TP-Link TL-MR105 4G Router Review UK 2026

The TP-Link TL-MR105 is a budget 4G router for homes without a usable fixed line, and the question is whether this thing is worth your money. Short version: for its target market, it genuinely is. But there are caveats, and they matter depending on what you're expecting from it.

The TL-MR105 sits firmly in the budget end of the 4G router market, which in the UK is a surprisingly crowded space right now. Mobile broadband has gone from a stopgap solution to a legitimate primary connection for hundreds of thousands of households, whether that's because of poor fixed-line infrastructure, temporary accommodation, or just needing something that works while you wait for a fibre install. TP-Link clearly knows this, and the MR105 is priced to capture that audience. The question is whether cutting costs here means cutting corners where it actually hurts.

This router was built for locations with variable 4G reception. Here's how it stacks up.

There are two LAN/WAN ports on the back, which gives you some flexibility, you can run it purely on 4G with the SIM card, or plug in an ethernet cable from a fixed-line connection and use it as a standard router. That dual-mode capability is genuinely useful and something not every budget 4G router offers. The router supports up to 32 connected devices simultaneously, which sounds like a lot but is actually a fairly standard figure for this class of hardware. Whether it handles 32 devices gracefully under load is a different question.

Power comes via a standard 12V DC adapter included in the box. There's no USB port and no SD card slot: this is a stripped-back device that does one job and tries to do it well. The antenna situation is worth noting: two fixed external antennas for the WiFi, and the 4G signal is handled internally. You can't swap in high-gain antennas for the LTE modem, which is a limitation if you're in a genuinely weak signal area.

The dual-mode WAN capability deserves more attention than TP-Link gives it in the marketing. You can use the router with 4G as the primary connection, or plug an ethernet cable into one of the WAN ports and use a fixed-line connection instead. Better still, you can configure it so that the wired connection is primary and 4G acts as an automatic failover, meaning if your broadband drops, the router switches to mobile data without you having to do anything. For a small business or home office that can't afford downtime, that's a genuinely useful feature at this price point. Most routers with failover capability cost considerably more.

Parental controls are present and functional, though not sophisticated. You get URL filtering (block specific websites or categories) and time scheduling (restrict internet access during certain hours). It's enough for basic household management, blocking social media during homework time, that sort of thing. What you don't get is per-device content filtering or any kind of reporting dashboard. The guest network feature works as expected: a separate SSID with its own password, isolated from your main network. Both features are managed through the web interface or the Tether app.

The 2.4GHz-only limitation does mean you're sharing spectrum with every other 2.4GHz device in the area, so in a flat with lots of neighbouring networks you might see more interference than you would with a dual-band router. For a rural or suburban location, it's a non-issue. For a dense urban flat, it's worth thinking about.

The port situation on the back is clean: two RJ45 ports, a DC power jack, and a reset button recessed enough that you won't hit it accidentally. The SIM slot is on the side, protected by a small rubber cover. Status LEDs on the front include a dedicated 4G signal indicator, a WiFi indicator, and individual LAN port lights. The power adapter included in the box is a standard barrel-connector unit.

The TP-Link Tether app is available for both iOS and Android. You can monitor connected devices, run speed tests, set up parental controls, manage the guest network, and check signal strength, all from your phone. The app connects to the router over your local network (no cloud account required for basic management, though you can optionally set one up for remote access). Remote management is a useful feature if you're setting this up at a holiday cottage or a relative's house and want to be able to troubleshoot without being physically present.

The web interface includes advanced settings such as DHCP, port forwarding and firewall rules.

The two LAN/WAN ports support 10/100Mbps ethernet, not Gigabit. If you're using the router in wired-connection mode with a fast fibre line, you're capped at 100Mbps on the ethernet side. That's a real limitation for anyone on a Gigabit fibre package. WiFi compatibility is standard 802.11b/g/n, so every device made in the last fifteen years will connect without issues. The 2.4GHz band is universally supported, unlike 5GHz which some older devices lack.

The router supports up to 32 connected devices, though that's a theoretical ceiling. The guest network is properly isolated, devices on the guest SSID can't see or communicate with devices on the main network, which is the correct behaviour and not something every budget router gets right. VPN passthrough is supported for PPTP and L2TP, though there's no built-in VPN client.

Temporary accommodation is another strong use case. Students in rented rooms, people in holiday lets, anyone in short-term housing, the MR105 is portable and doesn't require any installation. The fact that it creates a proper WiFi network (rather than just being a mobile hotspot) means you can connect multiple devices, including smart TVs and games consoles, without burning through your phone's battery or data plan.

Small business backup connectivity is the third scenario worth highlighting. The failover capability, where the router automatically switches from a wired connection to 4G if the primary line drops, is valuable for any business that can't afford internet downtime. A small shop, a home office, a pop-up workspace: the MR105 can sit quietly in the background and kick in when needed. You lose some speed on 4G compared to fibre, but you keep working. At this price point, it's a cost-effective insurance policy. The fourth scenario is caravan or static home use: the router is compact and runs on a standard 12V supply (useful if you're running it off a leisure battery with an inverter). When you're away from home using public WiFi, pairing this router with a good VPN adds an extra layer of security and privacy to your connection.

The main value caveat is the 2.4GHz-only WiFi. If you're in a dense urban environment with lots of WiFi congestion, or if you have devices that specifically benefit from 5GHz (like a laptop you use for video editing or a games console you want low-latency connectivity for), you'll feel the absence of a 5GHz band. Stepping up to a dual-band 4G router costs noticeably more, and whether that's worth it depends entirely on your situation. For rural use, where 5GHz congestion isn't a factor, the MR105's 2.4GHz-only setup is perfectly fine.

The value proposition is strongest for rural users replacing slow DSL, for temporary accommodation setups, and for anyone who needs a reliable 4G backup connection without spending a lot. It's weakest for urban users in congested WiFi environments, for anyone on Gigabit fibre who wants to use the wired connection mode, and for people in genuinely marginal 4G signal areas who need external antenna support. Know which camp you're in before you buy, and the value equation becomes clear.

The running costs are separate from the hardware cost: you'll need a data SIM. Factor that into your total cost of ownership calculation.

The limitations are real but predictable. No 5GHz WiFi means it's not ideal for congested urban environments. The 100Mbps ethernet ports cap wired speeds. No external antenna ports limit your options in weak signal areas. None of these are hidden gotchas, they're in the spec sheet, but they're worth knowing about before you buy. If any of those limitations are dealbreakers for your specific situation, a dual-band 4G router or one with external antenna ports is the logical alternative to consider.

For the majority of its target audience, though, the MR105 is the right call. It's simple, it's priced fairly, and it's backed by TP-Link's established track record in networking hardware. This one earns its place on the shortlist.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4) (78,807 reviews)