NETGEAR today unveils its latest travel router, the Nighthawk 5G M7 Hotspot with eSIM (model MH7150).
From the name, which is a mouthful and leaves nothing to the imagination—we’ll call it “M7” from here on out for short—it’s easy to spot that new device has a lot that sets it apart from previous models. Among other things, it’s not a downgrade from the M7 Pro that came out late last year, though it does share some similarities and, indeed, has a few inferior specs.
That doesn’t make it a “worse” device. In fact, all things considered, the M7 seems to be a more complete travel router, sensibly designed for frequent international travelers. It has features none of the existing travel routers I’ve seen have, including previous NETGEAR mobile hotspots.
Netgear Nighthawk M7: Everything an international traveler needs to stay connected
From the look of it, the new M7 resembles the previous M7 Pro and the M6 Pro, with a few design changes. Most notably, it’s no longer a square box, but now a rectangular device about the size of an iPhone. Still, it retains a little colorful status screen on top and the battery bay on the underside.
Looking more closely, it has even more noticeable differences.
USB-C-based network adapter, cradle, and eSIM marketplace support
First, the new travel router no longer has a network port. Instead, its USB-C charging port can be turned into an Ethernet port.
For this, NETGEAR says the M7 supports any standard USB-C-to-Ethernet adapter, but it’ll provide a 2.5Gbps adapter as an accessory (not included) that comes with a USB-C charging port, allowing the M7 to access a wired connection without draining its battery. Additionally, there’s a USB-C charging cradle (not included) with a built-in 5Gbps network port. In either case, this add-on Ethernet port can be used to connect a wired client to the M7 or to host a WAN connection.
The second, and biggest, difference is that the M7, aside from the nano SIM card, now supports eSIM.
On this front, NETGEAR says it can handle up to 8 eSIMs alongside a standard SIM card. Even more significantly, you can manage the M7 and its eSIM via a new NETGEAR mobile app that lets you access the eSIM marketplace and activate data plans ranging from 3GB to 20GB in just a few steps. According to NETGEAR, it has partnered with Gigs to deliver data plans in the eSIM Marketplace available in over 140 countries.
As a result, when traveling, users can quickly find and purchase a data plan that fits their needs during their stay, and can quickly switch between them when necessary.
Unlocked, Dual-band Wi-Fi 7
For the eSIM marketplace to work, needless to say, the new M7 must be unlocked, which is its most significant advantage over the M7 Pro—the older model is tied to AT&T or Verizon.
On the downside, the M7 features a lower tier in Wi-Fi 7 compared to the previous model. It’s a dual-band router with a combined bandwidth of only 3600Mbps, similar to the case of the ASUS RT-BE58 Go, TP-Link TL-WR3602BE, or the GL.iNet Slate 7. For a travel router, though, that’s plenty, plus the M7 Pro is a pseudo tri-band router since you can use only either the 5GHz or the 6GHz at a time.
The table below shows the NETGEAR Nighthawk M7 compared to the previous models.
NETGEAR Nighthawk 5G M7 Hotspot with eSIM: Hardware specifications
An (almost) complete travel router
To recap, here’s the highlight of the NETGEAR Nightawk 5G M7 travel router:
- 5G Powered Wi-Fi 7: Bandwdith up to 3.6Gbps for up to 32 devices to connect to the Internet.
- Instant Coverage with eSIM: Coverage 140+ countries using 5G or 4G without contracts with flexible data plans right from the NETGEAR app via eSIM marketplace.
- Built-in Security Features: Powerful built-in security, including Advanced Router Protection, Firewall, WPA3 encryption, and automatic firmware updates.
- Unlocked: Accepts SIM cards and eSIMs from major 5G/4G network operators. Certified with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon in the U.S.
- Multi-Gig Wired Speeds: Connect directly to M7 via USB-C, or use an Ethernet Adapter (sold separately), for ultra-fast wired speed.
- Flexible Battery: Up to 10 hours on a single charge for all-day WiFi performance. M7 can also be used as a power bank to charge other devices while traveling.
- Control It All Through the App: Easily set up and manage your network, monitor data usage, buy eSIM data plans, and more – all from one intuitive interface.
That said, the NETGEAR Nighthawk 5G M7 Hotspot with eSIM has everything a frequent traveler needs to connect dozens of Wi-Fi devices to the Internet simultaneously. Specifically:
- It can connect to a traditional landline Internet via its USB-C port (with an Ethernet adapter).
- It can connect to the Internet via a cellular service, using its own SIM slot or one of eight eSIMs, which can be purchased and activated on the go via the new NETGEAR mobile app—the app connects to the eSIM marketplace for easy deployment.
- It can connect to an existing Internet-enabled Wi-Fi network and use that for the rest of its connected devices. In other words, it features the WISP mode.
Tip
WISP stands for Wireless Internet Service Provider. It’s an operating mode in which a supported router receives an Internet connection via Wi-Fi and then distributes it to multiple devices via its own Wi-Fi network. It works similarly to a Wi-Fi extender (or repeater) with two added elements:
- The WISP router’s Wi-Fi network is shielded from the existing Internet-providing Wi-Fi network to keep its connected clients safe and private.
- The WISP router can handle an incoming Internet-enabled Wi-Fi connection that requires a particular authentication method, such as a captive portal or via a paid login account.
When you use a public Wi-Fi network or one with ambiguous security, WISP is recommended.
NETGEAR says, like other travel routers, the M7 also features dual-WAN, meaning it can use two of the above simultaneously for Internet access with failover. The only thing it doesn’t have compared with other non-cellular travel routers is the fact that it has no option to host a storage device, which has minor use for travellers.
Availability
NETGEAR says the new M7 Portable WiFi Hotspot with eSIM will be available in January 2026 for $499.99 in the US. It’ll also be available in other regions for €599.99 EUR, £529.00 GBP, $699.99 CAD, and $749.00 AUD.
In all, the new mobile hotspot is looking like it’s going to be an excellent travel router. Check back in early 2026 to see how it pans out in real-world performance. In the meantime, if you can’t, below is the list of the current top-five alternatives.
