Review: 3 Mobile Wi-Fi (MiFi)

3 Mobile WiFi Review

In a nutshell: 3 Mobile WiFi uses 3 mobile broadband to create a wireless network (WLAN) so you can connect devices like laptops or mobile phones to the internet completely wirelessly and without the need for a fixed broadband connection.
Best buy: 5GB one-month rolling contract for £15 per month plus £69.99 purchase cost, or Pay as you Go for £99.99.

Mobile WiFi is a new service that is unique to Three. Nicknamed MiFi® it uses a 3 mobile broadband connection plus a wireless modem to create a fully wireless network that you can use to connect multiple devices such as laptops and mobile phones to the internet. You can use it to access the internet without any need for wires or a BT phone line. The system is very simple to set up and use, with no wires (obviously) and no software to install.

Choose between a one-month rolling contract with a 5GB data allowance at £15 per month plus an initial cost of £69.99 to buy the modem, or the 3GB Ready-to-Go starter kit, which costs £99.99 to buy and is then Pay as you Go, so there's no contract and you just pay for the data that you need.

Use the links on this page to buy online and you'll get free delivery and a 14-day money back guarantee, provided that you return everything in "as sold" condition.

The speed that you experience will depend on whether you are in an area with "excellent coverage" (i.e within HSDPA coverage), "good coverage" (i.e. within 3G coverage) or "marginal coverage" (i.e. on the edge of the 3G coverage region. 3's HSDPA coverage region currently covers 91% of the UK population (data correct in October 2009) and offers download speeds of up to of up to 2.8 Mpbs. 3 are currently rolling out 7.2 Mbps coverage across the UK. You can check coverage by postcode on the 3 website. 3 claim that most people on the HSDPA network can expect a speed ranging from 1 Mbps to 1.5 Mbps.

3 Mobile WiFi Consumer Reviews

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Average rating from 15 reviews:

