What Is a Mobile Hotspot (Definition, Types & Benefits)

mobile hotspot

Buying a mobile hotspot is very practical if you travel a lot for work or on the road. However, do you know what is a mobile hotspot? How many types of mobile hotspots? And what can you get from a mobile hotspot? This post answers these questions one by one. After reading you will get a brand-new recognition of a mobile hotspot.

What Is a Mobile Hotspot?

A mobile hotspot is a feature and a device. As a device, it’s capable of performing multiple online tasks simultaneously, allowing 4G and 5G. It works as a bridge to connect your devices to a Wi-Fi network. Sometimes it works as a router, and your computer, laptop, and iPad can connect to it too.

As a feature, it’s a wireless network, allowing you to connect to the Internet using the cellular data of a smartphone or dedicated hotspot device. When your Wi-Fi not working, a mobile hotspot provides flexibility for remote work or travel.

In a short word, a mobile hotspot is a portable Internet source. It works best when your limited connections fail and when you need flexible connections.

How Many Types of Mobile Hotspots?

Now you may know what a mobile hotspot is, but do you know how many types a mobile hotspot has? There are several types of mobile hotspots, each catering to different needs and preferences. Here’s a breakdown of the main types:

Smartphone Hotspot

The most common mobile hotspot nowadays is the personal cell phone hotspot. Many smartphones come with this built-in hotspot feature that lets you share your phone’s cellular data with other devices.

You can open your phone’s “Settings”, then select “Mobile Networks” and click “Personal Hotspot”. Here you can set your personal hotspot name, password, and blacklist. If you use an iOS device, go to the “cellular” section of “Settings” and switch the “Personal hotspot” slider to on.

Smartphone Mobile Hotspot

A smartphone hotspot is convenient, only needs a smartphone with cellular data, and doesn’t need additional hardware. You can open it and share the hotspot with other devices. However, a smartphone’s battery is limited, mobile hotspot costs it quickly.

Dedicated Mobile Hotspot Device

Unlike a smartphone hotspot, a dedicated mobile hotspot uses a completely separately designed device. These Internet-enabled devices are called “mobile hotspots” and they can manage multiple devices at once.

They act like wireless routers and help your devices connect to the local cellular network. Dedicated mobile hotspots perform better than cell phone hotspots. And it offers non-contract plans so you don’t have to buy it all at once.

The dedicated mobile hotspot device has a long battery life and offers a better Internet speed than a smartphone hotspot. However, you need to carry the extra device to support it and purchase additional data plans.

In-vehicle Hotspot

With the development of technology, some vehicles carry built-in Wi-Fi hotspots too. It allows people to connect their devices to the Internet while moving. The vehicle’s hotspot comes with an embedded SIM or physical SIM card.

An in-vehicle hotspot is nice for people who like to have road trips. The hotspot is powered by a vehicle’s battery, so the use time of it is long. But it can only be used in a car and you need to equip additional hardware with it.

USB Tethering Hotspot

Compared with other hotspots, the USB tethering hotspot is not a specific device but a feature. You can use it to connect your device with other devices like a computer or a laptop through a cable to share a network connection.

When there’s no Wi-Fi available or when you need a more stable connection compared to Wi-Fi tethering. So it’s a more stable connection than a wireless hotspot, your smartphone’s battery will not drain quickly.

Here are 4 types of mobile hotspots to be described, among them are pros and cons. Based on your needs for connectivity, convenience, and performance, you can select the most suitable one.

Tip:

If you want a stable and safe mobile hotspot connection, LightningX VPN can help. It offers a strict no-log policy and a strong protocol for users, so your privacy can be highly protected.

What Can a Mobile Hotspot Do for You?

A mobile hotspot can bring you several benefits, here are some benefits at the list:

Firstly, a mobile hotspot is more flexible and mobile, you can connect to cellular service from anywhere. Especially for a traveler or remote worker, it’s much more convenient.

The second one is the price. Compared to purchasing a data plan, especially if you have multiple devices, you need to purchase several plans, using a mobile hotspot can be more cost-effective.

The third one is working as a backup connection. A mobile hotspot can work as an Internet connection service. If you face some urgent situation such as an earthquake, the traditional Internet services may be down.

Moreover, when there are no public Wi-Fi options, you don’t need to ask for a network but to create a private Wi-Fi network using a mobile hotspot. It’s convenient for users.

Plus, you don’t need to share data with other users so your online security. Using a mobile hotspot can help you control the data usage. You can monitor and limit data usage anytime if you purchase a limited data plan. Plus, your online security can be highly protected compared to connecting to a public Wi-Fi.

FAQs of a Mobile Hotspot

Does a Mobile Hotspot Replace a Home Network?

It cannot replace a home network. Although a mobile hotspot offers convenience for you, it can only provide you with a limited speed. If you want to enjoy a super-fast speed to stream or download, a mobile hotspot cannot meet it.

Does My Hotspot be Attacked by a Hacker?

A mobile hotspot is private. If you want to reduce the risk of attacking, you’d better not tell anyone your password. Moreover, you can use another tool to enhance security – LightningX VPN, it’s a VPN tool, and when you connect to it, your online data will be encrypted.

Is a Mobile Hotspot Free?

There’s no free mobile hotspot. They all typically rely on a mobile data plan.

Conclusion

A mobile hotspot is a useful tool. There are several types available you can select. But it’s important to know what you need and choose a suitable one for yourself.

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