Why Phone Hotspots Struggle for Work Travel
Your phone's hotspot feature was added as a convenience, not a primary function. Don't limit your ability to connect when it matters most.
You're at the airport. Flight delayed. You need to join a call.
You turn on your phone's hotspot, connect your laptop, and... it sort of works. Choppy audio. Frozen video. "Can you repeat that?"
This isn't bad luck. Phone hotspots have real limitations that make them unreliable for work.
The problem isn't your carrier. It's physics and design.
Your phone's hotspot feature was added as a convenience, not a primary function. The antennas are optimized for the phone itself, not for broadcasting to other devices. The radio has to handle your phone's own data, plus everything your laptop wants. And when you're moving through an airport or sitting in a hotel with thick walls, that tiny antenna struggles.
Three things working against you:
- Shared radio — Your phone can't send its own data and relay your laptop's data simultaneously. It switches back and forth, adding latency.
- Thermal throttling — Hotspot mode generates heat. Your phone protects itself by slowing down.
- Antenna limitations — Phone antennas are designed for phone-sized tasks, not sustaining a laptop's bandwidth needs.
What actually works for travel:
A dedicated mobile router solves all three problems. Separate radios. Better thermal design. Antennas built for the job.
Your phone hotspot is a backup. For work that matters, you need purpose-built equipment.
See MergeWiFi's mobile routers for travel →