The Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro ($449.99) replaces the Netgear Nighthawk M6 ($799.99) and is the most capable mobile hotspot AT&T sells, packing a lot of advanced functionality into a small space. We like the M7 Pro's updated 5G and Wi-Fi 7 radios, its long battery life, its ability to blanket a huge area with Wi-Fi, and its power to manage connections for up to 64 devices. Most importantly, we're impressed by its fast wireless speeds. We wish it cost a little less and the screen were a little brighter, but these are minor quibbles. If budget is a concern, AT&T also sells the Franklin A50 ($209.99) hotspot, which connects fewer devices at slower speeds, but the Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro is our Editors' Choice winner for mobile hotspots thanks to its excellent performance and broad flexibility.
The Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro is a dedicated hotspot that runs on the AT&T network. It's not available on other networks at the moment. It covers up to 2,000 square feet and supports up to 64 concurrent devices, making it ideal for mobile businesses with large teams that need connectivity on the go.
The hotspot measures 4.13 by 4.13 by 0.85 inches (HWD) and weighs 8.64 ounces. This is about the same size but slightly lighter than the Nighthawk M6 (4.14 by 4.14 by 0.85 inches, 8.89 ounces). It easily fits into a small bag or briefcase, though it may stretch your pants pocket.
Two TS-9 antenna ports are located behind doors on the bottom edge, as are an Ethernet port (capable of up to 2.5Gbps) and a USB-C port for charging or tethering. The front panel hosts a touch-screen display with a power button below it. A thin, removable cover on the back protects the SIM tray, removable battery, and reset button.
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The hotspot can double as an external battery to charge other devices. In addition to the M7 Pro, Netgear includes a USB-C cable, a power adapter, and a setup guide in the box.
The device's main interface is a 2.8-inch LCD with a resolution of 320 by 230 pixels and a refresh rate of 10 frames per second. It's easy to see indoors and in the shade outside, but direct sunlight obscures it. Text and images aren't sharp, but they're legible. The touch screen is responsive, and while I wouldn't want to type using the on-screen keyboard for long, it works well enough to type Wi-Fi network names or passwords.
Tapping the power button wakes the display. By default, the screen turns off after 30 seconds, though you can adjust that time limit. After you perform the initial setup, there is little reason to interact with the display again.
The Nighthawk M7 Pro uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon X75, which is the same as the modems of the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. This modem is an upgrade from the M6 hotspot's Snapdragon X62.
The M7 Pro is compatible with AT&T's sub-6GHz and C-band 5G networks, supporting the following bands: n2/n5/n12/n28/n77/n78. The hotspot cannot connect to mmWave 5G networks, which is a shame given the faster speeds possible via mmWave. As a backup, 4G LTE is also available (bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/14/28/29/30/40/46/48/66).
You can use the hotspot with cellular signal only, Wi-Fi and cellular, or Ethernet and cellular for data. The Ethernet port is off by default, but you can activate it in the Netgear Mobile app (available for Android and iOS). Wi-Fi 7 is on board, the latest iteration of the local area network standard. The M7 Pro can broadcast Wi-Fi over 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, or two dual-band pairs (2.4 and 6GHz, or 2.4 and 5GHz). Note that 6GHz—which is necessary for Wi-Fi 7 connections—is only available when the M7 Pro is plugged in. FCC regulations restrict 6GHz use to indoors. Wi-Fi speeds top out at theoretical limits of 5.8Gbps if you connect via 6GHz, 2.8Gbps via 5GHz, and 688Mbps via 2.4GHz.
Wi-Fi range is customizable based on power draw. The Standard mode uses less power and has a reduced coverage area. The Long mode uses more power and expands the hotspot's coverage area. Netgear says the M7 can cover a maximum area of about 2,000 square feet, which is the size of an average house.
Netgear says the M7 Pro's peak maximum 5G download speed can reach up to 6Gbps, and upload speeds can reach 1Gbps, but only when using 5G Advanced networks (which aren't deployed yet). The USB-C port supports wired speeds up to 10Gbps, and the Ethernet port supports wired speeds up to 2.5Gbps. These are the technical maximums and aren't necessarily available from real-world networks.
