My digital nomad equipment: Long-term review

Before I set out on my digital nomad venture, I documented my equipment choices and, for the most part, I can safely say that I made the right choices, but how has my kit faired six months down the line?

What kit do I have?

I travel with an MSI 16″ Laptop running Windows 11, a portable external screen, keyboard, mouse, stand, a power bank and an assortment of cables. What I’m going to do now is break down each of my choices and confirm if they really cut the mustard after six months on the road.

My Laptop – MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio A1VIG

Verdict: Solid Purchase

This is a powerhouse of a laptop and for the most part I’ve been happy with the decision. I wanted a typical Windows laptop but that could also run all the latest games, I’m not a big gamer but it’s a great way to unwind on long travel days, so I wanted something future-proof.

The spec? Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 16″ 120hz 4K HDR screen, GeForce RTX4090 graphics, 2TB NVMe SSD (I added a second 2TB for longevity) and 32GB of DDR5 memory.

In short, it can run any of the latest AAA games at full spec in 4K and also handle any intense photo or video editing I want to do whilst on the move.

It’s also packed with ports (the 2025 update has slightly less): ethernet, HDMI, USB A, 2x USB C and a MicroSD port.

And the screen is sensational, utterly sensational. 16″ UHD+ 120Hz Mini LED HDR 1000 100% DCI-P3. In short, it’s like an IMAX that fits in your bag and you can still see your screen in the most intense direct sunlight.

But, the catch with a powerhouse like this is, it will absolutely murder its battery. Luckily this is packed with a 99.9whr battery (most airlines have a limit of 100whr, not that anybody checks) and, you’ll easily get a full 6-8 hours of battery life providing you don’t do any gaming or overly intense computing. Essential for somebody on the road.

What’s more is that it manages to pack all of this into a, relatively, light shell of less than 1.99kg.

The drawbacks? For the spec, it was quite cheap (about £2,500), so the build quality is a bit meh, it’s a cheap plastic shell and the responsiveness of the keyboard is a bit off sometimes. For example, if you tap the, rather wide, space bar on the edges it probably won’t work.

The size of it is a bit awkward on the move. Whilst I would still buy 16″ time and time again, this laptop is a 16:10 form factor whereas most laptops are 16:9, although the industry is starting to move towards 16:10. In day-to-day life? No difference, but when you start putting your laptop into typical cases or laptop bags, the corner starts to poke out.

And it gets hot. Unbearably hot. The fan configuration out of the box is naff, so you’ll need to play around with that. But even just watching Netflix, areas of this laptop will actually be too hot to touch. A laptop that can’t sit on your lap, essentially. Unless you have the fans running at full whack, which will murder your battery and also sound like you’re carrying a double-decker diesel bus around with you.

My Portable Screen – ASUS ZenScreen MB166C

Verdict: Will Probably Replace

I love screen real-estate. That’s why I have a 16″ laptop and a second screen, and I wouldn’t change that for the world. There’s a lot of cheap imported crap out there when it comes to monitors and that’s why I went for an ASUS.

From a reliability stand point it has not failed me once, never even a flicker. So on that basis I would highly recommend it, but I wish I had spent a bit more money on something higher quality with HDR and richer colours. I’m an avid hobby-photographer and viewing or editing photos on this screen sucks, the colours are washed out and it’s suuuuper apparent when next to my laptop which has an absolute beast of a display.

This monitor comes with a 3/4 inch camera mount meaning you can use any typical camera tripod/stand as a stand for this monitor, which is great for ergonomics. But, I stripped the thread on it after 5 months on the road and now I have to find more creative ways to prop it up. Originally I used to sit it on my keyboard when my laptop was on its stand, but as alluded to above, my laptop is a furnace and I think over time the screen may have got damaged. Now? I use it vertically and use the folding case that it came with. Actually works really well.

What will I replace it with? It’s hard because there’s not a lot out there from reputable brands and what is out there is actually quite naff, but the important spec parts for me will be:

HDR with 500 nits. This is the level of brightness, 250 is naff, 400 is OK but 500 is better. Not all HDR is the same, do your research.

Refresh rate of at least 120hz. Anything over 120hz is grand, 144hz is more common. It means the screen refreshes faster, 120hz=120 times a second, meaning your scrolling, gaming and all that is far smoother.

4K resolution. As my laptop is 4K, I’d like to get the same amount of detail and quality on my second screen. Be weary of screens claiming UHD or QHD when they’re not offering real 4K resolution, it’s super common. 4K resolution is 3840 x 2160. HD by comparison is 1920 x 1080. Any value in-between those numbers is called any variety of things from HD+, 2K, 2.5K, QHD etc., but if the P resolution (that’s the second number i.e. 3840 x 2160) is less than 2160 then it’s not 4K (sometimes called Ultra HD/UHD).

DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB Color Gamut. Most monitors will be sRGB and marketed as if it’s some sort of premium, but it’s the baseline. Next up from sRGB is DCI-P3 which offers a 25% wider range of colours and then you have Adobe RGB which offers 35% more than sRGB.

IPS Panel. The panel type will be the most common difference in price.

IPS offers the best value and quality balance, this is what I would recommend.

OLED is one of the better options but insanely expensive and quite rare.

There are other options like VA, Micro LED and Mini LED which are all good options but increasingly uncommon. In short: if you’ve got money to burn, go for OLED and if you want a balance of value and quality go for IPS. If the spec doesn’t say describe itself as one of these then it’s going to be poor quality.

Unlimited budget? You’ll want this.

Have financial restraint? You’ll want this.

On a tighter budget but don’t want an utter bag of crap? You’ll want this.

My Keyboard – Logitech MX Keys Mini

Verdict: Solid Purchase

Absolute beast of a keyboard and can’t recommend any higher. It’s lightweight, great battery life (rechargeable via USB C), compact, solid metal build quality and the backlight has a movement sensor to stop it draining battery.

That’s all there is to say about it really, it’s a keyboard at the end of the day. And whilst it is a little pricey, remember, this (after your laptop screen) is the one thing you will interact with the most as part of your working day, so yes, it’s definitely worth the £75 price tag.

The only thing I’d change? Buy a hard-case for it, mine is getting a bit battered in my backpack and I have lost one key so far, sad times.

My Mouse – Logitech Pebble Mouse M350s

Verdict: Will Probably Replace

I went for this mouse because it’s small and quite flat, great for being on the move. But it’s a little bit annoying and the optical tracker struggles on complicated work surfaces – and as a nomad constantly on the move, god knows what your next desk will look like (my last place had a glass desk – fantastic – mouse didn’t work at all).

It’s also not rechargeable, runs on one AA battery, but, that has lasted 6 months so far and still going strong.

What I’ll replace it for? Logitech MX Master 3S. I know it’s pricey and quite bulky but that thing will work upside down in zero gravity, plus the curve that sits in the cup of your hand is much more ergonomically-friendly. Honestly, a flat mouse is a bit uncomfortable on a long shift.

My Laptop Stand – Roost V3

Verdict: Would Sacrifice My First Born For This

This is the best laptop stand on the market. Nothing even comes close to this thing. I lost it once (ruined my week tbh) but thankfully my friend found it and we were reunited in the next city.

At £90 it’s damn expensive but a solid investment, there are 1,600 Amazon reviews putting it at a 4.9 rating . It’s a patented design and whilst others have tried to copy it (Nexstand), this can’t be beat.

It weighs less than 180g (6 ounces), folds down to 1.5 x 13 inches so it can fit in your bag and also be used as a baton to fight off Bali influencers trying to sell you an MLM scam.

It also has seven height adjustments depending on your height and posture.

My Power Bank – Anker Prime 27,650mAh

Verdict: Would Rile Up the Achaeans and Sail to War for This

There are power banks and then there are portable nuclear power stations. This is the latter. Right at the legal flying limit (100whr) of 99.9whr, this is the most powerful power bank on the market that you can travel with. Packed with enough juice to fully recharge your average laptop once, and your iPhone 5 or 6 times, it’s an absolute godsend.

It also had a cool little status screen, two USB C ports and one USB A port. Interestingly, you can also use both USB C ports to recharge (plugged into two separate sockets) and you can be back up and running in under 90 minutes.

My Earphones – Jabra Elite 10

Verdict: Will Probably Replace

I used to love them but they kind of get on my tits to be honest. Really solid build, fantastic noise cancellation and the multi-directional microphones are so good that you could have a conference call in the middle of a warzone. But a few little things that bug me: there’s something off with the bluetooth connectivity and I have to reset my laptop sometimes (for comparison, I connect my keyboard and mouse every morning without issue), the charging case is very temperamental and sometimes the earpods remain connected and the fit is a bit off: go for a jog or eat some food and they’ll start slipping out.

What will I replace it with? Sony WF-1000XM5 – every reliable source says these are the best earpods existence. Tom’s Guide, What HiFi and countless folks on r/digitalnomad

What are some things I didn’t buy that I’ll now add?

A decent carry-on backpack that will make airports a lot easier. Something from tomtoc is recommended.

A cover with built in airtag for my passport. Had a close call where I almost lost it.

A clamp-style stand for my second screen.

A portable speaker, sometimes I just wanna jam.

And what are some things I bought that I don’t need?

I have too many cables and accessories, honestly I have two small packs of stuff and it’s just a pain in the arse to carry everywhere, so I’m due a reshuffle soon.