Three’s Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot (Huawei E5573bs-322) gives you 4G mobile broadband on up to 10 devices.
If you’re looking to get devices like your laptop or tablet connected to the internet, it can be useful having a mobile wi-fi hotspot like the Huawei E5573bs-322 (also referred to as the Mi-Fi). This portable battery-powered hotspot uses a 4G connection, creating a wi-fi network from it for your other devices to connect to.
New customers joining the Three network can now get the Huawei 4G Plus MiFi (the Huawei E5783B) instead of the Huawei E5573bs-322. It gives you improved battery life along with download speeds that are up to twice as fast.
In this article, we’ll review the Huawei E5573bs-322. We’ll then look at how it compares to other mobile broadband solutions like the Huawei 4G Plus MiFi or using a mains-powered device like Three’s 4G Hub. Finally, we’ll look at the coverage and download speeds available when using a MiFi on Three.
Contents
Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot
The Huawei E5573bs-322 was Three’s entry-level mobile wi-fi hotspot. It’s a pocket-sized battery-powered 4G hotspot, allowing you to access the internet on up to 10 devices at one time.
According to Huawei, the E5573bs-322 has a 1500mAh battery that can give you up to 4 hours of battery life on one charge. In practice, actual battery life can vary depending on the number of devices you use and depending on the strength of the 4G signal in your area. If the battery runs out, it’s possible to recharge it using a micro-USB cable which is included in the box.
The Huawei E5573bs-322 supports Category 4 LTE connectivity. This can give you download speeds of up to 150Mbit/s and upload speeds of up to 50Mbit/s. In reality, however, actual download speeds are normally slower than this: speeds of around 15Mbit/s are much more typical (depending on your location and the strength of your 4G signal).
The mobile wi-fi hotspot weighs 75g and has three LED indicators on the front of the device. This gives information about your 4G connection, whether you have any unread text messages and the amount of remaining battery life on your device.
For the full specifications of the device, please see Three’s website.
Alternatives
Huawei 4G Plus MiFi
The Huawei 4G Plus MiFi (Huawei E5783B) is a newer mobile wi-fi hotspot device from Three. It offers download speeds that are up to twice as fast as on the Huawei E5573bs-322, with support for Category 7 LTE connectivity (up to 300Mbit/s download and up to 100Mbit/s upload). You’ll also be able to connect up to 16 devices at the same time, with support for faster dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) connectivity.
The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of the two devices:
Three 4G Mobile Wi-Fi (Huawei E5573bs-322) | Three 4G Plus Mi-Fi (Huawei E5783B) | |
---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | |
Mobile Connectivity | ||
4G Connectivity: | Category 4 LTE | Category 7 LTE |
4G Download Speed: | Up to 150 Mbps download | Up to 300 Mbps download |
4G Upload Speed: | Up to 50 Mbps upload | Up to 100 Mbps upload |
4G Bands: | LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 & 20 | LTE bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38 & 40 |
External Antenna: | No | No |
Home Network Connectivity | ||
Dual-Band Wi-Fi: | No | Yes |
Wi-Fi Connectivity: | 802.11a/b/ | 802.11a/b/ |
Wi-Fi Devices: | Up to 10 devices | Up to 16 devices |
Other | ||
Battery: | 1,500mAh (4 hours usage, 300 hours standby) | 1,500mAh (6 hours usage, 350 hours standby) |
Dimensions: | 9.7 x 5.8 x 1.3 cm | 10.8 x 6.2 x 1.6 cm |
Weight: | 75g | 95g |
Model: | Huawei E5573bs-322 | Huawei E5783B |
Colour: | White | Black |
Review: | Three 4G Mobile Wi-Fi Review | Three 4G Plus Mi-Fi Review |
4G Home Broadband
As an alternative to a portable mobile wi-fi hotspot like the Huawei E5573bs-322, you can choose a mains-powered 4G home broadband router instead. Being a mains-powered device, you’ll get less flexibility to bring the device with you to use in other locations. You will however get a more powerful router with a larger antenna, faster download speeds, stronger wi-fi and the ability to use more devices at the same time.
For most people, Three’s 4G Hub (the Huawei B535) is our recommended 4G home broadband router. With the Huawei B535, you can access up to Category 7 LTE speeds (up to 300Mbit/s download and up to 100Mbit/s upload). This is double the maximum download speed available on the Huawei E5573bs-322.
The Huawei B535 supports dual-band 802.11ac wi-fi, with up to 64 devices able to connect to your wi-fi network at the same time (versus just 10 devices at one time on the Huawei E5573bs-322). You’ll also get 4 Gigabit Ethernet sockets for connecting a wired device to your network and two SMA sockets for attaching an external antenna if required.
