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Tag: travel tech

Compact travel keyboard with laptop and backpack, illustrating the best travel keyboards in 2026
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Best Travel Keyboards in 2026: Mechanical, Foldable, and Portable Options

updated July 21, 2026

The best travel keyboard in 2026 depends on whether you need something foldable, mechanical, ultra-light, or wireless. Here are the best portable keyboards for working on the go.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Quick answer: For most people, the best travel keyboard is the thinnest keyboard they can comfortably type on for more than a few minutes. I would start with the Keychron B1 Pro if you want something cheap, thin, and quiet. If you want a low-profile mechanical keyboard, look at the Keychron K3 QMK. If you want the more premium low-profile feel, compare the NuPhy Air75 V2.

Quick Picks: Best Travel Keyboards in 2026

Use case Best pick Why I’d choose it Check price
Best cheap thin travel keyboard Keychron B1 Pro Thin, quiet, inexpensive, and closer to a laptop-style typing feel than a compact mechanical board. Check price
Best low-profile mechanical travel keyboard Keychron K3 QMK A practical travel-friendly mechanical keyboard if you want real switches without carrying a chunky board. Check price
Best premium low-profile option NuPhy Air75 V2 A nicer-feeling low-profile mechanical keyboard for people who want a better typing experience and can spare the space. Check price
Best smaller NuPhy option NuPhy Air60 V2 Smaller than the Air75, with the same general low-profile travel-keyboard appeal. Check price
Best split travel keyboard Epomaker Split65 A budget way to try a split layout that can pack more flexibly than a one-piece keyboard. Check price
Best tiny mechanical keyboard Keychron Q9 Very small and very portable, but only a good fit if you already like compact layouts or are willing to learn one. Check price

There are a few approaches to travel keyboards. In previous years, I looked at folding keyboards as one possible solution, but a lot of them do not feel good enough for real typing. Choosing a travel keyboard usually comes down to the compromise you can live with: thinner, smaller, quieter, more mechanical, or more ergonomic.

Most of the mechanical options below use open source firmware or offer strong layout customization, and several have hotswap switch options. But if you care more about thinness than switch feel, a scissor-switch board may be the better travel keyboard than a tiny mechanical board.

Best Cheap Thin Travel Keyboard: Keychron B1 Pro

The Keychron B1 Pro is the travel keyboard I would look at first if thinness, price, and quiet typing matter more than a mechanical feel. It is closer to the kind of keyboard you might expect from a laptop or slim desktop setup, which can be a strength when you are trying to keep a travel bag light.

Buy this if: you want a thin, inexpensive Bluetooth keyboard that is easy to pack and does not need to feel like a full mechanical board.

Skip it if: you specifically want mechanical switches, hotswap options, or a heavier enthusiast typing feel.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Low-Profile Mechanical Travel Keyboard: Keychron K3 QMK

The Keychron K3 QMK is the more natural choice if you want a real mechanical keyboard but do not want to travel with a tall, heavy board. The low-profile layout makes more sense in a travel bag than a standard-height mechanical keyboard, while QMK support gives you more room to customize the layout.

Buy this if: you want a travel-friendly mechanical keyboard with a more serious typing feel than a scissor-switch board.

Skip it if: you mostly care about thinness, quiet typing, or the lowest possible travel weight.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Premium Low-Profile Travel Keyboard: NuPhy Air75 V2

The NuPhy Air75 V2 is the premium low-profile option I would compare against the Keychron boards. It is a better fit if you care about typing feel and are willing to give up a little more bag space for a nicer keyboard.

Buy this if: you want a nicer low-profile mechanical keyboard and do not need the smallest possible travel setup.

Skip it if: you want the cheapest thin keyboard or you need something smaller than a 75% layout.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Smaller NuPhy Option: NuPhy Air60 V2

The NuPhy Air60 V2 is the more compact NuPhy option. It keeps the low-profile mechanical feel but takes up less space than the Air75, which can matter if you are trying to build a smaller travel kit.

Buy this if: you like the NuPhy low-profile idea but want a smaller board than the Air75.

Skip it if: you rely heavily on dedicated keys and would be annoyed by the compromises of a smaller layout.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Split Travel Keyboard: Epomaker Split65

The Epomaker Split65 is the interesting travel option if you want to try a split layout without building a custom board. A split keyboard can pack differently than a one-piece keyboard, and it can be easier to position in a cramped hotel-room or travel-desk setup.

Buy this if: you want a split layout that is still realistic to travel with.

