D-Link DWR-930M Portable 4G Hotspot Review – Mobile Internet On-The-Go

Unboxing

Today we’re reviewing one of the 4G mobile hotspots from D-Link, the DWR-930M. This is a credit card-sized hotspot that is advertised to deliver up to 150Mbps of speed with 4G, with a battery capable of lasting a full day.

Here are all the items you’ll be getting inside the packaging:
– Quick start guide
– USB-C cable
– Removable 3000mAh battery
– D-Link DWR-930M main unit

Walkaround

The size of the DWR-930M is mostly identical to that of a credit card, and on the top-right corner there’s an integrated hook that allows it to be attached on bags (best keep it away from rain as it has no water resistance rating). On the side you have two buttons and a reset pin, and the four LEDs in front are – from top to bottom – signal strength, WPS, Wi-Fi status, and battery level. Finally, at the bottom you get a single USB-C port for the sole purpose of recharging the device.

The rear panel is removable, which reveals the battery slot and the Nano SIM tray on the right side. The battery is not pre-installed in this case, which means you should see the Wi-Fi password and login information right away – for convenience, be sure to note the information before booting up the device. Once done, install the Nano SIM card, the 3,000mAh battery, close the back cover, then hold the power button to power it on.

Specifications

D-Link DWR-930M

Full specifications available on product page and datasheet.

Product Type	Portable Mi-Fi Hotspot / Router
Wireless Specification	802.11n (Wi-Fi 4)
Antenna Topography	4G: Internal 1×2 MIMO Wi-Fi: 1x internal antenna
Operating Frequencies	4G bands: B1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz
Bandwidth Modes	Unspecified
Throughput Rating	Max. 150Mbps (DL) / 50Mbps (UL)
I/O	1x USB Type-C (charging)
Wireless Security	WPA/WPA2, WPS 2.0
Control Interface	Via gateway IP address (Web) D-Link Mobile Connect (Mobile)
SIM Support	Nano SIM
Battery	3,000mAh
Dimensions	103 x 63 x 13.35 mm
Weight	80g

User Experience

For managing the device, you have the D-Link Mobile Connect app available on Android and iOS. Here, you can access the Wi-Fi settings, monitor signal strength, and several SIM-related functions. Overall, I find it pretty easy to use as well, though it’s not mandatory to install the app (but I’d recommend doing so since it’ll make your life easier).

The web management interface is pretty basic, though this is the only way of accessing the management features if you’re on a PC. There are some features that are exclusive to this UI, but all the common settings and features are already accessible via the app.

For speed tests, we recorded around 40Mbps download and 25Mbps upload using Maxis 4G network, though your results may vary (we tested this near the Sunway Geo building, for reference). Signal coverage is generally fine, but this depends on the telco you use – smaller telco providers like Yes may struggle with coverage and speed, especially within buildings like malls and apartment complexes. Note that the DWR-930M can only connect up to 8 devices given its support to only the Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) standard.

The Good

Generally speaking, the D-Link DWR-930M is a solid all-rounder as far as mobile hotspots go. Battery life is definitely good for a full day (or several days if you’re a light user), and it being user-replaceable should mean better longevity on paper – though that depends on how long 4G networks will last, which likely won’t happen until the next decade.

Another positive for the hotspot is the ease of management via the companion app, which means you almost never have to use the web interface for virtually all the functions available. One small detail I appreciate is the boot-up speed: it takes as little as 10 seconds to fire up the device when you need it, which means you can simply turn it off if it’s unused to save battery during the day.

The Bad

One small issue I have is the way battery indicator works: for most of the time, it simply displays red light on the indicator – by conventional measure, this should mean low battery, right? Not in this case, as it can display red light despite the battery having more than 60% charge. A firmware update will most certainly fix this, though.

Verdict

At RM149, the D-Link DWR-930M is a pretty affordable solution if you want mobile Wi-Fi on the go, and overall I have no major complaints on its capabilities. The speeds is not going to wow anyone, but it can be an add-on if you need something that can keep things connected even out in the field.

Special thanks to D-Link for providing the DWR-930M 4G portable hotspot for this review.