For comparison, AT&T's Franklin A50 hotspot relies on an older X62 modem, supports up to 24 Wi-Fi connections, and creates Wi-Fi 6 networks. We haven't tested that device yet.
The setup process is straightforward. Install the battery—which is keyed, so it fits one way only—then pop on the back cover. Once charged and turned on, the M7 Pro walks you through setting up your Wi-Fi network. You can use the default network name and supplied password or create your own. The M7 Pro then asks you to set an admin password with a minimum of 12 characters. At this point, the hotspot is ready to use.
The M7 Pro's on-device menus are simple but robust enough that you can administer much of your network directly from the touch screen. Alternately, you can access its admin functions in the web interface through your browser, which duplicates the device’s controls and gives you easy access to settings like port forwarding and information like data usage. You join the M7 Pro's networks by typing in the network name and password or by scanning a QR code available on the device or in the web interface.
To test the M7 Pro's battery life, I streamed 1080p video on a laptop and smartphone, both of which were connected to the hotspot via Wi-Fi. The hotspot was set to Standard mode (which, again, uses less power than the Long mode). The device's 5,185mAh battery lasted 11 hours and 53 minutes, which falls short of Netgear's 13-hour claim, but not by much.
For comparison, the Netgear M6 lasts just 7 hours and 17 minutes in the same test. The M7's result means the battery lasts more than a full workday, which should be enough for most purposes.
AT&T advertises two data-only plans for the Nighthawk M7 Pro. As long as you enroll in autopay, one costs $55 per month and includes 50GB of high-speed data, and the other costs $90 per month with 100GB of high-speed data. Without autopay, both plans cost $10 more. If you go over your data allotment, AT&T charges $10 per 5GB.
AT&T allows you to use your phone as a hotspot. These costs range from $50 per month to $85.99 for autopay users and provide 5GB to 60GB of mobile hotspot data. Depending on your needs, your phone is a better bet if you only occasionally need a hotspot, but your phone's battery will drain rather swiftly and can't host as many connected devices.
To evaluate the M7 Pro's performance, I used it with an Apple iPad Pro, an Apple MacBook Pro, a Google Pixel 9 Pro, and a Samsung Galaxy S24. I brought all the devices to three locations in New York City.
I measured download and upload speeds three times while connected to Wi-Fi and three times when wired to the hotspot using USB-C and Ethernet.
Every test device easily connected to the M7 Pro via Wi-Fi. The iPad and MacBook Pro worked over USB-C without requiring any configuration. The two Android devices did not recognize the hotspot when plugged in directly via USB-C, but did when I used a USB-C hub and an Ethernet cable connecting the hub to the hotspot.
Overall, the M7 Pro connected to the AT&T network regularly, and speeds were consistent between devices. Download speeds surpassed upload speeds regardless of connection type. Compared with Wi-Fi, wired connections' average download speeds increased 9% to 27%, while upload speeds increased 5% to 30%.
Final Thoughts
(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)
Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro is hard to beat. It supports Wi-Fi 7, connects to AT&T's C-band 5G network, provides wired networking over USB-C or Ethernet, and has long battery life. Its advanced connection tools let you manage as many as 64 devices over a large area, all of which have access to fast speeds. If you only need a hotspot occasionally, stick to your phone's hotspot feature. But AT&T customers who need an advanced and capable hotspot should opt for the Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro, our Editors' Choice for connecting multiple devices on the go.
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About Our Expert
I've been into technology for as long as I can remember. As a PCMag mobile writer, I get to test the newest phones and tablets. Since you rely on our buying advice, I make sure you get everything a manufacturer claims, which means lots of testing. This is your phone we're talking about; it's like a part of you. I've covered technology as a career for around two decades (yikes, I had to think about that). You've seen my work at The Apple Blog, PCMag (from my first go around), This Week in Tech, and CNET. I also occasionally produce independent video projects, including This Old Nerd, a how-to series that shows practical ways to get the most from your tech.
