pros
- Excellent value
- 4K video quality beats rivals
- Ideal first drone
Cons
- No object-collision sensors
- Lacks subject tracking found in pricier models like the Mini 4 Pro
Pros
- 7-inch display is great
- Fastest Paperwhite yet
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Expensive for a mid-range ereader
- Ads on lock screen in some markets (unless you pay extra)
Pros
- Light and compact folding design
- Powerful motor with fast airflow
- Versatile styling
- Multiple attachments
- Five modes and two speeds
Cons
- Attachments can make it bulky
- Curling nozzle is a let-down
Pros
- Excellent noise-cancellation
- Wonderful sounding performance
- Smart ambient features
- An app you'll actually want to use
Cons
- New design is less portable
- Still no water resistance
- More expensive than previous models
- Not a gigantic upgrade over the still-excellent WH-1000XM4
More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK
- Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
- Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
- Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
- Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & De'Longhi
- Fans: from £20
- Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
- Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
- Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
- Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura
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