A Guide to Devices for Mobile Internet

Whether you're an RVer, trucker, or just someone who values being plugged into the digital world on the go, choosing the right device for mobile Internet can be a game-changer.

With a plethora of options available, from smartphones to tablets to Wi-Fi hotspots, navigating the landscape of mobile Internet devices can be overwhelming.

EZ Mobile Data is here to make this easy! This guide is designed to help you make informed decisions and optimize your connectivity, along with the pros and cons of each device so you know how they stack up against each other.

Smartphones: Your Pocket-Sized Hub

Smartphones are the Swiss Army knives of mobile Internet devices. Not only do they allow you to browse the web and access social media, but they also serve as communication hubs, cameras, and personal assistants.

Most of us have cell phones as a necessity for everyday life, work, and leisure. Since this is the device that most people are familiar with and introduced to, lets go over the pros and cons of this mobile data option:

PROS:

1. The fastest option currently on the market. Mobile carriers prioritize the data speeds and connectivity of smartphones ahead of any other connected device, due to laws and regulations.
   Another reason why your smartphone has the fastest speeds is because your phone is the endpoint of the data. In other words, it doesn't have to be broadcasted out, reducing any latency, interference, or other factors that are associated with Wi-Fi.
   Due to this, the speeds on smartphones cannot be rivaled for a mobile solution, usually with the latest modem chips and network frequencies installed. With 5G, you could even see speeds of up to 1Gbps!
2. Portability and Convenience: Portable and fast to charge. Most faster chargers can charge on empty before within an hour at most. Most smartphones can comfortably fit in your pocket and in luggage.
3. Mobile Hotspot (Tethering): Most smartphone plans give you the capacity to mobile hotspot, broadcasting the data from your smartphone to other devices!
   Although allotment of the mobile hotspot varies by plan, this neglected feature can really be handy in a pinch should the need arise.

CONS:

1. Limited Hotspot: Although most smartphone plans offer some capacity for mobile hotspot, none of the options are unlimited, capping you at a certain allotment of GB. Most plans offer 10-25GB of mobile hotspot, and after it's used, it will no longer work.
   For reference, 10-25GB of data could easily be used within a day - the average US household uses about 650GB of data/month!
2. Battery Considerations: Using most of your data on your phone or using the mobile hotspot option will drain your battery, and can make your battery overheat. Smartphones, although versatile, were not intended to broadcast data to other devices for long periods of time.
   This may damage your battery on the long term.
3. Performance Issues: Connecting more than a few devices to your smartphone's mobile hotspot will degrade the performance of your Internet connection, and will likely lead to your device overheating due to the amount of tasks your smartphone is now doing.

Tablets: The Portable Workhorse

Tablets strike a balance between portability and productivity, making them ideal for tasks that require a larger screen than a smartphone.

Whether you're reading e-books, watching videos, or working on documents, tablets offer a versatile platform for mobile Internet usage.

Consider the following when selecting a tablet for mobile Internet:

PROS:

1. Screen Size and Productivity Features: Larger screens with high resolutions provide a more immersive browsing experience, especially for multimedia content and productivity apps.
   Some tablets come with accessories like styluses and keyboard attachments, enhancing their suitability for productivity tasks such as writing and drawing.
2. SIM Card Add-On: Some higher end models come with an option to add a SIM card. This dramatically expands the options of your tablet to have a true mobile solution that isn't tethered to just Wi-Fi.
   In other words, you can get a tablet with a SIM card option for data only, with most tablet plans being unlimited! For added benefit, most tablet plans come with a small amount of mobile hotspot as well!
3. Portability and Convenience: Although not as portable as a smartphone, tablets only take a few hours to charge and can last for more than a day.

CONS:

1. Limited Connectivity: Although a tablet can be a great device that has some versatility, it contains the same pitfalls of a smartphone.
   Even if you have a dedicated SIM card for your tablet and it's unlimited, it's only unlimited for your tablet, not anything else. If your tablet does not have a SIM card slot, you're limited to only Wi-Fi.
2. Hardware Considerations: Most tablets do not have the capacity to add a SIM card, as these specific devices are mostly purchased from the mobile carriers themselves, with a required data plan.
   Chances are that your tablet probably doesn't have a SIM card if you simply purchased it at a local electronic store without asking specifically for it.
3. Battery Considerations: Similar to your smartphone, using most of your data on your tablet or using the mobile hotspot option will drain your battery, and can make your battery overheat.
   Tablets, although versatile, were not intended to broadcast data to other devices for long periods of time.
   Again, this may damage the battery of your device.

Mobile Hotspots: On-the-Go Connectivity

Mobile hotspots, also known as Mi-Fi, hotspot, and Wi-Fi Puck, provide Internet access to multiple devices by creating a Wi-Fi network using cellular data.

They are particularly useful in situations where smartphone tethering or public Wi-Fi is unreliable or unavailable due to mobile carrier restrictions.

