Whether you are going camping in the Cotswolds or sunning yourself on a Spanish beach this summer, a smartphone is a holiday essential.
To get the best from your mobile phone, it’s worth investing in some extra accessories, whether it’s protection for your phone, some beach-friendly headphones or some portable speakers, here’s our pick of the best summer mobile phone and tablet accessories.
Under the article you find out how to get your hands on some beach-ready Sennheiser headphones and a Proporta charger and case.
Update: the competition closed at 5:00PM this afternoon and a winner has been announced. Thank you to all who entered.
Sennheiser CX 680i Sports
£55
Sand – it gets everywhere and can destroy your city-ready headphones – unless those are the rugged Sennheiser CX680i Sports that is. Part of the Sennheiser and Adidas sports collection; these in-ear headphones are sweat and water resistant, so if they do get dirty on the beach, simply wash them under a tap.
The ‘i’ refers to the built-in remote and microphone that enables iPhone to swap between calls and music. In addition, the ear canal design blocks external noise, making them perfect for zoning out that annoying child on the plane behind you.
Sound quality is excellent. Three sets of buds ensure you get the perfect fit, while the EarFin design ensures they remain in your ear if you decide to hit the hotel gym.
Link: Sennheiser
Griffin Technology PowerJoint Plus Mobile 
£19.99
Whether you are hiring a car or taking your own, a car journey is a great opportunity to recharge your mobile phone battery. Plugging into the cigarette lighter, the Griffin Technology PowerJoint Plus Mobile charges any smartphone with a Micro or Mini USB connection. Unlike many other devices, because it’s a pass through device, it doesn’t monopolize the port, so you can use it to charge another device or plug-in a sat nav.
Link: Halfords
The Beachboy Waterproof Case
£14.95
Use this 100% Waterproof case to protect your smartphone from sand and suntan lotion on a beach or – if you are feeling adventurous – even take it 5m underwater. BSI approved to IP58 the case uses a combination of clicks and velcro to seal your phone and even comes with a neck lanyard.
Link: Proporta
Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515
£89.99
Smartphone speakers aren’t particularly powerful, especially if you are having a bit of a party before heading out for the evening. Connecting to your handset or tablet wirelessly using Bluetooth, the Logitech Z515 is a portable speaker with dual two-inch drivers producing a powerful sound from 15m away. Supplied with a rechargeable battery that lasts for 10 hours, it includes a USB laptop adaptor and even comes with a soft travel case.
Link: Logitech
Gear4 StreetParty Compact
£39.99
If the Logitech Z515 is a little pricey, try this travel dock from Gear4. As well as being very small, it’s powered by 4x AA batteries, which offer the advantage of being able to get wherever you are in the world. The 2×2.5 watt speaker also charges your iPhone when plugged into the mains.
Link: Gear 4
Proporta USB TurboCharger 3400 World Pack 
£34.95
Everyone has been confronted by a flat phone battery at some point and when you are abroad and away from your home and office, it can be even more of a problem. Once charged the Proporta USB TurboCharger 3400 has enough juice to recharge your mobile phone several times over, wherever you are. It comes with a retractable cable which connects to a selection of plug-in tips for all major smartphones, including Nokia, Apple and Blackberry.
Link: Proporta
Artkon iPad Stand 
£9.99
A travel stand is a comfortable way for multiple people to while away a rainy summer day by watching movies and TV shows on an iPad. Each of the Arkon IPM-TAB1’s three legs include a non-cushioned pad to ensure it doesn’t slip, and the stand is fully collapsible so you can easily store it in a suitcase.
Link: iWorld
Competition…
Heading off on holiday soon? Would you like to win the excellent Sennhesier CX 680i Sports waterproof headphones and the Proporta Travel Essentials Bundle (comprising the BeachBuoy and USB TurboCharger 3400) in a package worth nearly £100?
To be in with a chance to win retweet the article by hitting the Tweet button at the top to be entered into a draw to win these excellent prizes. The competition will run until 5:00 PM Friday 5th August 2011.
Please read our competition terms and conditions before entering.
Leave a Reply