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When you’re on vacation or working on the road, you can only rely on public Wi-Fi. Often, the connection is spotty, or non-existent. The best way to ensure you have a fast, reliable, long-lasting connection is through a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device.
We asked our expert, Muhammad Usman Ilyas, Assistant Professor at the School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham-Dubai, to explain. “Also known as a portable Wi-Fi router or Mi-Fi device, it allows you to create a wireless network connection using cellular data,” he said. phone, tablet, laptop, or any other Wi-Fi-enabled device.”
Have you ever turned on the hotspot mode on your phone to share internet access with a friend? Or use it to connect the laptop to the internet? Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots work the same way, but they have a built-in cellular modem and create a unique network that you can connect to using a password.
It’s a handy solution when you’re working on the go, traveling with a group, or just trying to save phone battery.
“Modern smartphones can also act as mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, but doing so will drain the battery faster, which could leave you stuck in the middle of the day,” Ilias said. Traveling with a mobile hotspot may be more cost-effective, Because you only pay for one data connection, and then all the devices of all the members of your team can share that data connection.”
what do i need to set it up?
According to Ilyas, to operate the device, you’ll need the device itself, a data plan from your mobile network provider, a Sim card (in some cases), and the ability to charge the hotspot when the battery dies. “Data plans vary in terms of data allowances, network speeds and cost, so you can choose a plan that suits your needs,” he said.
If you’re buying one for international travel, there are other things to be aware of. “If you plan to use a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot when traveling internationally, make sure you have a hotspot that isn’t locked to a specific cellular provider’s network and can accept Sim cards,” advises Ilias.
In general, he recommends buying a device that supports your preferred mobile network operator and has access to the latest network technology, such as 4G LTE or 5G, “to benefit from faster download and upload speeds”. This is especially useful if you want to stream video or games over the hotspot.
Other aspects to consider include battery life, Wi-Fi range, the number of devices you can connect to, and its lightness and portability. Ilyas adds: “Some mobile hotspots offer extra features, such as an external antenna port for improved signal reception, a microSD memory card slot for file sharing, or an Ethernet port for wired connections. Any additional functionality that may be useful.”
Thanks to our experts’ recommendations and top-rated user reviews, we’ve curated a selection of great options for you.choose your favorite Amazon Prime And get it before you go on vacation!
1. Best Overall: TP-Link M7350 Hotspot
advantage
- Supports up to 10 devices
- run for eight hours at a time
- Includes microSD card slot
shortcoming
With nearly 6,000 4.5-star ratings on Amazon, TP-Link’s M7350 hotspot is loved by reviewers for the value it offers and its affordable price. The device supports 4G LTE networks, which means it can reach speeds of up to 150Mbps. If you insert a 4G Sim card, you can use this dual-band hotspot as a hub for 10 device connections. Its battery life is impressive – the hotspot can run for 8 hours at full capacity and up to 480 hours on standby without recharging. You can also keep it connected with its adapter to enjoy endless 4G sharing. Reviewers have successfully used the microSD card feature to share movies and music with friends, another key feature that makes it a worthwhile purchase.
bonus: Redeem 15% off with promo code’PRIMEX15‘ if you are a Prime member.
2. Best 5G hotspot: Linksys 5G Mobile Hotspot
advantage
- thin and light
- Connect more than 15 devices
- Fast charging and long battery life
- Includes SIM card slot
shortcoming
- expensive
- no visual interface
The Linksys mobile hotspot features a slim body and a powerful Qualcomm 5G Snapdragon chipset to give you fast mobile internet. It’s just 15.5mm thick and weighs 185g, but packs a 4,000mAh battery, which reviewers say is good enough for all-day use. The device also acts as a Wi-Fi 6 router with speeds of up to 1.8Gbps, meaning you can game, stream 4K video, and work without any issues. It’s easy to set up and control, but there’s no on-device visual interface — settings need to be adjusted through a browser.
bonus: Buy and pay AED 132.42 for 12 months with 0% installments through nominated banks.
3. Best Value: TP-Link 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
advantage
- compact and portable
- Easy management through linked apps
- good battery life
- Support up to 10 devices at the same time
shortcoming
Another award winner from TP-Link, this no-nonsense mobile hotspot ticks all the boxes for the average internet user. It’s compact and portable, can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, and has solid Wi-Fi range thanks to 4G LTE connectivity. You set up the device through a smartphone app, where you can also configure data limits and control which users can access it. This mobile hotspot has a powerful 2,000mAh battery, which means it can provide up to 8 hours of wireless connectivity. Parents in the comments use this device in their car so their kids’ tablet can seamlessly connect to the internet – a useful trick for road trips!
bonus: Redeem 15% off with promo code’PRIMEX15‘ if you are a Prime member.
4. Best Premium: NETGEAR Nighthawk M6 Pro
advantage
- unbelievably fast
- Includes Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Plus support
- Wi-Fi Booster Available in Writer
- Includes a Sim slot
- Unlocked for international use
shortcoming
If you need blazing-fast gaming speeds, or if you travel and frequently transfer large files, NETGEAR’s Nighthawk M6 Pro is for you. The device supports any mobile data plan up to 6Gbps – all it needs is a Nano Sim card and a data plan from your mobile provider. It is capable of connecting up to 32 devices, and its intuitive touchscreen display makes it easy to set up and operate. Critics say they’ve used the device to connect to 5G Plus (a network that offers a better combination of speed, capacity and coverage) in many countries and achieve extremely fast transfer rates. While the Nighthawk M6 Pro does come with a hefty price tag, it’s worth it for those who need to be constantly connected to Wi-Fi and upload or download large amounts of data on a regular basis.
bonus: Buy and pay AED 415.75 for 12 months with 0% installments through nominated banks.
5. Best for Travel: GlocalMe 4G Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot
advantage
- Innovative network switching facilities
- Using cloud SIM technology
- Up to 10 devices can be connected simultaneously
- Easy to install and use
shortcoming
- some reviewers say its speed fluctuates
GlocalMe’s new age mobile hotspot is built with flexibility in mind and works without a Sim card. This is ideal when traveling abroad, as you’ll be able to avoid the hassle of researching data plans and network providers in your vacation area. All you have to do is pay online and your device’s cloud Sim technology will choose the network with the best signal. Fast and stable, it supports network switching in more than 140 countries. Reviewers say the hotspot’s pay-as-you-go facility has saved them hundreds of dirhams on international travel. You can share Wi-Fi connection with up to 10 devices at the same time, and check the data flow and signal status directly on the device’s visual interface.
bonus: Purchase with 0% installment payment of AED 56 over 12 months through selected banks.
Our recommendations are independently selected by Gulf News editors. If you decide to shop through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission because we are part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.
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