PROS:

1. Data Plans: Choose a mobile hotspot with flexible data plans that suit your usage patterns, whether you need a pay-as-you-go option or a monthly subscription.
   Plans from mobile carriers generally start at around 10GB, all the way up to 200GB or more!
2. Battery Life and Portability: As a dedicated data-only device, hotspots are optimized for long battery life and portability.
   Since hotspots are meant to broadcast data to our devices, batteries within the hotspots are bigger than the average smartphone and some devices even have the ability to be used without a battery in an electronic outlet.
3. Security Features: All mobile hotspot devices contain advanced security features to secure your data and connection. Some mobile hotspots can add a VPN, or virtual private network, to mask your data from untrusted networks and anyone else.
   Hotspots also contain different levels of encryption to securely connect our devices to the internet, and most hotspots show what sort of devices are connected to it, which you can limit, restrict, or deny.
   You can even create a guest network with different rules and protocols, perfect for parents or employers looking to control the data experience.

CONS:

1. Limited Data Plans: Although convenient, no mobile carrier offers unlimited data for hotspots, and if it is unlimited, it's capped or throttled (slowed down) after a certain amount of allotment, making this option expensive if you want to add more data.

   WARNING: If you have this option from a mobile carrier, please read the fine print of your plan! Some plans automatically add an extra allotment of data on your behalf, and you can be left with a bill of hundreds, if not thousands of dollars! We here at EZ Mobile Data have high data or unlimited plans that can avoid these surprise bills.
2. Added Cost: Regardless of whether you have a limited hotspot plan or a generous plan, it has an added cost monthly to your budget. If you purchased a hotspot, it's normally a one time cost, or it could have been subsidized by your mobile carrier. If it was, ensure that there isn't an installment or contract associated with it!
3. Carrier Locks: Some hotspot devices are locked to the individual mobile carrier, forcing you to only use that specific hotspot within their network. Want to use it on another network? You'll need the unlock code from the mobile carrier, which can be cumbersome to achieve.

Cellular Routers: The Advanced and Expansive Option

Looking for the best options money can buy? Cellular routers are the powerhouse of mobile options.

With an ever-growing amount of options and features, a cellular router can build the performance of your dreams and can even rival the speed and reliability performance of residential fiber networks.

RV enthusiasts tend to go for routers for the Internet needs, but hotspot is still a valid option.

A few notable cellular routers include Pepwave / Peplink, MOFI, Cradlepoint, Winegard, and Cudy.

PROS:

1. Carrier Agnostic: Most cellular routers are unlocked, meaning you can use it on any mobile carrier! Don't like a specific company and want to try another one out, or want to test all of the mobile carriers to see which one suits your needs? This is the option for you!
2. Security Features: Similar to hotspots, a cellular router has all the same security features of mobile hotspots but has other features such as port filtering, DNS options, VPN, and remote management options. The options are endless with cellular routers.
3. Remote Access And Hand Holding: Want advanced options but want someone else to do the legwork? Some advanced routers allow remote management for you or someone else to install all the options remotely for you.
4. Expansive Antenna Options: Need more signal? Quality of your Wi-Fi needs to be stepped up? Cellular routers have antenna ports to upgrade your speeds. Install a leading antenna system to boost your speeds and performance for years to come.

CONS:

1. Cost: While some cellular routers can be purchased for as low as a few hundred dollars, some can range for hundreds of dollars, up to a few thousand dollars, depending on your needs, and that's without any antenna system. This isn't even including the cost of the cellular service, which is still capped and limited by today's mobile carriers.
2. Hard-Wired: While cellular routers are portable, they require an electrical outlet for power and most do not run on battery alone.
3. Technical Considerations: While progress has been made to make cellular routers more accessible to the average user, many features and options within cellular routers could be daunting to the average user. Adding to the technical requirements, installing extenders and antenna systems can be a timely endeavor.

What's the best option between a mobile hotspot or a portable router?

As we mentioned earlier in the article, there is no better devices: they all have their pros and cons, it all comes down to your needs.

Whether you choose a hotspot or a router, you'll get access to the Internet.

What matters is the use you have for the Internet: if you're a light user and don't need to do more than reading and writing e-mails and reading the news, chances are that you won't need either and you'll be fine with a smartphone.

If you're a power user, who needs stability and reliability, a router might be a better option.

If you need more portability, a Wi-Fi hotspot would be best. At EZ Mobile Data, this is the option we recommend for those who want to set Internet up in their trucks.

Remember: limitations can go both ways. If you have a great device but a poor plan, you won't be able to make full use of your device.

On the other hand, if you have a great plan but a subpar device, you won't be able to enjoy the speed your plan can actually deliver.

The build and quality of the device itself will matter, naturally, but for most users, the hotspot and the router bundled in our 5G mobile data plans will cover your everyday needs.

Conclusion

In today's connected world, choosing the right device for mobile Internet is crucial for staying productive, informed, and entertained on the go.

Whether you opt for a smartphone, tablet, or mobile hotspot, prioritize factors such as network compatibility, performance, battery life, and connectivity options to ensure a seamless mobile Internet experience.

Need a reliable company to do the legwork for you? Contact us at info@ezmobiledata.com, call or text us at 866-441-3282 for personalized assistance.

Whether you're traveling, an RVer, trucker, or anything in between, our plans and devices are dedicated to take the guesswork out, so you have more time to connect to things that are important!