Wired
The emergence of 5G networks has gradually changed everyone’s lives. The most obvious thing is that where you can receive 5G networks, you can surf the Internet with a download speed of more than 100Mbps. For those who often need to work outside or live in places that cannot be reached by optical fiber fixed broadband, especially For old buildings such as remote village houses or single buildings and tenement buildings in urban areas, the application of mobile network technology can definitely bring convenience to users.
In the market, there are also corresponding 4G/5G mobile routers or home 5G routers. How to choose between the two? In addition, we also found three types including Netgear, ZTE, Oppo and Linksys, a total of 7 types of 4G and 5G routers. We will analyze the pros and cons of each type of router. We also selected 2 new 5G mobile routers on the market. Let’s compare the three aspects of appearance, portability, system operation and speed.
4G mobile router wins at parity
The latest in the market is of course 5G mobile or home routers, but in terms of popularity, 4G mobile routers must be more affordable and mature than the new 5G routers. It will be a good choice for users with low speed requirements. Choice, and Netgear Nithghawk M1 & M2, compared to other mobile Routers, are two of the best choices in the market.
The difference between M1 and M2 is mainly the highest network speed (1GB VS 2GB), the highest support for WiFi 5 network sharing, and Nighthawk M2 with Lan/Wan plugs. Even if fixed broadband is used later, it can be used as a general router. However, the price difference between the two is about 900 yuan (Nighthawk M1 HK$1,988, Nighthawk M2 HK$2,888). Which one to choose depends on your actual needs.
Netgear Nighthawk M1 Price: HK$1,988
Netgear Nighthawk M2 Price: HK$2,888
5G Home Router, the advantage is that more devices can be connected to the Internet
If you simply intend to use it in a fixed place, you can consider starting with a 5G home router. There are mainly ZTE MC801A, Oppo CPE T1a and Linksys FGW3000 on the market, with pricing ranging from HK$2,780 to HK3,499.
The fuselage is designed without a fan, using Qualcomm SDX55 5G chip, the specifications are very close, with a total bandwidth of 3Gbps, a maximum download speed of about 2.5Gbps and support for WiFi 6 network sharing. In terms of the advantages of the 5G home router, the receiving power is relatively stable compared to the mobile router, and it is absolutely felt for indoor use. Of course, it will not be used in the street, but it is very convenient and reliable to use it in a specific place. Generally, the 5G home router can correspond to about 30 -60 devices are connected to the Internet at the same time, and there are more Lan cord plugs than mobile routers, which can be used for devices that need to use data cables to connect to the Internet.
ZTE MC801A Price: HK$2,880
Oppo CPE T1a Price: HK$2,799
Linksys FGW3000 Price: HK$3,499
5G mobile router, every second counts for high speed
For users who need high-speed mobile Internet access, especially those who often go out to work or go to different places to shoot high-definition pictures for live broadcasts, the 5G WiFi 6 mobile router is an excellent choice. In the Hong Kong market, there are mainly Linksys FGHSAX1800 and Netgear Nighthawk M5, both of which support N1, N78 and N79. Hong Kong mainly uses the 5G network spectrum.
P-BKE-500; P-FGHSAX1800
Linksys FGHSAX1800 Price: HK$3,999
Linksys FGHSAX1800 is a pure 5G WiFi egg, relying on a few LED lights on the machine surface
Linksys FGHSAX1800 is the thinnest and lightest 5G WiFi egg on the market. The body weighs only 185g. Regardless of its appearance and function, it is relatively simple. In short, the attributes of Linksys FGHSAX180 are completely outdoor-oriented. The body is easy to carry, and the material of the body is non-slip and will not be easy to get your hands on.
The status of operation is mainly understood by a few LED lights on the machine surface, and how much 4,000 mAh battery is left. Due to the pursuit of thinness and lightness, there is no screen to provide clear information to the user, so the more troublesome thing is that the system must be operated. You have to go through a browser to set up, and there are pros and cons. The USB-C plug of the body can be connected to the USB-C position of the computer for wired network sharing. The highest download speed of Linksys FGHSAX1800 is 1.5Gbps, the bandwidth is up to 1,800 Mbps, and it supports up to 15 devices to connect at the same time. It is definitely sufficient for daily outings.
