Travel routers have always solved a slightly awkward problem: travellers want their own secure network, but the router still needs internet from somewhere. Hotel Wi-Fi, Ethernet, phone tethering, a separate hotspot — there was usually another device or another step involved.

GL.iNet’s new Mudi 7, formally the GL-E5800, tries to remove that gap. It is a battery-powered 5G travel router with built-in eSIM, two nano-SIM slots, Wi-Fi 7, Ethernet and the VPN controls GL.iNet users already expect. It is less “tiny router for hotel rooms” and more portable connectivity hub.

The EU model is currently listed by GL.iNet at roughly €430, with an Amazon UK listing also live. That puts it firmly in premium territory. The question is whether it does enough to justify carrying a separate 300-gram device when a smartphone can already create a hotspot.

A serious piece of travel hardware

On paper, the Mudi 7 is unusually complete. GL.iNet says the Qualcomm Dragonwing X72-based modem can deliver 5G speeds up to 4.67 Gbps. Wi-Fi 7 support spans 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz, with quoted peak rates of 688 Mbps, 2,882 Mbps and 5,765 Mbps respectively.

There is also a 2.8-inch touchscreen, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, two USB-C ports and two TS-9 connectors for external antennas. The 5,380mAh battery is rated for up to 13.5 hours, while GL.iNet quotes VPN throughput up to 700 Mbps with OpenVPN-DCO and 600 Mbps with WireGuard.

That combination matters more than the headline speed figures. A consultant arriving at a trade show could keep a laptop, phone and tablet on one private network, feed the router from an eSIM or physical SIM, then switch to hotel Ethernet later without rebuilding the setup. For a travelling team, it can become the shared connection instead of sacrificing one person’s phone battery all day.

eSIM changes the equation

The built-in eSIM is arguably what makes the Mudi 7 feel current rather than merely powerful. GL.iNet combines it with two nano-SIM slots and dual-SIM dual-standby, while the Amazon listing says compatible eSIMs can be imported and switched from the touchscreen.

That arrives at an interesting moment. The GSMA says eSIM deployment is moving from adoption into scale, with travel connectivity among the areas where the technology is changing how users buy roaming and mobile data.

For travel hardware, that matters. A router that can change networks digitally starts looking less like a fixed hotspot and more like a reusable connectivity platform: buy the hardware once, then change the network trip by trip.

There are caveats. “Tri-band Wi-Fi 7” deserves a closer read: GL.iNet’s own footnote specifies dual-band simultaneous operation rather than all three bands running together. And while it is portable, 300 grams and a 157mm body are not exactly pocket-light.

OpenWrt is the differentiator

Where GL.iNet still separates itself from many mainstream hotspot makers is software. The Mudi 7 supports OpenWrt and VPN client/server functions, giving advanced users more control over routing, privacy, DNS and failover than a phone hotspot.

That is also why it will be excessive for some travellers. If your needs are maps, messaging and occasionally opening a laptop, a phone with a travel eSIM is simpler and far cheaper. A smaller travel router paired with phone tethering may also be enough.

The Mudi 7 makes more sense when connectivity is part of the job: remote workers, journalists, production crews, consultants, RV users, families with several devices, or anyone who regularly distrusts hotel and conference Wi-Fi.

The competition is getting serious

The obvious rival is NETGEAR’s Nighthawk M7. It also combines 5G, Wi-Fi 7, physical SIM and eSIM, with eSIM plans available through NETGEAR’s app in more than 140 countries. In the UK it currently lists at £479.99, supports up to 32 devices and claims up to 10 hours of battery life.

NETGEAR’s proposition is arguably cleaner for the mainstream traveller. GL.iNet counters with built-in 2.5Gbps Ethernet, two physical SIM slots, external antenna connectors and the deeper OpenWrt/VPN toolbox. The Mudi 7 feels more like networking equipment that travels than a premium hotspot.

The wider technology is moving in its favour too. Wireless Broadband Alliance field trials published in 2026 found Wi-Fi 7 Multi-Link Operation can materially improve throughput and latency under interference — exactly the kind of messy radio environment found in hotels, airports and events.

Conclusion

The Mudi 7 is not evidence that every traveller suddenly needs a €400-plus router. Most do not. It is evidence that the boundary between eSIM, mobile hotspot and travel router is disappearing.

That is the important market signal. NETGEAR is pushing eSIM into consumer hotspots; GL.iNet is combining it with OpenWrt-grade networking; smartphones are becoming increasingly eSIM-first. Connectivity is moving away from “which SIM do I insert?” toward “which network should this device use right now?”

For users who only need cheap data abroad, the phone remains the sensible answer. For people who need resilient, shareable and controllable connectivity across several devices, the Mudi 7 is one of the more convincing attempts yet to turn the travel router into a true mobile network hub. Its biggest weakness is also its clearest positioning: this is specialist equipment, and it is priced like it.