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Public Wi-Fi isn’t our favorite way to stay connected on the road. Weak signal, slow speeds, and dire hotel networks can make getting online an ordeal while traveling.
For most of us, being Internet-deprived on the road is little more than an annoyance, but for others (such as business travelers or online entrepreneurs), not being able to log in is a real problem.
If you need reliable Internet when you’re traveling, relying on shared Wi-Fi networks isn’t the best approach. Instead, especially if you’ve got multiple devices or a locked smartphone, take a connection wherever you go with a mobile hotspot.
Mobile hotspots, also known as pocket Wi-Fi’s, portable hotspots, or Mi-Fi devices, typically come in the form of a small gadget that connects to a local cell network in whatever country you’re in. It shares its data connection over a private Wi-fi network, so you connect all your other devices to the Internet through it.
Many companies rent or sell portable hotspots like these, typically at a high daily cost for international use. Just like smartphones, though, you can also buy unlocked mobile hotspots that let you pop in a local SIM card wherever you are to take advantage of cheap data rates.
Here are our top unlocked mobile hotspot choices for 2018, complete with their best and worst features.
Note: We recommend carefully checking the regions supported by any mobile hotspot you plan to purchase. Not every device supports the cellular frequencies used in every region or country, which means you may get slower speeds, or no data at all, in some parts of the world.
Best on a Budget: Huawei E5330Bs
On a budget? If you’re just after a simple, no-frills device to help you stay connected, the Huawei E5330Bs is an affordable option, albeit with some limitations.
The Specs
- 5-6 hours of battery life
- Runs on 3G and 2G
- Up to 21Mbps download, 5Mbps upload
- Supports up to 8 users
The Good
- Noticeably cheaper than most other unlocked mobile hotspots
- Small and light, fitting easily into a pocket
The Bad
- It’s slow, with no support for 4G/LTE. Don’t expect great speeds.
- It doesn’t work in most parts of the Americas, including the USA. If that’s where you’re heading, consider the E5577Cs-321 model instead — it’s more expensive, but still typically under $100.
- Battery life isn’t great. If you plan to use it all day, you’ll need a portable battery pack as well
Best for Frequent Travelers: GlocalMe G3
The GlocalMe G3 is one of the best mobile hotspots we’ve come across, with a killer feature: letting you roam with the inbuilt data plans, or use a local SIM to slash costs, whichever you prefer. We published a full review of the device in early 2018.
The Specs
- 15 hours of battery life
- Runs on 4G/LTE, with 3G and 2G supported
- Up to 150Mbps download and 50Mbps upload
- Supports up to 5 devices
- Includes 1GB of global data, more can be purchased later
- Has a “cloud” (ie, internal) SIM built in, and two slots for local nano-sized SIM cards
The Good
- Good coverage. It works in over 100 countries, letting you use the internal SIM to get connected as soon as you arrive, with data package pricing that’s often surprisingly reasonable
- Data packages can either be global, working anywhere the device has coverage, or for a single country or region at a lower cost
- The device also supports nano SIMs from local companies in the countries where it offers coverage. You can switch between the internal and local SIM(s) with a couple of taps
- Simple touch-screen interface
- Good battery life
- Can also be used as a portable battery to charge other devices
The Bad
- Its “unlimited” cloud data plans aren’t really — they’re capped at 2GB, after which the download speed drops significantly
- Connects fewer devices than other mobile hotspots. That’s fine if you’re traveling alone or as a couple, less so if you’re in a big group
- The device is a bit bulkier and heavier than some of the competition
- The companion app isn’t great, and since it drains the battery, is best left uninstalled
Best for Fast Downloads: Huawei E5787s
The best feature of Huawei’s E5787s is its speed: working on 4G/LTE in much of the world, it offers downloads that are at least twice as quick as the competition, with a sleek and light design that makes it easy to slip in a pocket.
