These tech-forward suitcases will help streamline your next trip.
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"Smart luggage" is kind of a broad term. In some cases, it may simply mean a suitcase or bag has one or more electronic components, like a powerbank, charging port, or tracking chip. But the newest iterations are more advanced, with some featuring built-in scales, electric scooters, and robotic navigation that follows you around while your hands are free.
Whether you're looking for something that simply charges your devices or you have a more sophisticated carrier with innovative capabilities in mind, you'll find it here. Although large checked smart suitcases exist, this type of luggage typically comes in carry-on or backpack form, as the smart features are most useful on an airplane and while walking through the terminal. We researched and tested the best smart luggage currently available, analyzing each piece based on tech features, user-friendliness, capacity, and organization, then narrowed it down to stand out options worth buying.
The Airwheel SE3S can be used as an electric scooter or pulled like a regular suitcase.
The scooter component may not be professional enough for business travel.
Our top choice is the Airwheel SE3S. This carry-on has tire-style wheels and a built-in motor, allowing you to use it as an electric scooter in a sitting or standing position, with a speed of up to 8 miles per hour. You can also adjust the telescoping handle with the press of a button when you want to pull it like a regular suitcase.
Other smart features include a built-in USB powerbank with a high-speed output for fast on-the-go charging. Additionally, you can change the color of the LED-lit logo. The SE3S is powered by a long-lasting rechargeable battery, which you can remove to recharge or at the request of TSA.
This suitcase is made of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), a super resilient and waterproof thermoplastic. It has a decent interior capacity, too, with a designated laptop pocket. Though the design is sleek, the scooter component may not be professional enough for business trips. Also, due to the motor and electrical components, it weighs in at 21 pounds when empty which may be hard to lift into the overhead when packed full of heavy items.
The Details: Electric scooter, electric telescoping handle, USB power bank, app-controlled logo color | 21.7 x 14.1 x 9.4 inches | 21 pounds | ABS
The AI-powered Ovis moves autonomously by your side without bumping into anything while you keep your hands free.
Due to the electronic components, it's somewhat heavy for a carry-on.
The ForwardX Ovis is a smart suitcase with AI-powered self-driving technology. It'll follow you around the terminal, train station, or sidewalk, staying close while you keep your hands free. The sensors allow it to move autonomously by your side at your walking speed without bumping into anything in its path.
There are also two USB ports and a built-in power bank for charging your mobile devices on the go. You can easily power up both the powerbank and the self-driving component with the detachable lithium battery. This carry-on is made of Makrolon polycarbonate, which is lighter than aluminum and more durable than ABS. The glossy, waterproof material resists denting and scuffs, and you can wipe it clean as needed. One thing to note is that due to the electronic components, the Ovis is pretty heavy for a carry-on (over 18 pounds when empty).
The Details: Self-driving technology, USB ports | 21.6 x 15 x 8.7 inches | 18.3 pounds | Makrolon polycarbonate
This spacious, multi-compartment backpack features a USB port that gets its power from the sun's energy.
The USB port is the only smart feature, but it's compatible with the brand's portable speaker.
We tested the Solgaard Lifepack and were thoroughly impressed by how much fit inside the spacious interior. In addition to the main compartment, there's a front section with various pouches and pockets for stashing small items you want easy access to, plus two side pockets and a laptop sleeve.
What stood out the most was the solar panel, which allows you to charge your smartphone and other mobile devices using energy from the sun. This backpack has an integrated USB port in one of the side pockets that gets its power from the solar panel. We found it comfortable to wear, too, thanks to the padded shoulder straps and chest strap. The Solgaard Lifepack is also eco-friendly, as it's made with recycled plastic sourced from ocean-bound bottles.
The Details: USB port, compatible with Solar bank and Solar Boombox | 18.6 x 11.6 x 7 inches | 4 pounds | Shore-Tex™️
Beyond the handy weight indicator, this checked suitcase has a huge capacity while still being notably lightweight and easy to maneuver.
The handle only extends to one height, and the lighter colors will show scuff marks.
We tried the Béis Large Check-in Roller ourselves and were blown away by its absolutely huge capacity. This suitcase has lots of pockets and comes with a laundry bag and multiple shoe pouches. Everything on our packing list fit without a fuss — in fact, we could have fit twice as much stuff. It's even expandable, which adds another 3 inches to the depth. And despite the massive size, it's notably lightweight (roughly 10 pounds when empty).
This checked suitcase has a weight indicator that tells you if you've exceeded the weight limit for your airline. Though the handle only extends to one height, it's a breeze to push, pull, and turn on the four smooth-gliding spinner wheels. The polycarbonate shell stood up to our bat-hitting and shoving tests. Bear in mind the lighter colors are prone to show scuff marks, which are all but guaranteed with time spent on a conveyor belt and in a plane's cargo hold, but you should be able to buff them off with a damp cloth.
The Details: Weight limit indicator | 31.3 x 19.6 x 12.6 inches | 10 pounds | Virgin polycarbonate
The dual USB port can charge your phone and laptop simultaneously, and you can remove the airline-approved battery when it needs recharging.
It doesn't have an expander, and lighter colors may show scuffs.
July's carry-on has a surprisingly spacious capacity, considering its compact design. Although it doesn't have an expander, we had no problem fitting everything on our packing list. There are two internal compartments, one with a zippered mesh closure and the other with an adjustable compression pad. This suitcase also has a convenient USB port that can charge your phone and laptop at the same time. The battery is approved for all major airlines, and it ejects, so you can power it up anywhere or leave it out if you decide to check your bag.
