7 Best Mobile Hotspots for Your Car
iStock

7 Best Mobile Hotspots for Your Car

Here's how to get connected from the road.

Like GearBrain on Facebook

A while ago, GearBrain rounded up our picks for the best mobile hotspots for your car. At the time, these hotspots, were, well, hot. And they are still solid picks for your on-the-go needs. But as technology gets better, our round ups get even greater. So, here's a new list of mobile hotspots you'll want to learn more about. The convenience is the cornerstone to a great connection, anytime, anywhere.

TP-Link 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi M7350

Picture of  TP-Link mobile hotspot car

TP-Link's mobile hotspot can connect 10 devices at one time

TP-Link

TP-Link is a comfortable choice for support for up to 10 devices at once, making this hotspot useful for a well-connected multi-device environment. With 150 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload speeds, the swiftness you'll get with this $147.95 device from TP-Link is sweet. The battery will last you a decent 8 hours, so no worry about losing the juice before you're ready to log out.

Available on Amazon.

Sprint Drive

Photo of the Sprint Drive

The Drive device plugs discreetly into your car's OBD-2 port

Sprint

The Sprint Drive plugs into your car's OBD-2 port, where it firstly monitors the health of your car, flagging up any errors the vehicle's computer may give. The Sprint Drive also tracks mileage and fuel efficiency, and gives detailed diagnosis when something goes wrong.

But the biggest feature - and arguably the most useful - is the Sprint Drive's 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, which up to eight devices can connect to at once. The Sprint Drive has an up-front payment of $120, then you can pay either $10 per month for 2GB of high-speed data, or $25 a month (reduced from $30 at the time of writing) for unlimited data.

Although unlimited (and as such you will always remain connected, no matter how much you use the Sprint Drive), video streaming from services like YouTube and Netflix will be of a lower resolution than HD. However, on a smartphone this shouldn't be too much of a concern. Sprint calls this limitation "mobile-optimized data".

Netgear Nighthawk LTE Mobile Hotspot Router

Picture of netgear mobile hotspot router

The Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router is password protected

Netgear

Get high-speed, long lasting battery power, and souped up sharing capabilities with the $199 Netgear Nighthawk LTE Mobile Hotspot Router. Up to 20 devices can connect at once, giving the whole family (and then some) a crisp connection for everything from schoolwork to streaming. Password protected for safety and compact for convenience, this hotspot is as handy as it is hardworking.

Available at Best Buy

Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8800L

verizon jetpack mobile hotspot car

The Verizon Jetpack has a touchscreen and is small, at just 2.4 inches

Verizon

Count on Verizon to bring forth the first CAT 18 LTE Mobile Hotspot. The 2.4" mobile touchscreen is easy-to-use and incredibly intuitive, and the overall size of the device is compactly convenient. The battery will go strong all day – a full 24 hours, non-stop. Fifteen devices can use the $199.99 Jetpack at once, and you can opt in for a guest network. Speedy and safe, Verizon's hotspot is a high-tech hit.

Boost Mobile ZTE Warp Connect

picture of boost mobile ZTE Warp connect

For the budget conscious, the $49.99 ZTE Warp Connect may be a solid choice

ZTE

With 10 hours of use at a stretch and access for 10 wireless devices to hook up at once, Boost Mobile's ZTE Warp Connect is a reasonable option for swift connectivity no matter where you are or what you're doing. Work, play, or just in case, this cost-effective hotspot is just $49.99, plus stylish, small, and sensible.

Available at Best Buy

Netgear AT&T Unite Explore 815S 4G LTE

netgear at&t mobile hotspot car

You get 22 hours of battery life with the Netgear AT&T Unite Explore

Netgear

Designed for wear and tear, the rugged $149.99 Netgear AT&T Unite Explore is built to last and made for lots of everyday use. It's water- and shock-resistant and dust proof, giving you peace of mind when you take your hotspot to places far and wide. Twenty-two hours of battery charge is impressive, the connection is reliable, and the parental control feature puts you in charge.

T-Mobile Alcatel LINKZONE 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

t-mobile alcatel mobile hotspot car

You can link up to 15 devices to the T-Mobile Alcatel Linkzone

Alcatel

High speed and highly portable, the $72 T-Mobile Alcatel LINKZONE is a hotspot that's aimed to deliver when you don't have your regular connection. Fifteen devices can make use of the hotspot simultaneously, adding a powerful level of productivity to everyone's daily to-dos. At just 3.17 ounces, take your T-Mobile anywhere, just in case you need a quick connection on the go.

Available on Amazon.


Are you ready to rev up that engine and stay connected to the world while doing so? These five hotspots are the first steps to keeping your smart devices running at full capacity.


Like GearBrain on Facebook
The Conversation (0)

GearBrain Compatibility Find Engine

A pioneering recommendation platform where you can research, discover, buy, and learn how to connect and optimize smart devices.

Join our community! Ask and answer questions about smart devices and save yours in My Gear.

Top Stories

Weekly Deals