Having used the ZTE MU5001 for a year or so, we were interested to see how well the new ZTE MU5120 would work - and we're not disappointed. Amazon link: amzn.to/3pZrP1A
I also did compare the mu5001 and 5120 last week. I had exactly the same experience. The mu5001 and 5120 do not really differ in terms of signal reception/bandwidth/speed. The antennas on mu5001 are only useful /noticeable in extreme situations. Main difference in the hardware: mu5001 has RJ45 and TS9 antenna ports which the mu5120 doesn´t have. Battery with 4500 mAh ist exchangable on the mu5001 while the 10.000mAh on the mu5120 is not exchangable. Some differences in favor of the mu5120: - Snapdragon x62 enables carrier aggregation (x55 in mu5001 is not capable to do this). How often this happens yet (must be enabled by your provider) I don´t know, but it makes it better prepared for the future. In theory however the x55 can have higher down - and upload speeds than the x62. In theory only because usually nobody will have a mobile contract allowing more than 1GB/s download speed. - The x62 has better power management on top (uses less energy). This will give very good battery times ( should be easily double of mu5001) - mu5120 can act as powerbank which mu5001 cannot (which I find usefull when hiking using a GPS app on smartphone) - it offers optional automatic switch between 2.4ghz and 5.0ghz WLAN ( with mu5001 user needs to decide when dialing in which network to use) The mu5120 can still be set to offer both frequences 2.4ghz and 5.0 ghz just like the mu5001. What I think could be improved on mu5120: - power charging when used as powerbank (1.5A is a joke on such a 10.000 mAh battery - should be 3.0A - needs to be turned on to be enable usage as powerbank - second USB-C port would be good in case RJ45 Adapter is used the mu5120 cannot be charged at the same time In general I would like to see a comparison between mu5120 and Netgear Nighthawk M6 ;-)
It's good for your hiking activity due to the power bank feature but I find this mu5120 disappointing as a mobile modem. My ZTE 4G has its battery now on 70% max and I'm wondering if - having a 5120 - I would have to get a new one because of that. I don't feel it better prepared for the future. While the 5001 is now more expensive than the 5120... equipment with the x70 is yet far more expensive than any of these two.
A great review. I got the MU5001 for caravan as it has external aerials but the one you just reviewed look good although be worth seeing how it does in your motorhome with blinds etc down.
It's been confusing. I've mostly had it mounted on the front mini-bulkhead twixt cab and hab, on the near side, at roughly head level (when sat). As I said in the overview, on some pitches and days, it's been faster than the MU5001, and on others, the MU5001's been faster. - I've even run them on a speed test to two separate iPhones (using the app on both - one iPhone 13 pro, and one the 13 Pro Plus, so pretty much the same - at the same time and had different results, none of which have been predictable. I'd have expected the MU5001 to beat the 5120 every time, but that hasn't always been the case. Should note that these tests were always done in 5G locations - in 4G max locations, there's barely a fag paper between them. Colour me confused!
Hey! Thanks a lot for your review. Is there any to use the USB-C -> Ethernet adapter while also charging the MU5120? Or just connecting the MU5120 to a computer using USB-C directly work well enough? Thanks!!
Interesting question - and not something I'd thought of... So, I connected up onto my Mac Pro, and, lo and behold, it works just fine - the Mac sees the MU5120 as a wired network over USB, gets its IP address and everything, and it continues to charge - so, yes, a direct connect will work just fine.
very nice review thanks a lot I have one question can I put it on in the house for good in the electric or the battery is going to be dead.. after while
We've run ours constantly on and connected to a PD USB C source for well over two weeks with no problems - but, given we use it mainly in the motorhome, and it gets switched off when we're at home, I can't say for certain what long term constantly powering it up will do... it should be OK, but only time will tell.
