Working remotely while travelling sounds great until you are sat in a café with no plug sockets, your phone is about to die, and your laptop is running hotter than it should.
When you are on the move, your setup matters more than it does at home.
It is not about carrying loads of tech. It is about having a few things that you can rely on without thinking twice. Stuff that just works when you need it to.
Refurbished tech makes that easier. You can build a solid setup without overspending, and without worrying about taking expensive brand new gear everywhere.
This setup works well when you are moving between hostels, flights and random work spots.
Phone: iPhone 15 Pro
Your phone ends up doing more than you expect when you are travelling.
Boarding passes, maps, bookings, banking, messages, hotspots… and at some point you’ll probably end up replying to emails on it when your laptop is dead or the WiFi is awful.
The iPhone 15 Pro handles that without any issues. It’s quick, doesn’t feel bulky, and the battery is good enough to get through a full day out.
The camera is a big part of why it works so well. If your phone can properly cover photos and videos, you do not need to carry a separate camera. That is one less thing to charge and keep track of.
Tablet: iPad Air 5 (2022)
A tablet is one of those things you don’t plan on using much…until you have one with you.
There are loads of situations where opening a laptop just feels like effort. Short flights, sitting outside somewhere, killing time between check-in and heading out again.
An iPad is just easier in those moments. Open it, do what you need, put it away.
The Air keeps it light and simple. No real downsides for travel.
Laptop: MacBook Air M2
If your laptop starts lagging or overheating, everything becomes more annoying than it needs to be.
The MacBook Air M2 works well for travel mainly because it’s light and the battery lasts. You can throw it in a bag and not think about it too much.
I’ve had days where I’ve worked most of the afternoon without charging, which is more useful than having something slightly more powerful that dies halfway through.
It’s not the newest model now, but it doesn’t really matter. It still does the job without any issues.
Watch: Apple Watch SE (2022)
Not essential, but surprisingly useful. Mainly for quick checks. Directions, messages, that sort of thing. Saves pulling your phone out every few minutes when you’re walking somewhere new.
Also useful for alarms when your routine is all over the place.
You don’t need anything fancy here. The SE does enough.
Accessories: AirPods Pro
Good headphones are one of the most important travel essentials, and something you will use constantly.
The noise cancelling on AirPod Pros are a life saver on flights, trains and in busy cafés, helping you focus or just switch off when needed.
They are also reliable for calls, which matters if you are working remotely from different places. Larger headphones like AirPods Max are great for long flights, but they take up more space. Most of the time, smaller and easier to carry wins.
Why this setup works
It’s not about having the best specs. It’s about having things that don’t slow you down. Devices that turn on quickly, hold their charge, and don’t make simple tasks harder than they should be.
Everything here has a purpose, and nothing feels unnecessary. That matters more when you’re moving around than it does at home!
Final thoughts
The best travel setup is one that you do not have to think about. It works when you need it, fits into your bag without effort, and does everything you need it to.
Refurbished tech makes that easier. It allows you to build a setup based on how you actually travel and work, rather than stretching your budget on one or two new devices.
If you get the balance right, your tech becomes something that supports your lifestyle, not something that complicates it.
