In this guide

  • Review
  • Ask an expert
Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

Telstra 5G Wi-Fi Pro review

  • Avatar
FSL disclaimer

Summary

Quick Verdict: Telstra's updated 5G Wi-Fi hub is capable of decent speeds on existing 5G networks, and the promise of mmWave compatibility means it could get considerably faster in the near future.

  • mmWave compatible for future use
  • Good 5G throughput on existing networks
  • Decent battery life even with multiple tethered devices
  • UI isn't as good as the HTC 5G Hub
  • Expensive

In this guide

  • Review
  • Ask an expert
Telstra's updated 5G Wi-Fi hub is capable of decent speeds on existing 5G networks, and the promise of mmWave compatibility means it could get considerably faster in the near future.

Telstra announced its new 5G network in 2019 with a single 5G-capable handset and a single 5G-capable mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, the intriguing HTC 5G Hub. Almost a year later, it's released its second hotspot, replacing the 5G Hub with the Telstra 5G Wi-Fi Pro. It's the telco's first mmWave-compatible 5G hotspot, which is nicely forwards looking even though right now what it's rolling out is purely sub-6Ghz 5G networking technology.


Design

Design

  • Large for a hotspot
  • inbuilt ethernet port
Nubia Z20

Performance

Performance

  • Good indoor and outdoor 5G performance
  • can't test mmWave immediately
  • limited UI
Nubia Z20

Battery life

Battery life

  • 4,500mAh battery good for up to 9 hours
  • depending on usage
Nubia Z20

Verdict

Verdict

  • Good throughput and future proofing, but not inexpensive and less flexible than its predecessor
Nubia Z20
Should you buy it?

The Telstra 5G Wi-Fi Pro is an interesting device. While it didn't quite hit the gigabit wireless 5G world for me in my own testing, there's certainly plenty of speed here to be grabbed to cover most people's downstream usage habits, and the promise of mmWave compatibility means it could be much faster once actual mmWave networks roll out.

However, what Telstra's doing right now is selling it on the promise of its existing 5G networks, and that's where you have to weigh up its value proposition. It's not an inexpensive device in its own right, and of course you've got to also factor in ongoing 5G data costs as well. Depending on your plan choice, simple access to Telstra's 5G networks may cost you more after June this year, let alone however much data you slurp down on it.

The simpler UI of the Telstra 5G Wi-Fi Pro does let it get on with the job of just being a Wi-Fi hotspot, but if you've used the HTC 5G Hub with its Android interface, it's also a much less flexible unit in terms of configuration, which feels like a backwards step.


Pricing and availability

The Telstra 5G Wi-Fi Pro sells in Australia for $599 outright, or on payment terms over 24 or 36 months. There's not much of a discount for taking the 24 or 36 month term; you're just stretching out the cost over that timeframe.

You'll also need to pair it up with a compatible Telstra 5G Mobile Broadband Plan.

1 - 6 of 6
Name Product Data Allowance Typical download speed Price Hid Compare Box!
Telstra Upfront Data Plan Small
Mobile broadband
Full Telstra network
Month-to-month
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO device
30GB
Data
30GB
5G / 4G
Speed
5G / 4G
$25
per month
Min total cost is $25 for first month
Price
$25 per month
Min total cost is $25 for first month
Telstra Prepaid Mobile Broadband 25GB
Mobile broadband
Full Telstra network
28 Days contract
  • 28 Days expiry
  • BYO device
25GB
Data
25GB
5G / 4G
Speed
5G / 4G
$35
per 28 days
Min total cost is $35 over 28 days
Price
$35 per 28 days
Min total cost is $35 over 28 days
Telstra Upfront Data Plan Medium
Mobile broadband
Full Telstra network
Month-to-month
OFFER:
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO device
75GB
Data
75GB
5G / 4G
Speed
5G / 4G
$58
per month
Min total cost is $58 for first month
Price
$58 per month
Min total cost is $58 for first month
Telstra Upfront Data Plan Large
Mobile broadband
Full Telstra network
Month-to-month
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO device
400GB
Data
400GB
5G / 4G
Speed
5G / 4G
$90
per month
Min total cost is $90 for first month
Price
$90 per month
Min total cost is $90 for first month
Telstra Prepaid Mobile Broadband 100GB
Mobile broadband
Full Telstra network
12 Month contract
OFFER: 100GB for the first recharge, then 70GB/recharge after. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • 12 Month expiry
  • BYO device
100GB
Data
100GB
5G / 4G
Speed
5G / 4G
$160
per month
Min total cost is $160 over 12 months
Price
$160 per month
Min total cost is $160 over 12 months
Telstra Prepaid Mobile Broadband 270GB
Mobile broadband
Full Telstra network
12 Month contract
OFFER: 270GB for the first recharge, then 220GB/recharge after. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • 12 Month expiry
  • BYO device
270GB
Data
270GB
5G / 4G
Speed
5G / 4G
$320
per month
Min total cost is $320 over 12 months
Price
$320 per month
Min total cost is $320 over 12 months
loading

Price

RRP $599

Where to buy

Telstra

Specifications

Build

Dimensions

133x73x18.5mm

Weight

230g

Power supply

AC, 4500mAH inbuilt battery

Colours

Black

Battery

Removeable 4500mAH, QC3.0 and PD2.0 quick charge
Active: Up to 9 hours
Standby: Up to 400 hours


Connectivity

Band Support

5G (sub 6GHz (n78) n5/n7, mmW: n258), 4G LTE (1/3/7/8/28 Cat 20) UMTS (1/5)

Wi-Fi

Simultaneous Dual Band Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ax 2.4 GHz, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/n/ac/ax 5 GHz)

Memory

32GB ROM

Compatibility

OS 9 or later
Android 4.1 or later
Windows® 10,8,7


Read next

Latest mobile reviews

Ask an expert

Ask a question
Avatar

Alex Finder

Senior editor

Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.

Error label

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked
Accept and continue

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy and 6. Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Go to site