The Specs
- 10 hours of battery life
- 4G/LTE in Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa, 3G and 2G elsewhere
- Up to 300Mbps download and 50Mbps upload
- Supports up to 10 devices
- Touch-screen display
The Good
- Great max download speeds, up to 300Mbps vs 150Mbps (or less) on most other devices
- Double the bands. Unlike most other devices, the E5787s offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz options for its Wi-fi network, and dual-band LTE
- Battery life remains decent despite increased power: 10 hours, plus 500 in standby
- You can charge your phone or other USB devices from it in a pinch
- Touch-screen display makes it easy to configure and use
- Super easy to travel with: at 0.6 inches and 5 ounces, it’s one of the smallest MiFis on the market
The Bad
- It’s not cheap, so isn’t something you’ll pick up on a whim
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Best for All-Day Use: Huawei E5770s-320
Many Mifi devices have poor battery life, often struggling to give more than a few hours between charges. If you’ll be out and about all day and don’t want to lug a portable battery around with you, you’ll need something better.
That’s where the Huawei E5770s-320 comes in, with great battery life and several other premium features to justify its higher price.
The Specs
- 20 hours of battery life
- 4G/LTE in Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa, 3G and 2G elsewhere
- Up to 150Mbps download and 50Mbps upload
- Supports up to 10 devices
- Micro SIM slot
- Premium leather exterior
- Ethernet port
- Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi sharing (eg, boost and share existing wireless network with other devices)
The Good
- Can charge other devices from its 5200mAh battery, via a cable that doubles as a strap
- Attractive yet protective design
- Ability to share existing Wi-Fi network or cabled connections is a useful extra
- Works in 100+ countries, with good LTE support in Europe and Asia
- Lightweight and compact
- Great battery life
- Can connect an external antenna for better range in low-signal areas
The Bad
- You’ll need an adapter to use a nano SIM in it
- Limited LTE support in North America — you’ll most likely only get 3G/HSPA+ service in the United States
Main image via rawpixel, other images via manufacturers.
Comments
I don’t quite understand the purpose of a mifi. Assuming you are travelling you would want an unlocked phone, so why not just use your phone and setup a wireless hotspot?
First and foremost I’d rather have an unlocked phone first than a mifi. However I do have a mifi as a secondary device with built in Sim for those times when I arrive in country and dont want to mess about looking for the best phone/data sim package.
If you’ve already got a MiFi, I guess you already understand the purpose of it? In most cases, if you’ve already got an unlocked phone, and only need to share an Internet connection with other devices occasionally, you’d just set up a hotspot on your phone. For those who have a locked phone, who don’t want to drain their phone batteries by leaving the hotspot running for long periods, and/or are traveling as a couple or group, an unlocked MiFi can be more appropriate.
I agree. And if you were going to buy one for the reasons mentioned in Mr. Dean’s reply, why not just buy a cheap android phone in the country you’re in. You can use it is a hotspot, and as an unlocked phone, on about the same budget.
That being said, most countries cell providers sell their own branded Mifi’s for less than 20 bucks and are guaranteed to work on their systems.
Buying a branded MiFi locally is also an option, but mainly for infrequent travelers, or those who keep returning to one country, because it’s locked to that provider. This article is geared towards those who want the flexibility of using one device and local SIM cards in many countries.
A cheap Android phone works too, for those who want to go down that path.
Personally, I just buy a good unlocked phone and use it with local SIMs, hotspotting as necessary. Given how many companies continue to rent and sell MiFi devices, though, there’s definitely a market for them among a segment of the traveling population.
Personally I want one to replace the crappy, intermittent and annoying DSL Internet connection my parents’ home has (there is only one provider in this area because no company wants to invest in proper cabling).
They don’t really use more than 2GB per month so it wouldn’t cost more than the DSL connection and it would be infinitely more reliable. However, they don’t want to deal with setting up their phones, so a centralised access point would be better. It would possibly also have much better signal than mobile phones because of external antennas, which would make it possible to use it with the data plans from the cheaper cell companies that don’t have good reception in this particular area.
Gave to agree with stuart, I can’t find a need for these things, seems simpler to just switch to a t mobile phone plan. I’ve been traveling the world for years and years with a t mobile phone with free international data plan, just works for free in country after country, seemless, when you step off the plane you have service
Totally agree, but not everyone is from the US, or wants to switch to T-Mobile even if they are. Cheap or free international roaming is still a rarity in most of the world, sadly.
