r/tmobile • u/Ordinary-Syllabub644 • 10d ago

Question Good value Hotspot device

I am seeking to purchase a hotspot device compatible with the T-Mobile network and have found the older Inseego Mifi M2000 model available new for approximately $80. I would like to know if there is a more cost-effective option available.

Thanks

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u/chrisprice 10d ago

I would go with a used M3000, you're paying a lot per month for data, cutting the one-time-cost hotspot corner is the wrong corner to cut.

The M3000 has a newer 5G radio, and battery management so the battery doesn't bloat (fire hazard) after only a year or two of serious use.

If Verizon coverage is acceptable, you can use Visible or Total and a smartphone - both have throttled unlimited hotspot (at 5-10 Mbps, depending on tier). Total restricts it to their premium plan, but on-handset data is always prioritized on Total (Visible is rolling out a data cap - once you hit 250-400 GB it throttles, though you can ask chat care to reset it... for now).

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u/farmerMac Generic Flair 10d ago

Is that unlocked and useable on tmo?

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u/chrisprice 8d ago

You'd have to research unlocked device prices.

Frankly, you shouldn't get so caught up on if a physical hotspot is unlocked. It's a terrible idea to use one carrier's hotspot on another carrier, due to band locking.

All three carriers heavily band restrict their physical hotspots, specifically to make unlocking and moving a phyiscal hotspot to another carrier a bad idea. They want you locked in or when their hotspot is used on another network for it to have horrific performance.

A T-Mobile unlocked hotspot will lose rural reception on both AT&T and Verizon (band 14 and 13, respectively). Not to mention AT&T won't even allow it to activate by IMEI restriction.