The Huawei B535 HomeFi Plus is available on the following price plans:
Service | Data Allowance | Contract Length | Upfront Price | Monthly Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Three 4G Hub | Unlimited Data | 24 month contract | £0 | £24/month with 6 months half price |
For more information, see our guide to 4G home broadband.
Tethering Through Your Phone
If you have a fairly modern smartphone and a large enough data plan (e.g. Three’s unlimited data plan), you can tether through your mobile phone instead of using a separate mobile wi-fi hotspot. Whilst you’re tethering, you’ll be able to use your smartphone’s normal data plan so this may sometimes work out to be cheaper than using a separate Mi-Fi with its own plan.
If you have an unlocked smartphone, consider switching to one of the following unlimited data plans on Three:
Network | Data | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by CPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
---|---|---|---|
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| Unlimited data | £22.00 per month 24 month contract | See deal |
![]()
| Unlimited data | £23.00 per month 12 month contract | See deal |
![]()
| Unlimited data | £31.00 per month 1 month contract | See deal |
For more information, see our full guide to tethering on UK mobile networks. You may also find it useful to read our guide to unlimited data plans in the UK.
Coverage
In the UK, Three offers 99.8% population coverage on 4G and 98.3% population coverage on 3G.
Before buying a mobile broadband device from Three, we strongly recommend double checking the coverage in your area. You can do this by entering your postcode on Three’s online coverage map:
Check Three Coverage (three.co.uk) →
If you’re travelling abroad, it’s possible to use your Mi-Fi at no extra charge in 71 destinations. This is possible through the Go Roam offer, which covers most of Europe, the USA, Australia and more.
If you’re looking to use the service in a more rural area, consider getting a mains-powered device like the Huawei B535 instead. This will normally give you better coverage and faster download speeds, along with the ability to attach an external antenna to improve both of these things.
For more information, see our full guide to coverage on Three. You can also see our overview of UK mobile network coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Huawei E5573bs-322 mobile wi-fi hotspot? | The Huawei E5573bs-322 is a 4G mobile wi-fi hotspot. This pocket-sized device connects to Three’s 4G mobile network, producing a wi-fi network that up to 10 other devices are able to connect to (including your laptop or tablet). |
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How much does the Huawei E5573bs-322 cost? | The Huawei E5573bs-322 was available on Three with a range of price plans from £13/month. It has now been replaced the Huawei 4G Plus MiFi (Huawei E5783B) which offers faster download speeds and better battery life. |
What download speeds can I get on the Huawei E5573bs-322? | The Huawei E5573bs-322 supports Category 4 LTE speeds (up to 150Mbit/s download and up to 50Mbit/s upload). In practice, actual speeds are normally slower than this and will more typically be in the region of 15Mbit/s. |
Should I get the Huawei E5573bs-322 (Mi-Fi) or a 4G home broadband router? | Being a battery-powered device that fits in your pocket, the Huawei E5573bs-322 gives you a highly portable connection you can use on-the-go. If you don’t need the portability of the Mi-Fi, consider getting a 4G home broadband router like the Huawei B535 instead. This will normally give you much better performance with faster download speeds, a more powerful wi-fi network and the ability to connect more devices at the same time. |
What coverage is available on the Huawei E5573bs-322? | Three offers 99.8% population coverage on 4G and 98.3% population coverage on 3G. You can check the coverage in your area through Three’s website. |
More Information
For more information about the Huawei E5573bs-322 Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot, please see Three’s official website.
Ibrahim said:
Hi,
I have a 3 mobile wifi (Huawei E5573bs-322 4G), I can’t see the wifi extender feature on the web management page, could you please advise on how to use this mobile wifi as a wifi extender (access the internet using wifi network)?
Many thanks
Ken replied:
Hi Ibrahim,
Thanks for your comment. I had a quick look at the manual for this device and it seems like you might need to enable the feature through Huawei’s HiLINK app?
Ken
Ibrahim replied:
Hi Ken,
Thank you for your reply. I’ll check the HiLINK app and let you know.
Many thanks,
Ibrahim
Ibrahim replied:
Hi Ken,
Just to let you know, I checked the Huawei’s HiLink app and also the Huawei’s AI Life app as well. I couldn’t find anything about the wifi extender.
In the manual shipped with the device, it says the wifi extender function can be enabled from the management webpage (http://192.168.8.1 or http://192.168.9.1), I accessed that webpage but couldn’t find anything related to the wifi extender.
Any advice?
Many thanks,
Ibrahim
Ken replied:
Hi Ibrahim,
That’s really odd. I’m not sure the answer to this, I’m afraid. It’s possible this feature might not be provided on the version of the hotspot from Three – I’ve never actually seen it advertised anywhere. It might be worth checking with Three or Huawei Customer Services to see if they’re able to shed any light on this?
Ken
Ibrahim replied:
Hi Ken,
Thank you for your reply.
