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Connecting to a mobile hotspot can be great in a pinch, but can you use your smartphone to replace your whole home's internet? While the short answer is yes, your connection's effectiveness will vary based on your carrier and where you live. As with basic call reception, the strength of a mobile hotspot depends on your location, but your network provider also plays a role in whether or not it makes sense to use your phone's mobile hotspot for home internet.

With the advances of 5G now taking hold across most major U.S. cities, those who live within the urban sprawl might find that it's faster than their home connection. Those in rural areas, however, will likely find that the cellular connection just isn't good enough to use their phone properly let alone as a mobile hotspot.…