Year-ender 2025: iPad Air to GoPro Max 2, 5 gadgets for outdoor enthusiasts

From phones that survive downpours to cameras that film every angle, here are the gadgets that have earned a place in your travel bags

Some gadgets are meant for desks, others belong on mountain paths, forest roads, and unfamiliar cities. 2025 delivered an impressive wave of the latter. Batteries lasted longer, displays stayed readable in direct sun, and health tracking grew sensitive enough to warn you before altitude or exhaustion caught up. Even audio devices found new roles on trips. And cameras? They captured entire environments, not just what was in front of you. In this round-up, we break down top gadgets across five key categories that truly earned their place in your backpack.

Smartphones: Vivo X300 Pro and OPPO Find X9 Pro

For outdoor-focused travellers this year, two phones consistently proved they could handle unpredictable weather, long hours away from power sockets, and the rougher pace of short road trips: the Vivo X300 Pro and the OPPO Find X9 Pro. Both offer readable displays under harsh sunlight conditions, durable frames, best-in-class camera, strong speakers, and batteries that comfortably last more than a day off-grid. They slot naturally into the role of an all-in-one device for maps, music, quick photos, and documenting the route.

 

 

Both Vivo X300 Pro and OPPO Find X9 Pro hold up well in light rain or dusty terrain. Despite both offering a solid battery life, it becomes a key distinguishing factor. The OPPO Find X9 Pro is powered by a 7,500mAh battery, and Vivo X300 Pro boasts a 6,510mAh battery. X300 Pro generally offers a day and a half of battery life, stretching to two days when used like a typical trip device (navigation + photos + minimal scrolling). Find X9 Pro can push beyond two days with light usage and occasionally even closer to three days, making it a strong pick for back-to-back excursions.

 

There’s another distinguishing factor, photography. Vivo X300 Pro tends to preserve natural colours and fine detail, making it ideal for landscapes, wildlife and no-filter shots. OPPO Find X9 Pro adds a bit more visual punch — brighter skies, richer greens, and more vibrant sunsets — which outdoor travellers often prefer when uploading on social media straight from the gallery.

 

Common factors between both smartphones are that GPS performance stays reliable without heating, and fast-charging becomes a huge advantage, especially when pit stops are short. 

 

Why they work well outdoors:

• Outdoor-friendly displays: Easily readable under harsh sunlight.
• Long battery life: Vivo X300 Pro lasts up to two days; OPPO Find X9 Pro can stretch to almost three days.
• Rugged builds: Resistant to daily outdoor wear and tear, and able to endure light rain.
• Thermals: Controlled thermals during long mapping sessions.
• Strong cameras: Vivo for natural colours and OPPO for vibrant, eye-catching results.
• Fast charging on both smartphones make them an ideal choice for on-the-go movement.

Tablet: Apple iPad Air with M3

The iPad Air with M3 is easily one of 2025’s most travel-friendly work devices, combining light weight, strong performance and enough versatility to replace a laptop when paired with the Magic Keyboard. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, it fits easily into most backpacks and adapts well to outdoor use, from campsite journaling and quick photo edits to video calls from hillside homestays. With the Apple Pencil Pro, it doubles as a sketchbook or creative workstation, while the M3 chip keeps apps running smoothly even when you’re juggling navigation, documents, and multimedia on the go.

 

Why it works well outdoors:

• Bright 4:3 display: Ideal for maps, route planning, reading and editing in daylight.
• Long battery life: Nearly a week with light use, or a full workday when used as your main device.
• Loud enough audio: Clear audio for podcasts, videos, or tutorials.
• Centre Stage camera: Perfect for remote meetings from anywhere.
• Pencil + Keyboard support: Lets you type, sketch, plan, and create without carrying a bulky laptop.

The iPad Air with M3 stands out for travellers who want a single device that can work, create, entertain, and endure long days outdoors. It remains one of 2025’s most versatile gadgets for people who prefer the freedom of the open air without giving up productivity.

