What to Know
- If you have a 3G or 4G card chipset installed in your laptop, all you need to do is sign up for mobile broadband service.
- Plug in an external 4G or 3G USB modem (laptop stick), or connect wirelessly to a mobile hotspot.
- Install a tethering app on your phone so that your laptop can share your phone's mobile data.
This article explains how to get 4G or 3G internet access on any laptop regardless of the operating system.
Built-In 4G or 3G Mobile Broadband
Most of the latest laptops, netbooks, and tablets offer a mobile broadband option, where you can have a 3G or 4G card or chipset built into the laptop when you order it (for an additional cost). You'll have to choose a mobile broadband service, but often you'll be able to select the wireless service provider.
- Pros: Convenience of having mobile wireless connectivity already set up as soon as you get your laptop (no need to install your own mobile broadband device); less obtrusive than a USB 3G or 4G laptop stick.
- Cons: Not transferable to other laptops or devices.
4G or 3G Laptop Stick
If you don't already have a mobile broadband card built-in or want a separate device that you can use with more than one laptop, a 4G or 3G USB modem (a.k.a. laptop stick) is easy to install. It's plug-and-play like most USB sticks. You can buy the laptop stick and sign up for the mobile broadband plan directly from the wireless provider or retailers like Best Buy.
- Pros: Can be used on different devices (e.g., switched from one laptop to another). Some laptop sticks also function as flash drives for portable storage and other useful purposes.
- Cons: Sticks out of your laptop's USB port; easy to misplace or lose.
3G or 4G Mobile Hotspot Device
Mobile hotspots are hardware devices that offer portable Wi-Fi. You connect your laptop wirelessly to the 4G or 3G mobile hotspot, much as you connect to a Wi-Fi network or Wi-Fi hotspot. As with the other options, you'll need to subscribe to a mobile data plan for your mobile hotspot device. However, one major advantage of a mobile hotspot is that you can typically connect more than one device to it for shared mobile internet access.
- Pros: Usually can connect five or more mobile devices at once.
- Cons: Have to carry around a separate device (though mobile hotspots tend to be pretty thin and small, about the size and width of a credit card).
Use Your Smartphone as a Hotspot
Tethering is when you connect your cellphone to your laptop to use your cellphone's data service on the laptop. Many tethering apps enable tethering via USB cable or Bluetooth, including the popular PdaNet app. Some wireless providers are charging extra for the privilege of connecting your phone to your laptop.
- Pros: You might be able to use the data plan you're already paying for on your smartphone without extra charges.
- Cons: Tethering can be slow and drain your phone's battery more quickly.
Learn how to use your iPhone as a hotspot and use your Android phone as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot to turn on Wi-Fi internet sharing.
Which option is best for you? Besides heading to a Wi-Fi hotspot or internet cafe for free internet access, tethering is the least expensive option for getting internet access on your laptop when you're not at home. If you have multiple devices or want to share a mobile broadband connection, a mobile hotspot makes the most sense. 3G or 4G laptop sticks are also convenient and easy to use.