Product Review – Pokefi

For all my readers out there, you will remember I reviewed a number of wifi/data products in my earlier few posts:

Review: Flexiroam – Affordable data roaming package usable anywhere anytime

Review: Pocket Wifi Router (Changi Recommends)

Cheap (Free) mobile data overseas

So far, I have always been a fervent supporter of Flexiroam especially if you are a frequent traveller. Flexiroam works great as it is really a plug (well, you can say paste) and forget kind of device because it is a thin microchip that is attached to your existing SIM card. This microchip allows you to  access Flexiroam’s low cost data roaming whilst overseas. The way it works is that it is a service where you can tap into a pool of data no matter where you are in the world. This means you can avoid i) “wasting” data that you bought but could not finish during your stay in a particular country (especially relevant in data expensive regions such as Europe) or ii) the hassle of purchasing sim cards in countries where it is difficult for a foreigner to do so. This advantage is counterbalanced by the relatively high cost of their data packages at US$29.99 per GB.

If you are not a frequent traveller, it may be most efficient if you were to consider renting a pocket wifi router. This is more so for Singapore travellers or travellers go through Singapore where such routers are on offer for as low as S$5 per day for unlimited use. While the cost appears low, this adds up over time especially if you are travelling for more than a week where the bill can be up to S$50 thereabout.

So, therefore, there appears to be no real product that seem to clinch the deal. Well, that is up until now.

In my recent travels, I came across a product on offer in Cathay Pacific’s in-flight catalogue that really caught my eye:

They have wifi pocket routers called Pokefi on sale.

The price looked reasonable at US$120 / HKD990 with 5gb of data included. In the event you run out of usable data, more can be bought at a really reasonable price of US$15 for 5gb (averaging US$3/gb). This is way cheaper than what Flexiroam is offering and appears to me to be way more user friendly. One main flaw with Flexiroam is the fact that once you turn on the microchip, it disables your home sim such that you no longer are able to receive calls/smses until you switch back to your home sim. Pokefi, being a wifi pocket router, does not interfere with your home sim and you can continue receiving calls/smses as per normal.

Using it appears to be simple.

Holding on to the button for 3 seconds turns it on.

It may take between 30 seconds to 60 seconds to make a connection with the surrounding network. During the interim, it will be flashing red. Once connected, it will then flash green.

Holding on to the button for 5 seconds turns it off. There will still be one or two more green/red flashes but such flashes will not be as long and will end abruptly once the device turns itself off.

While there is no display showing the remaining amount of data or battery level, these information can be accessed via a link that you can key into your mobile browser (http://a.pokefi.). If you are connected to the device, this will bring up a dedicated page showing your usage and the existing battery level.

So far, while using it in Taiwan, I found the device to fair as good as the unit I rented from Changi during my Japan trip. My only suggestion is to keep a small battery bank with you when you carry this device around just in case you require some urgent juicing towards the end of the day or where multiple devices are connected. *Post Script- One factor is the temperature of the region you are in. I realised the battery drain is more obvious during summer months unlike the case when I was freezing in Korea*

Although the outlay is expensive initially, the cost savings add up quickly if you travel often. For example, my business trips are increasingly common and for longer periods. If I were to rent a unit from Changi, the costs would add up rather fast. A trip to Shanghai for just 6 days would cost me S$40 and another trip to Kaohsiung for 5 days would cost me another S$20. This would already be close to 1/3 the price of Pokefi! It may therefore make sense to actually buy one instead of renting especially if you are going to travel quite a fair bit or if you are visiting a data expensive region like Europe.

*Countries/Territories Pokefi was able to work in based on actual testing – Speeds might vary depending on network

• Asia
  • Greater China Region – Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Indonesia
• Europe
  • Spain
  • England
  • France

Countries/Territories Pokefi was unable to work in based on actual testing

• Asia
  • India

*This list is a work in progress. Will update list as I test the product out in different places.

Definitely a recommended product!

Troubleshooting Pokefi

• If solid green (i.e. not blinking) – Device is out of data. You can do an Instant topup by connecting to the Pokefi WiFi network. Open a browser, type in full address http://a.pokefi, there is a Pokefi device management page, choose Package. While the official FAQ suggest that you will need to change to another WiFi with internet connection to confirm payment, from my last experience topping up, this appears to be not the case. The data was topped up without an external wifi present.

Note: This, like all my other major reviews, is not sponsored products and are paid for using my hard earned cash. If you appreciate such posts, please remember to like and follow for more.

**Postscript: I have since reviewed another product by GlocalMe called GlocalMe U2. Do check it out here as it is a comparable alternative to Pokefi.