6 best Samsung travel tech gadgets you can't go away without in 2024

This is sponsored content for Samsung Australia.

The mid-year travel season is upon us, and many lucky Australians will be trading cold commutes to the city for warm European nights.

And who could blame them?

ABS reported that the total number of Australian residents returning from overseas in 2023 was 88 per cent of 2019 (pre-COVID) volumes. In other words, Australians still love to travel.

However, if this is your first time abroad since pre-COVID times, it's possible you may not be up to speed with Samsung's latest smart technology that can make your travels that bit easier.

Like me, it's possible you may have been 'living under the rock' of what smart-travel technology actually means, how far it's come and what gadgets are currently on the market.

Smart travel isn't just about tracking your baggage with smart tags and buying a bag with an inbuilt charging port, it's so much more than that.

Designed to optimise the entire travel experience, from maintaining the home while travelling, and making a comfortable return to it, Samsung's smart technology is revolutionising how we manage our homes while we travel.

Powered by Samsung's SmartThings connectivity, it's easier than ever to get connected and integrate your smart devices for travelling.

The new Galaxy S24 Ultra is designed to help users unleash new levels of creativity and productivity direct from their smartphone.

Not only does it take amazing photos and have all-day battery life[1] to capture every beating moment, but AI features like Live Translate[2] and Interpreter[3] effortlessly help break through language barriers.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra can provide real-time interpretation while you're on a call or even through text messaging - helping make those restaurant reservations more seamless.

And if you're new to SmartThings with Samsung, it's housed on an app that enables you to control your compatible Samsung devices and appliances from the one remote (your smartphone), wherever you are.[4]

The Galaxy SmartTag2 is a 'smart' way to keep track of your valuables and give you peace of mind when you travel. It is also convenient to attach and carry on-the-go, and contains a durable, water-resistant tag (so it won't break if you get caught in a thunderstorm).[5]

Paired with your Galaxy smartphone, the Galaxy SmartTag2 can provide real-time location information, almost anywhere you go, making it perfect for keeping track of your bags and other items when travelling.[6]

With its stylish and portable design, the Portable SSD T9 is built to offer fast transfer speeds[7] and ample storage for pro-grade content while maintaining a compact, credit-card-sized form factor.

Robust yet lightweight, this external storage device will help keep all your holiday snaps and videos safe.

snaps and videos safe.

[1] The Freestyle Battery Base is sold separately.

Create an instant big screen experience, wherever you are.

With up to 100 inches[9] of crystal-clear picture quality,[10] an inbuilt 360° speaker[11] and a simple rotating design, The Freestyle Portable Projector is a true lifestyle screen that knows no boundaries.

Neatly housed in a handy-sized design, the versatile projector can be taken on the go for trips away.[12][13]

The new Samsung AI Family Hub™ offers Australians a smart way to manage their food. Using an internal camera[14] and an AI View Inside function, you can monitor the food inside your fridge on your smartphone,[15] meaning you know exactly what to buy at the grocery store when you return home from your travels. The AI camera's AI Vision Inside function can also help identify up to 33 fresh food items in your fridge and help manage a food list[16] to avoid doubling up on groceries you already have when you get back home.[17]

Through Samsung Food,[18] you can even get recipe suggestions including those for dietary restrictions and preferences or manage 'use by dates' all through the LCD screen.

Or if you've left someone back at home, leave them a digital message on the fridge to let them know when you'll be back from the airport.

For many Australians, this year will be the first time that they dust off their passports to travel overseas since pre-COVID times.

For those of you who will be departing from the international terminal this year, remember that preparation is key.

Essential items like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy SmartTag2 can be a lifesaver for helping travellers - from helping to navigate conversations with locals in foreign language speaking countries, to finding bags and other items that get lost.

Indulgences like the Freestyle Portable Projector can add a touch of romance to your holiday (and bring Bridgerton to even the most remote of locations).

However, the pièce de résistance are perhaps the smart appliances you leave behind like the Samsung Family Hub™ Refrigerator. While they remain out of sight, out of mind while abroad, they leave you with one less thing to worry about when you finally do arrive home - safe, sound and organised.

Download the SmartThings App or visit Samsung to learn how to integrate and control your home with ease: www.samsung.com/au/

[1] Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, the number of times charged, and many other factors. Estimated against the average usage profile compiled by UX Connect Research. Independently assessed by UX Connect research between 2023.11.25-2023.12.15 in US and UK with pre-release versions of SM-S921, SM-S926 and SM-S928 under default setting using LTE and 5G Sub6 networks. NOT tested under 5G mmWave network.

[2] Live Translate requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Live Translate is only available on the pre-installed Samsung Phone app. Certain languages may require language pack download. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Currently limited to select languages only. See website samsung.com/au/smartphones/galaxy-s24-ultra/ for full list of available languages. Live Translate feature must be enabled and language package must be downloaded prior to use. Translation might not be accurate.

[3] Interpreter requires Samsung Account login. Certain languages may require language pack download. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Availability and supported features may vary by country, region or carrier. Availability of supported languages may vary.

[4]To use SmartThings, download the app from the Galaxy Store, Play Store, or App Store. The app requires Android OS 9 with a minimum of 3GB RAM space or iOS 14.Samsung account and a Wi-Fi connection is required. All devices should be connected to Wi-Fi or other wireless network, and registered with a single Samsung Account.

[5] Galaxy SmartTag2 is rated as IP67 for water and dust resistance. Based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Refer to your device's user manual for further care and instructions.

[6] SmartTag2 requires connection to a compatible Galaxy smartphone or tablet Android 9.0 or above with over 3GB of RAM. IoT devices must to be registered to the SmartThings app. SmartTag2 Bluetooth performance may vary depending on environment and other factors.

[7] To reach maximum sequential read/write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s, respectively, the host device and connection cables must support USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 and the UASP mode must be enabled. Based on internal test results conducted under controlled conditions.

[8] The Freestyle Battery Base is sold separately.

[9] The Freestyle must be 79.5cm from the wall to project a 30" image and 260.4cm from the wall to project a 100" image.

[10] Picture quality is dependent on environmental factors such as wall surface, room brightness, source quality and more. For best results, recommend projecting on a flat white or bright monotone wall in a dark room.

[11] Audio quality and performance may vary depending on environmental characteristics (e.g. room size, product placement and ceiling height) and quality of source content.

[12] Freestyle must be connected to power outlet or battery pack (50W/20V) with USB PB to operate. See Samsung.com/au/the-freestyle/third-party-powerbank-compatibility-list/ for compatible battery packs.

[13] Internet connection and Samsung account required. Some services are available to watch after registration.

[14] Red light will turn on when camera is working. User's appearance may be captured, but surroundings other than food item will be automatically blurred.

[15] Using the SmartThings App, which is available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.

[16] Users may need to manually operate the list for accuracy.

[17] As of March 2024, AI Vision Inside can recognise up to 33 food items like fresh fruits and veggies. Items need to be scanned 1 at a time. If the food is not recognisable, it may be listed as unknown item. AI Vision Inside cannot identify or list any food items in the fridge door bins or freezer. It recognises food items based on an on-device smart food management system which combines food detection and classification models to help identify food items. Learning models may be updated periodically to help improve accuracy.

[18] A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.