Which Portable Router Do You Need? Comparing Our Range

We stock four portable routers, from £45 to £275, and they're not the same device at four different prices — each one is genuinely built for a different job. If you're still deciding whether you need a router at all rather than just using your phone's hotspot, our router vs phone hotspot guide covers that first question. If you already know a dedicated router is right, here's how to tell which one is actually yours.

The quick version

Router	Price	Best for
ZTE u10	£45	An affordable travel companion, paired with an IQ Go SIM
ZTE u10s PRO	£55	Regular use — WiFi 6, real battery life, a proper display
ZTE u50	£150	5G speed for home, office or serious travel
ZTE u60 (refurbished)	£220	A full home-broadband replacement

ZTE u10 — £45

The simple option. A 4G mobile WiFi router built to do one job: take a SIM, share the connection over WiFi. Paired with an IQ Go travel SIM, it's the most cost-effective way to stay connected on a trip without relying on your phone's hotspot the whole time.

Best for: occasional travel, backup connectivity, anyone who wants the cheapest way into a dedicated router.

ZTE u10s PRO — £55

A proper step up for regular use. WiFi 6 for a faster, more stable connection, a 3000mAh battery good for around 10 hours, and a circular display showing signal and battery at a glance — so you're not guessing how much charge is left. Connects up to 32 devices at once, and it's unlocked, so it works with any compatible SIM.

Best for: working from cafés, coworking spaces or anywhere without fixed WiFi on a regular basis; families who want one router rather than everyone hotspotting separately.

ZTE u50 — £150

The jump to 5G. Considerably faster than the 4G options above, and a sensible middle ground between a travel router and a full broadband replacement — quick enough for video calls and streaming without the price (or size) of the top-of-range option.

Best for: home or office use where fixed broadband isn't available or hasn't arrived yet, or anyone who wants 5G speed without needing to connect dozens of devices at once.

ZTE u60 (refurbished) — £220

The serious option, and refurbished to bring a genuinely high-end router down to a realistic price. 5G speeds up to 4.29Gbps, WiFi 7, up to 64 devices connected simultaneously, and a 10,000mAh battery good for up to 29 hours — enough to comfortably outlast a full day of use, with fast-charging and power-bank functionality if your other devices need topping up too.

Best for: replacing home broadband outright, a household with a lot of connected devices, or anyone who wants a genuine backup connection that won't need charging twice a day.

What about a MiFi rather than a router?

We also stock the ZTE MU5120 (£275) — a 5G MiFi device built for the same "share one connection with everyone" job as the u60, in a slightly more compact, pocketable form. If size matters more than screen and controls, this is the one to look at instead.

How to actually choose

Ask two questions, in this order:

1. How many devices, and for how long? One or two devices for occasional trips → the u10. A family or small team, most days → the u10s PRO or u50. A household replacing broadband entirely → the u60 or MU5120.
2. Do you actually need 5G? If you're mainly in areas with strong 5G coverage and want the fastest possible connection, the u50 or u60 are worth the extra cost. If 4G is realistically what you'll get most of the time, the u10 or u10s PRO do the job for considerably less.

Not sure which fits? Our UK-based team is happy to talk it through — call 01225 588101.

👉 See the full range and current prices →

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a router and a MiFi device? Not much in practice — both take a mobile SIM and share the connection over WiFi. "MiFi" tends to describe smaller, more pocketable devices; "router" often implies a few more controls or a display, like our u10s PRO and u60.

Do I need a 5G router, or is 4G enough? If you're mainly in areas with strong 5G coverage and want the fastest possible speeds, 5G is worth it. Otherwise, our 4G options (u10, u10s PRO) do the same job for considerably less.

How many devices can I connect? It varies by model — the u10s PRO supports up to 32 devices at once, the u60 and MU5120 up to 64. Check the individual product page for your chosen model.

Can I use these routers abroad? Yes — all of our routers are unlocked and work with any compatible SIM, including IQ Go for travel abroad.