Where to find the best deal for 5G sim Mobile Data Rolling contract?

housebuyer143

pw23 said:

Thank you, everyone, for this helpful information and  links ,

I have a three Pay as you go Sim card. I will test out in my iPhone 15 and see what speeds I get and if they are over 5 MB I will get this SMARTY rolling monthly social tariff unlimited data for £12 per month

Looking at the prices online I won't have the money for a 5G router purchased here In the UK

what are your thoughts on this 5G Sim router from AliExpress?

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EGplizb

I'm not sure I would, but eBay might have decent second hand 4g ones? 4g should meet your needs sufficiently I would say. 

flaneurs_lobster

AliExpress? Complete lottery. You MIGHT get the thing you think you've ordered. If it isn't, or it doesn't work, you'll have to return it to China, at your expense, to maybe get a replacement or a refund.

I wouldn't.

pw23

Okay, I will take everyone's advice and avoid AliExpress and just get a used router from eBay

I just looked at the  VOXI website and they also offer social contracts for even cheaper at £10 per month for unlimited data, but I'm having a bit of trouble seeing on the website whether they allow someone to use the Sim in a router, is anyone aware if I can Question

Also, as I currently use Lebara which is Vodafone run on my iPhone 15 and I get around 15 MB, should I expect the same with a VOX I Sim?

if VOxI don't allow it, is anyone aware of a different provider that uses Vodafone that does allow users to use a Sim router?

M25

Make sure you read VOXI's T&Cs for their social tariff as I'm sure it reverts to a standard SIM after a period.

Best SIMs IME would be Vodafone, 3, and SMARTY (3) or anyone using those networks but those suppliers will always slow down most MVNOs especially as Vodafone use 5G only on their Ultra network.

Just test and see what you get. Use your mobile at several points in your house next to windows to find the best spot. Some 5G routers have software via their app that help you find the best spot too.

SMARTY's social tariff is a good choice as you can freeze the monthly subscription in the app in a few seconds.

housebuyer143

Fyi, I can't find anything on voxi preventing it's use in a router. 

HaroldWhistler

pw23 said:

Okay, I will take everyone's advice and avoid AliExpress and just get a used router from eBay

I just looked at the  VOXI website and they also offer social contracts for even cheaper at £10 per month for unlimited data, but I'm having a bit of trouble seeing on the website whether they allow someone to use the Sim in a router, is anyone aware if I can Question

Also, as I currently use Lebara which is Vodafone run on my iPhone 15 and I get around 15 MB, should I expect the same with a VOX I Sim?

if VOxI don't allow it, is anyone aware of a different provider that uses Vodafone that does allow users to use a Sim router?

I think VOXI should be fine. Lebara also use the Vodafone network and works in a Mifi router. Both are 4G or 5G speeds.

If you go with Vodafone directly, it'll work, just make sure you check it is an actual Unlimited speed plan because they now sell those speed limited plans.

An O2 Sim works. Tesco (uses O2) sadly doesn't work when in a Mifi or 4G Router, although you can use the SIM in a Phone and use the phone as a hotspot. 

Three should be fine direct. Smarty will work, but Smarty can be dodgy sometimes when it comes to pausing plans without giving any reason (you can see those reviews if you look on Trustpilot) and dreadful customer service. So if you want a Three based connection, I'd just go with Three.

Any of the EE based providers should work. 

As for speed, as an example in a 4G area, I personally found that despite O2 and Vodafone networks using the same mast in a particular location, O2 tended to get a slightly higher speed (between 35-70Mbps) than Vodafone or Vodafone based networks such as Lebara or VOXI (25-50Mbps), but the Vodafone based network seemed far more stable with no dropouts. Either was faster than the FTTC land based broadband at that time 1Mbps! 

I think Lebara is better value/cheaper than VOXI for totally Unlimited Data, but you're right VOXI technically give certain things like Youtube etc depending on the chosen plan without counting that towards the Data limit and could work out cheaper in that sense. Or have sales where they give you double the data for the same price periodically. 

As for a Wifi Router, after a quick search, it looks like you can either buy a SIM based Router that plugs into a power outlet for around the £35 to £60 mark, or a small Mifi router that has a battery and is mobile (can be carried around anywhere) for around the £40 mark on Amazon or places like Currys. 

M25

Vodafone do sell 'unlimted' SIMs and it is unlimted but they restrict the speed of the SIM to 10MBPs-25MBPs the last I looked. My last 2 SIMs were Red and Ultra (both meant for mobile phones) and they were full speed unlimted.

So, read the small print. Also, Vodafone's 5G Ultra network I do believe still doesn't work on iPhones. You may get 5G but it might be mixed in with 4G.

I think providers used to block or warn users utilising SIMs for something other than advertised a while back but they were told to stop it by OFCOM.

I'm well over 1TB of use monthly and never heard a peep from Vodafone for years.