I think the wifi extender feature is not provided on the version of the hotspot from Three. I’ve seen that this feature is provided on other versions (from MTN, abroad) but not on the one from Three in the UK. I’ll check with Three.
Many thanks,
Jack said:
Hi there,
I’m very keen to get one of these wireless routers but have a quick question.
I live on a boat in London and I rely on a 12v system for electricity. What is the voltage of this device?
Also can it be charged using a usb lead or only a mains adapter?
Many thanks!
Ken replied:
Hi Jack,
I believe the Huawei E5573bs-322 simply uses a micro-USB cable for charging (one is included in the box). You can either charge it from a laptop computer or you can use an 12V to micro-USB adapter.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Jack replied:
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your response and also for your time writing this article. Very informative!
Take care
Nigel Hook said:
Having bought a Three unlimited data sim and a 4g mifi as above so my wife can work from home, I can only report it is pretty useless with data speeds as slow as 0.96 download and 0.35 upload speeds.. but if she uses her phone as a hotspot instead which uses a Virgin sim, she is getting 17.5 download and 7 upload from the exact same location… so not impressed at all.
Dave replied:
where about in the country are you using the device?
I am thinking of buying the 535 as its faster than the 5573 on the three network.
If your network is saturated in your location this could be the problem?
Geoff Eagles said:
In your description of the HomeFi Plus it seems to suggest that you have a range of connections on the device however the photo on the Three website shows only a single wired LAN connection rather than 4 and I can’t see the two external aerial connections. Have they ‘simplified’ / cost reduced the design?
Ken replied:
Hi Geoff,
Thanks for your comment. The Huawei B535 HomeFi Plus has 4 Gigabit Ethernet sockets and 2 SMA antenna connectors. Are you possibly looking at a different device on Three’s website? For instance, I think the Huawei B311 (original HomeFi) has just a single Gigabit Ethernet socket and a single SMA connector.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Geoff Eagles replied:
Thanks SO much Ken, I was looking at the page for the HomeFi rather than the HomeFi Plus. I’ve now followed your link and ordered one. Your review was really very helpful and informative.
Elliott Brown said:
Would you be able to connect a games console to the MiFi and play online? And roughly how much data does a console use?
Ken replied:
Hi Elliott,
Indeed, you can! Simply connect your games console to the wi-fi network produced by your Mi-Fi. Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer to how much data this uses – it really depends on the game you’re playing and whether you’re doing things like downloading updates, etc. Therefore, it’s worth just keeping a very close eye on data usage when you start playing your games.
Ken
Alison Black said:
I have been asked to work from home, but have no land line. I also travel a lot, both in the UK and abroad and would like to be able to access my own wifi.
If choosing between home-fi (such as AI cube/Huawei B535 router) or mi-fi Huawei E5573bs-322 4G Mobile Wi-Fi which would you opt for?
Located in a large village near the sea in Devon, good mobile 4g coverage
Ken replied:
Hi Alison,
That’s a very good question! It really depends on whether you want maximum performance in one fixed location (i.e. for use at home) or whether you want the flexibility of working in multiple different places. If you’re mainly using it at home where a mains power supply is available, I’d choose to go with the Huawei B535. It’ll give you better performance along with the option of using an external antenna, etc. The MiFi is a battery-powered device so may give poorer coverage/speeds/etc but you do have the flexibility to use it in multiple different places.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Elizabeth Benson said:
We have 3mobile WiFi 17BF. Which I charge after approx 4 hours use. Would it be ok to leave on charge while surfing?
Ken replied:
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for your comment. I’m not familiar with the device in question but generally, it should be absolutely fine to leave the device plugged in & charging whilst you use it.
Ken
Hans Sluiman said:
An alternative portable Mi-Fi device that may be of interest to people who prefer Pay As You Go is Bitebird’s offering (bitebird.com). It works in a slightly different way than Three’s Pay As You Go price plans in that you buy a certain amount of credit (the minimum amount is €25 for which you receive €30 worth of credit) which has a validity of one year. It can be used in 141 destinations but the rate per MB varies: in Europe and many other countries in Asia, America and Oceania you are charged €0.01 – €0.03, although in USA the price of 1 MB is €0.19. The good thing is that in several countries more than one local mobile telephone provider can be used (for example in the UK both Three and O2 networks are supported). What I like most is that a modest top-up of €30 will last 12 months whereas Three’s cheapest £39.99 offer of 1GB lasts only 1 month. Bitebird uses a Huawei 4G device (similar but not identical to Three’s device) for which there is a one-off charge of €100 although periodically (e.g. in the run-up to Christmas) a discounted price is offered. Bitebird may be of interest to light mobile internet users who travel overseas relatively infrequently or are travelling to countries that are not included in Three’s Go Roam offer.