Summer is just around the corner and it’s warming up to be a good one (knock on wood)! Whether you’ll be living at the beach, jet-setting across the globe, hitting a summer festival, or hosting a series of BBQs, these essential tech gadgets will help to get you through. From keeping cool to staying entertained, this list has it all covered. You'll also get plenty of ideas for gifts you can give to friends and family, this Summer Survival Kit has something for everyone. Let’s dive in and take a look at 10 cool gadgets to amp up your summer!
1. Fan - Xiaomi Rechargeable Mini Fan


Is it just me or does summer get hotter and hotter every year? If you want to beat the summer heat, you’ll need a mini portable fan that can follow you wherever you go. No, not a tiny human that’s obsessed with you, an electric fan! Let's talk about the Xiaomi Rechargeable Mini Fan, one cool (pun very much intended) gadget that might just become your new summer sidekick. This compact little guy is perfect as a desk ornament or for handheld use and will keep you chill wherever you are.
It comes with four wind speeds so you can choose the best one for your comfort. The Mini Fan also offers 90 degrees of ventilation with horizontal automatic oscillation. With a weight of 0.67kg, it’s light enough to hold with your hand but sturdy enough so it doesn’t topple over when sitting at your desk. A 4,000mAh battery gives it an ultra-long battery life of up to 18.5 hours! Best of all, it has a USB-C charging interface so you can charge it back up in a range of ways, including with a power bank when you’re on the go.
2. Power Bank - Belkin BoostCharge 20K


Speaking of power banks, that’s next on our list! Whether you’re out in the backyard, sitting on an airplane, or camping at a festival, a power bank can certainly come in handy. In addition to powering up your portable fan, they can keep all your devices charged up and ensure you have one less thing to worry about when you’re out and about. Some portable power devices can even charge larger devices like laptops!
Now we’re not saying buying friends is the right way to go, but there’s no doubt having a power bank on hand will make you a very popular individual. Perhaps this is one of the items on the list you may be best to keep hidden! Power banks come in all shapes and sizes and while you can get power banks with even more features, or power banks that are cheaper and have a lower capacity, the Belkin BoostCharge 20K Power Bank is great for a couple of days of battery backup, depending on how you use it.
20K refers to the battery capacity (20,000mAh). Belkin says the BoostCharge 20K will provide up to an additional 78 hours of power for your iPhone or Samsung device (based on an iPhone 13). Now this will of course vary depending on which phone you have, and also how you use it, but either way, it’s a good way to gauge the kind of battery juice this thing brings. The BoostCharge 20K can power up to three devices at the same time and has 2 x USB A ports, as well as a USB-C port. It’s got LED battery indicator lights to let you know how much battery you’ve got left and comes with an included cable for charging the power bank, although you’ll probably want to use your own cable for charging specific devices.
Tip: Those who are looking for a power bank with a bit more will want to look for capacity first and foremost, but also take note of the input and output ports. For example, if you’re going away with a partner and you both have phones with USB-C charging ports, then a power bank with 2 USB-C outputs may be more suitable than buying 2 separate power banks or simply waiting for each other. Another thing to note is the charging compatibility of the power bank itself. Opting for something with USB-C charging on both ends, which supports fast charging, will have your power bank charged up and ready to go much faster.
3. DashCam - Transcend DrivePro 10
Everyone’s driving during the summer, and with long stretches behind the wheel and unfamiliar roads, it’s no surprise the number of road incidents increases during this time. It’s bad enough to find yourself in an accident, but it’s even worse if the person at fault refuses to take responsibility. Luckily, dash cams capture everything. The Transcend DrivePro 10 is a great entry-level option that offers excellent value. With a compact and minimalist design, it takes up hardly any space and can sit nicely out of sight behind your rearview mirror.
Although this dash cam is small, that doesn’t mean it sacrifices power and performance. It sports a STARVIS high-sensitivity image sensor to capture clear images, even in low light, a 140-degree wide angle lens, up to 2K QHD 1440p video resolution at 60fps, Wi-Fi connectivity, and emergency recording for optimum protection. Additionally, a built-in Li-polymer battery ensures it receives uninterrupted power, even when your car is off. If you want some extra peace of mind this summer, a dash cam is the way to go.
4. Portable Speaker - UE MEGABOOM 3
Summer needs a soundtrack so whether you’re chilling at the beach or throwing a pool party, a waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker is a must-have. The UE MEGABOOM 3 is made to handle the thrills and spills of summer having passed over 25 seriously tough durability tests. UE says you can drop it, kick it, and even spill your drink on it, without a worry. With an IP67 rating, it’s made to get wet and is completely waterproof as well as dustproof. The MEGABOOM can be fully submerged for up to 30 minutes, and it even floats!
The cylindrical design, which has become synonymous with the UE range, allows for immersive stereophonic audio that ensures you get the same sound quality in every direction. With a larger frame than the UE BOOM, the MEGABOOM also gets improved bass, around 50% deeper than that of its smaller sibling. You can listen for hours on end, with up to 20 hours of battery life, which is pretty impressive for a Bluetooth speaker. Last but not least, the MEGABOOM is available in a wide range of colours, perfect to fit your summer aesthetic. Choose from Night Black, Lagoon Blue, Seashell Peach, Ultraviolet Blue, and Sunset Red.
5. Radios - Uniden UH45-4 Quad Pack
If you’re going to be hiking or hitting a festival this summer, walkie-talkies can be a godsend for you and your crew. When you’re out in the wilderness or in an area with heavy network congestion, getting in touch with the rest of your party can be impossible at times. If you want to avoid the possibility of finding yourself lost and alone, pick up a set of Uniden’s UH45-4 UHF-CB Walkie-Talkies.
The UH45-4 features Uniden’s smallest UHF walkie-talkies and comes with four ultra-compact radios in Lime, Orange, Blue, and Purple. It has a range of up to 3 km+ and with its range extender capability, the unit can achieve even further range under certain conditions. It has an operating time of up to 20 hours and can easily be recharged via a micro USB cable. This mini compact size makes it perfect to take with you anywhere!
6. E-reader - Kobo Clara BW (2024)


