JioFi JMR815 Review: A Great Portable Router for All Your Traveling Needs

The idea of a portable router is nothing new but Reliance probably is the first company that made the concept really popular in India with its JioFi devices. Well, we got our hands on the new JioFi JMR815 (₹999) which is a portable WiFi router that can easily fit in your pocket. With its built-in battery which can last up to 8 hours, the tiny portable WiFi router aims to become your perfect companion when traveling. In this article, we are going to take an in-depth look at the JioFi router and let you know if the device delivers on its promises and is worth your money or not.

JioFi Specifications

Before we get into our review of the JioFi JMR815, let us first take a look at its specs. The specifications should give you a preliminary idea of what you should expect from the device.

What’s In the Box

JioFi JMR815 comes in a really nice cardboard box which uses a slide out function to open. Once you get into the box, You will be greeted by the device front and center with accessories hidden behind it. You can find the details of the content of the box in the list below:

• JioFi JMR815
• Charging Brick
• USB-A to micro USB Cable
• Warranty Card
• Paperwork

Design and Build Quality

JioFi JMR815 comes in a really portable form factor which looks like a small donut (minus the hole). In fact, the first time I saw it, I was instantly reminded of the Google Home Mini as the JioFi JMR815 looks eerily similar to it. However, the choice of material is completely different. The top and bottom halves are made of plastic and are separated by what feels like a glass ring. The glass ring houses all the physical buttons along with the LED icons.

Getting inside the JioFi JMR815 to install the SIM card is pretty easy too. The back comes with a small notch which you can use to pull it off. Inside there’s a removable battery and a SIM and microSD card slot. All in all, I really like the design and there’s nothing much to complain about here. The plastic used could have been a little better but other than that, I am happy with the design.

I mostly love its portability. The device is so small that it can literally fit in any of your pockets. That makes an excellent companion for all your traveling needs. The bottom line is that if you buy this device, you won’t have anything to complain as far as the design and build quality of this device are concerned.

Setting Up JioFi

Setting up JioFi is really easy and it literally took me a minute or so to do that. That is considering the fact that you have a Jio SIM which is already working. If you have that, all you need to do is pop off the back, remove the battery, insert the SIM card and then put everything else back in their places. Do remember that when you are putting the back cover, you will need to align the notch to the charging port to make it fit perfectly. Also, remember to note down the SSID and password which you can find on a sticker beside the SIM card slot.

Once you have done that, all you need to do is press and hold the power button for three-seconds to boot the device and wait for a few seconds. Once you see that the device has powered up and ready to use (you will see a green WiFi signal on the glass display), you can connect to it using the SSID and password that we noted earlier.

JioFi Features

For a device that is so small, JioFi brings a number of features that we love. Here some of the best features of JioFi which I have come to love:

1. Portability

For me, the biggest features of JioFi is it’s portability. I can just toss it inside my backpack or put it in my pockets and carry it wherever I go. JioFi has helped me remain connected to the internet without having to use my smartphone as a constant hotspot source. The problem with using your smartphone as a hotspot is that not only it kills your battery life, but you also lose connection whenever you receive a call. JioFi has helped me remain connected without encountering any of those problems.

2. Connect Multiple Devices

What I also love about JioFi is that you can simultaneously connect up to 32 devices which is more than you will ever need. I normally connect 3 devices which include a MacBook Pro, a One Plus 3, and a 9.7-inch iPad, and I had no problem getting stable internet connection on any of the devices.

3. Cat 4 High-Speed Chipset

JioFi JMR 815 packs the ALT3800 chipset which is a CAT-4 high-speed broadband access chipset with support for the most advanced LTE and LTE-A standards. While there are many advantages of having a Cat 4 chipset, the feature that matters most to us is the high download and upload speeds. Thanks to Cat 4 chipset, JioFi JMR815 can support 150 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload speed. That said, real-life performance will vary depending on the strength of the network in your area.

4. 4G Voice and Video Calls

One of the biggest reasons to get JioFi is if you want to enjoy Jio’s 4G voice and video calling facilities even on a smartphone which doesn’t support 4G. Just download and install the Jio4GVoice app and make 4G voice or video calls from your device. The best part about this is that you don’t need to use a Jio SIM card on your phone as it is using the connection from the SIM inside the JioFi WiFi router to make those calls. If you are someone who enjoys Jio’s 4G voice and video calling facilities, JioFi is the best WiFi router for you.

JioFi Performance and Battery Life

When it comes to performance, it really depends on Jio’s network coverage in your area. At our office location, Jio’s network is very weak and I was receiving abysmal download and upload speeds, with both of them not crossing even 1Mbps in our standard speed tests using Ookla. However, at home where Jio’s network was fairly respectable, I was able to receive up to 5Mbps download speeds and 3Mbps upload speeds. As I said, the network speed will really depend on Jio’s coverage in your area. Also, when it comes to range, JioFi claims 10 meters of range but you will get that only if you are in the line of sight of the device. If you are using the device where it is getting too much interference, expect the range to drop significantly.

As far as, battery life is concerned, I almost hit 8 hours of usage without charging the JioFi which is exactly what Jio claims. However, do remember that I was testing the JioFi JMR815 either at home or in the office and was not traveling. So, if you are planning to use this while traveling on a bus or train, the battery life will take a hit as it will have to constantly switch between cell towers which takes a toll on the battery. That said, for a device which is as portable as JioFi, what battery life you are getting is more than reasonable.

JioFi Competition

In its price range, the only competition JioFi JMR815 is facing is from Airtel 4G Hotspot E5573Cs (₹999). However, the Airtel 4G Hotspot E5573Cs can only connect to 10 devices at a time and comes with a way smaller 1800 mAh battery. Although Airtel promises 6 hours of surf time, the real world usage that you will get out of it is closer to 4-5 hours which is almost half of the 8 hours battery life provided by JioFi JMR815 which packs a 3000 mAh battery.

The only reason to choose Airtel WiFi over JioFi is if you like Airtel’s network more than Jio’s, as both of these products will not accept any other SIM cards. The bottom line is that when it comes to features, JioFi JMR815 is the best value for money portable WiFi router you can buy for yourself.

JioFi JMR815: The Best Value for Money Portable WiFi Router

I have been using JioFi JMR815 for the last couple of days and I am really happy with the product. The router fulfills most of its promises and quite frankly is a steal at its price point. The only thing that should concern you is Jio’s network connectivity in your area. If you are getting good download and upload speeds on Jio’s network in your area, there is no reason for you to not buy this product.

Pros:

• Really portable
• Long battery life
• Connect up to 32 devices
• Easy setup and connection
• The range is optimal for such a small device

Cons:

• Will only work with Jio SIM
• Your area needs to have a good coverage of Jio’s network to utilize 4G speed benefit

Buy From Flipkart: ₹999

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Enjoy WiFi Connectivity On the Go With JioFi

JioFi JMR815 is a perfect traveling companion for anyone who likes to remain connected even while he/she is traveling. The WiFi router comes with a 3000 mAh battery which can last for 8 hours and is so portable that you can carry it everywhere without any problem. If you are looking for a cheap yet good portable WiFi router, JioFi is the best product you can buy.