iPhone 16e 16e Personal Hotspot performance

[mauka]

Has anyone used the iPhone 16e Personal Hotspot function extensively?

Iʻm considering purchasing a 16e to use as a hotspot for my RV.

I have a cellular booster with roof antenna we used for a time with the T-Mobile home internet device - that setup worked well when reception was good. However Iʻd rather avoid dealing with T-Mobile for devices or billing, I switched my iPhone 12 to Mint and the network is T-Mobile so Iʻll be testing with that soon.

But Iʻm considering getting a 16e dedicated to Personal Hotspot duty 24/7. Mint has a promotion for 12 months of unlimited data for $180 and they resell the 16e for MSRP.

The difference is the 16e uses the Apple designed modem.

Thanks!

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Mint is owned by T-mobile, so even if you are free of T-mobile billing, you won't be completely free of T-mobile.

Mint reception is fine and comparable to Verizon 99% of the time, but I notice that when I'm at the mall or other crowded places, I lose data before my wife (on Verizon) loses data service.

I'd also double check the fine print, to make sure it's not "unlimited" for a certain amount, and then throttled data after that.

 

[Ericdjensen]

https://www.mintmobile.com/features/mobile-hotspot/

I don't think any carrier has unlimited hotspot data

 

[mauka]

Thanks for those updates - 10g should be sufficient for us and T-Mobile coverage is ok.

My main concern is the 16e with the Apple modem and how well it works in hotspot mode.

 

[jntdroid]

I've used mine for a hotspot a few times since receiving it for periods of about an hour each - zero issues at all. This isn't as extensive as you'll need it, but so far compared to my previous iPhones, it seems no different. The C1 modem in general has been as good as previous Qualcomm's for me so far as well (including weaker signal areas). I'm on AT&T, not T-Mobile, FWIW.

 

[Snide]

Sometimes I'll use the hotspot for several hours, including YouTube / Facebook reels. I always have plenty of battery left at the end of the day on my base model 16. The 16E is said to have better battery life, so I think you're OK.

 

[Snide]

But Iʻm considering getting a 16e dedicated to Personal Hotspot duty 24/7. Mint has a promotion for 12 months of unlimited data for $180 and they resell the 16e for MSRP.

Forgot to mention: Usually "unlimited" is for the phone itself and tethering plans are separate. For example, I have unlimited through my carrier and 60 GB hotspot / tethering. I usually come pretty close to using it up, especially if watching movies occasionally. Unlimited tethering would be awesome!

 

[Hyperman99]

I have a M1 Macbook (plus a 2015 old Mac). My iPhone SE died in May (5 years to the day!) and I got an 16E Love the phome. Hotspot., Hmm. With my SE I never had issues. WIth the 16E, I connect but get no internet., I compared it to the 2015 MAC and the IP address for the connection was a 172.x.x.x IP. With the 16E it is a 192.x.x.x IP. What I ended up doing was changing the IP to a 172.x.x.x address under TCPIP on the MAC and I got internet. Worked fine but strange. My iPad connected and got internet not problem. I'm still trying to figure out why this is happening, but at least I have a work around

 

[Teletypewriter]

I think Walmart's Straight Talk has pretty good deals as far as wireless plans with hotspots included:
A. $45/mo = 10Gig
B. $55/mo = 30Gig
C. $65/mo = Unlimited hotspot data !!!

Shop All Prepaid Cell Phone & Devices Plans | Straight Talk Wireless

Shop the best unlimited prepaid plans for phones, tablets, hotspots & more from Straight Talk. Plans include data & unlimited talk&text & nationwide coverage!

www.straighttalk.com

 

[1rottenapple]

View attachment 2495301

https://www.mintmobile.com/features/mobile-hotspot/

I don't think any carrier has unlimited hotspot data

Visible wireless. Been a customer for 7 years and yes it’s unlimited. I use hotspot a few times a week to stream videos. I also used it during Covid to work remotely.

 

[1rottenapple]

Thanks for those updates - 10g should be sufficient for us and T-Mobile coverage is ok.

My main concern is the 16e with the Apple modem and how well it works in hotspot mode.

The test show the modem is a nonissues performance wise between the e and regular models.