Alcatel LinkZone 2 Review: Stay Connected for up to 24 Hours

Buying a mobile hotspot with a stable connection can be difficult. Check out this Alcatel LinkZone 2 review before purchasing the device.

The Alcatel LinkZone 2 was released in May 2020. Modern society requires the Internet to contact their loved ones or open social media. Meanwhile, others rely on it for work, school, or daily errands.

As the Internet is becoming a popular tool, we’ll also need a device to accommodate this. Introducing the Alcatel Link Zone 2. One of the many mobile hotspots in the market, this device promises to provide reliable coverage.

Developers have invested a great deal of time and effort in perfecting the mobile hotspot. However, does it live up to its expectations? 

Attractive at first glance, we’ll need to dive into its specifications. Read our Alcatel LinkZone 2 review to find out more about this nifty device.

Alcatel LinkZone 2 Key Specs

• Weight: 146g
• Dimensions: 105 x 66 x 19mm
• OS Supported: Windows & Mac (Web UI)
• SMS: Supported
• CPU: Qualcomm MDM9207 + QCA9377
• RAM: 1GB
• Storage: 2GB
• Battery: 4,400 mAh, Removable

Alcatel LinkZone 2 Design

The Alcatel LinkZone 2 has a compact body that almost resembles a small brick. The mobile hotspot is portable and no larger than the palm of our hands. Aesthetics-wise, it has got a nice texture finish onto it, giving it a sophisticated look. As we can tell from its size, the device feels light as well thanks to its plastic-build.

On the front side, we see it has several blue indicator lights. Each of these represents Wi-Fi, Signal, Battery, and Messages. Each indicator will light up a set number of times to represent something. Moving onto the sides, there is a WPS Button and Power Button, a USB-C port, and a USB-A port.

Alcatel LinkZone 2 Interface

The Alcatel LinkZone 2 does not have an external display, but it has a website interface. We can access the interface through our mobile phones or desktops. What’s more, the interface is supported by both Windows and Mac. Displayed in English or Spanish, the website interface is where we can configure the mobile hotspot’s settings.

There are many mobile hotspot functions that we can control on the website interface. For instance, there are IP filtering, manual DNS settings, and device blocking.

It’s quite a standard portal, enough to configure the device to our preferences. Unfortunately, it does not have a speed testing option. Also, setting up the mobile hotspot on a different device may be a bit of a hassle.

Read also:

• Alcatel Go Flip 3 Review: Best value KaiOS flip phone
• Alcatel LinkZone 2 User Manual

Alcatel LinkZone 2 Performance

The Alcatel LinkZone 2 uses a Qualcomm MDM9207 + QCA9377 processor to conduct its overall performance. This type of processor has garnered a reputation within the low-range end. This is because it’s one of the cheapest processors that can accommodate 4G LTE. Under the chipset that is installed, it can cover several LTE bands.

Unfortunately, the processor could use quite a bit of improvement. Since it’s categorized under the low-range fields, it does not encompass everything a carrier provides. It’s understandable, as the chipset was developed to support cost-friendly products. But this could lead to some potential slow connectivity from time to time.

The processor is further supported by a RAM of 1GB, complemented by a 2GB ROM. This allows room for effective performance on the mobile hotspot. A RAM may not appear to play a significant role in providing the connection. But if the mobile hotspot’s software is unable to operate smoothly, it will affect the connection greatly.

Meanwhile, the 2GB ROM, or as some would call it Internal Storage, helps keep the device’s data safe. 2GB is not bad for a mobile hotspot. There’s ample storage for all incoming information to support your connection. Paired with the RAM, the device itself is sustainable.

Alcatel LinkZone 2 Connectivity

The Alcatel LinkZone 2 can accommodate cellular networks up to 4G LTE. To operate the mobile hotspot, we will need to insert a Nano-SIM into its card slot. Once it’s activated, we can enjoy up to 150Mbps download speed. Similarly, the device is capable of upload speeds exceeding up to 50Mbps. 

What’s more, this mobile hotspot has room for 16 devices. This way, one entire family can stay connected thanks to this device. However, the more connected devices there are, the more affected the signal can be. This is something that we will need to keep in mind when using many devices at the same time.

This Alcatel LinkZone 2 review will not be complete without talking about its network range. As previously mentioned, the mobile hotspot can reach up to 4G LTE. The coverage encompasses a variety of LTE bands, such as 2, 4, 5, 12, 25, 26, 41, 66, and even 71. As for 3G and 4G, it has coverage for 1, 2, 4, 5 bands.

It’s safe to say that this mobile hotspot can provide connection almost everywhere. The connection may be slow sometimes considering the processor’s performance. However, there’s always a signal no matter where you are. Sadly, the mobile hotspot does not support 5G yet. This could be a slight issue, as 5G is currently on the rage nowadays.

Now let’s talk about Wi-Fi. The Alcatel LinkZone 2 has a standard Wi-Fi strength of 2.4GHz/5GHz. It also comes with a Wi-Fi frequency of 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. This technology is the reason why this mobile hotspot can connect up to 16 devices.

With the device’s Wi-Fi option, we won’t have to go through the hassle of searching for a connection outside. It only takes a few initial configurations and we’ve got the Wi-Fi running. Say goodbye to spending more money just to get a decent Internet connection during our travels.

Upon closer inspection, we noticed something unique about the device’s USB portals. As previously mentioned, the hotspot comes with two kinds of ports. These are USB-C and USB-A ports. Besides the shape, the difference lies in the functions between these two ports. While USB-C is mainly used for charging-in, the USB-A is designed for charging out.

In simpler terms, the USB-C port is capable of many usages, such as charging and becoming a PC USB modem. Whereas the USB-A port is used to charge any other external devices. However, there’s no sign of an available cellular antenna port. This is a shame, considering that an antenna could help so much in strengthening Internet signals.

Alcatel Linkzone 2 Battery

The Alcatel Linkzone 2 has a total battery capacity of 4,400mAh. Translating this into hours, the removable battery can withstand up to 24 hours of usage. This is under the condition that 2 devices use 4G LTE. On-standby alone, the hotspot can last for up to 75 hours. As expected of a battery with a large capacity, we’re impressed with its power life.

If the mobile hotspot ever runs out of juice, simply charge through its USB-C port. For a full charge, the device requires a total of 3 hours. It may sound a bit too long, but it’s not bad. We could charge the hotspot during our sleep and wake up with 24 hours of available connection.

An interesting feature that comes with the Alcatel Linkzone 2 is its ability to become a power bank. If our smartphone is low on battery, we can just charge it using the hotspot. So not only are we purchasing a mobile hotspot. We’re also getting a power bank without spending an extra dime.

Is the Alcatel LinkZone 2 a good device?

We’ve assessed the Alcatel LinkZone 2 from different perspectives. It has the perfect build that we can carry around wherever we go. Not only is the hotspot capable of providing a connection. It can be used to power up other devices as well. However, we believe that the hotspot can slightly upgrade its system’s performance.

Summarizing our Alcatel LinkZone 2 review, this mobile hotspot is a safe purchase. For a retail price of $90, we can get a device that has two different functions. Long-lasting and providing sufficient coverage up to 4G LTE, a mobile hotspot at such price is a bargain.