Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 Gigabit LTE Router

Netgear now also offers the world’s fastest mobile LTE hotspot – Netgear Nighthawk M2 with the model number MR2100. The Nighthawk M2 MR2100 allows downlink speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second. This makes it twice as fast as its predecessor Netgear Nighthawk M1 (MR1100) in 2018.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE modem

Responsible for the high speeds is the most modern and powerful LTE modem that Qualcomm currently offers: the Snapdragon X24. In addition to 2 Gbit/s in the downlink (LTE Cat20), up to 150 Mbit/s in the uplink (LTE Cat13) are supported.

The speeds are made possible by the combination of different mobile technologies. For example, up to 5 frequency bands in the downlink and up to 2 in the uplink can be bundled (carrier aggregation). The support of 256QAM modulation as well as support of 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology also contributes to the speed increase.

How fast the Netgear Nighthawk M2 is in the mobile networks, however, also depends on other factors such as network expansion and network utilization. Some network providers already offer some sites with 4 × 4 MIMO, 256QAM and multiple carrier aggregation, so that in certain situations, the modem performance can be used in any case.

Gigabit at LAN and WLAN

The Netgear Nighthawk M2 is a high-end 4G LTE router, so the price of Nighthawk M2 is higher than current 4G mobile routers. And the other technical features are also good. On the front there is a touch screen for operation; further settings can also be made via web interface.

Gigabit WLAN is available at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz for connection to end devices and up to 20 devices can be connected simultaneously via WLAN. There is also a RJ45 Gigabit LAN port. If required, this can also be used as a WAN connection and thus replace the mobile radio modem.

Other connections: a USB type C port for charging the battery and for connecting to a computer and a USB type A port for charging other devices (power bank function) as well as for NAS functions.

On the side of the Netgear Nighthawk M2 are two TS-9 ports ready for an external UMTS or LTE external antenna. (If you need the 4G External antenna for Netgear Nighthawk M2, welcome to click: https://www.4gltemall.com/netgear-nighthawk-m2-external-antenna.html ). This can be very helpful in poor reception areas to improve connection quality. These features follow the predecessor Nighthawk M1 but very practical and helpful.

For world travel only partially suitable

With dimensions of 105 x 105 x 20 millimeters and a weight of around 240 grams, the Netgear LTE Hotspot is well suited for mobile use. The replaceable 5040 mAh strong battery allows a long operating time away from the power outlet.

For worldwide use of the Nighthawk M2, however, is only partially suitable, as a look at the supported frequency ranges shows. The Nighthawk M2 cannot use important LTE bands for the North American market, and the band 32 (1500 MHz), which is available in many European countries, is not supported.

Price and availability

The Netgear Nighthawk M2 is available in many online stores without a contract and without a SIM lock. The device can be ordered online from various electronics distributors such as 4gltemall.com or via the local mobile phone retailer. Here now only very few network providers such as Telstra in Australia had offered this new mobile hotspot.

 

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 VS M1 MR1100

To meet the requirements from 5G network, Netgear presented a new mobile WiFi hotspot Nighthawk M2 for the Australian network provider Telstra and carriers in Europe. Netgear Nighthawk M2 is an ultra-fast portable WiFi router with next-generation Gigabit 4G LTE connectivity with a download speed of up to 2 Gbps. The Netgear Nighthawk M2 5G router is upgraded from the predecessor Nighthawk M1, so you may ask what’s the difference between Netgear Nighthawk M2 and M1?

In the table below, you will see the details specs of Netgear Nighthawk M2 unlocked and Nighthawk M1 unlocked for your reference:

