I ditched my iPhone’s hotspot for this 5G travel router – and I’m never going back


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Acer Connect M6E mobile hotspot

pros and cons

Pros

  • Very portable mobile hotspot with a long battery life
  • Can accept SIM and eSIM, and also has a built-in virtual SIM
  • High speed 5G modem with MU-MIMO support.
Cons

  • SIM card tray is awkward to remove without a tool
  • Charging it is on a slow slide.

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A few years ago, I had a vision of never needing a mobile hotspot again. After all, my iPhone — a gadget that’s never more than an arm’s length away — has that feature, and connecting to it is a doddle if all your devices have the Apple logo.

But it’s a poor experience. Try as I might, the connection is almost always unstable and slow (especially when streaming or connecting to a remote system). It’s a massive pain if you have any Android devices because they continually disconnect, which hammers the iPhone’s battery.

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Over the years, I’ve tried a few different mobile hotspot devices, but most have been underwhelming, especially given the price tag of some. 

When Acer offered me the chance to test out their new mobile hotspot, my expectations weren’t high. Yes, on paper, it looked great, but they all look great on paper.

But it didn’t disappoint. In fact, the Connect M6E blew me away.

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Built to last

The Connect M6E is a rather odd-looking mobile hotspot. It’s a white box measuring 5.5 x 3.4 x 0.8 inches and weighing 10.5 ounces. It reminds me more of an external hard drive or an iPod (remember those?) than a mobile hotspot. It features a 2.4-inch color touchscreen that controls the entire device (no app needed). 

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There’s a simple on/off button, a slot for a physical nano-SIM card, a reset button, and a USB-C charging port. 

The SIM tray is weather sealed, but tricky to remove with a fingernail.

The SIM tray is weather sealed, but tricky to remove with a fingernail. 

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The unit has rubber bumpers on the corners and has been built to IP68 standards, which means it is completely dustproof and can withstand continuous submersion in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. 

It also meets the MIL-STD-810H standard, a global benchmark for testing device durability under a range of extreme conditions, including intense heat, high humidity, and physical shocks. This hotspot has clearly been built to last.

What’s powering the unit

On the inside is a MediaTek processor with 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 16GB of storage, so your mobile hotspot is actually a pretty powerful computer. You’re unlikely to feel it lag when the pressure is on (the only time I felt the hotspot was a bit laggy was when I was updating it while also messing about in the settings). 

Here is the Acer Connect M6E mobile hotspot out in the hail.

Here is the Acer Connect M6E mobile hotspot out in the hail.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The 8,000 mAh battery allows the hotspot to deliver high-speed internet for 28 hours of video streaming or 36 hours of regular web browsing—a claim it totally delivers on. The hotspot uses MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) multiple-antenna technology to send and receive data simultaneously, increasing Wi-Fi speed, reliability, and efficiency, and supporting up to 20 devices. 

Wi-Fi supports 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz for the best possible performance, no matter how new or old your devices are.

Securing your data connection involves a host of technologies, including WPA3 encryption, built-in firewalls, and VPN support. For connecting Wi-Fi devices, you have the standard SSID and password, QR codes to scan, and NFC “Touch-to-Connect,” which allows instant pairing. 

SIM, eSIM, and a Virtual SIM

So, how does it connect to the internet? Inside is a 5G modem capable of delivering 3.27Gbps of cellular throughput, giving you a number of connectivity options.

First off, there’s a nano-SIM card slot on the side of the unit. Pop out the SIM tray (it can be a bit nail-breaking without a tool), pop in your SIM, and it will connect to your network provider, a great option for those who don’t want to pay extra.

The interface on the Connect M6E is simple to use.

The interface on the Connect M6E is simple to use.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

But messing with SIM cards is old school. Today, it’s all about eSIM, and the Connect M6E can be used with any eSIM. You just enter the details, and you’re away.

For those who don’t want to mess with SIMs or eSIMs, you can also use the built-in global SIMO virtual SIM, which works in more than 135 countries. 

To use this, you have to download the SIMO app (iOS/Android), register, add the device, and you’re away. Once you’ve added a new device, you get up to 20GB of data to use over the first six months, and you can top up your account in the app. There are gigabyte bundles for countries and regions, as well as 24-hour unlimited passes. And the prices, from what I’ve seen in the app, are pretty reasonable. 

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To ensure you get the best possible internet connection, the hotspot includes a SignalScan feature that automatically scans for and connects to the strongest available network. I found this feature particularly useful when the hotspot was used in a vehicle, and I was moving rapidly between cellphone cells or inside a building.

By now, I’ve put over 50GB of data through the Connect M6E, and it’s performed flawlessly. Connection speeds have always been as good, if not better, than what my iPhone could deliver, and it could always outperform my iPhone when I was using it as a hotspot for streaming, video conferencing, or connecting to a computer. I definitely wish I’d had this when I was traveling in Spain last year and was getting frustrated using my iPhone as a hotspot.

Who’s this really for?

If you only ever occasionally connect a second device to your smartphone, you definitely don’t need a mobile hotspot. 

But there are plenty of people who would benefit from one, such as frequent travelers, remote workers, people who live in areas with limited broadband options, people who are security-conscious and won’t just connect their laptop to any old scabby Wi-Fi offered by a cafe (or hacker), folks who have a lot of devices, or those who organize groups of people, especially if they travel out to locations and need internet.

ZDNET’s buying advice

At $300, the Acer Connect M6E is competitively priced, especially compared to Netgear Nighthawk mobile hotspots. But the Connect M6E is superior — far superior — to other mobile hotspots I’ve tested. It has excellent battery life, the 5G modem is fast and stable, and the ability to use SIMs, eSIMs, and virtual SIMs gives me excellent flexibility, all in a package I can slip into my back pocket (or shirt pocket if I’m wearing a cargo shirt). 