Reviewed by Quasar from UK on 8th Mar 2010
Excellent, I bought this device mainly to connect Ipod touch and a couple of laptops. I tested this playing World of Warcraft and was successfulyl able to do a 5 man daily heroic and PVP. The latency was about 400 which is acceptable. Browsing is fast too. If you are getting slow speeds, dont blame the device, blame the area you are in. Cambridge is actualyl quite bad for internet speeds, but this thing is very good. 5 Stars with ease.
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Reviewed by Alistair Leckie from Belfast - N. Ireland on 1st Mar 2010
I wrote below about the problems with three network - I got an unlocked mifi on an auction site and it's ace! Once you put in a simcard that has a good signal (in my case giffgaff/o2) the mifi device is brilliant. Battery life is fine and I get speeds of over 1 megabit each way. This device is a network tool that works very well. My rating is for the device
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Reviewed by Mark readman from Leeds UK on 22nd Feb 2010
I have had my MIFI now for 3 months, the speed is appalling, i have only had full speed once in 3 months, 48kb/sec,99.9% 12kb/second is the top with a normal of 4.8kbs, which is dial up speed, even in town centres the unit struggles to maintain a signal.Once it switches to a lower speed it never switches back up, you have to disconnect and re do the long button ritual. On construction the button pressing routine just to get the thing working is frustrating and slow,battery life is appalling. why 3 buttons for a device that has only 1 function. I would recommend waiting for the updated mk2 version, it may actually work
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Reviewed by Alistair Leckie from Belfast - N.Ireland on 16th Feb 2010
Very good in a good signal area - but I got one to use with my iphone 2g in work and it's not great. Even though it has a 3g connection, the mifi doesn't allow me to access internet. I did multiple speed tests and only got it to connect once. I'm taking it back to the 3 shop tomorrow. If you are certain you have a super clear signal then it's a good choice. It's back to o2 edge network for me!
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Reviewed by Jack from England on 14th Feb 2010
I am impressed with all these stars!! You rarely see this many for any 3 product! I have the 3 Mifi and a 3 USB dongle and both are dreadful: the connection and speed are both atrocious and given other reviews on the net, I am not alone. I will never buy another 3 product and wonder how they have a licence to operate. The Mifi modem is a great concept and would and could be wonderful.... if it did not rely on the 3 network. In short, AVOID at all costs.
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Reviewed by javid akhter from gloucester, england on 10th Feb 2010
brillient device, works well no problems, cant believe how well it works.
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Reviewed by Josh from England on 9th Feb 2010
The 3 mobile wi-fi service is great. I have been using this bit of kit for several months on the payg plan and i have always had very good coverage and never lost connection. Overall, i would recommend this to anyone as it is very portable and very easy to use. (nice one 3)!
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Reviewed by Angry from Kent from United Kingdom on 9th Feb 2010
Got mobile wi fi on Friday. Haven't been able to get proper connection since then. Everytime I input the wifi key I get an error message. I don't feel I am getting value for money as I have signed an 18 month contract for £9.50 and am getting nothing for it.
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Reviewed by Steve from England on 12th Jan 2010
I have been using the Mifi for several months now and it was fine until Three did some "upgrades" to the network. Since then the Mifi has been unusable at peak times from about 4pm to midnight when the Traffic Shaping is on. From midnight when the shaping is switched off it works perfectly with 3Mbit downloads and 700kbit uploads and is a very good WiFi router. I have been using my mobile phone as a modem at peak times and it works OK at any time. It's the network, not the MiFi. I have reported it to Customer Services but no change so far. I give the MiFi 4 stars because it's great when the network is OK.
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Reviewed by Ian Forsey from UK on 7th Jan 2010
I just did a review on the 3 mobile broadband page. I note that I was the first to do a review on this page. To recap at the time my download speeds were quite slow. It all changed just as i was about to return the unit and cancel. From one day to the next, after a local transmitter update the service has been remarkable. Fast down and fast up. Peak times can be slow. But overall I am very pleased with Three.
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Reviewed by James from UK on 22nd Dec 2009
This is a good piece of kit. However, I have noticed that even if the MiFi is conected to the computer the wireless switches itself off if the internet is not being used i.e I have to switch the MiFi on everytime I use the computer. Is this normal? On the flip side, I actually think the download speeds are very good, in fact I just completed a speed test and it come up as 3.09Mb.
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Reviewed by Adrian from England on 16th Dec 2009
I'm always a bit sceptical of the claims of broadband companies regarding download speeds etc so after reading many of the reviews I decided to take the chance with 3 as I wanted the portability if the MIFI. Had it a month and am constantly getting between 0.5-1.0Mb download speed. This is better than my Tisacli home BB. MIFI is a fab bit of kit also and works great with the Ipod Touch when out and about. Good choice so far.
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Reviewed by Scott from UK on 15th Nov 2009
Its a great device really does what it says on the tin. Speeds are average but have got over 2MB/s a few times . Better when 3 roll out the faster speeds. Can run off mains or battery (when charged) however it dont seem to charge the battery while its running on mains. Also the lights on the unit only stay on for a few seconds when you press a button and it takes a while to get used to what all the for lights mean. Would recommend this to anyone its small light and very useful.
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Reviewed by Ade Davey from UK on 10th Nov 2009
Isn't the maximum speed 360kb/s due to it being 3.6Mb/s??? I've never had higher with mine.
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Reviewed by Ian Forsey from UK on 5th Oct 2009
Three Mobile Mi Fi UK Bought this unit on the day of release. Arrived quickly. Easy to use. Great unit but and a big but. Don't expect downloads of up to 3.6Mb/sec. At best you can expect average around 350 - 500Kb/s and if you are lucky 20kb/s up. pings around 200+/- And it is nothing to do with how close to the transmitter you are. I have been as close as 1000 mtrs to various 3g masts and the results are the same. But I have to say I rarely loose connection and overall I am pleased with the Mi Fi unit. Just wish Three Mobile would give the service advertised and speed we require. Me? I would be over the moon if the service would give an average around 1000Kb/s (1Mb/s)Down. I once did see just over 1Mb/s - ONCE!
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3 Mobile WiFi Links