This is the only power bank I will need for traveling (especially when there is no Wi-Fi)

Baseus Energetic GX11 Power Bank

ZDNET Highlights

• The Baseus EnerGeek GX11 is a power bank and 4G hotspot priced at $129 on Amazon.
• Its built-in SIM-free hotspot works in over 150 countries, making it a hassle-free way to get online.
• Global data plans are expensive
• But regional plans are much more appropriate.

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Power banks are an essential part of my EDC (everyday accessories), whether I’m at home or abroad. Along with my smartphone, smartwatch, laptop, and earbuds, my hotspot is another device that needs charging. After all, it’s easier and cheaper to have a data plan for one hotspot than to have one for every smartphone and tablet.

What if you could combine both of these features in one device?

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This unit from Baseus not only keeps your devices running, but also keeps you connected to 4G. Yes Baseus Energetic GX11 Power Bank It has a built-in hotspot, which means I can leave my hotspot device at home!

The EnerGeek GX11 comes in a tower form factor. Measuring 4.7 x 2 x 2 inches and weighing less than a pound, this is a fairly sturdy power bank, but it has a battery capacity of 20,000 mAh (small enough to take on a commercial airliner without regulatory headaches).

In practice, this is good for two to three recharges of a modern smartphone. It has a total of three ports: two USB-C input/output ports (67W max output for a single port) and one USB-A port (15W max output).

It can produce a maximum of 67W of power, which is enough to charge a laptop, although slower than using a full-speed charger. There’s also a lanyard built into the side of the unit that holds a 10-inch USB-C-to-USB-C braided cable, so you should always keep at least one with you.

So far, nothing new, but let me go over its best feature. Yes, there is a built-in hotspot that works in over 150 countries. Even better, there’s no SIM card to fiddle with and no contract to pay monthly. The unit comes with 1GB of global usage data per month for the first year, and uses the Baseus MiFi app (for iOS And Android) You can purchase global or regional data packages.

The data is easy to access. Flip the switch on the side of the unit, connect to a Wi-Fi signal, and away you go. Up to 10 devices can be connected simultaneously, and the power bank can run the hotspot feature for about 114 hours on a full charge.

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“Why not just use the hotspot feature built into your phone?” Like warding off the inevitable screams. My rebuttal is that this seriously drains battery life, and keeping Android devices connected to the iPhone is a pain. For me, and the kind of traveling I do, an external hotspot is a better solution. This doesn’t mean I don’t use my iPhone and its data plan, but it’s not the best way to share data.

It all works intuitively and simply. And there’s the obligatory display on the side of the unit, a small and bright display that shows the basics: battery level and whether mobile Wi-Fi is on.

Plus: The only charging adapter I’ve ever traveled with that outperforms competing models with a hidden superpower

Mobile hotspots are one of those love/hate things. If I’m traveling alone, I don’t mind my iPhone, but once I add others into the mix, I find that Mobile Hotspot makes life easier. I’m freed from having to mess with my hotspot all the time (connecting an Android device to an iPhone is a breeze), and my traveling friends don’t have to get hit with expensive roaming charges.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

I like it a lot Baseus Energetic GX11I’m used to Hotspot devices that use a SIM card And is full of settings and features, but I’m disappointed with how easy it is to use. There’s no tiny SIM card to play with, no settings to play with and no hidden charges.

The plans aren’t the cheapest, and global plans tend to be expensive (the 100GB 3-day global package is a really hefty $499), but if you go for the more modest regional plans, they’re quite affordable (the seven-day 15GB European plan is $19).

Excluding hardware price, the priciest plans – $129, but if you’re fast it’s currently 10% off at Amazon –This is a great tool for travelers who want to stay connected.