Top 5 Data Cards

Gone are the days when data cards were only meant for accessing the internet. Today they offer many other features like storage slot and WiFi routing. Also, unlike earlier times when only operators used to offer data cards (bundled), today many companies are offering such products at different price points and with many more features. Here we have chosen top five data cards based on the basis of their features and price.
                                    
Tata Photon Max WiFi
Tata Photon Max WiFi can create WiFi hotspot and allows five simultaneous connections. It has also a 16 GB micro SD card slot. You can insert it in to an USB port of your PC or laptop or just fix it in a power adapter and insert it in the nearest power plug. We though not sure whether the power adapter comes bundled with it or not. As per the company, the dongle provides upto 6.2 Mbps speed.

ZTE AW3632
ZTE AW3632 is currently available in the market for around Rs 1,800. This 9.5 mm thick data card weighs 30 gram. It looks like an ordinary card but it can be used as a WiFi router.  This 3G data card has download speeds of 14.4 Mbps. Plus there is a 32 GB micro SD card slot in the ZTE AW3632. It comes with USB 2.0, which allows it to connect to a laptop or computer, or to your tablet.

Vodafone K4201
Priced at Rs 999 for postpaid customers, this dongle allows downlink speeds of up to 21.1 Mbps, and uplink speeds of up to 5.76 Mbps. The Vodafone K4201 3G dongle comes with support for major operating systems like Windows 8, Mac, Linux, Fedora and Ubuntu. The Vodafone K4201 3G dongle also comes with a 32 GB micro SD card slot.
 

According to Vodafone, this dongle features a dialer with enhanced user support functionality such as web chat, help line number on dash board, online banner for Vodafone offer updates, and troubleshooting guidance for common error codes. The dongle also said to allow users to set data usage limit alerts, and monitor usage.

Huawei E5331
It is available for around Rs 3,500 and allows net access for 8 devices simultaneously. It has a 1500 mAh battery that claims to provide five hours of continuous usage or 250 hours of standby. Huawei E5331 promises 21.6 Mbps download speed and upload of up to 5.76Mbps with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n. It has four indicators that shows for network, WiFi status, battery level and messges. There is a on/off button as well for easy control.

Huawei E8131
Currently available for around Rs 2,500, the Huawei E8131 can function both as a data card for a single user, or as a mobile WiFi hotspot which can connect up to five WiFi-enabled devices. It comes with Type3i technology, which according to Huawei, provides up to 20 per cent more upload and download speeds compared to non-Type3i devices.

The Huawei E8131 promises 21.6 Mbps download speeds. It has also a 32 GB micro SD card slot.