Mobile Phones and Other Technology for the Camino

recommendations & links below

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About Using Mobile Phones on the Camino

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Recommendation: Get a Portable Charger for your Mobile Devices

A Camino Safety Tip
 In public spaces on the Camino, like pilgrim accommodations, it’s a good idea to not leave your phone charging without keeping an eye on it.
Also: it seems everyone wants to charge their phones and other devices at the same time (evenings), and there are only so many electrical outlets! A portable charger will typically charge your devices a few times (depending on the type of device; tablets, for example, need more).

In other words: if somehow the charger goes missing, it’s not as serious as losing your mobile phone with all of the personal data inside.

HERE is the small but powerful Anker 335 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K), 20W Portable Charger with USB-C Fast Charging,
Works for iPhones, Samsung, iPads, AirPods, Apple Watch, and More.

I’ve used Anker charging products for years, and have always been pleased with the quality of this brand.

Recommendation: Use an “unlocked” mobile phone on the Camino.

An unlocked mobile phone allows you to use a local SIM card
(see UPDATE on SIM technology for Apple iPhones below).

SIM cards hold information,
 like your assigned phone number and the cellular company’s information.

What is Unlocked?
Unlocked means you can purchase a SIM card in Spain,
for example,
from a local Spanish cellular-network company,
and insert it into your mobile phone
to temporarily replace your home country’s SIM card.

Then you’ll have a local phone number on a local cellular network
and pay local rates using a local carrier.

Instead of paying for expensive international calls
and/or data use with your home country’s SIM card while abroad.

You can get a pay-as-you-go plan, so there are no monthly payments.
Then you only pay for phone call minutes and data usage.
(data usage examples: sending & receiving emails; searching the internet; using a map app.)

It’s easy to get “refills” for these types of plans.
For example many local grocers or news kiosks sell the “refills.”

About Dual SIM technology for Mobile Phones

For newer iPhones, Google Pixel Phones, and many of the newer Android Phones (like Samsung, etc.)

You can now get dual SIM functionality.

That means you have a SIM card and an eSIM in your phone.

eSIM is a digital SIM that you can activate with your cellular carrier.

What this means:

You could add a local data plan when traveling abroad,
like in Spain and/or France when you’re walking the Camino.

You could have separate voice and data plans, thus more control on costs when you’re abroad.

And there are other uses too.
For example, you could use one number for business and another number for personal calls.

A note for those who prefer the simplicity of flip-style mobile phones:

For the Camino journey, you may want to consider the benefits of using a “smart phone.”

— Like an iPhone - a wide range of price options HERE —
— Like an Android phone - a wide range of price options HERE —

Here’s why:

Smart phones have countless features that are useful for travelers, and especially hikers: like GPS, Maps,
and access to the Internet are among many useful benefits.

A smart phone uses apps,
and these can save you time and money — and make traveling easier.
—
Our sister site CaminoApps.com has a curated list of Camino apps,
including guidebook route apps for both Android and iPhones.

In addition you’ll find European transportation apps, specific European city apps, and many other useful apps to use while traveling in Europe in general.

The Best Mobile Phones for the Camino


Be sure you see this key word: “unlocked” so you can exchange SIM cards when you travel, or that it has a dual SIM capability (like eSIM).
”Unlocked” also allows you to change cell phone carriers whenever you want.

— — —
iPhones are my first choice, for many reasons.
Security is the primary one.
No device is totally safe, but Apple has made serious efforts to protect privacy and provide security.

You can get newest iPhones HERE.
You can find an a variety of older iPhones and pricing HERE.

There are so many other mobile phones, but Samsung is one of the most popular Android operating system phones:

You can find the newest Samsung smart phones HERE.
Other Samsung older smart phone options that may cost less are HERE.

The Best Smart Watch to Use on the Camino

A smart watch has many functions that are useful for the Camino, and for training to do the Camino too.
For example, recording time and distances, and a number of health statistics.

The most popular:

Apple Watches HERE:

Samsung watches HERE.

Before “smart watches”, there was Fitbit — remember?
They’re still around! And they’ve become quite smart too! Get one HERE.

The Best Tablets for the Camino

If you’re an “Apple person”,
the iPad Pro can’t be beat.
Get it here.
(Some good pricing— and a lot of options to choose from)

— — —

If you’re a PC / person, this Microsoft Surface Go tablet has excellent reviews. Get it here.

— — —

If you’re an “Android person”,
Fire, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and Lenovo
all have highly-rated tablets.
Look at them here.
Excellent price ranges!

Consider a Kindle Paperwhite

Carry hundreds of books with you, including Camino guidebooks.

This newest version is actually waterproof.
So you could safely read an Kindle Camino guidebook on the trail while it’s raining…

Get a Best-Selling Camino Francés Kindle book here

Get a Best-Selling Camino Portugués Kindle book here

Get a Best-Selling Camino del Norte Kindle book here
Or this highly-rated: The Northern Caminos: Norte, Primitivo, Inglés

I recently got this case for my Kindle Paperwhite,
and it makes my Kindle reader feel like a leather book.