For business travelers who treat the world like their office, the right travel tech isn’t just convenient, it’s non-negotiable. Work trips often mean meetings happen mid-transit, and deadlines don’t wait for time zones. Today’s professionals require gear that’s as agile and refined as they are. For your next trip—especially on business—every item in your travel arsenal should serve a purpose: keeping you connected, organized, and one step ahead.
This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of WIRED and Condé Nast Traveler to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip.
Among the business travel essentials? A reliable staple: The Apple MacBook Air: powerful, lightweight, and designed for productivity anywhere. Not to mention, with the right universal converter or portable charger, you can plug it in to charge just about everywhere. Add a portable Wi-Fi hotspot or travel router, and your workspace expands to airport lounges, hotel lobbies, or high-speed trains. For presentation, compact travel steamers ensure you arrive looking polished, while smart luggage and digital tags streamline the journey from check-in to customs. Whether you're a digital nomad taking a client call on the road or reviewing contracts over espresso in Milan, we’ve compiled the best tech for work trips built for motion. When business takes you everywhere, your gear should work like you do: seamlessly, stylishly, and without pause.
Updated October 2025: We've added the Sony WH-1000XM6, OnePlus Pad 3, and Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata Sony WH-1000XM6 $448 Amazon $448 Sony $450 $448 Target Stylish and feature-packed, with excellent touch controls, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. Enjoy podcasts, music, or the sweet sound of silence when you fly, with unbeatable active noise cancellation. These cans also boast top-notch sound quality, with a multiband EQ to make the most of any audio source. The new folding design also makes it easier than ever to stow them away for travel.
Courtesy of Apple Apple MacBook Air $999 $897 (10% off) Amazon Powerful and portable, the svelte Apple MacBook Air (M4, 2025) is the best of the best laptops, and perfect for business travelers looking to get some work done in the office or on the move. You can expect slick performance, long battery life, and a lovely bright display. Apple’s M4 chipset supports two 4K external monitors and on-device AI processing. There’s also a crystal clear 12-megapixel webcam that’s ideal for video conferencing.