I just tested my first mobile hotspot in 5 years — and I'm shocked

I haven’t used a dedicated mobile hotspot in about five years, mainly because I’ve often leaned on my phones instead. However, I wanted to see if mobile hotspots are still relevant today because mobile carriers continue to advertise and sell them.

That’s why I put the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G Hotspot to the test for 30 days to see exactly what advantages it offers. This puck shaped device is pretty simple as they come, offering instant Wi-Fi connectivity when I need it, saving me from having to drain my phone’s battery.

The best mobile hotspots do way more than just that, so I’ll tell you in my TravlFI JourneyGo 4G Hotspot review if there’s more to what this device offers. Here’s what I found.

TravlFI JourneyGo 4G Hotspot review: Specifications

TravlFI JourneyGo 4G Hotspot review: What I Like

Simple to use

The best part about the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G is that it’s so easy to use that even my dad could figure out how to operate it. Other mobile hotspots come off intimidating with their fancy displays and icon indicators, which could confuse people who aren’t tech-inclined.

There’s just a single button on the unit that’s used to turn the device on and off — and nothing more than that. Three other LED light indicators show if it’s connected to the network, actively sending/receiving data, and if the Wi-Fi network is running. Lastly, the USB-C port on the side charges the unit when it’s low on battery.

All of this makes the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G incredibly straightforward to operate, making it really quick to get up and running.

Doesn’t overheat

Anyone that’s used the Wi-Fi hotspot function with their phone knows how much of a drain it is on the battery. Spending an hour connected can dramatically sap power, but the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G Hotspot has a decent battery life to cover me throughout my work day.

The TravlFI JourneyGo 4G is rated for up to 16 hours of battery life with a single charge from its 4,700 mAh battery. While I’ve been consistently keeping it on during the work day for 10 hours, it’s really hard to say what its battery life is like because the only indicator I have is an LED light strip that shows its charge level.

Despite this, I’ve seen that indicator at a little bit less than halfway by the time I’m done using it. What’s even better is that it doesn’t get scalding hot like my phone.

It’s also worth pointing out that the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G features an IP64 rating that gives it a little bit of water and drop resistance.

Supports up to 10 devices

Another big advantage that mobile hotspots such as the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G have over phone hotspots is that it can accommodate way more devices. There’s support for up to 10 devices operating simultaneously, which naturally causes speeds to slow down for each connected device.

At most, I’ve been able to connect five devices simultaneously to the mobile hotspot — two phones, a desktop PC, Apple Watch, and a laptop while at home. On my typical commute to work, I’ve managed to stream stuff on YouTube Music with my phone while working on my laptop on the train ride in with no issues at all.

This is definitely helpful if you have a lot of devices you want connected, as most cell phone mobile hotspot plans tend to allow only one device connection at a time.

TravlFI JourneyGo 4G Hotspot review: What I Don't Like

No 5G speeds and it’s pretty slow

Frankly, the biggest downside to using the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G is that it doesn’t support 5G speeds — so I’ve been stuck on 4G LTE speeds instead. For power users such as myself, this is a big limitation that causes videos to buffer a bit and long wait times for downloading large files.

I performed three speed tests with the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G at different locations each time, where it garnered average speeds of 6,38Mbps down and 3.27Mbps up. These are a smidge better than the speeds I got from using my iPhone 16 Pro Max’s mobile hotspot feature with Visible, but it’s a far cry from the 31Mbps download speed I averaged on my OnePlus 15 with Mint Mobile.

If speed matters, you might want to look elsewhere because there’s no getting around this limitation. Occasional web surfing and sending out emails is more than plenty fast with the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G, but I’ve experienced one too many occasions where TikTok and Instagram reels would stop playing to buffer.

Pricey unlimited plan

Chances are your unlimited cell phone plan already comes baked in with a hotspot service. If not, you typically put it on your plan as an add-on, but it doesn’t add much more to your monthly cost. Unfortunately TravlFi’s unlimited plan is costly at a whopping $129/month.

The good thing though is that you’re given access to the fastest speeds possible if you consume less than 800GB of data per month. Above that, the fine print says that you “may experience reduced speeds down to 5Mbps.” I know I’m a power user, but that’s an excessive amount that I'm unlikely to hit.

If you don’t need that much data, TravlFi offers other plans that can better suit your needs. For example, a 2GB plan goes for $19/month — while 10GB costs $29 per month. I would definitely recommend getting these lower-priced plans instead, especially considering how the best cheap cell phone plans start as low as $20/month.

No way to change Wi-Fi settings

Part of the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G's simplicity is that all the settings are locked down. That means there’s no way to change the name of the SSID or the password. There’s not even an app to monitor its status and monthly consumption.

Online access is the only way to see the TravlFI JourneyGo's exact battery life, along with being able to force it to rescan nearby towers to get the strongest signal and rebooting it. The fact that I can’t change the SSID or the password really limits how I’d want to use it, like being able to use it at home as a backup in the event there’s a power outage.

TravlFI JourneyGo 4G Hotspot review: Verdict

Clearly the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G isn’t for everyone. From its slower 4G speeds, to its pricey unlimited data plan, the mobile hotspot feels overpriced for what it offers at the end of the day — plus the fact that I can’t change some of its settings annoys me. Frankly, I’ll stick with my phone’s hotspot even if it’s limited to a single device.

However, the TravlFI JourneyGo 4G's main selling point is its ease of use. There’s no fuss or hassle getting it up and running, which is something I know my aging father can appreciate. The last thing I need is for him to call me up at some oddball hour asking why it’s not working. Just turn it on and that’s about it.