Just a note to be careful… Someone I know did the exact same thing as you — traveled for years on a T-Mobile plan. A month or so ago, they let him know they were canceling the plan. Apparently there’s something in the fine print of your contract that says it’s free as long as it doesn’t go into excessive use (or something like that). I’m not sure what the threshold is for excessive use, but people who are planning to be location independent for long periods of time (or indefinitely) might not want to depend on a T-Mobile plan if there’s the possibility of it being canceled on them.
Yep, it’s happened to a few people who travel extensively overseas with a T-Mobile plan. Definitely worth being aware of!
yes, I’ve been overseas for 2 months and didn’t know that there is a max data and have been getting warnings that I am roaming. I’ve been listening to the radio on the way to/from work. So I am trying to figure out the best mifi to get for here. I have seen this one https://www.amazon.com/Huawei-E5788u-96a-Advanced-Mobile-Globally/dp/B075KMWV9K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=toomanada-20&linkId=87986c2e64217337ddaaeabab711a002&language=en_US that advertises “Cat16 1Gbs download”. Is that really true? What is Cat 16?
Cat16 is one of the high-speed LTE data standards, which supports speeds up to 1Gbps. The hotspot you link to does seem to have that capability, but whether your carrier supports those speeds — and whether you’ll ever see anything like that in real-world conditions — is another question entirely. 🙂
You definitely don’t need anything like that kind of speed for streaming radio, though, so don’t feel the need to buy a high-end MiFi like this unless you have a particular reason to.
Thanks for the heads up, never heard of any average user having any plan revoked. Quite the opposite really, had a $1200 data charge last nov 2016 due to a 24 day Mediterranean Cruise i was on, one glitch with the International free roaming is cruise ships networks if your phone switches to them are not covered for free. T mobile refunded the charges without batting an eye.
Where t mobile goes the rest slowly follow…. unfortunately reluctantly….check your other usa carriers they all have plans of some sort for international use, not any where like t mobile but at least starting to. I know for sure at&t does
Keep the gadgets coming, always enjoy getting your updates!
I’m waiting for them to put a small solar panel into a cell phone to trickle charge and extend your battery time, or how about a trickle charging rolex, movement charging device like in my submariner? Lol
Love all the new gadgets Dave and the site redesign is cool. My question is this: If I buy a local sim and add a cheap data plan (currently in Thailand for 199 THB or about 5 USD/ month extra and link it to my MB Pro, how is getting a MIFI going to serve me better?
Thanks Philip! Assuming you mean you’ll be using the SIM in your phone and tethering it, there’s little benefit to a MiFi for your situation. It’s most useful for people with locked phones who can’t use local SIMs in them, or those who want to share a connection between multiple devices without draining the battery on their phones
Hi Dave, thanks for a great article. We are currently a couple travelling all over UK & Europe for 3 months. We bought a three.co.uk Sim which allows 12gb data per month for Ukl20 & includes all countries…. Yaaay thought we… Until we discovered it’s locked for hotspot/tethering. So we can’t hotspot our tablets or other phone. No Netflix on tablets. ? It appears the best option is a Mifi. But where to buy one in Switzerland or Italy is the next challenge. ? Cheers
Yeah, it can be tricky buying in other countries, especially if there’s a language barrier. If you’re going to be somewhere for any length of time (or can receive mail at a hotel or elsewhere further along in your trip), Amazon has English-language sites in the UK and Germany, and most vendors are happy to ship within the EU.
I have an unlocked Galaxy S5 and my carrier is Metro PCS. I travel to areas where Metro provides cell service, but not internet service. I thought I was going to buy one of these to gain wifi access, but now wonder if there is a way to tap into another carrier (such as AT&T) just using my unlocked phone? I’m new at this, so a detailed response will really help me understand.
Thanks!
You do have another option — just getting a SIM card with an appropriate data package from a different carrier, and swapping between your Metro PCS SIM and the new one as needed. Remember that you won’t have access to your normal phone number when you do that, though. Calls will go to voicemail, and texts will queue up for a few days, or until you put your main SIM back in.
