First off, let me say this little black rectangle saved my trip to Greece. I paired it with a Cosmote SIM, hooked it to a power bank, and boom—24/7 internet for my laptop and two friends’ phones. The signal? Rock-solid even in dodgy coastal areas where my phone struggled.

But here’s the thing no one tells you: the LED lights turn off after a minute. I nearly returned it thinking it was broken! Turns out it stays connected—just silently. Pro tip: bookmark the router’s IP address (192.168.8.1) on your phone for quick settings tweaks.

The battery life debate is real. Mine lasted about 4 hours streaming maps and emails—not 6 as advertised. Solution? That Anker power bank in your backpack becomes its BFF. Also, manually selecting networks via the web interface prevented random roaming charges in Santorini.

Setup requires patience. The SIM tray feels flimsy (I held my breath inserting it), and you’ll need the Huawei HiLink app for SMS activation—do this at your hotel WiFi before hitting the streets. Once running though? Golden. Created a ‘Souvlaki_WiFi’ guest network for fellow travelers at hostels.

Final verdict: Not perfect (looking at you, battery), but when it worked, it made me feel like a connectivity wizard abroad—worth every euro despite the quirks.