Netgear Nighthawk M5 Price: HK$5,988
Netgear Nighthawk M5 5G WiFi egg, removable battery, direct power supply
Netgear Nighthawk M5 is the most comprehensive product compared to the above mobile Router. The machine is equipped with a 2.4-inch touch screen, which can perfectly display power, data usage, SSID name and password and other information, and can also perform most of the main settings, such as changing SSID, adding Guest SSID and setting APN, etc. Operate through the mobile app, no manual is required, and you already know how to use it.
The Netgear Nighthawk M5 has a 5,040 mAh battery like the Netgear Nighthawk mobile router in the same series. It can be replaced by itself, making the product more durable. Moreover, the device can be directly powered by AC adapter when the battery is unplugged, and with the design that can install dual TS9 antennas, it can quickly become a home 5G Router, with one device for two purposes. The maximum download speed is 4Gbps, and 32 devices can be connected at the same time. Because of the USB-C power supply, the AC adapter can be used for power supply. It is more suitable for business trips or use in the exhibition hall. Is there any disadvantage when it comes to being so comprehensive? Yes, it is the price, which is the most expensive of the above. In addition, users have to consider whether they can use all of these functions, and that they are worth the price.
The ultimate indoor and outdoor test! Linksys FGHSAX1800 vs Netgear Nighthawk M5
As the most expensive mobile Router, what everyone cares about most is of course the use of 5G network speed. The test will be conducted indoors and outdoors, using the same 5G SIM card to connect to the 5G network at the same location and connect to the 5GHz WiFi6 network of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Indoor speed test: the two are both up and down
In the indoor environment, the Linksys FGHSAX1800 and Netgear Nighthawk M5 were tested respectively. The Linksys FGHSAX1800 and Netgear Nighthawk M5 both have download speeds of over 200Mbps, and they are not divided into different aspects.
Linksys FGHSAX1800 speed is 203Mbps
Netgear Nighthawk M5 speed is 205Mbps
Times Square Speed Test: Netgear M5 is better
Go outside and watch the speed of Linksys FGHSAX1800 and Netgear Nighthawk M5 under the big TV in Times Square in Causeway Bay. The fastest result of the former was 251Mbps, and the latter was 298Mbps. After moving the test to the outdoors, the Netgear Nighthawk M5 performed better.
Compete on the big TV in Times Square, Causeway Bay
Linksys FGHSAX1800 speed is 251Mbps
Netgear Nighthawk M5 5G speed is 298Mbps
Network sharing test Netgear M5 is faster
The last item is the network sharing test. With the speed test of Linksys FGHSAX1800 and Netgear Nighthawk M5 USB-C Tethering, both machines can be plug and play when connected to the computer. The network speed results of the two are 173.68 Mbps and 200.32 Mbps respectively, and the results are the Netgear Nighthawk M5 5G is even better.
Linksys FGHSAX1800 USB-C Tethering speed test
The speed is 173.68 Mbps
Netgear Nighthawk M5 USB-C Tethering speed test
The speed is 200.32 Mbps
Summary: Netgear M5 is relatively reliable in one step
There are three different types of mobile routers mentioned above. How should friends who are interested in purchasing them choose? If you are not pursuing high-speed Internet access, in fact, mobile 4G Router is already a good choice. The most important thing is that it is affordable and will have more advantages than 5G mobile Router in terms of continuous usage time.
As for the 5G home router, if you don’t often go out to use large amounts of data and multiple devices, stability is definitely the biggest advantage of this type of router, and it is also convenient to connect other home computers and audio-visual products with ports. Finally, the 5G mobile router. If you are pursuing the latest, fastest and high quality, and at the same time willing to spend money, it is definitely a one-step choice, especially for friends who need to do exhibitions, Facebook Live or YouTube live broadcasts at work, the speed and speed of 5G Router The stability is quite reliable.