Since this site is aimed at travelers, we typically recommend prepaid SIM cards that can used while visiting a country, and then discarded. Assuming you live in the US, though, you can also consider post-paid options, which may provide somewhat better value.
Either way, you’ll need to decide which company is best for you, likely based on coverage in the areas you’re going, and the cost. Take a look at this post (and the comments) for various suggestions. If you’ll be using the new SIM infrequently, you’ll also want to check how often you need to top up your data package before the company disables it for inactivity. Usually it’s at least three months, but again, just double-check if it’s likely to be a concern.
Dave, I’m looking for wifi routers which can be carried from one country to another and which accept sim cards of different operators from different countries, to use for team meet-ups. What would be your recommendations? Any advice would be massively appreciated!
Any of the routers in this article meet your basic requirements, but I’d suggest the Huawei E5786, for a few reasons. The most important for use with a team is that it can handle up to 10 connections, and is one of the few such routers that supports high-speed LTE data — the more people you have connected, the faster speeds you want to have. It’s also small, light, and has good battery life.
I don’t know how big your team is, but if you’re going to have close to, or more than, 10 devices connected, I’d suggest getting two such routers, with a SIM card for each. A single cellular connection, even LTE, is usually too slow to handle much more than that in real-world conditions.
Hi Dave, do you know for the devices you recommended – does it all support a wide range of spectrum? or spectrum band like ie 700MHz, 1800MHz?
My only concern would be for this device to be compatible with as many local SIM cards and local tel cos as possible since that’s the purpose of purchasing one.
It varies depending on the device. In general, the more you pay, the more frequencies are supported. That said, you’ll get at least 3G coverage in most countries with most devices, since there’s a less global variation in 3G frequencies. With 4G/LTE, though, it’s a different story.
You’ll want to check the exact details for any device you’re planning to buy, though, if you need coverage for a particular frequency band.
Hi Dave,
I live in the Philippines and have both Mifis from SMART and Globe cellphone nets and have an iPhone that works wit them, but don’t know if these Mifis would/can work in the US?
If they do, what should I get from the US?
Is there anything to do here in the Philippines before I go?
Without knowing the manufacturer and model of your Mifis, or whether SMART and/or Globe lock them to their own networks, I can’t really answer your question, sorry.
Generally, assuming they’re unlocked, you should be able to get 3G coverage on AT&T or T-Mobile’s networks with most Mifi devices, using a prepaid SIM. There’s nothing to do in the Philippines as far as the devices themselves go, but you definitely need to confirm whether they’re SIM-locked or not. Many carriers lock their Mifis, especially the discounted/subsidised models.
Hi Dave,
I am travelling on a Glocalme and I am highly satisfied with the product because of the virtual SIM Cards. Its true that the price for the data is generally a bit higher than buying a local Sim Card. But when I stay in a country for short and also calculate the price for the SIM-Card I have to pay, then glocalme often turns out to be cheaper not to mention all the trouble to get a local Sim Card in place like eg. India.
However, I am looking since a while for another brands with virtual sim cards but could not find any. Do you have an idea why this is? In my opinion thats the technology of the future.
Best,
Oli
As far as I can tell, there’s nothing different about Glocalme’s inbuilt SIM to other international SIM cards you can buy (see here) — you buy voice/text/data packages from Glocalme, and use them in whatever country you happen to be in.
The interesting bit is having that SIM inside an Mi-fi device that also has a standard unlocked SIM slot, so you can choose which one you want to use — the inbuilt SIM if you’ve just arrived or will only be somewhere a short time, or a local SIM if you’ll be in a country for a while and want to save money.
It is a bit surprising that other companies aren’t doing this, although it might be that it’s seen as too complicated to explain and sell to average customers, or because there’s less money to be made — for most of these companies, they’ll make far more on selling the high-priced international service than on the device itself.
