Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps Review: Your Pocket-Sized Connection to the World?

There’s a unique kind of modern anxiety that sets in the moment you realise you’re without a stable internet connection. I remember it vividly from a recent work trip to a rural conference centre. The venue’s WiFi was buckling under the strain of a few hundred attendees, and my phone’s hotspot was draining its battery at an alarming rate. I had presentations to download, emails to send, and a video call I absolutely could not miss. The sinking feeling of being digitally stranded is frustrating and, in a professional context, genuinely stressful. This scenario isn’t unique; it’s the reality for digital nomads, frequent travellers, families on road trips, or anyone living in an area with unreliable broadband. The promise of a simple, dedicated device that can tap into the vast 4G network and create a personal WiFi bubble is not just appealing—it’s essential. This is the exact problem the Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps aims to solve: providing a straightforward, portable, and independent internet connection wherever you have a signal and a USB power source.

What to Consider Before Buying a 4G LTE Modem

A 4G LTE modem is more than just a gadget; it’s a key solution for unlocking internet freedom. Unlike traditional routers that depend on a physical cable coming into your home, these devices use the same cellular networks as your smartphone to get you online. Their primary benefit is immense flexibility. You can create a WiFi network in your car, at a holiday cottage, in a temporary office, or even in the park using a power bank. They serve as a fantastic backup for when your home broadband inevitably fails or as a primary connection for those in areas poorly served by traditional internet service providers. For anyone whose life or work isn’t tied to a single location, a reliable 4G modem is a critical piece of kit that can transform a dead zone into a productive workspace. You can see the full specifications for this model and how it delivers on this promise.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing connectivity challenges due to location or mobility. Think of the student studying in a cafe, the tradesperson needing to send invoices from a client’s site, the family wanting to stream movies in the back of the car on a long journey, or the remote worker who needs a fail-safe connection. However, it might not be suitable for those who require ultra-low latency for competitive online gaming or need to connect a large, smart-heavy home with dozens of devices. In those cases, a powerful, mains-powered home router would be a better fit. The Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps is designed for portability and convenience over raw, top-tier performance for a fixed location.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Network Compatibility & SIM Card: The most critical factor is ensuring the modem is compatible with your chosen mobile network’s 4G LTE bands. In the UK and Europe, most devices are broadly compatible, but it’s always worth double-checking. Also, pay close attention to the required SIM card size; this model requires a Micro SIM, so if you have a Nano SIM from your phone, you’ll need an adapter.
• Speed & Performance: The “150Mbps” is a theoretical maximum (LTE Cat 4). Real-world speeds will be dictated by your network provider, signal strength, and local network congestion. For general browsing, streaming, and video calls, speeds between 20-50Mbps are more realistic and perfectly adequate. Consider how many users will connect; while this device supports 10, performance will degrade as more users join and perform data-heavy tasks.
• Power Source & Portability: The beauty of a USB dongle is its power flexibility. It can run off a laptop, a car’s USB port, a wall adapter, or a portable power bank. Its small size (12.4 x 7.5 x 2.2 cm) and low weight (100g) make it exceptionally portable, but the ABS plastic build, while durable, may not feel as premium as more expensive, larger units.
• Ease of Use & Setup: Ideally, a 4G modem should be “plug and play.” You insert the SIM, plug it in, and connect to the WiFi network. However, as we discovered in our testing, some networks require manual APN (Access Point Name) configuration. A user-friendly web interface for making these changes is crucial, and potential language barriers in the software can be a significant hurdle.

Understanding these factors will help you decide if a portable 4G dongle is the right solution for your specific needs.

While the Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps is an excellent choice for mobile connectivity, it’s a very different beast from the high-performance routers designed for demanding home networks. If your primary need is ultra-fast, low-latency connectivity for gaming and streaming across a large home, your requirements are entirely different. For a broader look at those top-tier models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing and First Impressions

The Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps arrived in a simple, no-frills cardboard box. Inside, we found the dongle itself and a small, folded instruction sheet in both English and Chinese. There are no cables or accessories, as none are needed—the device is self-contained with its integrated USB-A plug. The unit is constructed from a lightweight white ABS plastic. While it feels solid enough for everyday use and certainly contributes to its portability, it doesn’t exude a premium feel. It’s utilitarian, designed for function over form.

The front of the dongle has a single LED indicator light, and the USB cap pulls off to reveal the plug. The main body slides open to expose the Micro SIM card slot. The mechanism is simple and intuitive. As one user noted, inserting the SIM is “super simpel,” and we agree. We used a Micro SIM, which clicked into place securely. We also tested it with a Nano SIM in an adapter, which worked fine but felt slightly looser, confirming another user’s observation. It’s a small detail, but a helpful one for those swapping SIMs from their phones. For those seeking a simple, grab-and-go solution, the initial look and feel align perfectly with its low price point and promise of convenience. You can explore the device’s design and features in more detail here.