Skip it if: you want the simplest possible keyboard or you do not want to adjust to a split layout while traveling.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Tiny Mechanical Keyboard: Keychron Q9

The Keychron Q9 is the tiny mechanical option for people who are already comfortable with compact layouts. It is small enough to be genuinely portable, but the layout is part of the deal. This is not the board I would recommend to someone who wants a normal typing experience with no adjustment period.

Buy this if: you already like compact mechanical keyboards and want something very small for travel.

Skip it if: you need a conventional layout or do not want to relearn key positions on the road.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Which Travel Keyboard Should You Choose?

If I were buying a travel keyboard today, I would start by deciding whether I care more about thinness or typing feel.

The simplest answer is probably the Keychron B1 Pro. It is thin, quiet, and easy to pack. The more enthusiast answer is the Keychron K3 QMK or NuPhy Air75 V2, depending on how much space you are willing to give a keyboard in your bag.

Related Travel Tech

A keyboard is only one part of a portable work setup. If you also work from hotels, see my guide to the best travel router for hotel Wi-Fi.

How to Think About Travel Keyboard Size

The right travel keyboard is usually the smallest or thinnest keyboard you can pack and still enjoy using. A keyboard that is technically portable but unpleasant to type on will stay in your bag.

A thin scissor-switch keyboard like the Keychron B1 Pro makes sense if you want something light, quiet, and easy to carry. A low-profile mechanical keyboard like the Keychron K3 QMK, NuPhy Air60 V2, or NuPhy Air75 V2 makes sense if typing feel matters more than saving every ounce.

Split keyboards are more specialized. They can pack well because they separate into two pieces, but they also require more adjustment. Very small mechanical keyboards, including 40% layouts, are even more personal. They can be wonderfully portable, but they are best for people who already like compact layouts or are willing to learn one.

I still like tiny keyboards, and I sell supplies for them at MechDreams, but I would not tell most travelers to start there. For most people, the safer first choice is a thin keyboard or a low-profile mechanical board.

Published on February 20, 2026
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Portable travel router next to a laptop and phone in a hotel room, illustrating the best travel router for hotel Wi-Fi in 2026
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Best Travel Router for Hotel Wi-Fi in 2026

There are many reasons to use a travel router when on the go. For example, protecting yourself from malicious actors on hotel wifi. As I write this, I am in an extended stay at a foreign hotel. The hotel TV has built in YouTube and streaming, and on three occasions so far, the TV has been taken over by people in other rooms apparently by accident.

At minimum, a travel router isolates your devices from the other people on the hotel wifi. But it can do so much more. It can allow you to add a streaming device to the TV, as many cannot navigate the captive portal. Many can support a connected USB drive to act as a simple media server to stream to the device you connect to your TV.

Finally, your device can act as a VPN gateway for your devices, something I am doing with my travel router as we speak. Every web request is running through my VPN server in my apartment. My current preference has been the GL.iNet line of travel routers. They run a variant of an open firmware and have general been reliable. I have had several.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Quick answer: For most travelers, I would start with the GL.iNet Beryl AX. It is small, modern, fast enough for normal hotel Wi-Fi, and usually the easiest recommendation if you are buying today. If you already own the GL.iNet Slate Plus, I would keep using it unless you need more speed. If you want the premium model and do not mind paying more, the GL.iNet Slate 7 is the one to compare.

Quick Picks: Best Travel Routers for Hotel Wi-Fi

Use case Best pick Why I’d choose it Check price
Best for most travelers GL.iNet Beryl AX Modern Wi-Fi 6, compact size, strong travel-router feature set, and better value than chasing the newest model for hotel Wi-Fi. Check price
Best proven older model GL.iNet Slate Plus The model I have used while traveling. Still a practical pick if the price is right and you do not need Wi-Fi 6. Check price
Best faster Slate option GL.iNet Slate AX A stronger Slate-series router with Wi-Fi 6 and more performance headroom. Check price
Best premium option GL.iNet Slate 7 The premium pick if you specifically want Wi-Fi 7, dual 2.5G ports, USB-C power, and the touchscreen. Check price

 

Best Travel Router for Most People: GL.iNet Beryl AX

The GL.iNet Beryl AX is the travel router I would look at first if I were buying today. It is small, modern, and more than enough for the normal travel-router jobs: isolating your devices from the rest of the hotel network, sharing a VPN connection, connecting a streaming stick, and avoiding the hassle of signing every device into a captive portal.

Buy this if: you want one compact travel router that should handle most hotel Wi-Fi, rental-house, and temporary work setups without spending for the newest premium model.

Skip it if: you specifically want the Slate line’s Ethernet layout or the premium features on the Slate 7.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Proven Older Model: GL.iNet Slate Plus

The GL.iNet Slate Plus is the travel router I have actually been using on the road. That counts for something. Travel routers are not only about wireless specs. They need to handle weird hotel Wi-Fi, captive portals, VPN connections, streaming devices, and temporary work setups without turning every hotel stay into a networking project.

