Best Routers with SIM Card Support

The company Tenda has established itself as a manufacturer of high-quality network equipment. The inexpensive 4G03 router model with a built-in SIM card slot is no exception to the rule.

The device is made in a semi-oval white soft-touch plastic body. The router's connector panel includes two LAN ports (one of which is combined with WAN), a power socket, and an SMA antenna output. The router's own antennas are built directly into the body, but they cover quite a decent distance. The router's capabilities are enough to cover a 3-room apartment or a small country-style house.

The Tenda 4G03 connects to cable network providers at speeds up to 100 Mbps. Thanks to the onboard LTE modem, the router can work from mobile network operators. The device supports 3G WCDMA and 4G LTE FDD standards, providing download/upload speeds up to 150/50 Mbps. The mobile coverage can be used as a backup with automatic switching to it in case of failures of the main cable provider.

Up to 32 client devices can be connected to the router simultaneously. The router is managed via a web interface or through the Tenda Wi-Fi mobile app. Among the features of the model are the inclusion and disconnection of Wi-Fi according to a schedule, the creation of guest networks, and parental control tools. And on top of all this, the Tenda 4G03 attracts with its democratic cost, which has little impact on the thickness of the wallet.

The relatively inexpensive router from the Cudy brand is equipped with a Nano SIM card slot, allowing users to "share" mobile internet. The model provides data reception and transmission speeds of up to 150 and 50 Mbps, respectively, as its modem supports the 4th category LTE standard. Compatibility with a wide range (100+) of mobile operators represented in the EU, Asia, and beyond is also declared.

Features of the Cudy LT300 include easy setup. For example, the Plug And Play function is implemented for using mobile internet — literally, you just need to insert an activated SIM card. And the setup of Wi-Fi networks takes a few minutes — either through a browser or in the proprietary Cudy app.

To ensure stable communication, the router has a pair of built-in Wi-Fi antennas 2x2 MIMO, as well as two external ones for mobile internet. The operating range in open spaces reaches 100 meters, which will please residents of private sectors with a fairly large yard area. In general, you can not worry about a significant drop in speeds even in fairly large apartments, as it is stated that the range almost does not decrease when the signal is transmitted through one wall up to 10 cm thick.

The model is equipped with two LAN ports with a bandwidth of 100 Mbps and the option to reassign one of them to WAN. Within the wireless home network, data exchange speeds can reach 300 Mbps, which in general can be considered an acceptable indicator for many typical scenarios. However, operation in the 5 GHz band is not supported, which is a downside by modern standards. In any case, for its money, the Cudy LT300 is an interesting router with SIM card support.

The representative of the MikroTik line can be attributed to routers at the junction of the mid and advanced class. The model is made in a compact form factor (12x10x5 cm), which is facilitated, among other things, by the absence of external antennas. At the same time, stable communication and acceptable range are provided by support for MU-MIMO and a high signal gain coefficient — 4.3 dBi.

The MikroTik hAP ax lite LTE6 is notable for its frost-resistant design (down to -40 °C), so nothing prevents it from being installed in a basement, on a balcony, and in other non-heated rooms. Also noteworthy is the USB-C power supply and its operation under the control of the RouterOS v7 operating system. The latter provides extensive customization options, including using the router in bridge modes, repeater, etc.

For wired data transmission, the model has 4 gigabit Ethernet ports. In addition to the powerful Qualcomm processor, the “filling” is distinguished by the Wi-Fi 6 wireless module. It provides truly high data exchange speeds for the 2.4 GHz frequency band — up to 574 Mbps. However, it does not support operation in 5 GHz networks, which may not satisfy the most demanding users.

The router can provide independence from wired internet providers. For these purposes, there is an LТE modem. It delivers increased speed indicators corresponding to Cat.6 — 300/50 Mbps, and can also simultaneously use several frequency bands. This feature will be useful, for example, at music festivals outside the city or other scenarios where many people around you are using mobile internet.

MikroTik hAP ax lite LTE6 is a router that offers not only support for SIM cards but also increased speed indicators, as well as other useful features.

When deploying a Wi-Fi network, it is often desirable to have a backup in case of disruptions with the main internet from the cable service provider. This option is kindly provided by the dual-band router TP-LINK Archer MR600 with a built-in SIM card slot.

The device is made in the usual form factor with two "horns" for external antennas to receive the mobile operator's signal. For servicing the local network, built-in antennas are used in the model. The router supports 4G+ Cat6 networks with a maximum download speed of up to 300 Mbps and a data upload capability of up to 50 Mbps. The WAN connection with the provider's network is made via cable at speeds up to 1 Gbps.

In the 2.4 GHz band, the wireless router provides data exchange speeds up to 300 Mbps, and at the 5 GHz carrier frequency — up to 867 Mbps. These indicators are more than enough for comfortable streaming of 4K video, online gaming, and fast downloading of large files. In the router management menu through a web interface or a mobile app, there are guest networks, parental controls, QoS, VPN, IPTV, extensive traffic usage statistics, and other functionsets.

An important characteristic of the TP-LINK Archer MR600 is support for the OneMesh technology, which is aimed at creating unified seamless networks with imperceptible switching between Wi-Fi network links. The model is only disappointing by the abundance of gloss — dust and small scratches are visible on the shiny top panel of the device, which causes the router to quickly lose its presentable appearance. However, this does not affect the performance of the wireless router in any way.

The balanced router Asus 4G-AX56 distributes high-speed internet with effective backup through cellular networks of mobile operators. The device is suitable for meeting the needs of a country house, a small office, or a small retail outlet like a cafe.

The router connects to the provider's network through a gigabit WAN socket, which is adjacent to four bright yellow LAN ports. The device’s operation in wireless mode is set up in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. In the first case, the bandwidth reaches 574 Mbps, in the second — up to 1201 Mbps. And most importantly, the router has acquired support for the advanced Wi-Fi 6 standard. Combined with OFDME, MU-MIMO, and Beamforming technologies, the router provides greater bandwidth and high efficiency in networks with heavy traffic.

In case of the absence of wired internet, the model has a built-in modem supporting 3G/4G/LTE Cat.6 standards. Data exchange speed is declared within up to 300/100 Mbps (for download and upload respectively). Switching to work from mobile access networks can be a backup option in case of failures in the main cable connection.

The router is configured through an intuitive web interface menu. The model highlights a comprehensive network security system, ASUS AiProtection, which includes tools for blocking malicious websites, security signatures for personal data protection, parental control functions, and more. The Asus 4G-AX56 can provide fast and safe connection to over a hundred client devices.