A Deep Dive into the Sxhlseller 4G Dongle’s Real-World Performance

A product like this lives or dies by its performance in the field. A spec sheet promising 150Mbps and 10 users is one thing; delivering a stable connection during a critical video call from a moving vehicle is another entirely. We put the Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps through a series of demanding tests to see if its real-world usability matches its on-paper potential.

Setup and Configuration: The Plug-and-Play Promise Tested

The core promise of this device is simplicity. The instructions suggest a three-step process: insert SIM, plug in, connect to WiFi. Our experience was a tale of two halves, perfectly mirroring the conflicting user reports we’ve seen. With our first test SIM from a major UK network provider, the process was almost exactly as advertised. We plugged the dongle into a laptop, and after a longer-than-expected boot-up of about 90 seconds, the LED turned from red to blue, indicating a successful 4G connection. The new WiFi network appeared, we connected using the default password, and we were online. It was brilliantly simple.

However, success is highly dependent on your network provider’s settings. When we swapped in a SIM from a smaller Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), the dongle failed to connect automatically. The LED remained red. This is where we encountered the hurdle mentioned in the more critical user reviews. To fix this, you must connect to the dongle’s WiFi network, navigate to its web admin page (usually at an IP address like 192.168.100.1), and manually enter the APN settings for your specific network. While the interface had an English language option, some of the phrasing was clearly a direct, awkward translation from Chinese, which could be confusing for non-technical users. Finding the correct APN settings requires a quick online search, but the entire process is a significant barrier for anyone expecting a true plug-and-play device. This confirms one user’s feedback that “you have to configure it but it doesn’t accept the configurations,” which we suspect was a case of incorrect APN details or frustration with the interface. The takeaway is clear: it *can* be effortless, but be prepared for a bit of manual configuration if it isn’t. This potential setup hurdle is a crucial factor to consider before you decide if this is the right modem for you.

Connectivity and Speed: What Does 150Mbps Actually Mean?

Let’s address the 150Mbps headline speed. This is the theoretical maximum for the LTE Category 4 technology inside the dongle. You will never achieve this speed in the real world. Actual performance depends entirely on the strength and capacity of the 4G network you’re connected to. Our testing aimed to establish a realistic baseline.

In a city centre location with a strong 4G+ signal, we consistently achieved download speeds between 35Mbps and 55Mbps, with upload speeds around 15-20Mbps. This is more than enough for several people to browse the web, check emails, stream HD video on Netflix, and participate in a Zoom call without any noticeable lag. We connected a laptop, two smartphones, and a tablet simultaneously. While running a speed test on the laptop, we started a YouTube video on a phone; the video played instantly while the speed test only dipped slightly. This demonstrates that for a small group of up to 4-5 users with typical usage, the device handles the load impressively well for its size and price.

In a more rural setting with a weaker 2-3 bar 4G signal, speeds dropped to a more modest 8-15Mbps down and 2-5Mbps up. While this isn’t blazing fast, it was still stable enough to send emails with attachments and browse websites—a true lifeline where no other connection was available. The claim of supporting 10 users is technically true—you can connect 10 devices—but at these lower speeds, the bandwidth would be spread so thin that the experience would be frustrating for everyone. Realistically, consider this a device for 1-5 users. The WiFi signal range itself is personal; it covers a large room or a car cabin perfectly but starts to drop off significantly beyond 10-15 metres or through thick walls. Its performance is perfectly aligned with its intended use case as a personal, portable hotspot.

Ultimate Portability: Your Internet Connection in Any Location

This is where the Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps truly shines. Its tiny form factor and reliance on a standard USB port for power make it one of the most versatile connectivity tools we’ve ever tested. Weighing just 100 grams, it disappears into a laptop bag, glove compartment, or even a pocket. We tested its power flexibility extensively and found it to be flawless.

