For most people, we’d recommend the Vodafone R219 mobile wi-fi hotspot as the best device for getting online through Vodafone’s mobile broadband service. As an alternative to the R219 mobile wi-fi hotspot, Vodafone also offers the K5161 USB data dongle. This is a simpler device compared to the R219, allowing you to use mobile broadband on only one device at a given time (your laptop). Those figures are decent – better in fact than some rivals, and with 6 hours of use you should be able to use it for as long as you need to in most circumstances. The Vodafone R219 can also get up to 10 devices online at once, so even if you’re with a group you should be able to get everyone’s tablets and laptops connected to the internet. Battery

On the Unlimited Max price plan, you can roam at no extra cost in 81 international destinations with Global Roaming Plus. This includes most European countries along with the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey and more. The Vodafone R219 gives you Wi-Fi freedom, letting you bring a portable hotspot connection with you wherever you go, so you can get laptops, tablets and more online when you’re out and about. Compatible with a laptop running Windows 7 or later, or Mac OS X 10.9 and newer. A driver will be installed on your laptop for the dongle. The Vodafone R219 is a solid, competitive 4G mobile broadband device. It’s small, light, very simple to set up and use, reasonably fast, and has decent battery life, all for an affordable price. Fairly light and portable: the hotspot weighs 95g and measures 10.0 x 5.8 x 1.37 cm. A micro-USB cable is used for charging, giving up to 6 hours battery life on one charge.

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In the following sections, we’ll review each of the two mobile broadband devices in more detail. Vodafone R219 Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot When joining Vodafone’s mobile broadband service, you’ll currently have a choice of two devices: either the Vodafone R219 mobile wi-fi hotspot or the Vodafone K5161 USB data dongle: Vodafone R219 Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot If you’re using a 5G-ready device with a mobile broadband SIM card, it may also be possible to access 5G coverage on Vodafone. So read on below for everything you need to know about the Vodafone R219 Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot, to see if it’s the mobile Wi-Fi device for you. Design When joining Vodafone’s mobile broadband service, there’s a choice of two devices. Most people now choose the Vodafone R219 mobile wi-fi hotspot as it allows you to connect up to 10 devices to the internet at the same time. The Vodafone K5161 USB data dongle is also available if you want a simpler device that gives you mobile broadband on your laptop. Alternatively, it’s also possible to get a mobile broadband SIM card that gives you access to mobile broadband on Vodafone without a new device.

The Vodafone R219 Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot has a 1,500mAh battery, with life of up to 6 hours when in use, or 350 hours on standby. Unlike Vodafone’s regular fixed-line home broadband (including Superfast Broadband and Gigafast Broadband), Vodafone’s 4G mobile broadband service doesn’t rely on a phone line. This gives you the flexibility to use it in more places – whether that’s at home or outside at a different location. You can even use it abroad in 51 destinations at no extra cost through Vodafone Global Roaming (or in 81 destinations if you have an Unlimited Max price plan). You can currently get the Vodafone R219 on the following mobile broadband plans from Vodafone: Data Allowance On all mobile broadband plans, it’s possible to roam at no extra cost when travelling to one of 51 European destinations (capped at a maximum of 25GB per month on unlimited data plans). When I tried to register the SIM and number I'm unable to do so as it sends a text apparently and I'm not able to access that via the mobile hotspot device.That said, it’s not fundamentally very different to a number of other such devices, and has little to help it stand out. That’s fine really – most rival devices don’t stand out either, and if you’re set on Vodafone then this is the best and simplest option, but it would be nice to see more features or upgrades, such as 5G support or a display. Still, that would push the price up, so the Vodafone R219 is a strong budget option. For more information, see our in-depth guide to coverage on Vodafone or our overview of how mobile coverage works in the UK. International Roaming In theory it should also come with some charge in the battery, so you won’t even need to plug it in. The main disadvantage of the K5161 data dongle is that it can only be used on one device at a time. This needs to be a laptop with a spare USB port, running on Windows 7 and later or Mac OS X 10.9 and later. It isn’t possible to use the dongle with other types of device like your tablet, smartphone or games console. Compatible with any device that supports wi-fi connectivity. Includes your phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV, games console and more.