Buy this if: you want a proven GL.iNet travel router and find it at a good price.

Skip it if: the Beryl AX is close in price. At that point, I would usually buy the newer model.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Faster Slate Option: GL.iNet Slate AX

The GL.iNet Slate AX is the better fit if you like the Slate line but want more performance. It gives you more headroom than the Slate Plus, which may be useful if you travel with several devices, share a VPN connection, or use the router in temporary work setups where reliability matters.

Buy this if: you want a stronger Slate-series router and do not mind paying more than the basic travel-router options.

Skip it if: your main use is occasional hotel Wi-Fi and the Beryl AX is cheaper.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Premium Travel Router: GL.iNet Slate 7

The GL.iNet Slate 7 is the premium option. It adds newer hardware, faster networking features, USB-C power, and a touchscreen. Those are useful upgrades, but they are not automatically necessary in a hotel room. In many hotels, the internet connection itself will be the bottleneck before the router is.

Buy this if: you specifically want the newer hardware, 2.5G ports, and the touchscreen.

Skip it if: you mainly want a simple travel router for hotel Wi-Fi. The Beryl AX or Slate Plus will usually be the better value.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Which GL.iNet Travel Router Should You Choose?

If I were buying today, I would start with the Beryl AX. It is the easiest recommendation for most people because it gives you a modern travel router without paying for premium features that many hotel Wi-Fi setups cannot really use.

  • Most travelers: Beryl AX
  • Already own a Slate Plus: keep using it unless it is limiting you
  • Want a faster Slate: Slate AX
  • Want the premium model: Slate 7

Do You Need Wi-Fi 7 or 2.5G Ethernet in a Travel Router?

Usually, no. Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5G Ethernet are useful features, but they are rarely the thing holding you back in a hotel. The hotel’s internet connection, captive portal, room location, and shared network load usually matter more than the router’s maximum theoretical speed.

That is why I would not automatically buy the most expensive travel router. For most people, reliability, VPN support, captive-portal handling, size, and power are more important than chasing the newest Wi-Fi number.

Why I Started Traveling With a Router

I started carrying a travel router because hotel Wi-Fi is often awkward in exactly the ways that matter: captive portals, streaming devices that cannot log in easily, devices exposed on the same network as other guests, and VPN setups that become annoying when every device has to be configured separately.

On my current trip, I have been using the GL.iNet Slate Plus. It still works, which is why I do not think every traveler needs to chase the newest model. But if I were buying today, I would start with the Beryl AX unless I specifically wanted the Slate 7’s newer hardware and touchscreen.

My Pick For Best Travel Router

If I were buying one travel router today, I would start with the GL.iNet Beryl AX. It is the best balance of size, features, maturity, and price for most travelers. I would only move up to the Slate 7 if I specifically wanted the screen, Wi-Fi 7, or 2.5G Ethernet ports.

Related Travel Tech

A travel router pairs well with a compact keyboard, a USB-C charger, and a small power strip. See my guide to the best travel keyboards if you are building a portable work setup.

Published on November 27, 2025
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Best Low-Profile Travel Keyboards for Working Anywhere

I recently took two trips out of town. I have been evolving my hotel room set up for years after my employer had me spend extended times in hotel rooms and it always involves an external mechanical keyboard. I had written about the folding keyboard search as part of this previously. In that article, I only mentioned the Royal Kludge F68 in that context as a mechanical low profile keyboard that folds. But I didn’t talk about low profile keyboards themselves. I’m limiting myself to mechanical keyboards per my preference for them.

Updated note: If you want a broader comparison of mechanical, foldable, compact, and commuter-friendly boards, see my full guide to the best travel keyboards in 2026.A low profile mechanical keyboard, also called an ‘ultra-slim’, even in a larger form factor, can take up less space than a comparable keyboard and still have some of the advantages of mechanical keyboards. Like full size mechanical keyboards, you have keyboards with hotswappable switches and ones without. While they come in larger sizes, for travel a 75% or smaller makes sense.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Quick Picks: Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboards for Travel

If I were choosing a low-profile mechanical keyboard for travel today, these are the three I would start with:

Best for Keyboard Why I’d choose it Check price
Best overall Keychron K3 QMK A practical 75% low-profile mechanical board that gives you real switches and customization without taking up as much room as a standard mechanical keyboard. Check price on Amazon
Best premium option NuPhy Air75 V2 A nicer-feeling 75% low-profile board if typing experience matters enough to justify carrying something a little more substantial. Check price on Amazon
Best smaller option NuPhy Air60 V2 A more compact choice if saving bag space matters more than having the extra keys of a 75% layout. Check price on Amazon

My pick: I would start with the Keychron K3 QMK if you want a mechanical keyboard that is still genuinely practical to travel with. The Air75 V2 is the premium alternative, while the Air60 V2 makes more sense when every inch of bag space counts.

