Netgear announced its latest mobile hotspot today, the Nighthawk 5G M7, which will be available in January, along with a new mobile app and an eSIM marketplace where you can purchase local SIM cards for more than 140 countries. The M7 comes unlocked for $499.99, making it a more affordable alternative to the unlocked version of Netgear’s premium M6 Pro hotspot.
The M7 features Wi-Fi 7 with speeds of up to 3.6Gbps and support for up to 32 connected devices, which you can also connect wired via USB-C or with an ethernet adapter. It also includes a firewall, WPA3 encryption, and automatic firmware updates, along with Netgear’s Advanced Router Protection, which helps detect and block attacks on your router and allows for live security patches. Additionally, you have the option to use either physical SIM cards or eSIMs.
The M7 offers up to 10 hours of continuous connectivity per charge and can also function as a power bank. That’s a few hours less battery life than the advertised 13 hours you get with the M7 Pro, but it should be enough to tide you over in a pinch until you find an outlet.
The eSIM marketplace is the biggest upgrade over previous Netgear hotspots. From the Netgear app, you can view, buy, and activate local data plans for the M7 — a feature that could come in handy for anyone who frequently travels internationally. Data plans in the marketplace will range from 3GB to 20GB, and you’ll be able to view real-time usage from the app.