Hello,
I work in Remote Areas across the Caribbean, Haiti to be exact. My job consists of uploading and downloading for a good 50% of the time if not more. I have to share data with my partners across the globe. I need something that goes fast enough so I can work efficiently. The time is very valuable in the field I work especially when it comes to my boss making decisions.
Thank You
Chris
Your speeds will be restricted much more by the mobile networks in Haiti than the MiFi device you use to connect to them. There’s a little bit of LTE coverage in parts of Port-au-Prince with Natcom, but other than that, it’s 3G at best, and 2G or nothing elsewhere.
Hello,
I’m interested in your opinion on the Skyroam Solis. I don’t see anything on the Solis or its predecessor from Skyroam. Your thoughts, please.
Thanks
Glenn
It’s not an unlocked Mifi device — you can’t use a local SIM card in it for cheap rates, which is why we haven’t discussed it here.
At $9/day for up to 500MB/day of LTE data, it’s comparable to some of the other international SIM cards (or hotspots with international SIM cards in). You can check out our thoughts on several other variants of those here.
Not sure if this is the right place to post this question. But as a traveller I sometimes end up in some remote locations that have spotty cell service. I get a few bars, depending on which way the wind is blowing. Do MiFi Devices have a ‘stronger’ or more ‘powerful’ connection to the networks ….or would it be the same as a cell phone?
I doubt you’d notice much, if any, difference, unfortunately. The battery life on many MiFi devices is relatively low as it is, so they don’t tend to ramp up the cellular radio power very high.
Hello,
I’ve just bought an unlocked mobile hotspot on eBay to take on my trip to the UK. Planning on buying a local data only sim there. I was wondering if there’s a way to check if it is indeed unlocked, before I leave for my trip, and make sure that it will work with the sim I buy in the UK? (I bought a Alcatel 4G LTE Linkzone MW41)
Thanks
Hi,
The best way to find out ahead of time whether it’s unlocked is to try using it with two different SIM cards from two different providers (eg, AT&T and T-Mobile, assuming you’re in the US). They don’t have to be data-only SIMs, but they do need to have cell data access. Beg, borrow, or steal from a friend. 🙂
I can find very little information about that device online, particularly as regards a reliable list of the cellular frequencies it supports. As a result, I can’t tell you whether it’ll work in the UK or not, sorry!
Thanks for the help!! “GSM bands: 850, 900, 1800, 1900” – is this perhaps the info you needed?
So with the assumption and hope that it works in the UK, should it work with not-data-only SIMs too? (so a normal sim with a text and call deal)
Yep, that’s helpful – thanks! Based on that, you should get at least 3G coverage with any of the UK providers.
And that’s correct about using a normal SIM. If you get a better data package with a normal SIM than a data-only one (which sounds silly, but often happens anyway), you’ll be able to use it in your hotspot.
So the mobile hotspot came in the mail and I tested it with an AT&T sim and it worked fine! (supposed to be a T-mobile product) So I guess it’s unlocked. Now, assuming pre-paid is the type of sim I need to get, how do I keep track of how much data I’m using and make sure I don’t go over? like if I buy 2GB worth of data for example, and use it in the mifi and not my phone, is there a way to keep track? Or will it just stop working once I’ve used all 2GB? I have no idea how prepaid sims work.. (I don’t even know if that’s the type I’m supposed to get ?) I’ll be overseas for about a month, Amsterdam and Norway for 3 days each and then the rest in the UK. I’m thinking I’ll buy the cheapest one in Amsterdam for Ams+Nor and then buy another one in the UK with a UK carrier so it has better coverage all over the UK. Good idea or no?
You’d usually get an SMS when approaching your data limit, but since the SIM will be in a hotspot rather than a phone, you won’t receive that text. Some providers offer an app that lets you monitor the usage, or you can often do it via their website. Failing all that, it’ll just stop working, or get extremely slow.
Buying a cheap option for Amsterdam and Norway, then switching to a UK SIM, is a good choice, mainly because competition in the UK prepaid SIM market makes it noticeably cheaper than the Netherlands and Norway. You may also get better coverage, depending on which provider you choose to go with.
