Feimao U8 Portable WiFi Review: Surprising Features but Average Speed
Introduction
Recently, I purchased a high-data-usage China Telecom SIM card and started thinking about how to make the most of this resource. For a long time, I had considered buying a portable mobile WiFi device, and this time I finally took action.
After browsing on JD.com, I found that there are few manufacturers producing such devices because the demand is relatively niche, and most smartphones support Wi-Fi sharing. After consideration, I chose the "Feimao U8," which has high ratings and good sales. Upon receiving it, I found its functions were even better than I expected (details to follow).
Suitable Scenarios
Here are some scenarios where a portable mobile WiFi might be useful:
- Renting a room without broadband installed, but multiple devices need to connect to the internet simultaneously.
- Needing full Wi-Fi coverage inside a car.
- A tablet needs to be online anytime outdoors (xiaoz's requirement).
I can only think of these for now. Feel free to leave comments to add more. If you don't have a scenario to use it, I don't recommend buying one, as Wi-Fi coverage is quite extensive nowadays, and free Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere.
Purchase Link
Feimao U8 JD.com Purchase Link: https://u.jd.com/wb4qC3T
Unboxing and Photos
The device features a silver shell with blue accents. The shell is made of plastic, the interface is Type-C, and it comes with a USB adapter.
After opening the back cover, you can insert your own SIM card. Feimao included a SIM card, but I found their plan not cost-effective, so I didn't activate it and threw it away. Instead, I inserted the high-data-usage China Telecom SIM card I bought.
On the right side, there is network information such as the Wi-Fi name, Wi-Fi password, management address, and password, which will be used later.
Getting Started
After inserting your own SIM card, plug the "Feimao U8" into your device, such as a phone, tablet, desktop, or power bank, as long as the interface matches. xiaoz tested that it takes about 12-20 seconds to connect, which is acceptable.
If you connect the "Feimao U8" to a tablet or similar device, you can go online directly without extra operations. It also creates a Wi-Fi network for other devices to connect, supporting up to 8 devices simultaneously.
Next, you need to modify the Wi-Fi name and password. These details are on the right side of the image above (access via 192.168.0.1 in your browser). Then, log in to modify the Wi-Fi name and password to improve security (I will skip the steps on how to change them, as anyone familiar with routers should know).
I never expected such a small device to have a web console. The backend is similar to a general router, just with fewer features.
There is an "Internet Wifi" function in the backend. Initially, I didn't understand its purpose. After consulting customer service, I learned that enabling this function turns the device into a wireless network card, allowing the "Feimao U8" to connect to other Wi-Fi networks. This function is likely only useful for desktops in emergency situations, as it is not its primary function.
More interestingly, the backend supports sending and receiving SMS messages. I was surprised by this. However, I initially failed to send/receive SMS using my China Telecom SIM card.
Later, customer service informed me that SMS sending and receiving only support China Mobile and China Unicom. Coincidentally, my high-data SIM card was from China Telecom. I then tested with a China Mobile SIM card, and it worked. It seems the SMS feature is usable. Since my high-data card is from China Telecom, I had to pay an extra 2 yuan/month for the SMS forwarding service and couldn't enjoy the built-in SMS feature of the "Feimao U8," which would have saved me that cost.
Other functions can be explored further by users.
Speed Test
I tested with both China Telecom and China Mobile SIM cards, both indoors and outdoors, and found a significant difference. Below are some speed test screenshots.
With the China Telecom card indoors, the download speed was less than 2Mbps, which was quite embarrassing and made me doubt if the device was faulty.
Then I switched to a China Mobile SIM card, and the download speed reached nearly 8Mbps, which was more normal. I started to suspect if my China Telecom SIM card was being throttled?
I called China Telecom customer service, and the representative said there was no throttling and everything was normal. So, I took my tablet and the "Feimao U8" outdoors for testing. This time, the China Telecom card achieved nearly 40Mbps. It seems there is a big difference between indoor and outdoor speeds.
Network speed is influenced by many factors. My tests above are not comprehensive and should only be taken as a reference.
Summary
- The "Feimao U8" supports inserting your own SIM card and works with all three major carriers (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom), but only supports 4G networks, not 5G.
- The "Feimao U8" uses the Wi-Fi 4 protocol, does not support IPv6, and has slower speeds.
- Indoor network speed is poor, while outdoor speed is decent (xiaoz's test was not comprehensive and also depends on the carrier and base station coverage).
- The "Feimao U8" can also be used as a wireless network card (generally for desktops).
- The "Feimao U8" supports sending and receiving SMS messages (only supports China Mobile and China Unicom, not China Telecom).
The price is under 100 yuan. Although I don't use it often, having a portable Wi-Fi like this is quite convenient. What do you think?
Feimao U8 JD.com Purchase Link: https://u.jd.com/wb4qC3T