@@VandromedasTravels I'm afraid to take a risk if you a half year Electric charger I think the Batteries swelled Or explode I really wanted to buy it. It's a shame they don't say that a permanent electrical connection to the house is also possible
Hi Dave, have been thinking and looking at putting WiFi in the Motorhome, spent a few days at a festival with next to no network coverage from any provider, I assume you need coverage in order for it to work as it’s a cellular network it finds? For us it would mainly be Netflix, TH-cam and social media. Very interesting video👍🏻
Yes - always subject to coverage, and there is absolute certainty that, in certain spots, there'll be none. Only way I can see past that is to go for one of the Starlink packages, but, as yet, I can't justify that, given that EE has served us very well to the ZTE kit, and when that's been dead, Vodafone's been alive and kicking. That said, 5G does seem to be rolling out at quite the pace - I've been pleasantly surprised by how much we've found on sites and just around the place... heartening!
@@VandromedasTravels thanks for the reply, keep looking at little aerials and the puck options for reception. Will keep researching and see how we do. Cheers Paul
How is the range between the router and your phone/tablet compared to a regular DSL router? Does it work across room or do you need to stand near the router?
Good review. I have been tethering my phone so my family can use my unlimited data. But the only problem with doing that is, I then have to leave my phone with them or they'll complain they have no internet. I was thinking also to get one for holidays so we can buy one SIM card instead of 2 or 3. I just can't decide between this one or the ZTE U50 which is almost half the price of the 5120. But has a slightly older 5G modem inside. I doubt it makes a massive difference though. But for me £300 is quite a fair amount really.
We’ve just looked at the U50, and it’s doing the job. In fact, I’m answering this post via it now! The big advantage of a MiFi or Starlink, for me, is that there’s no messing about connecting devices to one phone or another, depending on which has signal. All of our net access devices (routers, Starlink) have the same SSID and password, so that everything just connects, no matter which one is powered up. Can’t do that with phones. So, the Ecoflows, firestick, iPads, laptops - everything - require no fiddling changing networks. They just work.
I'm trying to decide which 5G router to get, MU5120 or MC888. I would mostly use it indoors for work and entertainment, but having the option to use it outdoors sometimes while on the move would be great. Do you think MC888 would be more stable/faster than MU5120 indoors? If not, I will definitely go for the MU5120.
I have this but I have Starlink as a backup as some places I go in Scotland have - mobile signal. Sorry but this unit as a 10000mah battery - 1000 would last about 2 hours.
Hi Dave Great review but I have some concerns about this device I purchased via Amazon less than four weeks ago the device gets minimal usage every few days at most, if I power off the device the internal battery is still discharging for example if the power is off at 90% and I boot the device 48 hours later the battery level would be 30 / 40% I have tried contacting the manufacturer but unfortunately the troubleshooting advised was not helpful in the slightest. I intend to keep the device but I suspect my device may be defective I have tried researching but can't find any information related to my issue, does your device operate the same way the internal battery constantly discharging?
We keep ours hooked up to power 24/7 when we're away, so it's hard to say, really - and I always power it all up a day or two before we depart - that's if I've remembered to power it down (which I often do forget). Sorry - I know that's not of much help, but we've not had a minute's bother with it...
Can you both use the 4g and 5g here in this device while on... Or if you put it in 5g there will be no connection for 4g for your older device that has no 5g .. if you understand may question sir..
I'd thought about it, but, if you're thinking like the Ring networked cameras, they're not close enough to real time, and won't keep a solid signal without refreshing. However, a local IP camera might well do the job - but, again, I'd probably stick a Gopro to the back of the van and monitor it on an iPhone or Tablet. And with the new GoPro 12, I see monitoring while recording is back, so best of both worlds.
