If you’ve ever tried to use your iPhone’s Wi-Fi hotspot in a pinch, you’re already aware of its drawbacks. The quality of service depends on your cellular carrier if you’re not connected to another network, and it siphons your phone’s battery like no other. Additionally, let’s say you need to connect several devices at once. If your battery isn’t in good health, how long do you think your phone will last?

That’s where TravlFi comes in. This company manufactures high-quality, portable Wi-Fi hotspots that truly outperform any mobile phone in just about every way. In fact, I still use one on my travels from racetrack to racetrack as a photographer. TravlFi’s JourneyGo 4G kept me from relying on shoddy hotel internet, kept my workflow the same, and even kept my guests entertained on road trips. Now, there’s a new model: the JourneyGo 5G.

4.5/5

Brand

TravlFi

Connectivity

Wireless

Battery

5000mAh

Weight

165g

The JourneyGo 5G is a powerful, portable hotspot built for RVers and travelers who want fast, reliable internet without the hassle of bulky setups or long-term commitments. Whether you’re working from the road, streaming at the campsite, or staying connected under tree coverage, it delivers high-speed 5G to keep you online wherever you travel.
 

Pros & Cons

• Slim enough to place in any bag or seat back
• Impressive battery life
• Simple control layout

• Poorer screen display quality

Price, Availability, and Specs

A great option for the traveling creative or large family

The JourneyGo 5G comes in at around $100 more than the base price of its 4G counterpart. However, the benefits are in the product’s own name, as 5G allows users to tap into 5G cellular networks across the country. That’s the biggest selling point of the TravlFi portfolio. The JourneyGo 5G can connect to whichever cellular network around the hotspot is the strongest and swap between them without dropping connectivity.

Additionally, the JourneyGo 5G can stand up to 16 different devices on its own network and promises a 24-hour battery life. There is an activation fee for any internet plan through TravlFi starting at $19/mo for 2GB and ranging up to $129/mo for unlimited usage, but the company’s flexible billing options make it so that you only have to pay when you need the hotspot. Any other time, the hardware can sit dormant with no subscription fees.

What I liked about the TravlFi JourneyGo 5G Hotspot

High-powered connectivity in a slim package

The first thing to understand about how I put the JourneyGo 5G through its paces is that I do not work the traditional 9-5. In fact, I spend most of my time at racetracks around the southern United States photographing racecars deep into the night. Thus, I spend a lot of time in hotels and my car editing photos, videos, and uploading various file sizes.

The JourneyGo 5G handled all of that and then some. In fact, I had some data left on my review package plan with TravlFi, and I edited, wrote and delivered this entire story while still being on the hotspot’s network, which is connected to the strongest cellular signal around me. As you can probably tell by the header, I even decided to stream some of my favorite old Top Gear challenges before sitting down to write this afternoon.

The JourneyGo 5G does all it advertises which, for the price, is the bare minimum, but it’s made it so easy that the $300 price tag for the hardware alone is more than worth it. You get the sense that the product will withstand the test of time, too, as there are no flimsy plastics or loose pieces to make me think this gadget is easily damaged.

What I didn’t like about the TravlFi JourneyGo Hotspot

It’s a small gripe, but a gripe nonetheless

If I had to pick an issue with the JourneyGo 5G, it would be the screen quality. The resolution isn’t high, and unless you’re staring directly at it underneath a shadow, the display is prone to glare and a bit hard to read. That being said, if TravlFi had opted for a higher-quality screen display, the chances are that the battery life wouldn’t be as stout as it is. Additionally, the JourneyGo 5G is about the size of an iPhone, so while it was easy to stow in any bag, I did have difficulty fitting it in some of my pockets as easily as the smaller, round JourneyGo 4G.

Despite the quality, it is still a touchscreen. That means that, with my fat fingers, there was the odd miss-tap that led to a menu or two I had to find my way out of. All in all, though, the screen is legible under most conditions, and really only cosmetic more than anything else, so if a worse display means the user gets an elongated battery life, sign me up.

Should you buy the TravlFi JourneyGo Hotspot

As usual, it depends on your needs, but yes

I don’t see this being a one-size-fits-all product, truthfully. It feels far too niche for that, as most people can get by with just the mobile hotspot on their phone. However, if you’re the adventurous type, a creative that constantly finds themselves on the move, or even a large family who needs to be able to connect a plethora of devices at once, then the JourneyGo is purpose-built for your needs.

It’s rugged enough to leave in any day pack on a camping trip, small and accessible enough to bring out and fire up at any given moment, and capable enough to host an entire streaming ecosystem on any road trip. When it comes to the latter, the ability to customize passwords takes that usability another step further, as parents can set a password, text it out to the family, and forget their worries for the foreseeable miles ahead. If your phone’s hotspot simply isn’t up to the task, I’ll be that the JourneyGo is.

4.5/5

Brand

TravlFi

Connectivity

Wireless

Battery

5000mAh

Weight

165g

The JourneyGo 5G is a powerful, portable hotspot built for RVers and travelers who want fast, reliable internet without the hassle of bulky setups or long-term commitments. Whether you’re working from the road, streaming at the campsite, or staying connected under tree coverage, it delivers high-speed 5G to keep you online wherever you travel.