A mobile hotspot is a wireless access point that is provided by a hardware device or smartphone feature that shares the phone’s mobile data plan.
Mobile hotspots are portable and are mainly used as pocket or travel routers which access mobile signals and convert 3G and 4G signals to Wi-Fi, shared across multiple users.
With so many different mobile hotspots available, CBR lists 5 of the best mobile hotspots to keep you connected while on the go.
Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi AC791L
The Verizon hotspot is powered by the company’s well known fast and reliable 4G LTE, allowing users to stream video, email friends and also browse the web via the network.
The Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot AC791L connects all Wi-Fi enabled devices and supports the latest in bandwidth, speed and performance.
With great battery life, the new hotspot can operate for up to 24 hours of continuous use which means users can play games, stream music or browse the web for longer.
The hotspot can provide Wi-Fi connection for up to 15 devices and also be used as a charger for any smartphone or small USB-powered device.
Verizon’s Jetpack 4G LTE AC791L Hotspot can be purchased across a selection of online stores. It is currently available on Amazon at £112.34.
Huawei E5330BS-2 Sim Free 3G Wi-Fi Hotspot
The Huawei Hotspot is billed by the company as the world’s most compact 21 Mbps 3G router, which is the size of a small mobile phone.
Offering high speed internet access with HSPA+ technology, users can access the web faster which means faster downloads of music, videos and all other content.
Offering 3G and 2G frequency, the hotspot can support 10 wifi users and manage multiple devices across the same network. It can also switch mobile devices on or off and check up on battery levels.
Users are also given the advantage to connect with friends and family to share their wireless connection, providing connection to up to 10 different devices at a time.
The Huawei E5330 3G Hotspot is available on Amazon as a retail price of £30.
EE 4GEE Wi-Fi Mini 3 24GB
Mobile service provider EE offers a pay as you go Wi-Fi device which provides 24GB of data a month for 12 months.
The 4GEE Mini 3 Hotspot is a portable router that can be used outside of the home, so exceptionally suitable for on-the-go travellers.
It can connect up to 10 devices at once to the UK’s biggest and fastest network, EE. It offers 2G, 3G and 4G network capability with a battery life of 50 hours standby time.
EE was awarded the Fastest Mobile Broadband award in the uSwitch awards for 2016.
The EE 4GEE Wi-Fi Mini 3 24GB is available to purchase from Argos at £109.99 but can also be bought on an EE pay monthly plan from £10.50.
Read more: EE creates 4G hedge hotspots for free WiFi at Glastonbury 2016
TP-Link MiFi M7350
The TP-Link M7350 is an LTE-Advanced Mobile Wi-Fi which is supported with up to 150Mbps download and 50Mbps upload speeds.
It is a portable router which comes in a compact, elegant design suitable for travel and all outdoor usage.
It provides connection to up to 10 devices simultaneously with a total of 2550mAh battery life for up to 10 hours consistent use.
The M7350 is equipped with a micro SD card slot for up to 32GB of optional storage which allows users to access and share files using an app for IOS or Android.
TP-Link M7350 is available on Amazon at a retail price of £69.99.
Huawei R216 4G Mobile Wi-Fi
Lastly, is the new 4G Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot router which supports Cat.4 4G LTE providing a speed of up to 150Mbps and upload speed of up to 50Mbps.
This is offered with 128MB RAM and 256MB ROM memory. The device, which is provided by Vodafone, is delivered with an easy to use WEB-UI interface that removes the need to install any proprietary drivers to the operating system.
The operating system platform is deployed by Linux platform and features a status LED screen. The battery capacity is 1500 mAh.
The Huawei Vodafone R216 Hotspot is retailed on Amazon at £64.78 and can also be purchased directly from Vodafone with a pay monthly plan.