With an increasing range of cellular and Wi-Fi-enabled devices that we take on the go with us nowadays, it feels like portable internet is equally important. There are options like Starlink, which are great for those travelling in a caravan through rural areas, for example, but in most cases, it’s nice to just have something small and handy. Of course, you can hotspot from your phone, but as convenient as this can be, it can also drain your battery when you need it most.
Enter the D-Link F518 5G Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 Mobile Hotspot with 8000mAh Battery. This portable hotspot router is certainly capable in most situations, and given it doubles as a portable charger, able to charge your phone to its full capacity, it makes this one of the most versatile options we’ve seen and tested thus far.
Design
Weighing in at 274g, the F518 is a relatively light, slim and sleek option, given it’s versatiliuty, but it is worth noting that it is a little larger than a dedicated hotspot device. It’s also an incredibly minimal device that doesn’t need much input to use successfully.
On the right-hand side of the device, you’ll find two buttons, the higher of which powers the device on and off, while the lower of which turns on the display and the four LED lights around the front of the device, and can also be used for WPS pairing.
The bottom of the F518 includes an in/out USB-C port and a small light to the right, which indicates the charging status.
Finally, around the left side of the device, you’ll find the SIM tray, which fits one nano SIM card.
In the box, you’ll also find a small SIM tool and a USB-A-to-USB-C cable for charging the device. The inclusion of this cable seems a little strange, as it can’t really be used to charge any devices like your phone. I feel like a small USB-C to USB-C cable would have come in handy, as I’m admittedly struggling to find a USB-A adapter around the home, as I barely use any devices that support or need it anymore.
Performance
The F518 provides dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and 4G/5G internet, depending on your data plan. It even provides an 802.11ax protocol with OFDMA and MU-MIMO for decent Wi-Fi connectivity, supporting up to 16 devices at once, along with the latest WPA3 encryption.
The front display is also easy enough to read, with four LED lights to help indicate the F518’s status. The top-left light represents the F518’s signal strength, which can change from green to red depending on its location. The top-right light represents your Wi-Fi connection, which will blink when in pairing mode and remain solid blue once something is connected. The bottom-left light displays a little globe symbol, which will turn green when connected to the internet and red when it isn’t.
Finally, the bottom-right light represents battery life and will flash green when full, remain solid green when battery life is between 2 and 99 per cent, and red when almost flat. That red light can be a little alarming at that point, and I wish it went red with just a little more juice in the tank.
You’ll be able to get up to 1200Mbps on the faster 5GHz band and up to 570Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, but this once again depends on your provider and plan speeds. For the most part, the 2.4 GHz band used for 4G internet will suit most users, unless you’re downloading something larger that would benefit from 5G or 5GHz speeds.
As far as usability goes, the F518 is essentially ready to go, provided your SIM and plan are active. Simply pop the SIM in, turn the device on, and you should be connected. The F518 does give you the ability to access a web management portal to change your SSID network name or even password, but I found this to be less of a selling point, and more of a standard feature for routers. Given that the back of the device already includes a pre-configured network name and password, you’re better off just leaving it as is, so that you’ve always got those details handy.
The F518 also comes equipped with a decent 8000mAh battery, which allows you to stay connected for up to 16 hours. This is, however, if you’re not looking to charge anything from it. Once you do, the battery will obviously take a hit. A full phone charge, for example, can take up to half of this battery, leaving you with only 8 hours of battery. While that’s still fine in most cases, it’s worth considering if you plan on using this for multiple days without charge.
There’s not much more to it than that, but I must say, given how easy this was to use and how stable the internet was, there’s really not much to complain about in terms of performance. It’s great for a weekend away or to help you out when you’re in a pinch.
Verdict & Value
Overall, the D-Link F518 5G Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 Mobile Hotspot with 8000mAh Battery is a solid and versatile option that goes above and beyond its core function with the ability to charge devices like phones and tablets.
That being said, thanks to its easy setup, dual-band connectivity and 4G/5G support, it’s one of the better options on the market at this price, if you don’t mind the slightly larger form factor.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Solid internet speeds and reliable connectivity; Easy to set up and use; Acts as a portable charger
Lowlights: Charging feature means it’s a little bigger than most hotspot devices; No USB-C to USB-C cable is a strange choice
Manufacturer: D-Link
Price: A$449.95
Available: Now available via the official D-Link website.
Review based on unit provided by D-Link.
