Alright, so that’s the end of 2025, I want to take a moment to write down what I actually carry and use every day.

Criteria

My everyday carry follows a few simple rules:

  • Affordable: I’m a student, so budget matters. I prioritize things that offers good quality at a reasonable price, not too cheap, but not too expensive either.
  • Reliable and long-lasting: I want things that can be used for years. Replacing stuffs every year is something I try to avoid.
  • Compact and portable: I have to travel a lot and live far from home, so portability matters a lot to me. Anything I carry needs to be lightweight and easy to bring along, not something that stays in one place.
  • Good enough: I don’t need top-tier performance. As long as it’s good enough for daily use, that’s more than sufficient for me.

Core

Laptop

My main laptop is a Panasonic Let’s Note SZ6. It’s very lightweight, compact and durable (12-inch, ~800g, magnesium build). Despite its age, the Core i5-7300U paired with 8GB of RAM is still more than enough for my daily needs. laptop

I mainly use it for:

  • Web browsing
  • Studying
  • Coding
  • Making music
  • And writing this post :D

Phone

I’m currently using an iPhone 11. I got it after a motorbike accident that completely destroyed my previous phone. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan of iPhone or iOS, but I can’t deny that it’s really reliable and stable for daily use. phone1

Before this, I used a Google Pixel 4 XL and a Vsmart Active 1, both of which sadly didn’t survive the accident. phone2

Tablet

I still can’t live without Android, so I keep using a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019), a device that’s already 6–7 years old. After debloating and de-Googling it, the tablet is surprisingly usable despite its low-end specs. tablet

It’s mainly for:

  • Reading manga
  • Light browsing
  • Anki
  • Casual Android-specific tasks

Carry

Watch

I use a Xiaomi Band 9 Pro as my watch. I don’t usually connect to my phone, and I mostly use it for telling the time and measuring my biophysical activity (heart rate, SpO2, …) watch

Bag

I use a backpack from a local brand in my country called Natoli. It’s pretty dirt cheap ($10) and very durable. bag

Wallet

I got this wallet from Shopee and have been using it for the past 2–3 years. I use it for holding cards, keys, and some important documents. wallet

Audio

Listening to music is one of my hobbies, so I prefer quality over convenience. I usually use wired headphones/earphones instead of TWS.

Earphones

My main IEM and also my endgame is the Truthear Hexa. It has a neutral, studio-grade sound signature and feels very durable.

I also use Tanchjim Origin (not mine) and Truthear Zero:RED. They’re both excellent in their own ways, but when it comes to daily listening, the Hexa is still my top pick. earphone1 earphone2

Output

For audio output, I use the Moondrop Dawn Pro as my DAC/dongle. I got it for around $12, which makes it an absolute steal. dac

I use it primarily to replace my laptop’s built-in sound card, but it also works as a dongle DAC for my iPhone. Having a single DAC that I can use across multiple devices makes my setup simpler and more consistent, especially when switching between laptop and phone.

Peripherals

Keyboard

My daily keyboard is the Akko ACR64. It’s compact without sacrificing essential keys, which makes it ideal for both portability and desk use. keeb

Stationery

Pen

For daily writing, I use a Pilot Kakuno as my daily driver pen. It’s lightweight, comfortable to hold, and reliable, exactly what I want from a pen I use every day. The nib is really smooth and forgiving, which makes it great for long writing sessions without much fatigue. pen

As a backup, I carry a cheap Deli ballpoint pen. It’s there for situations where the Kakuno can’t write properly, especially on certain surfaces or low-quality paper. Despite being cheap, it writes surprisingly smoothly and gets the job done when needed.

Notebook

I don’t really have much choice when it comes to notebooks, since I use my school’s notebook by default, but if I need to choose, I will choose Kokuyo notebooks and Field Notes.

Wishlist

  • Wacom CTL-472: I want to use it as a replacement for both mouse and touchpad. It should be more ergonomic and flexible, especially for long study or work sessions.
  • Lucky65 V2 + Outemu Peach Silent: A compact mechanical keyboard with VIA support, so I can remap it into an HHKB-style layout. Silent switches are important since I often type in shared or quiet environments.

Closing

This setup isn’t about having the newest or best gear. It’s about carrying things that fit my budget, my lifestyle, and how I actually use them every day.

As a student who has to travel a lot and live far from home, I value portability, reliability, and gear that simply works.

For now, this EDC does the job, and that matters more to me than constantly upgrading.