The gear • May 2015
The best in-flight entertainment gadgets
Long flight coming up? Lucky you! Buckle up, recline your seat and prepare to make boredom a thing of the past. Technology writer Chris Hall rounds up the best gadgets to keep you happily occupied during the flight
Bose QuietComfort 20i headphones
Bose’s Quiet Comfort 20i (£259.95) represents years of experience honing noise-cancellation technology. For the tech to work, the in-line battery must be charged, but the good news is that it then lasts 16 hours.
Google Cardboard
Why spend £300 on an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset when you can buy Google Cardboard for a fraction of the cost? (from £15) It really is made from cardboard – a boon for travellers because the whole thing comes flat-packed. Simply fold it together, slot in your smartphone and away you go. Cardboard-compatible apps can be downloaded here, with more in development.
Amazon Kindle Voyage Wi-Fi
The Kindle Voyage (£169) is Amazon’s sleekest Kindle to date. The e-ink screen brightness adjusts to your surroundings, and you can flip forwards and backwards with one hand. It’s also higher-resolution, feather-light and claims to last up to six weeks on one charge.
Lepow Poki 10000 battery charger
No long-haul flier should be without a charging pack. Trouble is they’re often fiddly, bulky or underpowered. The Lepow Poki (£22.99) confounds on all fronts. It will charge an iPhone 6 five times over, and has a touch sensor to show remaining capacity.
Nintendo 3DS XL
Nintendo’s 3DS (£179.49) knocks smartphone gaming for six. With the latest model the 3D quality has been improved and, as ever, the games are actually good. It also leaves your precious smartphone battery life undrained, and doubles as the ultimate child-pacifier.
Griffin Skyview
If you’ll be glued to your tablet for hours, it’s worth investing in the Griffin Skyview (£22.99). This ingenious device attaches to the tray-table clasp on the back of an airline seat and can be adjusted to hold any tablet or phone.
BA entertainment hub
Don’t overlook your seatback. The BA on-board entertainment hub (free) has had a refresh and is now even easier to use. New features include a shareable Journey Planner, so you can select, plan and save content for a designated flight. Search for films and TV using the scrolling listings, or read reviews: in addition to the Critic’s Choice page there’s a Fans’ Choice option, allowing you to vote for content you’d like to see on future flights.
Manage all your travel plans on the move with the British Airways mobile app. It’s free to download, allows you to book and manage flights, download your mobile boarding pass, manage Avios and Tier Points and view your digital Membership Card.
This article has been tagged Technology, Travel Tips