Introduction

If you've read the review of the NETGEAR Orbi LTE router, you might have guessed that this review was on its way. Indeed, this was the very first product I received for review in the UK, with testing done in a hotel while I was sorting out more permanent accommodations, as the next few pages will no doubt indicate. However, circumstances were such that I received two units accidentally, had to return the first one, and test the second unit, which meant the Orbi review was finished first. Regardless, here we are and thanks again to NETGEAR for sending a review sample to TechPowerUp!


The Nighthawk MR2100, also referred to as the Nighthawk M2, is an interesting product in more ways than one. It is obviously a mobile hotspot router, as shown by the way of the form factor and company image above. A few years ago, NETGEAR made waves with their MR1100, a truly all-in-one portable LTE router that worked with just about any carrier worldwide, but had poor battery life and a lower maximum throughput. They aimed to change that with the release of the MR2100 with a better battery and double the WiFi throughput, but somehow managed to create a product that never had a retail launch in the US. Sure, there were some ways to get it through certain carriers, but it is missing some LTE bands that a few specific carriers in the US and some European countries utilize. With the recent launch of their brand-new 5G WiFi 6 mobile router, does it still merit a place in 2021? We aim to address this question in this review that begins with a look at the specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

As mentioned before, unboxing of the Nighthawk MR2100 was done in less-than-perfect conditions, so please excuse the photo quality. Packaging for the mobile router is on the smaller side, which is in line with the smaller item of interest inside. It is colorful and adopts the Nighthawk black and blue colors throughout. On the front is the branding and a render of the MR2100 router along with its salient marketing features, more of which are seen on the back in multiple languages. There are seals in the middle of what we now see as a two-piece packaging—removing these helps lift off the top to reveal the contents inside.


Opening the box, we see the mobile router inside a molded plastic container for protection during transit. Underneath, we see the various accessories, including a quick start guide (online version here) and safety documentation. NETGEAR also has a far more detailed user manual available online for those who want it, and it offers a lot more information about setup, customization, and managing your internet/WiFi connection. The accessories are enclosed in a cardboard layer that opens up to reveals the power connection options for the EU and UK since I have the European model, all of which are neatly packaged in separate compartments. We also have a male-male USB Type A to Type C cable here, which indicates the use of Type-C connectivity to charge the router itself.


The power plug works for a wide range of input voltages (100–240 V), and on a operating frequency range of 50–60 Hz. It can output a maximum of 10 W over 5 VDC and 2 A. The EU model comes with two wall adapters to fit into the power plug, which you choose from based on your region. The USB port seen here is where the provided cable goes in, which thus charges the router itself no doubt. There is no Ethernet cable, which says a lot about how NETGEAR sees end users using this device most of the time.