ZTE U10S Pro MiFi Router Review: Budget Travel Pick

Ever been stuck somewhere with patchy Wi-Fi, desperately trying to join a video call or download a file? I’ve tested dozens of mobile broadband devices over the years, and that frustration is exactly what a good MiFi router should eliminate. After three weeks with the ZTE U10S Pro, I’ve got a clear picture of whether this budget-friendly device delivers reliable connectivity when you need it most, or if it’s another false promise in a crowded market.

The 10-device limit sounds generous until you realise how many gadgets we all carry now. During testing, I connected two phones, a laptop, a tablet, and a smartwatch, that’s already five devices for one person. Add a partner’s devices and you’re pushing the limit. Performance stayed solid up to about six or seven active connections, but I noticed slowdowns when approaching the full ten.

What surprised me positively was the setup experience. I’ve tested MiFi routers that require fiddling with APN settings and network configurations. The U10S Pro? Insert your SIM card, turn it on, and it just works. Tested with both EE and Three SIMs, and both connected automatically within 30 seconds.

The battery life sits firmly in “adequate” territory. ZTE claims up to 10 hours, but that’s clearly under minimal load. My real-world testing with moderate use (checking emails, occasional video calls, web browsing) averaged around 6-7 hours. Heavy use with constant streaming drained it in closer to 5 hours. Not brilliant, but honestly about what I expected at this price point.

I put the U10S Pro through its paces in three distinct environments to get a proper feel for real-world performance. In central London with strong EE coverage, download speeds consistently hit 60-80Mbps, genuinely impressive for a budget 4G router. Upload speeds were more modest at 15-20Mbps, but that’s typical for 4G connections.

Things got more interesting (read: challenging) in rural Gloucestershire. Here, speeds dropped to 12-28Mbps depending on the time of day and exactly where I positioned the router. Interestingly, the U10S Pro seemed slightly better at maintaining signal than my phone in the same location, though I can’t definitively say whether that’s the device or just network variation.

Connection stability proved solid overall. Over three weeks of daily use, I experienced only two unexpected disconnections, both in areas where my phone also struggled for signal. The router reconnected automatically within a minute both times. Pretty decent reliability for a budget device.

That said, the construction feels solid enough for the price. There’s no flex in the body when you squeeze it, no rattling components, and the battery cover clicks securely into place. The SIM card slot requires removing the battery to access, a minor faff, but you’re only doing it once during setup.

I deliberately threw this in my backpack alongside keys, a water bottle, and other daily carry items to see how it held up. After three weeks of this treatment, there are a few minor scuffs on the corners but no cracks or functional damage. It’s not ruggedised by any means, but it’s tougher than it looks.

Daily operation requires virtually no thought. Turn it on when you need it, turn it off when you don’t. The LED indicators are clear: blue means connected and working, red means no network signal, flashing means it’s searching. Simple.

Where things get slightly awkward is the management interface. There’s no dedicated mobile app (unlike the Netgear Nighthawk or Huawei E5785), so you’re stuck using the web interface at 192.168.0.1. It works fine for checking data usage, changing the Wi-Fi password, or viewing connected devices, but the interface looks like it was designed in 2015. Functional? Yes. Elegant? Absolutely not.

The documentation is bare-bones, a small quick start guide that covers the essentials and not much else. If something goes wrong, you’re largely on your own or searching ZTE’s website for support documents.

The Huawei E5785 is the obvious step-up option. It costs about £20 more but delivers Cat 6 speeds (theoretically up to 300Mbps), better battery life, and a genuinely useful mobile app. If you’re using your MiFi router frequently, that extra investment makes sense. But if you’re an occasional user, the U10S Pro’s lower price point becomes more attractive.

At the cheaper end, the TP-Link M7200 undercuts the ZTE by around £10-15. The performance is similar (both are Cat 4), but the TP-Link’s smaller battery and slightly flimsier build quality show where the savings come from. I’ve tested both, and personally I’d spend the extra tenner for the ZTE’s better battery and more solid construction.

Value is always subjective, but I reckon the U10S Pro hits a sweet spot for occasional users. If you travel a few times a month and need reliable internet access, spending £80-120 on a premium MiFi router feels excessive. But dropping down to the absolute cheapest £25-30 options often means compromising on reliability and build quality.

The U10S Pro sits right in the middle. It’s affordable enough that occasional users won’t feel they’ve overspent, but reliable enough that you’re not constantly frustrated by poor performance or connection drops. That’s genuinely valuable.

Where it makes less sense is for heavy users. If you’re working remotely full-time and relying on mobile broadband daily, invest in something with better battery life, faster speeds, and more robust features. The U10S Pro will technically work, but you’ll quickly notice its limitations.

I’d recommend this to anyone who needs mobile broadband occasionally but can’t justify spending £80-150 on a premium device. It’s also a solid choice as a backup connection for home workers who need failover internet when their primary broadband goes down.

Skip it if you’re planning to use mobile broadband as your primary connection, need all-day battery life, or want advanced features like 5G, VPN support, or a touchscreen interface. For those use cases, spending more on a mid-range or premium option makes sense.