Watches: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series and Apple Watch Series 11

Smartwatches have transitioned from simple notification hubs to dependable outdoor tools, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series and Apple Watch Series 11 show how far they’ve come. Both bring stronger builds, improved displays, and a sharper health-tracking focus that benefits travellers and adventurists, giving them a real safety advantage.

 

Low blood-oxygen and blood pressure fluctuations are common at high altitudes, during long hikes, or whenever the body is under strain. Both watches can measure blood-oxygen levels on-the-go alerting users of levels dip, prompting them to rest or slow down before symptoms escalate. Though Apple Watch Series 11 debuted with hypertension alert, it remains unavailable in India. For outdoor runners, cyclists, and trekkers, these health insight nudges can be genuinely protective. Added sleep tracking and recovery insights help travellers stay alert across multi-day trips.

 

Why they work well outdoors

• Rugged, sweat-ready designs that handle knocks and rough terrain
• Reliable GPS tracking and exercise monitoring for hiking, cycling, and trail navigation
• Sharp, bright displays that remain readable under harsh sunlight
• Health dashboards: ECG, blood pressure, SpO2, stress and sleep metrics
• Good ecosystem support: Samsung Health + One UI Watch / Apple Health + watchOS
• Quick connectivity for alerts
• All-day battery life suited for active, mixed-use itineraries

Despite their different ecosystems, both watches fulfil the same core purpose outdoors: they keep a quiet, continuous check on your vitals. For anyone who often hikes, travels, or spends long hours off the grid, timely health alerts and insights can life-saving difference.

Audio: Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Sony WH-1000XM6

For travellers, audio gear now doubles as utility devices, helping with focus, fitness, calls, and even basic health checks. Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 lean into this versatility. They deliver strong adaptive ANC, natural-sounding Transparency Mode, and spatial audio. Their built-in heart-rate sensor can capture unusual spikes during hikes or runs, giving a quick heads-up before fatigue worsens. Lightweight, IP57-rated, and tightly woven into the Apple ecosystem, they’re ideal for quick trips where packing light matters. Live translation support, although still improving, adds meaningful convenience in unfamiliar places where you can interact with strangers talking in foreign language.

 

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 targets travellers who prefer a fuller listening experience. Its over-ear design delivers richer bass, cleaner vocals, and more spacious sound, backed by industry-leading ANC that adapts from aircraft cabins to outdoor trails. Multipoint pairing, intuitive touch controls, and the clever Speak-to-Chat feature add to its practicality when frequently switching between airports, cabs, and hotel rooms. The foldable frame with magnetic latching makes it surprisingly portable for its size, though comfort remains moderate over very long sessions.

 

Why they work well outdoors and on trips

• AirPods Pro 3: Built-in heart-rate alerts help during treks and exercises ; Lightweight IP57 design handles sweat, dust, and light rain ; Spatial audio + ANC balance ; Live translation offers quick assistance in foreign regions
• Sony WH-1000XM6: Richer audio and top-tier ANC for long flights and commutes ; Foldable, portable build with reliable multipoint connectivity ; Speak-to-Chat enables quick conversations without removing headphones.

Camera: GoPro Max 2

The GoPro Max 2 is for travellers who want more than a flat, front-facing shot. Its True 8K 360-degree recording captures everything happening around you, allowing you to relive the moment from multiple angles, something a regular action camera simply cannot match. It also offers flexibility for creators who want more dynamic visual storytelling without carrying extra lenses. The Quik app’s AI-assisted editing and cloud tools further reduce the friction of working with 360 content, making it approachable even for casual travellers.

 

Durability is another big win here. The Max 2’s waterproof body, twist-and-go replaceable lenses and compact profile make it ideal for helmets, poles or chest mounts. Six microphones record clean 360-degree audio with reduced wind noise, while the Cold-Weather Enduro Battery keeps it running in harsh climates. Additionally, a wide range of mounts ensure that you can document hikes, rides or road trips without worrying about angles.

 

Why it works well outdoors

• True 8K 360 video lets you capture every angle of an adventure
• Rugged, waterproof design with replaceable lenses
• Cold-Weather Enduro Battery handles extreme temperatures
• Six-mic array delivers immersive 360 audio
• Multiple mounting options