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Michelin is a French multinational company that many consumers consider to be one of the most satisfying major tire brands. This firm makes several tire models that offer comfort, performance, all-terrain prowess, and everything in between — including cutting-edge products like the $42,000-per-set Michelin Pilot Sport PAX that it developed specifically for the Bugatti Veyron. Aside from its own tires, Michelin also owns other tire brands that you might be familiar with, including BFGoodrich, Achilles, and Corsa.

While tires are what Michelin is known for, the company has put its name to more than the rubber that wraps around your car’s rims. In fact, the company sells several other products that aren’t tires. So, we’re listing a few Michelin-branded items that you can buy online and in retail stores. While they might not all be made of rubber or even related to vehicles, these tools and accessories can come in handy when keeping your car — and even yourself — in good shape.

Michelin tire inflator

Since Michelin is primarily known for its tires, it makes sense for the company to sell a Michelin-branded tire inflator as well. That way, if you get a flat on one of the Michelin tires on your car or want to regularly top up your car’s tire pressure to maintain optimum performance, you can use a Michelin-branded pump to fill up your tires. The company actually sells several types of inflators on its Amazon page, but it only offers a single motorized unit — the Michelin Micro Tyre Inflator, which is available on Amazon for $98.99.

This little device is only slightly wider than an iPhone 17 and weighs about 400 grams, or 14 ounces. This means it’s easy to store in your car and to move to whichever tire needs topping up. More importantly, it takes power from a 12-volt socket, allowing you to run it using your car’s battery. It also has a USB port for charging your phone (or any other USB device) in case of an emergency.

Some users say that the device is slow, taking about 12 minutes to bring a tire from 10 to 32 PSI, but that’s not unexpected given its small size. Still, it should be good enough for regular weekly maintenance if you know your car’s proper tire pressure, or in case of an emergency. Its biggest downside is that you need a power source to run it, but having a dead battery and a flat tire simultaneously is likely a rare occurrence in many modern cars.

Michelin mini fridge

Taking a road trip during the summer can get you thirsty, and there’s no better way to quench that thirst than by drinking a cool can of soda (or your beverage of choice). If you want to ensure that you’ll always have a cold drink ready while you’re driving on the freeway, Michelin’s mini fridge will help you with that. This nifty little refrigerator is available on Amazon for just $99.99 and can be connected to either 110V AC or 12V DC power, ensuring that it will work on both your desk and in your car.

The mini fridge measures 6.9 x 9.45 x 10 inches (17.5 x 24 x 25.4 cm), meaning it can easily fit on a garage shelf or office desk. It should also be small enough to put on the floor of your car. Despite that relatively small size, it’s large enough to fit six 350-ml cans or four 500-ml bottles, and it will keep these items at a chilly 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. It also has an LED light on the door, so it can double as a night light if necessary.

Aside from keeping your drinks (and other food items) below room temperature, it also has a few other creature comforts. These include a removable shelf and door basket for flexibility and easy cleaning, as well as a retractable carry handle and a self-locking door to make transportation easier.

Michelin car floor mats

Heavy-duty car floor mats are often made from rubber for durability and water resistance, and since Michelin is in the business of rubber, it makes sense for the company to offer exactly that. So, if you want to protect your vehicle’s floor from dirt, dust, and mud, the company can help you with its Michelin all-weather car floor mats. This four-piece package is available on Amazon for $49.99 and comes in either black or tan.

The surface of these floor mats is specially designed to trap debris, snow, and water, preventing them from ruining the carpet on your vehicle. The mats have a cleat backing that grips your car’s floor and prevents them from slipping. The front row mats also come with what Michelin calls a Gripclip Retention System, allowing them to clip into your vehicle’s safety clips and adding even more reassurance that they won’t accidentally slip while you’re driving and pose a hazard to your safety.

These mats are universal and will work in most vehicles. However, they’re also easy to customize: If you find them a bit too large for the footwell of your tiny hatchback, you can use a pair of scissors to trim the edges for a perfect fit.

Michelin Stealth Ultra wiper blades

While Michelin’s Stealth Ultra wiper blades aren’t generally considered among the best windshield wipers, they appear to be a pretty good choice given their four-star rating on Amazon. These wipers cost $49.99 and are available in various size combinations for all sorts of cars. This ensures that no matter what vehicle you’re driving, you can probably find a set that will fit your needs.

These Michelin wipers are curved to conform to the shape of your windscreen for a clean, streak-free wipe. The company’s Amazon listing claims that these are designed to “withstand rain, wind, snow, mud, dust, or any other debris that might hamper your windshield’s visibility.” While you might think that windshield wipers are pretty simple items, and that you can just purchase any generic wipers off the internet, you must remember that they’re essential so that you have the best visibility possible during inclement weather. So, for your safety, consider investing in a set from a reputable brand like Michelin.

Michelin work boots

Michelin is known for making rubber tires to put on your car’s “feet,” but did you know it also makes shoes for the driver’s feet? The company makes sports & outdoor footwear, as well as shoes for work and safety. For this example, we have the Michelin HydroEdge Steel Toe waterproof work boot, listed for $210 on Amazon and at Georgia Boot. This shoe is available in U.S. sizes from 7.5 up to 14, ensuring that no matter what size you wear, you can get a Michelin work boot for yourself.

As the name suggests, this pair of shoes has steel toes to protect your feet from accidental impacts and is fully waterproof to help keep your feet dry, even in supposedly severe conditions. It also meets ASTM F2413 standards for electrical protection, meaning it has fully insulating soles to protect you from electrical hazards at work. Michelin also added what it calls an Advanced Rear Suspension system to its heel, ensuring proper shock absorption when you walk.





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