Club Benefits
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Simo Solis Lite makes getting online anywhere a breeze, with its simple setup and generous data plan that's perfect for individuals who are in a pinch. However, its capped at 4G LTE speeds and with fewer connections than its rivals.
Pros
- +
Generous data plan
- +
Simple, intuitive to set up
- +
Affordable cost
- +
Charming, durable design
Cons
- -
Caps at 4G LTE speeds
- -
Supports up to 10 devices
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In 2026, when nearly every phone out there has the ability to share its internet connectivity, it does make me wonder if dedicated mobile hotspots are still worth it. That’s why I put the Simo Solis Lite hotspot to the test to find out.
With its iPhone 17 Pro-esque orange color, this puck-shaped gadget is unconventional for a hotspot. Honestly, it looks innocuous at first glance because it doesn’t have a screen or buttons on it — but it strips away the complexity of traditional networking gear, offering a plug-and-play experience that just works.
Is it a worth best mobile hotspot contender? I'll tell you if it is, or isn't.
Simo Solis Lite Hotspot review: Specifications
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Simo Solis Lite Hotspot |
|---|---|
Wi-Fi | 802.11 b/g/n/a (2.4GHz or 5GHz) |
Network | 4G LTE + 3G |
Connections | Up to 10 devices |
Speed | Up to 150 Mbps download / 50 Mbps upload |
SIM | eSIM |
Battery Capacity | 4,700 mAh |
Battery Life | 16 hours standard |
Size | 3.46-inch diameter, 0.91-inch thickness |
Weight | 4.9 ounces |
Simo Solis Lite Hotspot review: What I like
Ultra-compact size
I already carry a ton of stuff with me on my daily commute, so I really love that the Simo Solis Lite doesn’t take up a lot of room. Its compact size lets me easily stow it in one of my backpack pockets, and in the event I actually need to carry it on me, I can still slip it into my jeans pocket.
Unlike the boxy and boring designs of other mobile hotspots, its puck-shaped design in combination with its bright orange color makes it stand out. Even when it’s banging up against other gear in my backpack, its soft-touch exterior keeps it looking clean. And since it doesn’t have a screen, that’s one less thing to worry about accidentally breaking.
Hassle-free setup
I’m tech-savvy, so setting up new gear is rarely an issue for me. But for anyone else, like my father, I really appreciate the dead-simple setup it offers.
Soon after activating the Simo Solis Lite, I can tell it’s ready to go once the network status light on the unit remains steady. There’s nothing more I need to do on my part other than physically turning it on and waiting for it to get connected, which takes about a minute. And with the SSID and Wi-Fi password located on the sticker on the back, getting online is a breeze.
Affordable upfront cost
The Simo Solis Lite is one of the most affordable mobile hotspots I’ve come across, easily beating the upfront cost I see with other models sold as postpaid devices on traditional wireless carriers. While it carries a $99.99 MSRP directly from Solis, the $169 cost from Amazon includes 1GB of data per month for the life of the unit.
I know power users would eat up that data quickly, but you can always add on another data plan. Still, for emergency situations, having that baseline 1GB of monthly data can certainly help in a pinch.
Simo Solis Lite Hotspot review: What I don't like
Tops out at 4G LTE
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|
Speed Test 1 | 7.17 Mbps | 1.94 Mbps |
Speed Test 2 | 11.2 Mbps | 6.42 Mbps |
Speed Test 3 | 7 Mbps | 5.17 Mbps |
Speed Test 4 | 26.5 Mbps | 0.86 Mbps |
Speed Test 5 | 15.1 Mbps | 16.7 Mbps |
Speed Test 6 | 6.21 Mbps | 18.2 Mbps |
Average | 12.2 Mbps | 8.21 Mbps |
If you need to download massive files with minimal wait time, the Simo Solis Lite will require some patience. That’s because it lacks 5G support, topping out at slower 4G LTE speeds.
For me, it suffices for everyday tasks like surfing the web, checking emails, and downloading smaller files. In fact, I didn’t have to wait long to upload a batch of 10 RAW photos that were about 18MB apiece. During my testing, the fastest download and upload speeds I saw with a single connected device were 26.5 Mbps and 18.2 Mbps, respectively.
Compared to 5G Ultra Wideband, these speeds are pretty slow — an issue that is only compounded as you connect more devices. I wouldn’t lean on it as an office workhorse, but it’s still more than enough for a single person.
10-device limit
The other restricting factor here is the 10-device limit, which is far lower than what many competing hotspots support. Granted, that is more than enough for me when I’m on the go — but it's hardly suitable for handling a bustling workspace.
At home, I easily connected my laptop, three phones, and my Apple Watch, but this device is really not meant to replace a traditional Wi-Fi router. While I’ve used higher-end hotspots to connect data-hungry devices like a smart TV for streaming or a Nintendo Switch, I wouldn’t recommend trying the same with the Simo Solis Lite.
Simo Solis Lite Hotspot review: Bottom line
This puck-shaped mobile hotspot isn't built for heavy-duty power users who need millimeter-wave 5G speeds or want to hook up an entire office of devices.
Instead, it nails its true purpose: providing a highly portable and affordable bridge to the internet whenever you're away from home. The added bonus of having 1GB of data per month for the life of the unit is a huge incentive to get one, simply to fall back on when you're in a pinch.