Is there any option where purchasing a sim isn’t needed? I don’t want the hassle in a place I’m unfamiliar with. Travelling to Nigeria. Thank you
You can roam with your phone company from home, buy an international SIM card before you leave, or use the Glocal device mentioned in this post, which lets you use either the inbuilt international SIM or a local SIM as you wish.
Hey Dave….I just ran into this one online and looks like a winner….but can’t find much about it. My daughter will be in Vietnam for 5 weeks, then Capetown for 5 weeks then Buenos Aries for 5 weeks all going to school so she wants to be able to crack open her MAC and do work any time, any where without worrying about wi-fi and coverage. Does this look like it would do the job? MIOWIFI Global HotSpot https://miowifi.com/product/miowifi-buy/
Looks like $199 to buy then she will just need to get a Sim card in each market? Thanks for your help.
I’ve never heard of that device, but from reading that link, it looks like you can’t use local SIM cards in it. Instead, you need to buy service from the provider — so it’s basically a hotspot with an international SIM card inside. If you’re looking for something with maximum flexibility, I’d go for the GlocalMe G3 mentioned above, which lets you use either the ‘international SIM’ approach, or stick a local SIM card in to save money, as you wish. The devices themselves are a bit cheaper, too.
There’s this one mifi model which I found quite interesting except for it being rather pricey. It’s the TP Link M7450, an upgrade of the M7350 featured here. Its reviews online seem very OK. Will be traveling to Europe, particularly Poland, Germany, and France, soon but am still in a quandary whether to purchase a MIFI or an open line cheap smartphone that can act as phone and hotspot at the same time. For one, I dislike removing my Philippine sim card from my phone to insert a data sim thereby disallowing me from receiving important calls and text messages while vacationing.
I work in Bahrain and travel through UAE etc. I need to make sure I get one that works GSM on these carriers. Also, I was under the impression MiFi devices had better gain. I use my Huawai P10 as a hotspot from time to time but the gain is not the best in more remote areas. ~JG
I tried a simple experiment using a smartphone as a hotspot vis-a-vis a mifi. You’re right. A mifi has better gain than a phone used as a hotspot. Besides, a phone tends to heat up thereby shortening battery life. For a short needed access to the internet, a phone will do just fine. However, when you need to be continuously connected while in transit, it’s really better to have a mifi.
Hey Dave, I am looking for a jack of all trades: Do you know a Mifi device that can run on Verizon (CDMA) as well as on the in Europe commonly used GSM frequencies, when the respective SIM card is inserted? Ideally it would even run on all carriers world-wide, and be as light as possible. Thanks a lot for any help in advance!
Hi Teddy,
I don’t know of any hotspot that will give you coverage on both Verizon CDMA and European/global GSM frequencies, unfortunately. That said, Verizon is moving to 4G/LTE across its network, so in theory you should be able to find a device that will give you what you’re after that way.
I say “in theory” because Verizon is particularly painful about only certifying/allowing particular devices on its network, so even if the cellular frequencies match, Verizon may refuse to activate the SIM in that device.
So, in short, you’ll probably need to pick a device that is compatible with Verizon’s LTE frequencies alongside the global ones, and then confirm with Verizon that you’ll actually be allowed to use it on their network. :-/ You can try going the other way (asking Verizon about an unlocked device that is compatible with its network and can be used with local SIMs overseas), but good luck getting a sensible answer — in my experience, Verizon reps only know about the products they sell, and all of the Verizon hotspots I’ve come across are locked to their network.
Hi Dave, thank you very much for your reply!
I was afraid you would come back with this answer and did some research as well but I am not tech-savvy enough to judge reliably: How about the GlocalMe U2? Can you tell me if from the purely technical point of view (assuming that Verizon would indeed activate a SIM in it) the U2 could run on Verizon and also on European GSM frequencies? It appears to a layman like me to cover CDMA as well as GSM…
Thank you very much for the other propositions which are less than optimal but very solution-oriented!