Hey Dave, I got the same model. But for some reason in network information under the tab of 5g there’s no information like it’s not using the 5g Although i see the connection up as 5g The reason why it’s weird because I using the same sim that in my phone i tested the speed on both devices in the same location. On the Phone it was 200Mbps but on the ZTE it was 20 Mbps some time it goes up to 60Mbps The ZTE definitely not using 5G. Can you check on your device in network information if you using 5g? Thank you 🙏
@@VandromedasTravels when I set it only for 5G NSA or 5G SA I don’t get any internet. Something off with this device found some people with the same problem. It’s says that it connected to 5G but in reality it’s not 🤷♂️
@@VandromedasTravels it’s data only. I can use it in my phone for internet etc. just wondering if you can see your 5g data in network information. Thanks for the replies)
My 2p. This is a great and fast 5g MiFi. But the issue is have this device doesn’t work while roaming. It just wont connect to any network ( roaming enabled, apn, etc) If I try the sim in my phone that works perfectly, but not in the MU5120
Anybody who owns a MU5120: Are you able to choose manually your network provider? When I recently was roaming I had the choice of 3 providers on my smartphone using the same SIM card and contract. And I had the choice to select them manually or automatically. I could not find this option on the MU51200 settings. Neither on the device nor on the ZTE app nor using the web interface. Can anybody confirm or correct me? Thanks
Nope - it’s performed flawlessly, for days at a time, with no freezes, no hiccups, other than, obviously, when we’ve been mobile and lost EE signal briefly moving between sites. We hadn’t turned it off at all, and it’s just kept going, connected to a standard USB A socket fed from the 12v lighting rail on our van.
Thanks for your reply, we are 5g/4g/3g modem and router supplier from China, and export Huawei/zte/TCL etc various brand devices, we want to cooperate with wholesale dealers and do business...@@VandromedasTravels
I also did compare the mu5001 and 5120 last week. I had exactly the same experience. The mu5001 and 5120 do not really differ in terms of signal reception/bandwidth/speed. The antennas on mu5001 are only useful /noticeable in extreme situations.
Main difference in the hardware: mu5001 has RJ45 and TS9 antenna ports which the mu5120 doesn´t have. Battery with 4500 mAh ist exchangable on the mu5001 while the 10.000mAh on the mu5120 is not exchangable.
Some differences in favor of the mu5120:
- Snapdragon x62 enables carrier aggregation (x55 in mu5001 is not capable to do this). How often this happens yet (must be enabled by your provider) I don´t know, but it makes it better prepared for the future. In theory however the x55 can have higher down - and upload speeds than the x62. In theory only because usually nobody will have a mobile contract allowing more than 1GB/s download speed.
- The x62 has better power management on top (uses less energy). This will give very good battery times ( should be easily double of mu5001)
- mu5120 can act as powerbank which mu5001 cannot (which I find usefull when hiking using a GPS app on smartphone)
- it offers optional automatic switch between 2.4ghz and 5.0ghz WLAN ( with mu5001 user needs to decide when dialing in which network to use) The mu5120 can still be set to offer both frequences 2.4ghz and 5.0 ghz just like the mu5001.
What I think could be improved on mu5120:
- power charging when used as powerbank (1.5A is a joke on such a 10.000 mAh battery - should be 3.0A
- needs to be turned on to be enable usage as powerbank
- second USB-C port would be good in case RJ45 Adapter is used the mu5120 cannot be charged at the same time
In general I would like to see a comparison between mu5120 and Netgear Nighthawk M6 ;-)
Very thorough - I do think the MU5120 is very good value for money. Agree re final comparison, but I ain’t spending M6 money to find out!
I have slower wifi speeds on U50 pro than my 5001, but signal reception seems the same, this is strange for me :(
It's good for your hiking activity due to the power bank feature but I find this mu5120 disappointing as a mobile modem.
My ZTE 4G has its battery now on 70% max and I'm wondering if - having a 5120 - I would have to get a new one because of that.
I don't feel it better prepared for the future.
While the 5001 is now more expensive than the 5120... equipment with the x70 is yet far more expensive than any of these two.
Amazing comparison. My provider does have three band aggregation which favours the MU5120, but I would've liked a dedicated RJ45.
Greetings from Philippines. New subscriber here and I like your review. Keep it up
Welcome aboard! Enjoy!
Battery life?
A great review. I got the MU5001 for caravan as it has external aerials but the one you just reviewed look good although be worth seeing how it does in your motorhome with blinds etc down.