It proved durable during our tests, resisting dents and sustaining only a few minor scuffs you can buff out if needed. Lifting it overhead into an overhead compartment is also easy, thanks to the lightweight design. This carry-on also rolls smoothly on its spinner wheels and takes turns like a champ. Considering the high-quality design, we think the price is justified.
The Details: Ejectible battery with dual USB port | 21.5 x 15 x 8.5 inches | 7.9 pounds | Aerospace-grade polycarbonate
This carry-on has built-in charging ports and a hidden power bank compartment, plus it's sleek, durable, and easy to maneuver.
It doesn't have many pockets, and the expander could make it too large to fit in an overhead bin.
The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-on has a decent capacity, though we had to use the expander to fit everything on our packing list. Depending on the airline, this could make it harder to fit into an overhead bin. We appreciate the mesh zippered compartments, which help compress your items and allow you to fit more, but a few smaller pockets would be nice.
This suitcase has built-in USB-A and USB-C ports for recharging your phone, tablet, and laptop. It features a hidden battery pocket, but you'll need to buy a powerbank for it separately. We love the sleek appearance of the Platinum Elite. The polycarbonate shell showed no signs of damage from our durability tests. With a comfortable handle and self-aligning wheels, it maneuvers well on hard floors and turns on a dime, though it takes slightly more effort to push on carpet when packed full.
The Details: USB-A and USB-C ports, power bank pocket | 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches | 8.5 pounds | Polycarbonate
The tech-forward Olotu Smart Suitcase can be pushed with the handle, navigated hands-free, or used as ride-on luggage.
It doesn't have an expander, and the max load weight is 220 pounds.
The Olotu Smart Suitcase has a lightweight yet exceptionally sturdy polycarbonate shell, reinforced zippers, a telescoping handle, and wear-resistant, rubberized wheels that glide like a dream. You can push and pull it like a regular spinner suitcase, but if you want your hands free, you can use the follow-along feature to have it roll beside you.
You can automatically recall the suitcase with the press of a button and use the lost alarm if it's ever out of your sight. It also functions as a ride-on suitcase, allowing you to sit on top and place your feet on the pedals. (Note: the max bearing capacity is 220 pounds.) Though there's no expander, we like that this carry-on suitcase has two main compartments, one with zippered mesh closure and the other with compression straps. The price is undoubtedly steep, but if you're here for versatility and tech features, it might be worth the investment.
The Details: Auto-follow technology, automatic recall, lost alarm, mobile charging | 22 x 14.2 x 10 inches | Polycarbonate
This suitcase flaunts a sleek aesthetic along with an ejectable charger.
Aluminum bags have no give and are heavier than other hardside alternatives.
The aluminum version of Away's Bigger Carry-on is a sight for sore eyes. Available in silver, rose gold, or black, the shiny design will surely make a statement at the airport. Aesthetics aside, aluminum luggage is generally considered more durable than its polycarbonate counterparts. This suitcase boasts a spacious capacity with interior compression, promising to hold up to nine outfits while still fitting into an overhead bin. It also comes with a laundry bag for separating dirty clothes.
In terms of smart features, it has an ejectable USB charger that powers up your phone, tablet, and laptop without the need for a separate power bank. And you can recharge the battery using the included cable, which plugs into any wall outlet. If you decide to check your bag, you'll appreciate that it comes with a leather luggage tack and a TSA-approved combination lock. Just a heads up, this suitcase is over twice the price of the brand's regular Bigger Carry-on and slightly heavier too.
The Details: Ejectible USB charger, outlet cable | 22.7 x 14.5 x 9.6 inches | 11.2 pounds | Aluminum
We've tested dozens of pieces of luggage with smart features over the past couple of years. In addition to their ability to streamline the travel experience with tech components, the suitcases and bags were evaluated based on size, capacity, organization, maneuverability, durability, and overall value.
Smart luggage often has the allure of being fancy and innovative, but you may not actually need (or use) all the features. A self-driving design with auto-follow technology or a suitcase that doubles as an electric scooter certainly might come in handy, though, realistically, not everyone will be comfortable using these. Plus, the motors and electrical components can make these options substantially heavier. More universally useful features include built-in USB ports with a power bank pocket or ejectable battery included.
Always check your airline's luggage rules and restrictions before bringing (or even buying) a smart suitcase, as some smart features may not be allowed onboard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also has rules about lithium batteries. Devices with built-in batteries — like smartphones, laptops, tablets, and cameras — should generally go in carry-on luggage.
Smart luggage is any suitcase or bag with one or more electronic components. This can include a USB charging port, a built-in powerbank, a removable battery, an integrated digital scale, or a digital lock. More advanced options may feature self-driving functions with auto-follow technology or a motorized electric scooter.
Most smart luggage is meant to be carried on, as the electronic features tend to be most useful in the terminal and on an airplane. However, suitcases that don't have large lithium batteries can usually be checked. Additionally, if yours has a power bank pocket or an ejectable battery, you can always remove these items to check it as needed.
The FAA generally prohibits items containing lithium-ion batteries from being checked because they're a potential fire hazard for the cargo hold. If your suitcase has a built-in, non-ejectable battery, you probably can't check it. But the agency notes that it depends on the device type and battery size — for instance, devices with smaller batteries like a rechargeable electric toothbrush are typically OK.
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer, editor, and product reviewer specializing in travel, luggage, consumer tech, and lifestyle. For this story, she compiled insights from suitcases and bags we tested firsthand, then researched additional options that stood out for features, functionality, user-friendliness, durability, and value. You can read more of her stories on People and Byrdie.
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