Netgear M6 Pro Mobile Hotspot: A Solid Travel Router
For quite some time, I’ve gotten requests to review travel routers — those folk can carry with them on the go — and I’d recommend turning the laptop into one every time. What Netgear announced today might change all that: The new Nighthawk M6 Pro 5G WiFi 6E Hotspot Router (model MR6550).
As the name suggests, this is a new hotspot. By design, it connects to the Internet via a cellular connection and shares that via Wi-Fi to multiple devices. In that sense, it’s not even a new idea — it’s an upgrade to Netgear’s existing M6, and there’s a similar M5 before that.
However, Netgear showed me that the M6 Pro can do much more than a simple mobile Internet solution. It’s, in fact, a full-featured travel router.
Netgear M6 Pro: A complete mobile Wi-Fi solution in a small package
At a glance, the M6 Pro looks similar to the M6 and, hence, the M5. It’s a little square box with a cellular SIM inside and a built-in Wi-Fi router to share Internet access to up to 32 devices.
For that role, the M6 Pro is unlocked. You can use any SIM with it, and it supports the latest 5G, 4G, and even older cellular standards.
Looking closer, you’ll note that it’s an entirely new beast in all aspects.
All you can expect from a mobile router
For one, it’s the first mobile hotspot that features Wi-Fi 6E. Especially you can use it to create a Wi-Fi network for clients using the new 6GHz band.
Secondly, it’s the first 5G receiver, from Netgear at least, that features 5G mmWave, allowing it to deliver exceptional fast cellular download speeds, up to 8Gbps, in certain areas.
On this cellular front, it also supports High Power User Equipment (HPUE) to have better 5G reception. Specifically, the M6 Pro can pick up cellular signals at the edges of a particular 5G coverage — it can have reception when those without HPUE can’t.
And finally, the new hotspot router has a 2.5Gbps flexible network port. You can use this port as a LAN to host a wired client, effectively turning the router into a cellular modem or Wi-Fi media bridge. Or you can use it as a WAN port and turn the M6 Pro into a standard Wi-Fi router.
And there’s more. You can also use the M6 in the repeater mode, for example, to receive an Internet-ready Wi-Fi connection and share that with other devices via an isolated local network it hosts.
The router and repeater modes are excellent for travelers since they enable devices to connect to an existing network securely, eliminating the need for a VPN in many cases.
The bottom line is that you can use the M6 Pro however you see fit: as a typical yet powerful mobile with there’s a cellular connection or a traditional travel router/repeater when you want to take advantage of an existing Internet-connected Wi-Fi or wired network.
With or without a SIM card, the M6 is useful. It’s a flexible travel router at heart.
Netgear M6 Pro vs M6: Hardware specifications
| Netgear MR6110 Nighthawk M6 Mobile Router |
Netgear MR6110 Nighthawk M6 Mobile Router |
|
| Model | MR6550 | MR6110 |
| 5G Chipset | Qualcomm SDX65 | Qualcomm SDX62 |
| 5G Speed (up to) |
8Gbps | 2.5Gbps |
| 5G Technology | Sub 6 and mmWave(9xCA) | Sub 6(2xCA) |
| 4G Speed (up to) |
2Gbps | 1.6Gbps |
| 4G Technology | CAT 20 LTE A(5xCA) | CAT19 LTE A(5xCA) |
| Wi-Fi Bandwdith | Dual Band Wi-Fi 6E AXE3600 |
Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 AX3600 |
| 2.4GHz Specs | 2×2: Up to 700Mbps (20/40MHz) |
2×2: Up to 700Mbps (20/40MHz) |
| 5GHz/6GHz Specs | 5GHz or 6GHz 2×2: Up to 2900Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) 4K QAM |
5GHz only 2×2: Up to 2900Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) 4K QAM |
| Wi-Fi Security | WPA, WPA2, WPA3 | WPA, WPA2, WPA3 |
| Battery | Removable A5040m | Removable A5040m |
| Battery Life (up to) |
13 hours | 13 hours |
| Weight (with battery) |
0.55 lb (252 g) | 0.55 lb (252 g) |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 4.14 x 4.14 x .85 in (105 x 105 x 21.5 mm) |
4.14 x 4.14 x .85 in (105 x 105 x 21.5 mm) |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM (4FF) | Nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Network | Unlocked | Unlocked |
| Ports | 1x USB Type-C (charging/data) 1x 2.5Gbps Ethernet 2x TS9 RF ports (for external antennas — not included) |
1x USB Type-C (charging/data) 1x 2.5Gbps Ethernet 2x TS9 RF ports (for external antennas — not included) |
| USB Standard | USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) |
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) |
| Screen | 2.8” LCD touchscreen interface | 2.8″ LCD touchscreen interface |
| Operating Roles | Mobile hotspot/USB cellular modem, Wi-Fi repeater, Wi-Fi router |
Mobile hotspot/USB cellular modem |
| Networking Features | • Guest Network • Wi-Fi Protected Setup • WPS on/off control • Wi-Fi on/off control • Wi-Fi SSID broadcast on/off control • VPN passthrough • MAC address filtering • Website filtering • Port forwarding • Port filtering • Password-protected web admin portal |
• Guest Network • Wi-Fi Protected Setup • WPS on/off control • Wi-Fi on/off control • Wi-Fi SSID broadcast on/off control • VPN passthrough • MAC address filtering • Website filtering • Port forwarding • Port filtering • Password-protected web admin portal |
| Max Wi-Fi Clients | 32 | 32 |
| US MSRP | $999 | $800 |
A familiar mobile hotspot
Despite all the novelty above, the M6 Pro is a familiar device. It looks identical to the M6 or the M5 and similar to virtually any mobile hotspot.
You can use its touchscreen to manage its various settings, and it also has a web user interface for in-depth configuration.
Netgear says the M6 Pro can blanket an area of up to 2000 ft2 (186 m2) with Multi-Gig Wi-Fi speeds when running on battery or even more when plugged into power.
The company also says that the device features unlock cellular technology support in 125 countries worldwide — all you need is a local SIM card.
If you have used an unlocked mobile hotspot before, you’ll feel right at home with the M6 Pro. So the question is when you can get it.
Pricing and availability
And that depends entirely on your budget.
Netgear says the Nighthawk M6 Pro 5G WiFi 6E Hotspot Router is available today for a cool 999 dollars — that’s $200 more than the original M6. (If you’re a Canadian, you’ll need CAD 1400.) And that’s before a 5G cellular plan to match.
I’ll get a loan together, and if that works out, you might see an in-depth review. So check back for more. Or get one today. You know how much you want it.