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If you’re looking for a home broadband solution then you’re not limited to wired options – you could also go for 4G home broadband or 5G home broadband, which have a number of advantages, not least being how quick and easy they are to get set up.
But the bigger decision then is which 4G or 5G router to go with. We’re here to help – below we’ll run you through the very best 5G and 4G routers available on UK networks, along with other options you might want to consider.
We’ve split this guide into sections, with 4G routers at the top and 5G ones further down, so if you’re specifically after the speediest possible connectivity then scroll further down – just make sure you have 5G coverage in your home before ordering a 5G router.
The best 4G routers
The following routers are the best 4G ones available from any network in our opinion. That said, they won’t necessarily suit everyone, so further down you’ll find 5G routers for those looking for even better performance.
Three 4G Hub
The Three 4G Hub (a rebranded ZTE MF286D) is available on Three and it’s one of the very best 4G routers you can get.
It’s a Cat 12/13 device, with download speeds of up to 600Mbps and upload speeds of up to 150Mbps. But as with any 4G device your actual speeds will depend more on your network and coverage, and are unlikely to be that high.
Still, it’s certainly one of the fastest 4G routers, and it also benefits from a generous four Ethernet ports for wired connections (recommended for gaming), plus two antenna sockets and support for up to 64 connected devices at once, which is more than almost any home should need. In all the Three 4G Hub is one of the most full-featured 4G routers you’ll find.
It's worth noting that Three also now offers a Three 4G Plus Hub. This is theoretically even better, but the actual specs are very similar, and it comes with a higher monthly price.
4GEE Home Router 3
The 4GEE Home Router 3 is EE’s latest 4G home broadband router at the time of writing, and it supports a highly respectable 64 simultaneous connections, across a 30-metre Wi-Fi range.
With Ethernet ports as well for wired connections, this sleek white box should be all the router you need. EE is keeping quiet on what the maximum speeds offered by it are, but EE’s 4G network regularly comes out on top in tests, so this router is paired with a network that should be able to make the most of it.
Vodafone GigaCube 4G
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Vodafone has sold a GigaCube for a long time, but more recently it’s quietly upgraded the hardware without changing the name, making for a significantly more exciting device.
The latest GigaCube 4G is actually a Huawei B818-263, and it’s theoretically capable of download speeds of up to 1.6Gbps – which is both more than you’ll get in the real world, and more than most 4G routers are even theoretically able to reach.
So it’s ahead of the game in terms of speeds, and competitive in other areas, with support for 64 simultaneous device connections.
TP-Link Archer MR600 V2 (4G National Broadband)
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Like most router names, the TP-Link Archer MR600 V2 is a mouthful, but it’s the one that 4G National Broadband use, so it’s notable for that reason, as they’re a key supplier of 4G broadband in rural areas. That alone wouldn’t get it a place in this list though – it also has to be good, and luckily it is.
The TP-Link Archer MR600 V2 is a Cat 6 device offering data speeds of up to 300Mbps (though as ever real-world speeds will depend on your network and location), along with the ability to get up to 64 devices online at once.
It comes with two detachable 4G antennas, supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, and has four Ethernet ports, so there’s plenty of scope to plug devices in for a wired connection to the router. It’s also compatible with TP-Link’s OneMesh products, which means you can use it as part of a mesh network if you buy into the manufacturer’s ecosystem.
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The best 5G routers
If you want even better speeds (and have 5G coverage in your home) then you should consider one of the best 5G routers, such as the following options.
Three 5G Hub
The Three 5G Hub (also sometimes known as the ZTE 5G Hub) is Three’s current 5G home broadband router, and it has a lot going for it.
This has incredibly fast theoretical download speeds of up to 3.8Gbps, though Three’s network currently limits it to a still blazing-fast 1Gbps. That theoretical limit is important though, because as Three’s 5G network improves, it might be able to get closer to that, so it keeps the device futureproofed.
Average download speeds will depend on where your home is but are likely to be in the region of 100-200Mbps. Given that most fibre broadband is well under 100Mbps that’s great too.
Upload speeds meanwhile top out at an impressive 542Mbps, and the Three 5G Hub has two antenna ports (to boost your signal), two Ethernet ports (for wired connections), Wi-Fi 6 support, and the ability to get up to 30 gadgets online at once.
5GEE Router 2021
Then there’s also the 5GEE Router 2021. This is similar to the device discussed above, but with some differences, such as support for up to 64 simultaneous connections. But it has similar speeds, including an average of 150Mbps according to EE.
Theoretical speeds are even higher than with the ZTE 5G Hub, but in practice that’s unlikely to make a difference.
Overall though, this is a top option, with a 30-metre Wi-Fi range, two Ethernet ports, and antenna slots, and it’s the only 5G home broadband option available on EE at the time of writing.
Vodafone GigaCube 5G
Finally, there’s the Vodafone GigaCube 5G, which is a rebranded TCL 5G CPE.
This is theoretically capable of maximum download speeds of 2.8Gbps (though as with rival devices you’re unlikely to get near that in the real world). Vodafone for its part claims that you can get speeds of up to 1Gbps, so that might be more realistic.
Beyond that, the Vodafone GigaCube 5G has an antenna port to boost performance, and like most modern mobile broadband routers it supports up to 64 simultaneous connections.
