Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi Hands-on

In April, Smart has rolled out the prepaid version of its Smart 5G Rocket WiFi 21. It’s basically a pocket WiFi but with support for the telco’s 5G network. You can connect multiple devices to it via WiFi or Ethernet, and allows you to subscribe to Smart’s data promos, including the Unli 5G. Check out our hands-on below.

The Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi package comes with the pocket WiFi, manual, promo brochure, SIM card, and USB-C charging cable.

The Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi unit larger than the typical pocket WiFi in the market, which can be attributed to the additional features and bigger battery. We’ll discuss that in a bit.

The unit they’re offering is made by Green Packet with the model number M5G-7760. It’s mostly made of plastic with a matte finish but feels solid. The front part houses the colored touch screen, LED indicator, and power button.

On the top side, we have the USB-C port for charging.

On the bottom side is the Ethernet port.

Found on the left and right sides are vents.

Underneath are more vents and the Smart 5G label.

The back panel is removable, giving you access to the removable battery and nano-SIM card slot. You can also see from here the device’s IP, as well as the default username and password, which you can change during setup.

When you switch on the Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi, the LED indicator will light up and the Smart Bro splash screen will be displayed. The boot-up takes about 20 seconds. After that, the SIM will be activated and will provide a free 100MB of data. There’s also a PHP 250 credit voucher once you subscribe to any Giga promos via the GigaLife app. From here, you can connect to its WiFi network using the default username and password.

The TFT display is tiny at 2.4-inches, but enough for navigating the UI. The resolution is low with poor viewing angles, but enough to make the interface legible. The welcome screen shows the signal strength and signal type (5G, 4G, 3G), the number of devices connected, time, and battery level.

Slide to unlock and you will have access to the connection guide, power-saving features, SSID, SMS, Settings, and device information. For the SMS, you can only view the messages but can’t compose and send. You can edit the SSID though using a two-row keyboard.

Alternatively, you can access a more detailed dashboard by typing the device IP on your laptop or mobile device’s browser at https://192.168.1.1. From here you will be able to access more settings and information, including 4G and 5G signals, APN settings, LAN settings, and be able to send SMS.

Speaking of networks, the Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi features a Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem and supports 5G (Sub-6 GHz n1, n3, n20, n28, n41, n77, n78) and broadcasts WiFi in 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. We don’t have any problems with the WiFi signal, although take note that your internet speed will depend on the mobile signal you’re getting. If there’s 5G, great, otherwise, it will use 4G. In our place in Bacoor, Cavite, we’re ranging from 20Mbps to 90Mbps. It can be faster or slower depending on your location.

What makes the Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi interesting is the Ethernet port. The advantage here is that you can use it to directly connect your desktop or laptop via wired means, or connect a more powerful WiFi router to it for a better connection and network manageability.

Providing power to the Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi is a 5,260mAh battery, which could last a whole day in 5G. There’s no fast charging and reverse charging.

The Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi is priced at PHP 15,995, which is pricey for pocket WiFi. Alternatively, you can get an affordable 5G-enabled smartphone. However, if you want a device dedicated to providing you with a 5G connection and has LAN features, this is the only option available right now.

The Smart Bro 5G Rocket WiFi is available at Smart’s online store 109.