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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• If you don’t want to carry a laptop around, there are other options.
• They range in size from an AR headset to your phone.
• Here are some ways you can do that, and what works best for each situation.

I’m a mobile writer, and by that I mean I write about mobile tech and I write while I’m mobile. Because of that, I often end up without a laptop or in a place where I can’t use one, like the back seat of a car or on a plane. Sometimes, I’m just sick of using a laptop, so I want to try something new. When that happens, I adapt and use something else. I’ve found various devices that work well in these situations.

Also: My top 3 distraction-free writing apps that helped me write dozens of novels

So, over the past few weeks, I’ve been going back to some old devices I’ve used in these situations and trying out new ones. I thought you might like to know some alternate ways to create content, even if you’re not on a laptop.

A keyboard-less writing alternative

One such device I found is called SpeakOn. It’s an AI voice transcription device about the size of an Oreo cookie. It attaches to the back of your iPhone or Android phone using MagSafe (a magnetic ring is included in the packaging) and pairs via Bluetooth. There’s a button on the back to power it on and off, and a button on the front to activate push-to-talk for transcription.

I was skeptical about using this device because my brain doesn’t normally work by flowing directly to the page. Normally, I need to consider what I want to say and then figure out the best way to say it. From there, I can go ahead and type it out; this was definitely a new experience for me.

I tried using this device to write this article, and up until now, everything has been dictated into the SpeakOn device — and heavily edited afterward. However, I’ve confirmed what I’ve long suspected — my brain isn’t set up to create this way. I also realized that it can be pretty frustrating when you’re lying back on your bed, talking into a device, and you realize, “Oh, it didn’t get all of that.” That happened on a couple of occasions.

Also: The most impressive piece of tech I’ve tested (and it isn’t smart glasses) 

I’m also not a fan of how this device adjusts your voice, making it sound either more professional or more casual. I should mention that when I wrote “happened on a couple of occasions,” the SpeakOn translated that as “happened a couple of times.” I’m not a fan of that.

So from now on, I’m going to write this article the old-fashioned way — fingers and keyboard, like nature intended. Of course, which keyboard and which display is where things get really weird. Let’s dive in.

Samsung Galaxy XR

I’m going to start with arguably the coolest and most impractical option — the Samsung Galaxy XR headset, launched last October. This is pretty much Samsung’s answer to the Apple Vision Pro, but for half the price. It’s a self-contained computing device that straps to your face.

Samsung and some app developers have built some interesting experiences with the Galaxy XR, including the MLB app, Google Maps, and Gemini, which can spatialize content and turn it into 3D content on the fly using AI. It’s pretty cool, but if you’re just trying to write, browse the internet, or watch content, it’s a little much. 

The headset itself is not small, and the virtual keyboard is, to put it politely, challenging to use. I pair it with a ProtoArc XK01 TP Keyboard, which works very well. That keyboard will be a recurring theme in this product parade.

Overall, the Galaxy XR in its current form is not a great substitute for your content creation. Once Project Aura from XReal comes around, which will offer basically the same experience but in a glasses form factor, this will be an entirely different conversation, and I can’t wait. Speaking of XReal…

XReal 1S Glasses

The XReal 1S glasses are a step down from Samsung’s headset in the XR space. These glasses basically make a display float in the air in front of you. You can use it as a secondary monitor, though I prefer to just use it as my main monitor. I’m a bigger guy, so working on an airplane is difficult and cramped. But, with the ProtoArc Keyboard and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in DeX mode, I can basically get a windowed interface in any space I need.

The glasses have to be connected to the phone for this to work, and it’s important to remember that the glasses will drain the battery of whatever device you connect them to. I can usually get a solid 4-5 hours’ worth of work out of the glasses and the S26 Ultra before things start getting hairy.

DeX mode is what really makes this work, giving you a windowed interface. The XReal glasses have two modes — follow mode and locked mode; I prefer the latter. With follow mode, the whole screen moves as you turn your head, but in locked mode, the screen stays fixed in the air in front of you. 

You can turn your head to focus on different parts of the screen as needed. Humorously, when the airplane turns, the screen starts to drift with it, but a quick recentering fixes this.

Xiaomi Pad 7 and Pro Magnetic keyboard

One of the most popular laptop alternatives you’ll find is the old tablet-and-keyboard combo, but not all tablets and keyboards are created equal. Arguably, the most effective solution to this kind of content creation is the iPad and the Magic Keyboard — which I do not have. A close second is the Xiaomi Pad 7 and its companion keyboard.

Also: This Android tablet brings a $1,700 iPad Pro feature to the $400 price range – and it’s just as good

I’m an Android baby at heart — iOS is great and all, but I prefer having options —  so using a tablet and keyboard like the Xiaomi is next-level. The tablet has a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 8GB RAM,   so it’s more than up to the task of my kind of content creation. I could (and even have) edit a video on it if I needed to, but since Android apps are not ideal for that, I still prefer to do that on a laptop.

But for a portable ‘laptop’ you can carry around and toss into a bag, this is an excellent device. If you’re in the US, the Xiaomi can be tough to find. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a close competitor, but I prefer the screen to “float” above the keyboard. The S10 Ultra has a keyboard that just flaps down at the bottom of the tablet.

Foldable and keyboard

The best camera is the one you have with you, and the same goes for the best content creation device. These days, I carry the Oppo Find N6, a deliciously great foldable with a large screen on the inside. In a pinch, I can, and have, propped it up against something and whipped out the ProtoArc Keyboard to work on an article. I would absolutely adore the phone if it had a MagSafe ring. I attached a third-party one, but it tends to pop off when you remove the phone.

Also: Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: We tried both, and here’s who wins

But a foldable phone gives you plenty of space for work. The Find N6 has the Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2 processor and 16GB of RAM, so it’s just as capable as the Xiaomi tablet, and it also has built-in internet connectivity, which is an invaluable bonus.

Of course, any foldable will give you a similar experience. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold have similarly sized screens, but the Find N6’s battery life is absolutely second to none. 

Normal phone and virtual keyboard

If you find yourself with some downtime, but without a larger device, your phone is an excellent content creation machine. I tend to do most of my creator things on my iPhone 17 Pro Max, but any phone will do. Arguments can be made that a phone is too narrow and a virtual keyboard doesn’t work as well — both very solid arguments. However, with some practice, it’s very doable.

Also: The best Samsung phones to buy

We type on our phones every day, so writing 1,000 words on a phone isn’t all that different; it just takes more time. Over the past several weeks, I have typed several articles of 700 words or more on my phone while riding in a car or waiting for my daughter’s soccer game to start. 

Here’s one power move you may be familiar with: long-pressing the space bar on most virtual keyboards (iOS included) lets you move the cursor if you need to reposition it. That has saved me so much time and spared me the pain of pulling my hair out. 

In conclusion, it just feels good

So that’s a look at how I’ve been creating content. I don’t always want to carry around a laptop, and in fact, these past few weeks have inspired me to carry one around even less. That’s a pretty powerful feeling if I’m being totally honest.

Also: The best Android tablets: Lab tested, expert recommended

Being able to sit down, or even stand as the case may be, and get some work done on your phone is a great feeling. It helps me bridge work/life balance by being incredibly flexible when I need to be present somewhere, without having to toss a laptop into my bag so I can get what needs doing done. Next time you have the opportunity, I encourage you to try it.