Aside from a silly name, Novatel Wireless' Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi 4620L ($49.99 with a two-year contract) has pretty much everything you could want from a cellular modem. It's got fast 4G LTE speeds, an excellent interactive status indicator, and an external antenna port for improved reception. Oh yeah, and you can use it almost anywhere in the world, too. Though data prices still command a hefty premium, the 4620L is your top pick for a mobile hotspot on Verizon, and our new Editors' Choice.

Design and Data Plans
The 4620L looks a lot like Novatel's previous hotspot for Verizon, the Jetpack 4510L ($49.99, 4 stars). It measures 2.4 by 3.7 by .5 inches (HWD) and weighs 3.2 ounces. An easy-to-understand, multicolor LED status light is located on the bottom edge of the modem to indicate connection status, right next to the external antenna port. There's no microSD card slot, so you can't use a memory card as a shared drive between connected devices.

The e-ink display from the 4510L has been replaced by a larger, interactive, 1.5-inch black and white OLED. The home screen shows battery life, notifications, and signal strength, as well as how many devices are connected to the hotspot. Beneath the display are three function keys: two to move back and forth, and one to select. On the device itself, you can choose to view settings for the battery, connected devices, home, info, network, notifications, signal strength, and Wi-Fi. While these options provide you with a fairly comprehensive set of tools to manage your device, there's also a Web-based management console for more advanced preferences.

According to our tests for the Fastest Mobile Networks, Verizon's 4G LTE network is currently the fastest, most widely available LTE network out there. But it doesn't come cheap, as the carrier doesn't offer an unlimited data plan. You can get 5GB per month for $50 or 10GB per month for $80, plus $10 per additional GB. This means you can't use the 4620L to replace your current home Internet connection, since you can easily watch 5GB worth of streaming video on Netflix in a single day.

On the other hand, the 4620L can be picked up and taken with you for Internet access almost anywhere in the world. The hotspot can access wireless data service in more than 205 countries, including more than 125 that support 3G speeds. It also supports quad-band EDGE and HSPA when LTE isn't available. It's backward-compatible with Verizon's 3G network, so you'll have no problem pulling in a 3G signal when you're not in an LTE coverage area.

Performance and Conclusions
The 4620L couldn't be simpler to use. Just turn it on and wait about 30 seconds for it to connect to Verizon's network, then connect to the modem as you would with any other wireless connection, and you're ready to go. It automatically appears in your available wireless connections, and a password is provided along with the device. You can connect up to 10 devices to the hotspot simultaneously.

A Web-based administration page can be accessed once you're connected to modify the hotspot's settings. It includes detailed options for networking and security, such as MAC address filtering, port blocking and forwarding, and WPA2-level encryption. There are even audio alerts, which you can trigger to help locate a missing hotspot.

I saw peak speeds around 9Mbps down and 4Mbps up on the 4620L, while they averaged closer to 5Mbps down and 3Mbps up. These speeds aren't as fast as what we saw with the 4510L last year, but Verizon's 4G LTE network is much more crowded now. The 4G speeds I got on the 4620L are about average for the class, which still means they are very, very fast. And I only experienced one drop in connection throughout my entire testing process, which suggests the 4620L should provide you with a reliable connection.

The Jetpack offers more than 100 feet of range, but as is usual, performance degrades dramatically after 50 feet of distance. Still, that's a good amount of distance, and it shouldn't matter much if you plan to keep the hotspot close while you're on the go.

You can also connect the 4620L to a laptop via microUSB cable, or plug it into the wall using the included microUSB wall charger. The device can still transmit data when charging, which means you don't need to worry about battery life as long as a power outlet is within reach. But if one isn't, the device comes with a 1500mAh battery, which was good for exactly 3 hours and 30 minutes of LTE streaming. Verizon also plans to offer an optional 3000mAh battery at some point in the future. It adds some bulk to the modem, but we were able to get 7 hours and 16 minutes of LTE streaming with it, which is exceptional; you're going to want to get that battery when it's available.

The Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi 4620L offers nearly all of the best features you could want in a cellular modem today. You get Verizon's fast 4G LTE data speeds, a great interactive status display, and world-ready connectivity. Verizon's capped data plans are pricey, and they prevent you from using this device as an alternative to your home Internet connection, but that's a problem you'll face on any of the four major carriers. The older Jetpack 4510L costs the same price, but it lacks the interactive status display and world support, and it doesn't transmit data while tethered via USB. So if you're looking for the best hotspot you can get on Verizon right now, the 4620L is your best bet, and our latest Editors' Choice.

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