It's been confusing. I've mostly had it mounted on the front mini-bulkhead twixt cab and hab, on the near side, at roughly head level (when sat). As I said in the overview, on some pitches and days, it's been faster than the MU5001, and on others, the MU5001's been faster. - I've even run them on a speed test to two separate iPhones (using the app on both - one iPhone 13 pro, and one the 13 Pro Plus, so pretty much the same - at the same time and had different results, none of which have been predictable. I'd have expected the MU5001 to beat the 5120 every time, but that hasn't always been the case. Should note that these tests were always done in 5G locations - in 4G max locations, there's barely a fag paper between them. Colour me confused!
Thank you for the review.
My pleasure! Glad it was helpful...
Hey! Thanks a lot for your review. Is there any to use the USB-C -> Ethernet adapter while also charging the MU5120? Or just connecting the MU5120 to a computer using USB-C directly work well enough? Thanks!!
Interesting question - and not something I'd thought of... So, I connected up onto my Mac Pro, and, lo and behold, it works just fine - the Mac sees the MU5120 as a wired network over USB, gets its IP address and everything, and it continues to charge - so, yes, a direct connect will work just fine.
@@VandromedasTravels Did you have to use an adapter for it, like a USB Type-C to RJ45? Or just Type-C to Type-C?
@@katemarte4298 C TO C Works just fine…
@@VandromedasTravelsis that also possible with the MU5001?
very nice review thanks a lot I have one question can I put it on in the house for good in the electric or the battery is going to be dead.. after while
We've run ours constantly on and connected to a PD USB C source for well over two weeks with no problems - but, given we use it mainly in the motorhome, and it gets switched off when we're at home, I can't say for certain what long term constantly powering it up will do... it should be OK, but only time will tell.
@@VandromedasTravels I'm afraid to take a risk if you a half year Electric charger I think the Batteries swelled Or explode I really wanted to buy it. It's a shame they don't say that a permanent electrical connection to the house is also possible
hello nice video i was curious , is bandlocking available? or is there a chance it would come with bandlocking someday perhaps?
I'm not sure!
Thankyou sir
Thanks, enjoyed your review. I will get it as it looks simple to use.
Glad it was helpful! And yes, it is...
Hi Dave, have been thinking and looking at putting WiFi in the Motorhome, spent a few days at a festival with next to no network coverage from any provider, I assume you need coverage in order for it to work as it’s a cellular network it finds?
For us it would mainly be Netflix, TH-cam and social media.
Very interesting video👍🏻
Yes - always subject to coverage, and there is absolute certainty that, in certain spots, there'll be none. Only way I can see past that is to go for one of the Starlink packages, but, as yet, I can't justify that, given that EE has served us very well to the ZTE kit, and when that's been dead, Vodafone's been alive and kicking. That said, 5G does seem to be rolling out at quite the pace - I've been pleasantly surprised by how much we've found on sites and just around the place... heartening!
@@VandromedasTravels thanks for the reply, keep looking at little aerials and the puck options for reception.
Will keep researching and see how we do.
Cheers Paul
Do let us know how you get on!
Thank you for the detailed review.
Glad it was helpful!
How is the range between the router and your phone/tablet compared to a regular DSL router? Does it work across room or do you need to stand near the router?
It's fine - we can sit outside the van (which is a bit of a faraday cage) and get good signal.
@@VandromedasTravels I plan on using it as a regular router for most of the time, I live in a small apartment
It ought to be fine, as long as you don't have three foot thick granite walls!
Good review. I have been tethering my phone so my family can use my unlimited data. But the only problem with doing that is, I then have to leave my phone with them or they'll complain they have no internet. I was thinking also to get one for holidays so we can buy one SIM card instead of 2 or 3. I just can't decide between this one or the ZTE U50 which is almost half the price of the 5120. But has a slightly older 5G modem inside. I doubt it makes a massive difference though. But for me £300 is quite a fair amount really.
We’ve just looked at the U50, and it’s doing the job. In fact, I’m answering this post via it now! The big advantage of a MiFi or Starlink, for me, is that there’s no messing about connecting devices to one phone or another, depending on which has signal. All of our net access devices (routers, Starlink) have the same SSID and password, so that everything just connects, no matter which one is powered up. Can’t do that with phones. So, the Ecoflows, firestick, iPads, laptops - everything - require no fiddling changing networks. They just work.
