This is the only 5G mobile broadband option on Vodafone, though there are slower 4G options, or if you’re after home broadband there’s the Vodafone GigaCube 5G, which supports up to 64 simultaneous connections and has two Ethernet ports, but requires mains power. That’s all the more important because the ZTE MU5001 5G can get up to 32 devices online at once, so if you’re making the most of it to get a whole coach full of laptops, tablets, consoles and other gadgets online, then you’ll want all the speed you can get.

All in all, while the Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot doesn’t have the most exciting of designs, it looks fairly good, and importantly it’s small enough not to be too inconvenient to take out with you. Setup That’s very fast, but it’s also not realistic. Rather, you’ll be limited by what Vodafone’s 5G network is capable of, which itself will vary from location to location, depending on how close you are to a 5G mast, among other factors. And then there’s that 2.4-inch screen we mentioned. With a 320 x 240 resolution it’s crisp and clear, and it’s a colour touchscreen, so you can tweak settings as well as viewing the ZTE MU5001 5G’s status and data use. Beyond that, the Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot also has a 4,500mAh battery, which Vodafone claims offers up to eight hours of life (or possibly up to 8.5 hours – the company has said both). Either way, that’s a lot of life, and enough to keep your gadgets connected all day.

Other ways to boost signal strength on a ZTE router

This is worth noting, not just to point out that you need to fit the battery, but this always needs the battery in even if you plan to leave it switched on and plugged in permanently. It is generally not advised to leave a battery-powered device plugged in permanently. One option would be to attach this to a smart plug and have it switch off for a few hours per day. The Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot is a highly capable 5G mobile broadband device that strikes a good balance between price and functionality. So at the very least that means the Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot is future proofed. The device also supports Wi-Fi 6, and dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi. Features and software That 5G support is arguably the highlight, as it means connected devices can get fibre-like speeds of potentially well over 100Mbps (as long as you’re in an area with 5G coverage). Please note that one reader has commented stating that Vodafone is now selling these without an Ethernet port. It is the same device, just a slightly different variant. However, they have confirmed you can get a wired connection using USB-C (but I am unsure if a USB-C to Ethernet adaptor will work).

Like most mobile broadband devices, the Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot is designed to be simple to get up and running. It includes an easy-to-use online interface, so just pop the SIM card in and follow the simple instructions. The Vodafone deal was an amazing bargain. You’d struggle to buy a basic 4G hotspot for this price, and the performance difference is considerable, both from the mobile data and WiFi 6. Why should you have to go without your 5G network when travelling? With the ZTE MU5001, you always have the latest mobile communications standard with you and can surf your own WLAN network at up to 1800 Mbit. End devices such as notebooks can be connected to the ZTE MU5001 via the RJ-45 network connection using a LAN cable. The router also offers a USB-C connection for connecting additional devices. If you want to increase the reception even further, the ZTE MU5001 offers the option of connecting an external 5G or LTE antenna to the two TS-9 interfaces.

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The frame is a slightly different colour – more of a grey – and it houses various ports and buttons, such as the power button, the USB-C charging port, antenna ports, and an Ethernet port. With me so used to phones and their pre-fitted inaccessible batteries, it didn’t occur to me that this would arrive without the battery inside. Embarrassingly, I, therefore, spent about an hour wondering why the device would not take a charge or boot up properly. With high speeds, good battery life and plenty of simultaneous connections, this has all that most users should need, while the touchscreen is just the icing on the cake. Not ready to invest in an external antenna? You may be able to improve your ZTE router connectivity and signal strength using other methods: