Our contemporary love of and reliance on connected technology is a part of modern life. It’s a fact recognised by many car manufacturers, who now include Wi-Fi and internet facilities in the latest models. BMW has included such features in its eighth version of the iDrive, Mercedes has the MBUX Hyperscreen, and even Ford has introduced Sync 4, a Tesla-like infotainment system in its Mustang Mach-E.
Almost every car brand has an app nowadays, even though most cars don’t have Wi-Fi. However, this can be remedied quickly by purchasing a mobile Wi-Fi router, also called Mi-Fi.
While many opt to carry a Mi-Fi router in their car, the boxes are also popular among campers and caravaners. While they are useful devices for accessing social media and streaming entertainment, they also allow everyone in a party easy access to essential services, such as hiking and walking routes, through to local news, emails, weather reports and tide time information.
Keep reading to understand if a Mi-Fi device would be the correct choice for you.
Why should you have Wi-Fi in your car?
Most people have a data plan on their mobile phone, giving them a fair chunk of 4G or 5G access. If your phone has GB of data to spare every month, then a Wi-Fi router for your car probably isn’t worth it. In such cases, your phone can even act as a hotspot for other devices, like tablets and laptops. However, an in-car Wi-Fi or Mi-Fi router is advantageous for some.
One of the most beneficial outcomes of purchasing and installing an in-car router is that your Wi-Fi signal will remain strong, fast, and secure throughout your trip – this is great for streaming videos and music. Plus, multiple devices can connect at once with ease.
Mobile Wi-Fi routers let you take Wi-Fi-only devices with you (such as some tablets) on car journeys without having to use a battery-draining hotspot from your phone. Conversely, if you have a mobile Wi-Fi router, you can save money on your next tablet because Wi-Fi-only tablets are cheaper than the version with a 4G/5G data connection.
Using a mobile Wi-Fi router with a SIM on a data-only plan can make your portable internet connection fairly inexpensive.
The best mobile Wi-Fi routers for your car:
The TP-Link M7350 has it all - it's good value, a solid performer, and very easy to use. It's not locked to any specific network provider and can connect to 4G LTE networks, or 2G and 3G if needs be. On the screen, you can see the battery life, signal strength, how many users are connected (up to 10) and how much data you've used. At constant use, the 2000mAh battery will give you about eight hours using 4G or, if left on standby, several days. To recharge, simply do so via USB. You can enjoy HD movies using this MiFi device thanks to a maximum of 150Mbps download speed.
Pros
- Fast download speed for movies
- Great screen display
- Good value
Cons
- TP-Link M7000 (below) is even better value
| Network connection: | 4G LTE |
| Max number of devices: | 10 |
| Battery: | 2000mAh |
| Display: | Colour LCD |
| Unlocked: | Yes |
The M7000 is the same as the M7350 above, just minus a few features. It has the same download speed, 4G network connectivity and similar battery life. The only thing it's missing is the screen, so you can't see the status information. It has a companion app called tpMiFi, from here you can access all the information you need regarding how much data you've used, who's connected, and all that sort of thing. Aside from the screen, the other primary difference here is that the M7000 does not support a microSD card that allows you to share content through the tpMiFi app.
Pros
- Best value MiFi unit on the market
- Fast download speed
- Small size
Cons
- Lack of proper screen
| Network connection: | 4G LTE |
| Max number of devices; | 10 |
| Battery: | 2000mAh |
| Display: | Basic LED |
| Unlocked: | Yes |
If you need speed, look no further. While it's not cheap, Netgear's MR1100 is the best pick for the rapid connections required by gaming and streaming on the move. The maximum number of devices that can connect is 20 - much more than most people need. What we rate about this device are the excellent LCD screen and the large 5040mAh battery. The former clearly shows all the detail you need; the latter easily allows for all-day use.
Pros
- Fantastic performance
- Big battery
- Best display screen
Cons
- Expensive
| Network connection: | 4G LTE |
| Max number of devices: | 20 |
| Battery: | 5040mAh |
| Display: | Colour LCD touchscreen |
| Unlocked: | Yes |
If you can't be bothered going through the hassle of finding a data plan and want a Mi-Fi device ready to go out of the box, this is the one. This device comes with 30GB of data - all you need to do is activate it (through add-on.ee.co.uk). From there, you pay as you go and top up when you need to. It isn't the cheapest option, but it is the most convenient. Purchased data is valid for three months.
Pros
- Convenience of ready-to-go data
- Compact device
Cons
- Not the best value
- Locks you in to EE network
| Network connection: | 4G LTE |
| Max number of devices: | 10 |
| Battery: | 1500mAh |
| Display: | No |
| Unlocked: | No |
Boasting the might of 5G, this Mi-Fi unit from Huawei is the fastest on our list by quite some margin - the top data speed sits at 1.65Gbps/250Mbps, comparable to wired connections. However, such competition-destroying performance comes at a price that few will see as reasonable. The high performance and cost set this as an option most applicable to travelling professionals.
Pros
- Super-fast performance
- Good battery
Cons
- Very expensive
| Network connection: | 5G & 4G |
| Max number of devices: | 20 |
| Battery: | 8000mAh |
| Display: | Yes |
| Unlocked: | Yes |
Tips
When buying a SIM to put into an unlocked Mi-Fi, it’s best to go with a provider that has good coverage. You can check via providers’ websites – for example, with the EE coverage checker or Vodafone coverage checker.
Shop around, see who will offer you the best deal. It tends to save you money over time.
You can buy a mobile router such as the 4GEE Mini Mobile Wi-Fi router listed above, which already comes with a bundle from a network provider. Just remember that these lock you into that network provider’s coverage.