Baseus EnerGeek GX11 power bank with 4G hotspot
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Baseus EnerGeek GX11 is a power bank and 4G hotspot in one for $129 on Amazon.
- Its built-in SIM-free hotspot works in over 150 countries, and is a no-fuss way to get online.
- The global data plans are pricey but the regional plans are much more reasonable.
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A power bank is an imperative part of my EDC (everyday carry), whether I’m at home or abroad. Along with my smartphone, smartwatch, laptop and earbuds, my hotspot is just another device that needs charging. After all, it’s easier and cheaper to have a data plan for one hotspot than it is to have one for every smartphone and tablet.
What if you could combine both of these features into one device?
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This unit from Baseus not only keeps your devices powered up, but also connected to 4G. Yes, the Baseus EnerGeek GX11 power bank–> has a built-in hotspot, which means I can leave my hotspot device at home!
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The EnerGeek GX11 comes in a tower form factor. Measuring 4.7 x 2 x 2 inches and weighing a shade under a pound, it’s quite a beefy power bank, but packs 20,000mAh of battery capacity (small enough to take on a commercial airliner without running into regulatory headaches).
In practical terms, this is good for some two to three recharges of a modern smartphone. It features a total of three ports: two USB-C input/output ports (67W maximum output for a single port) and a single USB-A port (15W maximum output).
It can output a maximum of 67W of power, enough to charge a laptop, albeit slower than using a full-speed charger. There’s also a lanyard built into the side of the unit which houses a 10 inch USB-C-to-USB-C braided cable, so you should always have at least one with you.
Yes, the lanyard is also a USB-C cable.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
So far, nothing all that new, but let me get to its best feature. Yes, there’s a built-in hotspot that works in over 150 countries. Even better, there’s no SIM card to have to fiddle with and no contract to pay monthly. The unit comes with 1GB of global use data per month for the first year, and using the Baseus MiFi app (for iOS<!–> and Android–>) you can buy global or regional data packages.
Using data is easy. Flip the switch on the side of the unit, connect to the Wi-Fi signal, and away you go. Up to 10 devices can connect simultaneously, and the power bank when fully charged can run the hotspot feature for around 114 hours.
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Fending off the inevitable cries of “why not just use the hotspot facility built into your phone?” my rebuttal is that this seriously burns through battery life, and keeping Android devices connected to an iPhone is a pain. For me, and the sort of traveling I do, an external hotspot is a better solution. That’s not to say that I don’t use my iPhone and its data plan, but it’s not the best way to share data.
Enough ports to keep you going!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
It all just works, smooth and simple. And on the side of the unit is the obligatory display, a small and bright one that shows the basics: battery level and whether the mobile Wi-Fi is turned on.
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Mobile hotspots are one of those love/hate things. If I’m traveling alone, I’m fine with my iPhone, but once I add others into the mix, I find that a mobile hotspot makes life easier. I’m freed from having to fiddle with my hotspot on all the time (connecting Android devices to an iPhone is a faff), and my traveling buddies don’t need to experience the hit of expensive roaming charges.
ZDNET’s buying advice
I quite like the Baseus EnerGeek GX11–>. I’m used to hotspot devices that use SIM cards<!–> and are packed with settings and features, but I’m sold on how easy this is to use. There’s no tiny SIM card to fiddle with, no settings to fiddle with, and no hidden charges.
The plans aren’t the cheapest, and the global plans to get pricey (the 100GB 3-day global package is a seriously hefty $499), but if you go for the more modest regional plans, they’re pretty affordable (a seven-day 15GB European plan is $19).
The priciest of the plans aside, for the price of the hardware – $129, but if you’re fast there’s currently 10% off on Amazon–> — this is a great device for travelers who want to stay connected.
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