Plugged into a laptop’s USB port, it drew minimal power and had no noticeable impact on battery life over a two-hour work session. In a car, we used a simple USB cigarette lighter adapter, and it provided a stable WiFi network for the entire vehicle, allowing passengers in the back to stream music and videos on their tablets during a long motorway journey. The most liberating use case, however, was pairing it with a standard 10,000mAh power bank. This setup created a completely untethered internet hotspot that we could use in a park, at an outdoor cafe, or while camping. The dongle ran for well over 24 hours on the power bank, making it a fantastic solution for weekend trips off the grid. The durable ABS plastic, while not premium, proved to be scratch-resistant and tough enough to handle being tossed in a bag. This level of grab-and-go freedom is the product’s standout feature.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our findings align closely with the mixed but generally positive sentiment found among users, especially when factoring in the low price. One user, who went in with low expectations, was “positively surprised by the quality and convenience.” They highlighted the simple SIM card insertion and the clear LED status light, noting the WiFi signal was “prima” (fine) at close range. This mirrors our own experience of its solid performance for personal use. They also pointed out the long initial startup time, which we can confirm takes about a minute or more, requiring a bit of patience.

On the other end of the spectrum, another user expressed significant frustration, stating the “product doesn’t work, you have to configure it but it doesn’t accept the configurations.” This speaks directly to the APN setup issue we encountered. For users with incompatible network SIMs and little technical patience, the process can quickly become a deal-breaker, especially if the translated web interface proves confusing. This feedback is critical: the product’s ease of use is not guaranteed and depends heavily on your specific SIM card. The user experiences underscore its identity as a budget-friendly but potentially hands-on device.

How Does the Sxhlseller Dongle Compare to the Alternatives?

The Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps occupies a specific niche focused on ultra-portability and affordability. To understand its place in the market, it’s helpful to compare it against other types of connectivity solutions.

1. Cudy LT500D AC1200 4G LTE Modem Router

The Cudy LT500D is a direct, albeit more robust, competitor. It is a full-fledged desktop router that uses a 4G SIM card for its internet connection. Unlike the Sxhlseller dongle, it requires mains power, making it unsuitable for true mobile use in a car or with a power bank. However, for a semi-permanent installation in a holiday home, temporary office, or as a home broadband backup, it is far superior. It offers much faster AC1200 WiFi, multiple Ethernet ports for wired connections, and detachable antennas for improving cellular reception. A user should choose the Cudy LT500D if they need a more powerful and feature-rich 4G internet solution for a fixed location and don’t require the pocket-sized portability of the Sxhlseller dongle.

2. ASUS RT-AXE7800 Tri-band WiFi 6E Router

Comparing the Sxhlseller dongle to the ASUS RT-AXE7800 is like comparing a scooter to a sports car. The ASUS is a high-end, premium home router designed for users with a fast fibre broadband connection. It does not have a SIM card slot and cannot create an internet connection on its own. Its purpose is to distribute an existing fast internet connection throughout a large home with cutting-edge WiFi 6E technology, offering incredible speeds and low latency for demanding tasks like 4K streaming and competitive gaming. A user would choose the ASUS router for elevating their home network performance. The Sxhlseller dongle serves the completely opposite purpose: creating a basic internet connection where none exists.

3. HUAWEI B636 4G+ CPE 5 Router

The HUAWEI B636 is a high-performance 4G router that sits between the Cudy and the Sxhlseller in terms of target audience. Like the Cudy, it’s a mains-powered desktop router with Ethernet ports, but it features more advanced technology. It supports LTE Cat 7+ for significantly faster potential download speeds (up to 400Mbps) and incorporates modern WiFi 6 for better performance with newer devices. This is an excellent choice for someone looking to replace their slow home broadband entirely with a high-speed 4G or 5G connection. A user should opt for the HUAWEI B636 if they want the best possible performance from a cellular connection in a fixed location and are willing to pay a premium for its advanced speed and WiFi capabilities over the more basic Sxhlseller dongle.

Final Verdict: An Incredibly Useful Tool, If You Know Its Limits

After extensive testing, our verdict on the Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps is clear: it is a highly capable and incredibly useful tool for a very specific purpose. If you are looking for an ultra-portable, remarkably affordable way to get online while travelling, in a vehicle, or as a simple backup, it is an outstanding value proposition. Its ability to run off any USB port provides a level of flexibility that larger, mains-powered 4G routers simply cannot match. For the digital nomad, frequent traveller, or family on the go, it can be a genuine lifesaver.

However, this recommendation comes with a crucial caveat: be prepared for potential setup hurdles. Its “plug-and-play” simplicity is not universal and depends entirely on your mobile network provider. Less technical users may find the manual APN configuration process frustrating. Furthermore, it is not a replacement for a dedicated home router; its WiFi range is limited, and its speeds, while perfectly adequate for most mobile tasks, won’t satisfy a power user or a large household. If you understand these limitations and value portability above all else, the Sxhlseller 4G LTE USB WiFi Modem Dongle 150Mbps offers undeniable utility for a very modest price. If you’re ready to add a powerful layer of connectivity freedom to your tech arsenal, you can check the latest price and secure one for your next adventure.