Lugging around a bag of books in the summer heat is no easy feat, and technology has made it so that you don’t have to. Swap out the few books in your bag for hundreds or even thousands by using an e-reader this summer. The Kobo brand of e-readers has been rising in popularity, in an industry that has long been synonymous with Amazon and its Kindle. The Japanese brand is arguably atop the industry right now, and the Kobo Clara BW is one of their most popular options. The mid-range e-reader is lightweight, has exceptional battery life, and is fully waterproof, perfect for days by the beach or pool! The glare-free 6” screen ensures you can read in direct sunlight, and when you pack up for the evening, the optional Dark Mode, alongside ‘ComfortLight PRO’, enables hassle-free reading with adjustable brightness and blue light reduction. Best of all, it’s got weeks of battery life and 16 GB of storage, so you can carry around up to 12,000 eBooks, or 75 Kobo Audiobooks, wherever you go.
7. Temperature Monitor - Xiaomi Mi Home Temperature & Humidity Monitor 2


Our office is obsessed with temperature. Most of the time, with the AC on full blast and no one aware of how to adjust it, we must shiver in silence. Other times, we rejoice as we are drip-fed short moments of warmth and comfort. Either way, from when we get in, to when we clock out in the evening, the comings and goings of the digits on the tiny temperature monitors by our desk, is a hot topic (no pun intended). Now you must be wondering if we’re actually going to discuss the product or continue ranting. Discuss we shall. The Xiaomi Mi Home Temperature & Humidity Monitor is the perfect entry-level smart home gadget. It does a relatively simple job, but it does it well, and for the price you pay, you really can’t go wrong.
Powered by one CR2032 battery, it will last a year, and monitor both temperature and humidity. If you have a Xiaomi Smart Home Hub the functionality really increases, with control via the MI app on your phone and automatic adjustment to other devices like A/C units or humidifiers, for example. Without the hub, functionality is restricted to just temperature and humidity monitoring. This is still great for the blistering hot summer days, and considering the very entry-level price, you really can’t go wrong.
8. Smart Bluetooth Trackers


Keep tabs on your items this summer with a smart Bluetooth tracker. Simply attach one to your belongings, whether that’s your keys, handbag, or other valuable items, and track it via your phone. Bluetooth trackers link up with a large network of devices and ping off nearby devices on that network, providing you with a greater chance of finding lost items even if you’re far away from home. Of course, this is limited to the size of the network.
Apple’s AirTag and Momax’s PinTag use Apple’s FindMy network, which consists of billions of devices worldwide; the Samsung Galaxy SmartTags uses the SmartThings Find (available for Galaxy devices only); and Tile uses their own network. Don’t be fooled into thinking the Tile network is small, with over 35 million Tile trackers sold worldwide, it’s bigger than you’d think. Check out some Top Bluetooth Trackers here.
9. Action Camera – GoPro HERO 13
Action camera? GoPro. The brand has been synonymous with the action camera industry for a long time now, and while there are other options that are also great, if not better, the GoPro is still a safe way to go for those looking to foray into this type of camera for the first time.
Capture your summer moments with the rugged, and ready for anything, GoPro HERO 13. GoPro’s flagship action camera captures up to 5.3K60 video and 27 MP photos, and has a higher-capacity battery, allowing for up to 2.5 hours of continuous recording (at 1080p). It’s the perfect companion for adventures, including water-related ones, with the ability to withstand depths of up to 33 feet without a case. The massive GoPro ecosystem allows you to really get creative. Mount the camera to a surfboard, the window of your car, the top of your head, or pretty much anywhere you want, and experience creative videography like never before. If you’re the kind of person who spends summer on the go, this is the perfect way to capture memories and film the kind of things you never thought you could.
10. Instant Camera - FujiFilm Instax Mini 12
For most, summer means holidays and holidays mean memories. Capture your most important memories via an instant camera which prints photos immediately. While many of us now have smartphones, there’s nothing quite like taking a physical photo, to really capture the moments you don’t want lost among the thousands of photos in your camera roll.
The FujiFilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera comes in a range of cute colours, and automatically adjusts settings to ensure bright photos, in any environment. It has a close-up mode and even a small mirror for getting the perfect selfie shots. If you’re looking for the perfect instant camera, this is a very popular choice, and the entry-level price tag means you don’t have to break the bank.
With these 10 tech gadgets in your kit, you’re well-equipped to make the most out of your summer antics. So, get out there, soak up every moment, and let these gadgets make this sunny season one to remember!