rotecting your passwords and work correspondence on sketchy hotel Wi-Fi is now possible with a device the size of a cigarette pack that won't weigh down your backpack.
GL.iNet has introduced the compact GL-MG1300 AC1300 travel router, which goes by the names Mango 2 and Mango Pro in certain regions. The little box measures a modest 89×63×15 mm and tips the scales at a mere 100 grams. A dual-core MediaTek processor clocked at 880 MHz handles the heavy lifting, while the open-source OpenWrt system runs the show.
The port selection is surprisingly grown-up for such a tiny device: you get a 5 Gbps USB-C port, two Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet jacks, and a separate USB-C port dedicated to power. The router supports four operating modes ranging from wired internet to cellular tethering, and the AC1300 wireless module pumps out up to 400 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and up to 866 Mbps on 5 GHz. The device is already available for pre-order at around $40.
For that kind of money, you get a fully functional secure gateway for your travels that turns questionable public internet into your own private encrypted network. You definitely shouldn't swap your multi-antenna living room beast for this pocket-sized gadget, but for frequent business trips and working out of cafes, it is an exceptionally smart buy.