When you’re traveling on the go and need to connect multiple devices with cellular internet coverage, one of the easiest options is to use your smartphone as a mobile hotspot. Most cell carrier plans allow you to share your connection with multiple devices, but such heavy lifting can take a toll on your battery life. The alternative is to use a mobile hotspot, such as Netgear’s newly announced Nighthawk 5G M7. The Nighthawk 5G M7 is an all-in-one device that provides dual-band Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and support for up to 32 connected devices.
At the heart of the Nighthawk 5G M7 is Qualcomm’s Dragonwing SDX72 chipset, which includes a fifth-generation 5G modem that delivers Wi-Fi speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps to connected devices. If you prefer a hardwired connection, you can connect the Nighthawk 5G M7 to your laptop directly via USB-C or use an optional USB-C-to-Ethernet adapter.
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(Image credit: Netgear)
One of the biggest advantages that Netgear’s solution offers over a smartphone is endurance. The Nighthawk 5G M7 can deliver up to 10 hours of battery life per charge, which should be more than enough to power you through an entire workday. It can also double as a 3850 mAh power bank to recharge your devices when you don’t need internet coverage.
The hotspot connectivity is pretty standard fare, but what Netgear really hopes will set the Nighthawk 5G M7 apart from the competition is the integrated eSIM support and accompanying eSIM Marketplace. Using the Netgear app, you can purchase data plans ranging from 3GB to 20GB in over 140 countries (think Airalo for smartphones). Once you buy the plan via the eSIM Marketplace, it’s automatically transferred to the Nighthawk 5G M7, allowing you to share your connection with multiple devices as you travel around the globe. If you prefer the old school way of doing things, there’s also a physical SIM slot onboard.
According to Netgear, the Nighthawk 5G M7 will launch in January 2026 with an expected MSRP of $399.99. The company also revealed that the Netgear eSIM Marketplace will be available at a later date for the older Nighthawk M7 Pro, which also includes eSIM support (though it is not yet enabled).
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