Must-have summer tech

Summer is now a playground for smart devices and high-performance gadgets designed to elevate your warm-weather adventures. You can stream your favorite series in a hammock, map a new hiking trail, or manage your hydration with a smartwatch. 

Here’s a guide to this season’s must-have summer tech essentials, with specs, innovation, and function in mind.

Portable power banks

Between GPS tracking, Bluetooth audio, HDR camera usage, and constant app multitasking, even top-tier batteries like the 5,000 mAh cells in the Galaxy S24 Ultra can burn out before sunset. That’s why a high-capacity power bank is a non-negotiable summer essential. It plays your beach playlist, guides your hiking trail, takes those sunset selfies, and helps you beat boredom with mobile games or a quick spin on your favourite online casino app while waiting for your iced latte. You can read more on ReadWrite about the safest option when it comes to online casino gaming. As it turns out, non-Gamstop casinos can offer you an alternative gaming experience. You’ll still be safe and secure, there are different kinds of games for your choosing, and payment options are various. 

Look for models with 20,000 mAh or more, preferably with USB-C Power Delivery (PD) and Quick Charge 3.0 support. These standards allow for faster, more efficient charging, often recharging 50% of a battery in under 30 minutes. If you’re camping or exploring off-grid, solar-powered chargers with rugged IP67-rated casings and integrated panels (like the Anker Solar PowerCore) keep you juiced up without plugging in.

Some premium power banks offer wireless charging pads, perfect for keeping your Qi-enabled earbuds or smartphone topped off without the cable clutter.

Smart sunglasses 

What if your sunglasses could also take calls, play music, and protect your eyes–all without shoving plastic buds into your ears? Enter the era of audio eyewear–smart sunglasses that combine polarized lenses with built-in open-ear speakers and beamforming microphones. These are equipped with Bluetooth 5.1+ for stable connectivity and low-latency audio transmission. Top-tier models from Bose, Amazon Echo Frames, or Razer Anzu offer touch-sensitive frame controls, voice assistant integration, and automatic volume adjustment based on ambient noise.

With IPX4 splash resistance and 99% UVA/UVB protection, smart sunglasses double as a fashion statement and audio interface. Want to answer a call while paddleboarding? Done. Want to skip songs while cycling without pulling out your phone? Just tap the frame.

Waterproof Bluetooth speakers 

A summer soundtrack demands gear that can survive water, sand, and sun. Look for IP67 or IP68-certified waterproof Bluetooth speakers that can endure submersion in water and resist dust particles. Bonus points if they float–literally.

Popular options like the JBL Flip 6 or Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 offer 360° omnidirectional sound, 10–14 hours of battery life, and multi-speaker pairing via Bluetooth 5.3 or newer protocols. Some speakers even double as USB-C power banks, letting you keep your devices alive mid-pool party. Also cool: built-in mics for speakerphone functionality and integration with apps like Spotify Tap.

E-Readers and tablets 

Think about the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra 2 with E-Ink Carta 1200 displays. These displays offer glare-free readability, adjustable warm light, and water resistance (IPX8-rated), letting you read in the pool or bath without panic.

If you need more multimedia flexibility, tablets like the iPad Mini (6th Gen) with its 500-nit Liquid Retina display or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 with Dynamic AMOLED 2X are perfect for sunlit streaming and sketching. Pair with a Bluetooth keyboard or folio stand case, and you’ve got a mobile workstation or entertainment hub on the go.

Smartwatches 

Modern smartwatches have evolved into powerful biofeedback tools. Devices like the Apple Watch Series 9 or Garmin Venu 3 now include ECG readings, skin temperature monitoring, and even hydration reminders–ideal for keeping you safe in scorching conditions.

With waterproof ratings up to 5 ATM (50 meters), GPS tracking, and integrations for Spotify, Strava, and Apple Health, smartwatches track your steps on beach runs, monitor your heart rate during paddleboarding, and even alert you to high UV levels. Some models also support eSIM and LTE, meaning you can stream music or make calls without a phone nearby.

Portable fans and neck coolers 

Portable cooling tech is the unsung hero of summer survival. Neckband fans with bladeless turbine technology (like the TORRAS COOLIFY 3) provide 360° airflow, cooling your body with thermoelectric cooling plates that drop surface skin temperature by up to 10°C in seconds. These fans typically use USB-C fast charging, and many operate silently below 30dB, perfect for quiet indoor use or travel.

Smaller USB-powered desk fans now come with brushless motors for quieter operation and higher energy efficiency. Clip-on models can attach to umbrellas, strollers, or tent poles, while dual-fan designs can blow air in multiple directions.

Summer is better with the right tech 

Technology isn’t just about convenience anymore. It’s about enhancing how we live, play, and relax. Summer might be about slowing down, but that doesn’t mean you have to disconnect completely (unless you want to).

With smart, portable tech in your bag–from the power-packed charger to sunglasses that play your summer anthem–you can take the fun with you, wherever the season leads.