I’m not sure about the U2, but the reviews of the G3 suggest that people are getting service with Verizon in the US. That’ll probably be with the cloud SIM rather than a local SIM, but at least means the device is physically compatible. It’ll be using Verizon’s LTE network, which isn’t CDMA. Both the U2 and G3 are compatible with European GSM networks (I used the G3 in a couple of European countries last year with no problem).
If you want to double-check about any of this, it might worth posting the question direct to GlocalMe through their website.
Hi Dave,
I do like the the GlocalMe arguments that when you first arrive somewhere you have data – I just arrived recently in Saigon and the airport wifi was down and I had to get an Uber – I had to find a stall that would help me out luckily because the cost through Telus would be very high in Vietnam. Also using MAPS whenever you are lost or finding transportation is useful or sometimes just finding general info that you might need unexpectantly. If it is just a 2 day drop in I don’t want to shop for a local SIM.
If the G3 is recommended to shut off the app and just go online to work it as the app uses battery power, then what is it giving you vs the U2 which is lighter and smaller?
Usually my 7+ can last all day if I watch what I am doing so that the recharging ability is not that important and adding extra weight and size into a jacket pocket is a pain.
What else does the G3 give me?
Any suggestions as size and weight with all the other stuff I carry electronically become a consideration.
Thanks, Ted B
The G3 has a few things going for it over the GlocalMe U2 — that extra size is due mainly to the bigger battery, so it lasts longer between charges. You can also use it to juice up your own devices, as you mention, and having a (touch)screen means you can configure things like APN settings directly on the device, as well as see at a glance how much data you’ve used etc, without having to use the app.
If you’re someone who usually carries a portable battery anyway, it makes sense to buy the G3 and ditch the separate battery, since you’ll save space/weight overall. If you don’t carry a battery now, and don’t care about the extra features, by all means save a few bucks and go for the U2 instead.
Hi Dave:
Going to be living in a van/rv for some time, need an Internet solution. Huawei E5786S seems best for fast and down/up, but in Canada there are no “data only” options which is painful. Is the GlocalMe G3 a contender even though much less oomf than the E5786S? Appreciate your thoughts, thanks. Kept the Huawei Vodafone Mobile WiFi Hotspot R216 Pocket WiFi I bought in NZ last year, it was a fabulous device, but locked, unfortunately, to Voda-NZ.
Hi Sue,
If it helps, you don’t need to use a data-only SIM in the Huawei E5786S (or other models of hotspot) — a standard voice/text/data SIM will still work, you just can’t use the calls and texts. Whether it makes sense financially to do that can be a different question, but there’s usually not all that much difference in the price.
If you went with GlocalMe’s own data packages, the best pricing I can see for Canada is €29 (~$50 CAD) for 3GB of data for a month, or €12 (~$20 CAD) for 1GB. That’s probably not too bad by Canadian standards, but you’ll need to do your research with different providers to see exactly how it compares.
You may also want to contact GlocalMe to find out who its service partners are in Canada, to ensure you’ll get coverage wherever you are. Of course, with the GlocalMe G3, you’ve also got the option of using a local SIM either in Canada or elsewhere at some point if you choose to.
Thanks very much, Dave . Yes, the cost of cellular is painfully expensive in Canada. I am leaning toward GlocalMe G3 mostly for option of either/or. There are no data-only cellular options in Canada, so with the Huawei E5786S my only option is one of the carriers, but will really miss my land-based ADSL for down/up and constancy. Much appreciate your feedback.
I”ve had good luck with AT&T. I have an AT&T hotspot which I”ve used for a few years but this winter I took the Canadian SIM card out of my unlocked smart phone and stuck in an AT&T go phone SIM card bought at WalMart. I use the smart phone as a portable hotspot replacing the old data only hotspot, unlimited talk and text and 6gigs/month of data with a one month roll over of unused data for $45/month. I used a US campground as a US address and pay on-line with my Canadian issued US$ card, probably a C$ card would work. With the SIM you have to use it every 60 days to keep the phone # active but AT&T indicates that you can do it by going to the $2 plan (one day of service, that”s what I”m going to do). You can also use the plan in Canada, they pair with Rogers (not sure how long you can use it, I”m trying it out now!). IIRC the SIM was $10.