Introduction and Design:
The Novatel MiFi 2220 was a groundbreaking device when it launched, but it has been nearly two years since the 3G mobile hotspot device first hit the market. Since then Sierra has stolen most of the market with their 4G capable Overdrive mobile hotspot. Well Novatel is back with the MiFi 3G/4G 4082, adding WiMax and support for a memory card. Included with the MiFi 3G/4G you’ll get a microUSB cable, AC adapter, slip pouch and a beefed up 1530mAh battery.
We always liked the looks of the original MiFi 2200; it was a slim, sleek device and looked equally good in Sprint silver and Verizon black. This time around the MiFi is black with chrome accents (the Verizon 4G variant shares a color scheme) and looks very sharp. The MiFi 3G/4G is considerably thicker thanks to the 1530mAh battery, a considerable jump from the 1150mAh one found in the 2200.
Another key difference is the addition of a small LCD screen, with a concave chrome power button below. The function is very basic, letting you know your signal and battery strength, GPS status and how many devices are connected to the MiFi. There is an LED on the bottom of the MiFi 3G/4G that indicates which network you are using: green for 3G, blue for 4G or orange if you don’t have service.
Also along the bottom is the microSD slot, microUSB charging port and a WPS button to enable security. We appreciate the addition of the microSD slot. By inserting a card (it supports up to 32GB) you enable network storage between any of the up to five connected devices on the MiFi 3G/4G. This isn’t a new feature (we saw it on the Overdrive) but it is a nice addition nonetheless.
Performance and Conclusion:
Performance on Sprint’s 4G WiMax network was on par with our past experiences. In our testing it averaged just over 7mbps down and just under 1mbps up with an average ping of 129ms. These results are slightly better overall than we got with the Sierra U250 when we did our 4G comparison. Novatel claims that you can get 4 hours of usage with the MiFi 3G/4G thanks to the larger battery, but heavy users will probably want to pack the charger or pick up an extra battery.
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We always liked the looks of the original MiFi 2200; it was a slim, sleek device and looked equally good in Sprint silver and Verizon black. This time around the MiFi is black with chrome accents (the Verizon 4G variant shares a color scheme) and looks very sharp. The MiFi 3G/4G is considerably thicker thanks to the 1530mAh battery, a considerable jump from the 1150mAh one found in the 2200.
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The Novatel MiFi 3G/4G 4082 is black with chrome accents | ||
Another key difference is the addition of a small LCD screen, with a concave chrome power button below. The function is very basic, letting you know your signal and battery strength, GPS status and how many devices are connected to the MiFi. There is an LED on the bottom of the MiFi 3G/4G that indicates which network you are using: green for 3G, blue for 4G or orange if you don’t have service.
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The Novatel MiFi 3G/4G 4082 (L) next to the Novatel MiFi 2220 (R) | ||
Also along the bottom is the microSD slot, microUSB charging port and a WPS button to enable security. We appreciate the addition of the microSD slot. By inserting a card (it supports up to 32GB) you enable network storage between any of the up to five connected devices on the MiFi 3G/4G. This isn’t a new feature (we saw it on the Overdrive) but it is a nice addition nonetheless.
Performance and Conclusion:
Pros
- 4G connectivity
- microSD slot for network storage
Cons
- LCD has limited functionality
- Battery could be better
- It was already outdone by the competition before it launched
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