Stationary 5G/LTE Router Test 2026: The best mobile routers for home use

Test Conclusion

The Fritz!Box 6860 5G stationary mobile router operates on both LTE and 5G networks, supporting all major frequency bands on each. It uses the Wi-Fi 6 standard, utilizing a 160 MHz channel width. We measured a maximum data transfer rate of 945 Mbps, though in real-world conditions it’s closer to 894 Mbps. This isn’t a top-tier result, but it’s acceptable. A nano-SIM card is used, and no SIM card eject tool is required. An analog phone cannot be connected, but VoIP and DECT are supported. The Fritz!DECT feature can also be used with the manufacturer’s smart home devices. Unfortunately, the physical ports are very limited: there’s only a single 1 Gbps LAN port and no USB port. However, the router is exceptionally user-friendly: setup is simple, security features are pre-configured, and the web interface offers extensive support. WPA3 encryption is available and enabled, and Dynamic DNS can be used. The Fritz!Box integrates seamlessly into a mesh network, functioning as either a router or repeater as needed. It can also be used as a VPN server with WireGuard. An access point mode is also included. The device is not designed for NAS, FTP, or print server use. Power consumption during data transfer could be slightly lower, but it is acceptable.

Testfazit

The TP-Link Archer MR550 is a solid mobile router for LTE. It supports all major frequencies and uses nano-SIM cards. The router does not support 5G networks. Furthermore, it only uses the older Wi-Fi 5 standard for Wi-Fi, resulting in somewhat reduced Wi-Fi performance. In real-world data transfer tests, we achieved an average speed of 289 Mbps, with a maximum measured speed of 712 Mbps. This is adequate for typical internet use. The device also offers three LAN ports and one LAN/WAN interface, each with a transfer rate of 1 Gbps. USB connectivity is not available. The router is not suitable as a smart home hub, and there are no ports for connecting phones. Setup is somewhat cumbersome, as there are no convenient QR codes for scanning. However, it does offer an excellent web interface with context-sensitive help. There is no pre-set device password, but the default Wi-Fi key is secure. WPA3 encryption for Wi-Fi is enabled by default. The router can function as a VPN server, but the WireGuard standard is not supported. It can also be used as a router or repeater in a Wi-Fi mesh network. Dynamic DNS is available. Additional router functionality, such as a print server or access point, is not offered. However, the device is relatively energy-efficient during operation.

Test Summary

The TP-Link Deco X50-5G is a stationary 5G mobile router. It uses all important frequency bands in both LTE and 5G networks. A nano-SIM card is required, which can be easily inserted. The router creates a Wi-Fi network with the Wi-Fi 6 standard and a 160 MHz channel width. In our tests, this resulted in strong speeds. We measured a maximum data transfer rate of 1,533 Mbps, and even under more typical, everyday conditions, it still achieved 1,040 Mbps. The router is not designed for telephony, but it can optionally serve as a smart home hub. It supports the TP-Link brands Tapo and Kasa, as well as the open Matter standard. It also features three switchable LAN/WAN interfaces: two 1 Gbps and one 2.5 Gbps data transfer ports. There is no USB port. The user interface could be improved. Setup is straightforward, but the web interface for settings is limited. Furthermore, the default passwords and keys are not customizable and therefore insecure. WPA3 encryption is available but requires configuration. Dynamic DNS is supported. The TP-Link can also be used as a router or repeater in a Wi-Fi mesh network. An access point mode is included. NAS, FTP, and print server functionality are not supported. However, a VPN server with WireGuard is supported. Power consumption is acceptable, but the router could be more energy-efficient.

Test Conclusion

The Vodafone GigaCube 5G offers fast mobile network reception and high data rates via Wi-Fi. A nano-SIM card is required for use. The router supports all major frequency bands on the LTE network. However, it does not access the 800 MHz band on the 5G network, which may be relevant for reception in rural areas. On the other hand, the Wi-Fi 6 connection with its 160 MHz channel width proved to be blazing fast in our tests. We measured a maximum data transfer rate of 1,947 Mbps, and under practical conditions, it still achieved a respectable 1,183 Mbps. A fast wireless home network is therefore definitely possible. Ethernet ports are less common, but there is a fast 2.5 Gbps LAN/WAN port. The second LAN port offers 1 Gbps, and there is no USB port. An analog phone is supported, but neither DECT nor VoIP is. The router is also not designed for smart home control. Setup is simple, and the web interface makes it easy to manage. The factory-installed security measures are excellent, with WPA3 encryption enabled. The smartphone app, however, could be more comprehensive. And the feature set is rather limited: A VPN server cannot be set up, there’s no support for NAS, FTP, or printer control, and even cloud storage isn’t offered. Furthermore, the router cannot be used as an access point. However, it works flawlessly as a router or repeater in a Wi-Fi mesh network. Dynamic DNS is also included. The GigaCube’s power consumption is quite high.

Test Conclusion

The Fritz!Box 6850 stationary mobile router offers 5G via a mini-SIM, but doesn’t support all modern standards. The somewhat older Wi-Fi 5 standard is particularly noticeable. This results in a channel width of only 80 MHz and lower performance. Under optimal conditions, we achieved a maximum data throughput of 618 Mbps in our tests, while in practice, the average is closer to 369 Mbps. This is sufficient for internet browsing, but you can’t set up a truly high-speed home network with this router. The LAN ports are limited to 1 Gbps, but there are four of them. WAN is not available, but a USB 3.0 Type-A port is. In addition to VoIP and DECT, the router also offers a port for an analog phone. Smart home devices from the manufacturer can also be controlled. Ease of use is excellent. Besides simple setup and pre-configured security features, there’s a web interface that will satisfy both beginners and advanced users. WPA3 encryption for Wi-Fi is enabled by default. The router integrates seamlessly into a Wi-Fi mesh network, even as a repeater. It also features VPN functionality with WireGuard and supports NAS, FTP, and printer management. Dynamic DNS is also supported. The only feature missing is an access point mode. The router has low power consumption.

Test Summary

The Asus 4G-AX56 stationary mobile router uses the LTE network and supports all major frequency bands. 5G is not supported. Inserting the nano-SIM card for reception is straightforward. The Wi-Fi 6 standard uses an 80 MHz channel width. This means top speeds are not achievable. While we measured a peak transfer rate of 874 Mbps in our tests, the average speed in real-world conditions is only 381 Mbps. This is sufficient for basic internet use. For those who prefer to connect network cables, the router offers four LAN ports with 1 Gbps data transfer and one WAN port with the same speed. There is no USB port. The router also does not support telephony or the control of smart home devices. Setup is quite simple, and the web interface offers good context-sensitive help. However, the default passwords are not device-specific and must be changed. WPA3 encryption is only activated during setup. The router’s functionality is mixed: it can be used as a VPN server, but not with WireGuard. It cannot be integrated into a Wi-Fi mesh network at all. However, the security and diagnostic features are otherwise solid, and Dynamic DNS is available. An access point mode is also offered. Extras such as NAS or printer control are not included. The router’s power consumption is low.