Model Netgear Nighthawk M2 Netgear Nighthawk M1
Product type 5G Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
Category LTE Cat.20 LTE Cat.16
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 Qualcomm MDM9x50
Data rates DL 2Gbps/UL 150Mbps DL 1Gbps/UL 100Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands Telstra Nighthawk M2 MR2100-1TLAUS: Band 1/3/7/8/28
Nighthawk M2 MR2100-100EUS: Band 1/3/7/8/20/28/38/40/41
Hong Kong Nighthawk M2: LTE Band 1/3/8/20/29/30/38/40/41
Telstra Nighthawk M1: Band 1/3/7/8/28
AT&T Nighthawk M1:  Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/29/30/66
Hong Kong Nighthawk M1: LTE Band 1/3/8/20/29/30/38/40/41
WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max support users 20 users 20 users
MIMO 4 X 4 MIMO 4 X 4 MIMO
Connector for external antenna Two, TS-9 jacks Two, TS-9 jacks
Buy Antenna Netgear Nighthawk M2 Antenna Netgear Nighthawk M1 Antenna
App management Netgear Aircard APP Netgear Aircard APP
SIM type Micro SIM Micro SIM
Battery Removable, 5040 mAh Removable, 5040 mAh
Dimensions 105.5 x 105.5 x 20.35 mm 105.5 x 105.5 x 20.35 mm
Ethernet Port * One port for LAN port(RJ-45)
* One port of USB-A
* One port of USB-C
* One port for LAN port(RJ-45)
* One port for USB 2.0
Datasheet download Netgear Nighthawk M2 Datasheet Netgear Nighthawk M1 Datasheet
User Manual Netgear Nighthawk M2 Manual Netgear Nighthawk M1 Manual
Other features 3GPP, Rel. 14, 5 band CA, 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL, JumpBoost 3GPP, Rel. 12, 4 band CA, 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL,  JumpBoost
Firmware download Nighthawk M2 Firmware Nighthawk M1 Firmware
Drivers Nighthawk M2 Driver Nighthawk M1 Driver
Reviews Netgear Nighthawk M2 Review Netgear Nighthawk M1 Review
Price 999.00USD 459.00USD

 

Here you can check the general comparison of Nighthawk M2 and M1:

 

Nighthawk M2 Mobile Router (MR2100):

 

– LTE CAT 20, DL support up to 2Gbps speeds

– 3GPP, Rel. 14

– 5CA with 20 simultaneous Downlink layers

– 4×4 MIMO

– 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C

– 11ac Dual band dual concurrent

 

 

 

Nighthawk M1 Mobile Router (MR1100):

 

– LTE CAT 16, DL support up to 1Gbps speeds

– 3GPP, Rel. 12

– 4CA with 10 simultaneous Downlink layers

– 4×4 MIMO

– 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C

– 11ac Dual band dual concurrent

 

We can see that, based on the technology improvement, Netgear Nighthawk M2 is more advanced than M1, M2 can achieve download speed up to 2Gbps while M1 only half of it. And the Nighthawk M2 has larger touch screen to 2.4 inches. Other features are very similar.

 

 

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 Review

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 Mobile Hotspot is a latest LTE pocket WiFi router which not only can connect more devices than regular Wi-Fi router, but also has enough power to operate all day, and can be connected to a power outlet for a long time. The Netgear Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot has a LAN, which can make it connect with an Ethernet cable to provide WiFi network coverage, and the USB port, which can let it charge other electronic devices.

Netgear M2 is the fastest 4G LTE mobile hotspot and equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE Modem, it supports 5CA carrier aggregation technology, up to 2Gbps download / 150Mbps upload speed.

Up to 20 devices can be connected with the Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 at the same time, and WiFi high-speed Internet access is available at any time, whether traveling for a large group of people, or for meetings and venues.

The body of the Netgear 4G mobile router comes with a LAN socket, and you can change into a Wi-Fi transmitter when connecting with an Ethernet cable at hotel. Even if the hotel does not have free Wi-Fi, it can provide wireless Internet access only if you had a valid SIM card. It also supports VPN function to make it easier to travel.

 

Here now the Netgear Nighthawk M2 router is available in Australia and Europe and it has two variant models: MR2100-1TLAUS and MR2100-100EUS. They support different LTE frequency bands as below:

– MR2100-100EUS: LTE 700/800/900/1800/2100/2300/2500/2600 MHz

– MR2100-1TLAUS: LTE/4GX 700/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz

Netgear Nighthawk M2 Highlight Features:

  • Fastest LTE mobile WiFi hotspot
  • 5CA carrier aggregation technology, up to 2Gbps Download
  • High-speed AC WiFi 2.4/5GHz synchronous dual-band
  • High-speed Internet access for up to 20 devices
  • Easier to use LCD touch screen
  • Up to 16 hours of battery life
  • Removable battery connection indoor power supply fixed point operation
  • 1*Gigabit LAN/WAN socket
  • 1* USB-C / 1* USB-A socket
  • JumpBoost function can provide charging for mobile phones or other devices

 

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 Specifications:

  • LTE Modem: Qualcomm Snapdragon X24
  • LTE network speed

– support 5CA carrier aggregation

– 2Gbps down

– up to 150Mbps

  • Operation screen: 4 inch LCD touch screen
  • Connection socket

– 1*Gigabit LAN/WAN socket

– 1*USB-C / 1*USB-A socket

– 2*TS-9 external 3G/4G antenna socket

  • Battery: 5040mAh replaceable lithium battery
  • Body size: 105.5 (L) x 105.5 (W) x 20.35 (H) mm
  • Weight: 240g (with battery)