I'm trying to decide which 5G router to get, MU5120 or MC888. I would mostly use it indoors for work and entertainment, but having the option to use it outdoors sometimes while on the move would be great. Do you think MC888 would be more stable/faster than MU5120 indoors? If not, I will definitely go for the MU5120.
Not having used the MC888, it’s hard to say. I can, though, say that the MU5120 has never let us down.
I’m not very technical minded, would this be all I need to get internet in our campervan for 2 iPads and also I would need a SIM card
Yes, you need a sim card, and yes, it would sort two iPads no bother - handled everything we threw at it…
@@VandromedasTravels brilliant thanks for your help , I was thinking of getting zte mu5120 plus the iq go Mobil sim
I have this but I have Starlink as a backup as some places I go in Scotland have - mobile signal. Sorry but this unit as a 10000mah battery - 1000 would last about 2 hours.
We’re looking at Starlink as well - same reason. The places we like are pants for cellular signal…
awesome review, do you know what happens if i connect the usb c port to a pc?
Yes - it’ll act as a connected modem/router…
Hi Dave
Great review but I have some concerns about this device I purchased via Amazon less than four weeks ago the device gets minimal usage every few days at most, if I power off the device the internal battery is still discharging for example if the power is off at 90% and I boot the device 48 hours later the battery level would be 30 / 40% I have tried contacting the manufacturer but unfortunately the troubleshooting advised was not helpful in the slightest. I intend to keep the device but I suspect my device may be defective I have tried researching but can't find any information related to my issue, does your device operate the same way the internal battery constantly discharging?
We keep ours hooked up to power 24/7 when we're away, so it's hard to say, really - and I always power it all up a day or two before we depart - that's if I've remembered to power it down (which I often do forget). Sorry - I know that's not of much help, but we've not had a minute's bother with it...
Social media or TH-cam for sure for me 😊
Us, too - as well as a bit of facetime with the grandlads...
hello, is it open line, and can cater any 5g simcard from any country? thanks in advance .
Yes you can - it’s completely unlocked. Works well…
hi! what firmware version are you using? did you update to the latest one? which is what ver.? thanks
Still on the original firmware…
What’s the model number for replacement battery?
Can't help you there - haven't had to replace ours...
do you advise me to buy it? (in a 60 GB)
We certainly don’t regret having it.
no way you can get it for 60gb
Can you both use the 4g and 5g here in this device while on... Or if you put it in 5g there will be no connection for 4g for your older device that has no 5g .. if you understand may question sir..
It will happily use 4G if there's no 5G, or you can set it to use one or the other, but we leave it on auto and it's never failed yet.
Has anyone with a camper network used the network for camera's like the back sight camera?No cable's like this and view on the tablet or phone.
I'd thought about it, but, if you're thinking like the Ring networked cameras, they're not close enough to real time, and won't keep a solid signal without refreshing. However, a local IP camera might well do the job - but, again, I'd probably stick a Gopro to the back of the van and monitor it on an iPhone or Tablet. And with the new GoPro 12, I see monitoring while recording is back, so best of both worlds.
Which one is better for fitting into a camper van this one or the mu5001.
Depends on your needs - I’d say the 5120, though, for a small van with no external aerial mount possibilities.
I’ve just got the 5120. It is faster than my home wifi. Thanks for the video and helping me decide.
So happy you got sorted and are happy!!!
Hey Dave, I got the same model. But for some reason in network information under the tab of 5g there’s no information like it’s not using the 5g
Although i see the connection up as 5g
The reason why it’s weird because I using the same sim that in my phone i tested the speed on both devices in the same location. On the
Phone it was 200Mbps but on the ZTE it was 20 Mbps some time it goes up to 60Mbps The ZTE definitely not using 5G. Can you check on your device in network information if you using 5g?
