5G Mobile Broadband dongle deals

What is 5G mobile broadband?

5G mobile broadband is a way to get devices such as laptops and tablets connected to a 5G network without them needing their own SIM cards – they just need the ability to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

In most cases, a 5G mobile broadband device will be a battery-powered router, which broadcasts a 5G signal to nearby devices as a Wi-Fi network. So if you have one of these and you’re in a 5G area then you can get all your gadgets online at super-fast speeds, wherever you are – whether you’re outside, in a hotel or café, on a train, or anywhere else.

There are also different types of mobile broadband devices, such as dongles which are like a USB stick that you plug into the device you want to get online. These don’t need their own battery, but also only get one gadget online at once, and 5G ones aren’t offered by any networks at the time of writing.

5G mobile broadband is an ideal option any time you’re away from home or the office, even if there’s public Wi-Fi available, as it’s both more secure and typically faster than public Wi-Fi networks.

Which networks offer 5G mobile broadband?

EE

EE offers a 5G mobile broadband device called the 5G WiFi. This has a 6,460mAh battery and can get up to 64 devices online at once – which is more than many 5G mobile broadband routers can manage.

It also has a 30-metre range, and the hardware offers average 5G download speeds of around 150Mbps according to EE, which is faster than many fibre broadband connections. That said, current EE plans for it are capped at 100Mbps. The EE 5G WiFi is a hybrid device which EE advertises as also being a good option for bringing internet to your home or shared accommodation. So whatever your internet needs, this is likely to suit.

At the time of writing you can get up to unlimited data with the EE 5G WiFi, so however heavy a user you are there’ll be a plan to suit.

Three

Three sells the Three 5G MiFi U50 – a 5G mobile broadband device that can get up to 32 devices online, with speeds of up to 1Gbps (though real-world speeds will typically be lower).

It has an eight-hour battery life, and you can get it on a plan with unlimited data.

Vodafone

Vodafone offers the ZTE MU5001 5G, also known as the Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot.

This can get up to 32 devices online at once, it has up to eight hours of battery life, and unlike most mobile broadband devices it also has a touchscreen. This is a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 display that lets you adjust the ZTE MU5001 5G’s settings and view its status and data use.

You can also get it with up to unlimited data, so Vodafone’s plans won’t hold you back

O2

O2 stocks the Netgear Nighthawk M6, which is a 5G mobile broadband device that can get 32 devices online with speeds that in theory reach 3.6Gbps, while O2 advertises typical speeds as being 10 times faster than 4G.

It also has an Ethernet port, up to 13 hours of battery life, and even a handy 2.4-inch touchscreen. As with other mobile broadband devices, you can also get this with up to unlimited data.

Which networks offer unlimited 5G mobile broadband?

EE, Three, O2, and Vodafone all offer 5G mobile broadband plans with unlimited data, though you can also choose less data for a lower price if you prefer.

How fast is 5G mobile broadband?

5G mobile broadband offers similar speeds to 5G smartphones, which means you can expect very high speeds.

Opensignal found in a September 2024 study of smartphones that Three’s average 5G download speed was 208.9Mbps, EE’s was 96.8Mbps, Vodafone’s was 138.7Mbps, and O2’s was 80.1Mbps.

We’ve also seen top speeds of over 800Mbps for Three and over 700Mbps for EE in other tests, and in theory 5G supports speeds of over 1Gbps.

Of course, speeds vary a lot depending on network, location, and which tests you look at, but one thing’s for sure: it’s far faster than 4G, and often faster than fibre broadband too.

Can I use 5G mobile broadband at home?

5G mobile broadband is designed for when you’re away from home and don’t have easy access to a secure, speedy Wi-Fi network. That said, there’s no reason you can’t use it in your home. It could be a good option if for example you’re having broadband issues, or waiting for your home broadband to be connected. And as it’s 5G it can be just as fast as fibre broadband, so it shouldn’t feel like a downgrade.

What about 5G home broadband?

5G home broadband is also available, and this is similar to 5G mobile broadband, except the devices don’t have batteries in them, as they’re designed to be plugged in and to provide long-term internet to your home.

While you could also plug a 5G mobile broadband router in, if your main objective is bringing internet to your home then a dedicated 5G home broadband router is a better option.

Frequently asked questions

Which network offers the best 5G mobile broadband plan?

Arguably Three offers the best 5G mobile broadband plan, as you can get unlimited data with competitive pricing, and some of the best 5G speeds. But the actual best plan and network will depend on your data needs and which networks have the best 5G coverage where you need it.

How many devices can I get online with 5G mobile broadband?

That depends on the mobile broadband device, but in some cases you can get up to 64 online. The 5GEE WiFi for example supports this many. Some support less, often in the region of 32, but given that these devices are designed for use away from home, it’s unlikely you’d often need to get many gadgets online at the same time anyway.

How many devices can I get online with 5G mobile broadband?

That depends on the mobile broadband device, but in some cases you can get up to 64 online. The EE 5G WiFi for example supports this many. Some support less, often in the region of 32, but given that these devices are designed for use away from home, it’s unlikely you’d often need to get many gadgets online at the same time anyway.

Why would I want 5G mobile broadband?

5G mobile broadband is ideal if you ever want to get a laptop, tablet or other device that doesn’t have its own SIM card online when away from home.

As long as you can get a mobile signal, you’ll be able to get connected, and with a 5G signal the speeds will be very high – so you can still get great performance even with loads of devices sharing the connection.

5G mobile broadband is also a good option even when there’s public Wi-Fi available, as it’s more secure and usually also faster.

What if I don’t have a 5G signal?

If you don’t have a 5G signal, then a 5G mobile broadband device will still work over 4G or 3G. As long as you have signal of some kind on the right network, you’ll be fine, the speeds you get just might be lower.