Travel TechMay 2026 · 4 min read
eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi: what to take in 2026.
MThe My Holiday SIM team · travel data desk
Travel TechOne lives in your phone, one lives in your bag
Pocket Wi-Fi is a rented hotspot puck: a second device to collect, charge, carry and return. An eSIM is software inside the phone you already carry. That single difference decides most of this comparison.
Cost and battery
Pocket Wi-Fi rentals typically run per-day at rates similar to an unlimited eSIM — then add the deposit, the return-shipping anxiety and the battery you’re now charging nightly. Your phone’s hotspot does the same sharing job when the family needs it.
When pocket Wi-Fi still makes sense
A group of five phones from three generations, some without eSIM support, sharing one connection all day — that’s the honest pocket-Wi-Fi use case. For one to three modern phones, the eSIM wins on every axis.
Skip the extra gadget.
Travel data · instant QR · from £2.57/day
Quick answers
Can an eSIM share data like a puck?
Yes — hotspot is included on our plans where networks allow, which covers laptops and tablets fine.
What about battery drain from hotspotting?
Comparable to the puck’s own battery life — and you can top up your phone with the power bank you were already carrying.
Do pucks have unlimited data?
Some advertise it with fair-use throttles; read the small print as carefully as any roaming offer.