Thank you 🙏
There’s a menu option for which technology you use, I think- it may be set to not allow 5G…
@@VandromedasTravels when I set it only for 5G NSA or 5G SA I don’t get any internet. Something off with this device found some people with the same problem. It’s says that it connected to 5G but in reality it’s not 🤷♂️
@@jekakucher3846 You say you used the sim in your phone? Shouldn’t it be a data only sim for the MU5120? It may not be switchable…
@@VandromedasTravels it’s data only. I can use it in my phone for internet etc. just wondering if you can see your 5g data in network information. Thanks for the replies)
My 2p. This is a great and fast 5g MiFi. But the issue is have this device doesn’t work while roaming. It just wont connect to any network ( roaming enabled, apn, etc)
If I try the sim in my phone that works perfectly, but not in the MU5120
That doesn't sound like it's working properly - we've had no issues with it. I'd contact ZTE and see what they have to say.
Is it work without the battery if i plug it directly in the power adapter? BC i have Netgear M1 and i can without the battery
You can run it directly off a power adapter, yes. WHether or not you leave the battery untouched is up to you - I've left ours in, and it's been fine.
excellent review.
Thank you x
hi question... does it work power connected to the wall without the battery??? thanks
Battery's not removable as far as I can see - but, even so, works just fine permanently powered.
How to change the language to english in the mU5120?
Mine already was... but in the menus.
Hello. Do you have band n79 in the 5g menu? How can I turn it on?
Can't help you there, I'm afraid.
What is the difference between zte mu5120 and zte u50 pro max ?
Haven't seen the u50 pro max, so can't really answer...
@@VandromedasTravels if you have time write in google zte u50 pro max portable wife
As you'll have seen, we've now got one. What a cracking little unit!
Anybody who owns a MU5120: Are you able to choose manually your network provider?
When I recently was roaming I had the choice of 3 providers on my smartphone using the same SIM card and contract. And I had the choice to select them manually or automatically. I could not find this option on the MU51200 settings. Neither on the device nor on the ZTE app nor using the web interface.
Can anybody confirm or correct me?
Thanks
Not something we've come across ourselves - but if anyone else has come across this and can help, please, do shout out!
Is also yours get stuck and freeze every 2/3 hours?
Nope - it’s performed flawlessly, for days at a time, with no freezes, no hiccups, other than, obviously, when we’ve been mobile and lost EE signal briefly moving between sites. We hadn’t turned it off at all, and it’s just kept going, connected to a standard USB A socket fed from the 12v lighting rail on our van.
@@VandromedasTravels mine get stuck/freeze 2/3 times per day... after reboot works fine till the next freeze
Does it auto power on when power is applied to it?
Not in our experience.
Hello, can the router also do IPv6?
Given it's WiFi6, I'd say yes... not near it at the moment, so can't check.
Did he get a Ethernet Port??
It's WiFi only - no physical ehternet port.
Does this routers supports 4g . Thanks
Yes - connects to 4G where there's no 5G totally transparently.
Does this router support esim?
Afraid not x
Hey good enough for a 720p livestream (on the 9-11 MBps upload I mean) lol
Yes, yes indeed - when I think back, we used to do 720p lives with less, and that was with lord knows how many Skype streams coming in...
71Mb/s is a speed for 4G, at least in Australia.
Oh, that was right on the edge of the mast’s footprint- had much faster. And 4G is very contended here - lucky to get 20, at times.
How to charge this thing?
USB C
very expansive
???
£304 very cheap???
At the time and in comparison to others of the same spec…
Them pesky Miles’s get everywhere 🤣🤣🤣
I don't find that upsetting!!!!
Gwe😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
🦨🦨🦨🐓🐓 0:15
I wish I knew what this signified... but I don't.
Ghh na
Quite...
yes, zte Mu5120 is great 5g mifi, we have bulk ready stock with original box
Good to know
Your video is great! May i ask whether you buy and sell 5g router too?@@VandromedasTravels
We’re not dealers, no - why do you ask?
Thanks for your reply, we are 5g/4g/3g modem and router supplier from China, and export Huawei/zte/TCL etc various brand devices, we want to cooperate with wholesale dealers and do business...@@VandromedasTravels