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01The travel phone kit, in one checklist
The best phone accessories for travel are the ones that solve the three problems every trip has: a phone that dies by mid-afternoon, too few outlets, and plugs that don't fit. Get those right and everything else is a bonus.
Everything on that list fits in a small pouch. A travel charger setup covers how to pare it down further if you're carry-on only.
02Power bank: the one with rules attached
A power bank is the single most useful travel accessory, and the only one airlines regulate. Spare lithium batteries go in your carry-on, never checked bags. Under the global rules that took effect in March 2026, the limits that work everywhere are 100 Wh or less and two power banks per person, and you shouldn't recharge the bank on board.
| Size | Approx. Wh | Charges for a typical phone | Verdict for travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 mAh | 18.5 Wh | About one partial charge | Day trips only |
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh | Roughly 2 | Light packers, city breaks |
| 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh | Roughly 3–4 | Long-haul days and family trips |
| 30,000 mAh | About 111 Wh | More | Over the 100 Wh line. Leave it home |
We'd pack a 20,000 mAh bank for most trips. It's comfortably legal and covers a day of maps, photos and translation apps with charge left for someone else's phone. Full details, including which airlines ban using banks on board, are in power bank on a plane: the 2026 rules.
All under 100 Wh. Charge them the night before you fly.
03One charger and the right plug adapter
Hotel rooms, hostels and airport gates rarely have enough outlets in the right place. A multi-port GaN charger replaces the phone brick, the watch charger and the laptop charger with one small block. If you carry a laptop, make sure the charger has enough watts for it on one port.
Almost every modern phone and laptop charger is rated 100–240V, printed in small type on the brick. That means you need a plug adapter, not a voltage converter. A converter is only for single-voltage gear like some hair dryers. The 65W GaN charger with travel plug adapters solves both problems in one box.
HyperGaN 160W, 3 USB-C ports
- $29.00
- Three USB-C ports
- Add a plug adapter abroad
65W GaN with travel plug adapters
- $22.91
- USB-C and USB ports
- Plug adapters included
Foldaway 3-in-1 MagSafe-compatible travel charger
- $49.99
- Folds flat for packing
- Wireless, so slower than a cable
Heading somewhere with unusual plugs? Use our plug adapter finder or read the international travel charging guide.
04Cables: one short, one long
Hotel outlets are always behind the nightstand or across the room from the bed, so pack one cable of about 1.5 to 2 meters. Then a short one for the power bank, so it isn't a tangle in your pocket. That's it. Two cables cover nearly every trip.
- USB-C to USB-C covers iPhone 15 and newer, recent Android phones, most earbuds and many laptops. A 100W-rated cable can charge a laptop too.
- A retractable 3-in-1 cable is the backup for mixed groups, older iPhones and the friend who always forgets theirs.
- USB-A to USB-C is still handy for seat-back ports on planes, rental cars and older hotel lamps with built-in USB.
Not sure which cable charges what? The USB-C cable finder sorts it out in a few taps.
05Keeping the phone safe on the move
Travel is when phones get dropped in harbors, left on train seats and lifted from back pockets. A few cheap accessories cover most of it.
- Waterproof pouch: for boat trips, beaches and rain. An IPX8 swimming pouch costs $6.99; the floating pouch ($29.99) is the one for boats. Read pouch vs waterproof case before you swim with it.
- Crossbody lanyard: keeps the phone attached to you on transit and in markets. Wear it in front of you in crowds.
- Airplane phone holder: clips to the seat-back tray so you can watch downloads without holding the phone for ten hours.
- Cable organizer: a small box keeps cables, adapters and the earbud case together, so nothing gets left in a hotel socket.
Download offline maps for your destination, screenshot boarding passes and booking codes, and check that Find My or Find Hub is on. If the phone does go missing, our Find My Phone page walks you through it.
Small things that save a lot of hassle on the road.
06What to leave at home
A 30,000 mAh or bigger power bank, since it's likely over 100 Wh and may be taken at security. A separate brick for every device. Voltage converters, unless you're bringing a single-voltage appliance. Lightning cables if everyone in your group now has USB-C phones. And a third or fourth power bank: the two-per-person limit is now standard.
Questions people ask
What phone accessories should I bring when traveling?
A power bank of 100 Wh or less for your carry-on, one multi-port GaN charger, a plug adapter for your destination, two cables and a waterproof pouch or strap depending on the trip. That covers almost every situation.
Do I need a voltage converter for my phone charger abroad?
Almost certainly not. Phone chargers are typically rated 100–240V. Check the label on yours, and if it says 100–240V, a simple plug adapter is all you need.
What size power bank is best for travel?
10,000 to 20,000 mAh. A 20,000 mAh bank is about 74 Wh, well under the 100 Wh carry-on limit, and gives most phones three or four charges.
Can I pack a power bank in checked luggage?
No. Spare lithium batteries, including power banks and battery cases, must go in your carry-on. If your bag is gate-checked, take the power bank out first.
Is a GaN charger worth it for travel?
Yes. GaN chargers are smaller than older chargers of the same power, and multi-port models let one brick charge a phone, earbuds and laptop. That saves space and outlets.