With their compact size and portability, pocket WiFis make a great companion if you are always on the go or traveling from one place to another—even abroad! They are also a great alternative internet provider for moments when your home internet connection runs slow or is down.
This device is also widely accessible, so you can easily source it from credible brands like TP-Link, Smart, and more. If you are planning to get one, we have a buying guide reviewed by IT Expert Kevin Lee Cardoza, plus our 10 best picks, to help you stay connected anytime and anywhere!
Quick List - Top Pocket WiFis
Smart
Unlimited Data Pocket WiFi With Smart LTE Connectivity
Kevin Lee is an educator who specializes in Information Technology (IT). He also has years of experience as a technical support specialist and is well-versed in programming, application development, software testing, and user experience design. Furthermore, his passion for building custom computers and creating electronic devices and systems keeps him up-to-date with the latest trends and information.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Every mybest article is crafted with hours of in-depth research and interviews with experts. Each month, we are continually expanding our database of products based on our research. By emphasizing user insight and reliable information, we deliver trustworthy content to readers.
A postpaid plan is the better choice if you don't like the hassle of reloading every now and then. However, postpaid plans usually have a lock-in period. Meanwhile, if you want something more flexible and affordable, a prepaid plan is the way to go, as you have the option to choose the amount of load for your pocket WiFi. Recently, there have been prepaid pocket WiFi Globe and Smart promos, too!
Pocket WiFis have two typesーnetwork-locked and open-line. A network-locked one is a good choice if there's a network that you already prefer. This means that if you get a Globe pocket WiFi, you can only insert a Globe SIM card. The same goes for Smart pocket WiFi. On the other hand, open-line devices allow you to switch to any network provider when necessary. This type is also perfect if you want to travel outside the country.
Always on the go and need reliable WiFi? Check out this buying guide to help you choose the perfect Pocket WiFi, whether you’re prioritizing battery life, connection speed, or the number of devices you can connect.
There are currently two primary options in the marketー4G (LTE) and 5G. If you want a more competitive network connection that can match your fast-paced internet requirements, a 5G network is the way to go. This frequency band allows devices to communicate with other devices at faster and more stable speeds compared to 4G. However, note that it's only available in select areas.
On the other hand, 4G (LTE) has more coverage areas than 5G, offers a decent connection, and is, therefore, a foolproof choice. We want to point out that even if the description says 4G LTE supported with up to 150 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload speed, this doesn't exactly mean that this is the speed the user can get. It is only a benchmark value.
5G network speeds are significantly faster than LTE (4G). 5G is capable of speeds up to 2 Gbps (Gigabits per second) which is almost 14 times faster than 4G's peak rate of 150 Mbps. It also has several other advantages over the older generation, such as higher capacities and lower latencies.
Most pocket WiFis can accommodate up to five devices, which is a good choice for those who want to use their device as a hotspot connection to other people. However, multiple device connections may slow down the speed of the internetーthus eating up a lot of bandwidth and maxing out your data limit. If you want a decent or stable connection, we highly suggest only connecting up to 2-3 devices at a time.
Moreover, it is ideal to have at least a 5000mAh rechargeable battery that can last up to a day of continuous usage. Also, look for a device that can be easily charged via a USB or an AC power source. A spare fully-charged battery will also come in handy if you wish to have an uninterrupted connection.
For added value to your money, we highly recommend getting a mobile WiFi device with a display that lets you know the network signal strength and data usage to ensure there are no network issues. Aside from that, one that displays the battery level is also handy, so you know when to charge your pocket WiFi.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Line | Network Connectivity Type | Data Rate | Number of Devices | Battery Life | LED/LCD Display | Notable Features | |||||
1 | TP-Link TP-Link M7350 Pocket WiFi | ![]() | Portable 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot Supporting 10 Devices | 2G, 3G, 4G | Download up to 150 Mbps, Upload up to 50 Mbps | 10 | 8 hours | Micro SD card slot up to 32GB, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz), tpMiFi app support for management | |||
2 | Smart Smart Bro Pocket WiFi Advanced Evoluzn PR7 | ![]() | Unlimited Data Pocket WiFi With Smart LTE Connectivity | 3G, 4G | Up to 150 Mbps | 5 | 8 hours | Unlimited data plan, portable design, easy setup, supports multiple devices | |||
3 | ZTE ZTE F50 5G Pocket WiFi | ![]() | Compact 5G Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot Supporting 10 Devices | 4G, 5G | Download up to 1600 Mbps, Upload up to 225 Mbps | 10 | USB 3.0 Type-C interface, dual-band Wi-Fi 5, microSD slot up to 2TB, compact and lightweight design | ||||
4 | Prolink Prolink Pocket WiFi 4G LTE | ![]() | 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot with Power Bank | 4G | Up to 300 Mbps | 17 | 25 hours | Built-in power bank for charging devices, supports multiple connections, compact design | |||
5 | NETGEAR Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 Mobile Hotspot | ![]() | High-Speed 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Supporting 20 Devices | 4G | Download up to 1 Gbps, Upload up to 150 Mbps | 20 | 11 hours | Advanced security, mobile app management, Ethernet port, dual-band Wi-Fi | |||
6 | Cherry Cherry Roam T2 Slim Travel Pocket Wi-Fi | ![]() | Sleek Travel Pocket Wi-Fi with Power Bank Feature | 4G | Up to 150 Mbps | 5 | 24 hours | Power bank function, secure encrypted hotspot, mobile app support | |||
7 | TP-Link TP-Link M7200 Pocket WiFi | ![]() | Portable 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot for Travel | 4G | Up to 150 Mbps | 10 | 8 hours | Open line for all networks, portable design, easy plug-and-play setup | |||
8 | Prolink Prolink DL-7202 4G LTE Advanced Mobile WiFi | ![]() | Advanced 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Supporting 16 Devices | 4G | Up to 150 Mbps | 16 | 12 hours | Open line for any SIM, supports multiple devices, compact design | |||
9 | Pokefi SmartGo Pokefi Pocket WiFi | ![]() | Global Pocket Wi-Fi with Preloaded Data and Type-C Charging | 4G | Up to 150 Mbps | 8 | 12-16 hours | Preloaded 5GB data, Type-C charging, global coverage in 170+ countries | |||
10 | TP-Link TP-Link M7000 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi | ![]() | Portable 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot for Travel | 4G | 150Mbps | 10 | 8 hours | Open line for all networks, compact design, easy plug-and-play setup |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 2G, 3G, 4G |
Data Rate | Download up to 150 Mbps, Upload up to 50 Mbps |
Number of Devices | 10 |
Battery Life | 8 hours |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | Micro SD card slot up to 32GB, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz), tpMiFi app support for management |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 3G, 4G |
Data Rate | Up to 150 Mbps |
Number of Devices | 5 |
Battery Life | 8 hours |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | Unlimited data plan, portable design, easy setup, supports multiple devices |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 4G, 5G |
Data Rate | Download up to 1600 Mbps, Upload up to 225 Mbps |
Number of Devices | 10 |
Battery Life | |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | USB 3.0 Type-C interface, dual-band Wi-Fi 5, microSD slot up to 2TB, compact and lightweight design |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 4G |
Data Rate | Up to 300 Mbps |
Number of Devices | 17 |
Battery Life | 25 hours |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | Built-in power bank for charging devices, supports multiple connections, compact design |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 4G |
Data Rate | Download up to 1 Gbps, Upload up to 150 Mbps |
Number of Devices | 20 |
Battery Life | 11 hours |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | Advanced security, mobile app management, Ethernet port, dual-band Wi-Fi |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 4G |
Data Rate | Up to 150 Mbps |
Number of Devices | 5 |
Battery Life | 24 hours |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | Power bank function, secure encrypted hotspot, mobile app support |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 4G |
Data Rate | Up to 150 Mbps |
Number of Devices | 10 |
Battery Life | 8 hours |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | Open line for all networks, portable design, easy plug-and-play setup |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 4G |
Data Rate | Up to 150 Mbps |
Number of Devices | 16 |
Battery Life | 12 hours |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | Open line for any SIM, supports multiple devices, compact design |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 4G |
Data Rate | Up to 150 Mbps |
Number of Devices | 8 |
Battery Life | 12-16 hours |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | Preloaded 5GB data, Type-C charging, global coverage in 170+ countries |
Open Line | |
---|---|
Network Connectivity Type | 4G |
Data Rate | 150Mbps |
Number of Devices | 10 |
Battery Life | 8 hours |
LED/LCD Display | |
Notable Features | Open line for all networks, compact design, easy plug-and-play setup |
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by IT Consultant, Developer, and Instructor Kevin Lee Cardoza.
If there are only 1-2 users, then a pocket WiFi should be good enough for your gaming needs. If there are 3 or more users connected, then a game download/update might take up most of the bandwidth that a pocket WiFi can offer, slowing down the speed for other users in the network.
Using software workarounds, a person can unlock a network-locked WiFi device. Please do take note that this activity will void your device's warranty, so buy a pre-unlocked pocket WiFi instead.
Yes! Regularly changing network passwords, especially if you often use your pocket WiFi, is a good web user habit. This practice prevents data and identity theft from malicious people connected to your network.
If you're always on the go, you'll need these nifty gadgets to help you stay connected. Never run out of juice by purchasing these products!
Re-editor: Aprille Jarcia
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: TP-Link |TP-Link M7350 Pocket WiFi
No. 2: Smart |Smart Bro Pocket WiFi Advanced Evoluzn PR7
No. 3: ZTE |ZTE F50 5G Pocket WiFi
No. 4: Prolink |Prolink Pocket WiFi 4G LTE
No. 5: NETGEAR |Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 Mobile Hotspot
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