[ad_1]
T-Mobile’s new Inseego MiFi X PRO 5G ($264) Hotspot (also known as the M3000), a follow-up to the Inseego 5G MiFi M2000, won our Editors’ Choice award in last year’s review. The new model takes everything we loved about its predecessor and introduces some welcome improvements, like an Ethernet port and the ability to connect more devices via Wi-Fi. Not surprisingly, it’s the new winner of T-Mobile Hotspot’s Editors’ Choice.
Is Inseego MiFi X PRO 5G right for you?
You may be wondering if you need a hotspot. Your phone probably includes tethering, but your phone only supports a very large number of connected Wi-Fi devices (usually 10) when used as a hotspot. A dedicated hotspot allows you to connect up to 32 different devices. In other words, hotspots are the best option if you need to connect a small number of devices.
Additionally, using the phone as a hotspot drains the phone’s battery quickly. A tethering-only device allows you to keep your laptop or other device connected without draining your phone’s battery. And in some business cases, companies pay for hotspots, which are easier to track than tethered phone data plans when it comes to reporting costs.
you can trust our reviews
T-Mobile offers a variety of Hotspot plans. The top plan includes 100 GB of data for $50/month. Other options include 2GB for $10, 5GB for $20, and 10GB for $30. For comparison, T-Mobile’s $140/month Magenta Max unlimited smartphone plan includes up to 40GB of hotspot data per month. If you need more than 40 GB of hotspot data per month, a dedicated hotspot is the only option.
(Credit: Dave LeClair)
Your phone may be smaller than your hotspot, but the M3000 isn’t too big. It measures 5.90 x 2.91 x 0.74 inches and weighs 8.5 ounces, making it small enough to comfortably carry in your bag, even if it’s a bit bulky for your pocket.
Part of the reason for the bulk is the large 5,050mAh battery that can be removed and replaced. The SIM card slot needed to connect the device to T-Mobile’s network is hidden under the battery.
The M3000 offers solid battery life, but how long it lasts depends on how many devices you have connected, how much data you use, and whether you’re using the Ethernet port. Inseego recommends connecting the hotspot to the included USB-C charger to keep it working longer. If using Ethernet. I tested by connecting two devices (a phone and a desktop computer) and streaming a YouTube video on both. It took 5 hours and 52 minutes. If you only use it for web browsing, you should expect longer battery life.
Inseego MiFi X PRO 5G Features
The most significant change in the M3000 over the M2000 is the Ethernet port. This allows you to connect your desktop computer or other device as fast as possible. Hotspots rely on the USB-C port to charge the device itself, but they can also be used as power banks to charge phones and other devices.
While not intended to replace your home Internet service, the Ethernet port and faster speeds provided by the M3000 will help you use less data. I use nearly 1 TB of data each month, so I can’t replace my home internet with this or any other hotspot. But it is possible if you use much less data.
(Credit: Dave LeClair)
Control the device via a 2.4 inch touch LCD. You can change your hotspot settings from the touch screen or from the web. The previous model complained of a sluggish touchscreen response, but the new model doesn’t have that problem. The display was reliably responsive to all manipulations and touches.
If you choose to use the web interface, you can control more advanced settings such as MAC filtering, port forwarding, guest network and basic firewall, but these are not accessible from the touch screen.
Incredible 5G connectivity
At the end of the day, hotspot is all about speed, and that’s exactly where the Inseego MiFi X PRO 5G impresses the most.
The T-Mobile version of the MiFi X PRO 5G has a Snapdragon X62 modem, while the Verizon version has an X65. X62 has less capacity than X65, so the maximum theoretical download speed is limited to 4.4Gbps, while X65 can reach 10Gbps. Aside from their theoretical capabilities, there are no wireless networks yet that support either of these speeds. The T-Mobile Hotspot supports the carrier’s 5G bands, including the n77 and n78 C bands. Like its predecessor, the T-Mobile Inseego model lacks mmWave support, but T-Mobile doesn’t offer much of his mmWave coverage, so that’s fine.
I connected my desktop to Inseego via the Ethernet port and went about my normal day working, playing games like Dota 2 and the latest Call of Duty. The speed was so good that I forgot I was connected to a 5G hotspot and not my home internet.
Internet service at home hits 1,200Mbps when connected directly to the modem. Hotspot wasn’t terribly fast in our tests, but the point is, it was fast enough. A speed test I ran on my PC achieved 609 Mbps downstream and 22.41 Mbps upstream. Of course, top speeds require excellent T-Mobile 5G service.
(Credit: Dave LeClair)
When tested over Wi-Fi, the speed was slow. Inseego supports Wi-Fi 6, but not Wi-Fi 6E. On the same Windows 11 PC, I reached wireless download speeds of 131Mbps and upload speeds of 25Mbps. The performance difference between wired and wireless is obvious, but these are great speeds.
Despite running at solid speeds, during peak usage hours (around 4pm) the hotspot struggled to stream YouTube videos at 1080p on my desktop PC. Meanwhile, the speed test results also dropped him to 54Mbps. This shows that network congestion is a key factor in determining the kind of performance you get. Daytime and midnight are usually the best times for speed.
These performance drops during peak hours are not limited to hotspots. Tethering the iPhone 14 Pro Max at T-Mobile compared his performance to similar download speeds and buffering.
rapid upgrade
Beyond the Ethernet port, the Inseego MiFi X PRO 5G supports more 5G bands than its predecessor, including the critical mid-band spectrum, giving you access to greater 5G speeds. It also adds support for more connected devices than the M2000 (32 vs 30). These upgrades, along with their excellent performance in our testing, are the best hotspots you can buy at T-Mobile, and our Editors’ Choice winners.
T-Mobile Insigo MiFi X PRO 5G (M3000)
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a 5G hotspot on T-Mobile’s high-speed network, the Inseego MiFi X PRO 5G (M3000) is for you.
do you like what you are reading?
Apply full mobilization Subscribe to our newsletter and get the top mobile tech stories straight to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals or affiliate links. By subscribing to our newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time.
[ad_2]
Source link