Netgear’s Nighthawk 5G M7 Portable WiFi Hotspot Could be a Road Warrior’s New Best Friend

Travel is hard enough without the constant scramble for reliable internet. You arrive in a new city, turn on your phone, and suddenly data charges increase or the connection slows to a crawl. Netgear hopes to alleviate this annoyance with the Nighthawk 5G M7, a portable WiFi hotspot that packs serious speed and global reach into a device compact enough to fit in a carry-on.

The M7 is powered by Qualcomm’s Dragonwing SDX72 processor. That chip handles 5G signals with ease, pulling in up to 4Gbps from cellular networks via smarter band combinations. The device then spreads those speeds across Wi-Fi 7, the latest wireless standard, delivering up to 3.6 Gbps to as many as 32 gadgets at once. Laptops, tablets, and phones all connect seamlessly, whether you’re streaming a movie on a train or synchronizing data in a cafe.

Netgear says the M7 can power through a full day on a single charge, or more specifically, its 3850 mAh battery lasts 10 hours of continuous use. When your phone runs low, the hotspot even doubles as a charger, charging your phone through its USB-C port. That same port can also be used for direct laptop tethering when wireless feels too finicky. Need something more stable? Plug in the optional Ethernet adapter and you get wired multi-gigabit access right from the device. A physical SIM slot means you can use cards from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon or whatever local provider you find.

Global travel requires data that follows you and here the M7 delivers. Built-in eSIM technology lets you activate plans in over 140 countries. Open the new Netgear app on your phone, browse the eSIM Marketplace inside it and choose from options like 3GB for a weekend or 20GB for a month abroad. Plans come from partners like Gigs but you can load third-party ones too. Activation takes seconds, the app tracks every byte in real time so you never get surprised on your bill. A built-in firewall prevents threats, WPA3 encrypts your data, and automatic upgrades patch gaps before they occur. Netgear’s additional router safeguards detect for attacks and deploy repairs on the fly.

Portability pretty much defines the whole package here. Weighing in at just a few ounces, its slender build means this thing will slip neatly into your pocket , you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s actually a slimline remote control rather than a bulky router. Setting it up couldn’t be easier; simply insert a sim card or use eSIM, launch the app, and pair it, and you’ll be online in minutes. Day-to-day management remains straightforward; you can check your usage, halt devices, or switch plans all without having to navigate through a slew of menus, which is exactly what most people require. It also has enough of capacity to accommodate a crowd; families or work crews will enjoy how you can transform one signal into a communal lifeline. The M7 also maintains consistent speeds even when more connections arrive, thanks to Wi-Fi 7’s sophisticated signal processing.

Netgear has priced the M7 so that it is not just for power users; at $499.99, it is more affordable than some of the flashier rivals, such as the M6 Pro, which, while getting a couple of extra hours out of its battery, lacks the M7’s easy global data access. For those who spend a lot of time on the road and are tired of bad hotel Wi-Fi or the battery loss from continuously tethering to their phone, the M7 provides a cleaner, more convenient choice.