For non-mechanical keyboards, folding options and cheaper ultra-thin boards, see my complete guide to the best travel keyboards in 2026.

Some people find the low profile keyboards better for ergonomics. Also, if you are coming from a laptop keyboard, the angle can be similar enough, but it is definitely a more premium experience.

I tried out the Keychron K3. There are several revisions and variants, and the newer ones have QMK/VIA and different wireless capabilities. For example, the K3 Pro which is hotswap and bluetooth.  The K3 is a 75%. The smallest Keychron makes is the K7 at 65%. I was able to get a hotswappable K3 on a deal, and that allows me to try different Gateron low profile switches. It came with Browns, but there are other ones to try that may be more to my liking. Either way, I was perfectly satisfied with using these on those recent trips. I even printed a case to transport it.

There is also the Azio Cascade Slim, which is hotswappable, and finally the more expensive and often reviewed alternative is the Nuphy line. They make the Air60, and Air75 variants that fit into the travel category.

Finally, on the budget side, Royal Kludge, in addition to my F68, has the N80 Low Profile 75%. It includes a little LCD screen. Redragon, also known for being on the less expensive side, has the K652. Both are budget models that get decent, if mixed reviews. The Redragon K652 is hotswappable with the Outemu low profile switches. The Royal Kludge uses their own branded low profiles and is hotswappable. However, some research suggests TTC or Cherry MX LP switches are compatible.

You can also go with the entirely niche, but prebuilt Chosfox Geonix48…another Ortho, or their L75 75% keyboard.

Even kit-wise, if you want to build one. There is the 60% Cerberus from Pikatea….which is ceasing operations in December of 2024. Boardsource has the Equals48 and Equals60 kits, which are both Ortholinear keyboards.

The two most popular low profile switches are the Gateron Low Profile and the Choc V1 Low Profile. The Keychrone, Azio, and Nuphy all use the Gateron type. Choc V1 seems to be the domain of ergonomic type keyboards mostly. Despite the useful utility of this category, it seems as if the low profile market for traditional form factors is limited.

In the end, after all that, there are some good options…and most of the choices come in traditional red, blue, or brown switches, so you should be able to find something to suit your preferences.

 

 

 

 

Published on November 29, 2024
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Best Keyboard for Travel: What Actually Works on the Road?

In my previous writing, about using a Mini PC on the Go, I mentioned a 60-65% keyboard as the right size in my opinion for travel. So, what are the different types of keyboards?

  • Full-size
  • Tenkeyless(TKL) – A tenkeyless is the same size as a full-size keyboard, but omits the number pad.
  • 75%  – condenses the function keys
  • 65% – usually retains the arrow keys while condensing the other function keys.
  • 60% – removes the function and navigation keys
  • 40% – the smallest keyboard

Updated note: This article is more of a practical reflection on what makes a keyboard good for travel. For a current buyer-focused guide, see my updated list of the best travel keyboards in 2026.

I have long since given up on full sized keyboards. All my home keyboards are TKL. This is something of a practical issue. I’m left-handed, and the number pad is on the right side of the keyboard, favoring right handed typists. In the rare cases when you need it, you can try for a keypad such as this inexpensive one from Kisnt, which has Red, Brown, and Blue switch options and PBT keycaps already.

40% is too small. I know people are very passionate about this size once you get used to the combinations to use it. The most economical 40% I found was at the local Microcenter.

For my latest attempt, I opted for a 65% Keychron K6 that was discounted at the time I purchased it and is still reasonable. The K6 is bluetooth and USB-C, but has a hardware rather than a software switch between wireless and wired. Some models of the K6 are hotswappable, meaning you can change the switches.. Compare that to the well reviewed Royal Kludge RK68, which has a software switch. 65% gets you the arrow keys, which I do enjoy having as dedicated functions.

I previously used a 60%, and tried several variations, but missed those arrow keys. However, if I opt to try a 60% again, I might try the Royal Kludge RK61, which is not only hot-swappable, but has QMK/VIA support…which allows you to remap the keys to a configuration of your liking. Since I’m on a Keychron kick of late, they have the K12. The Pro Version has the QMK/VIA support.

By the time you get to 75%, you might as well carry around your tenkeyless on a trip, thus making the 65% percent the perfect compromise between the two.

 

Published on March 25, 2024
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