Peplink MAX BR1 Mini 5G (Wi-Fi)
#3 in RoutersFull review
For RV and van owners who want a compact 12 V 5G router with Peplink failover and don’t need gigabit routing.
Amazon $830$830
The Peplink MAX BR1 Mini 5G (Wi-Fi) is the better cellular router overall, rated 3.7 to 3.5. The Peplink MAX BR1 Mini 5G (Wi-Fi) leads on multi-WAN. The Ericsson Cradlepoint R980 wins on power draw and wiFi. The Peplink MAX BR1 Mini 5G (Wi-Fi) costs $195 less ($830 vs $1,025).
Prices were last checked November 4, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon or the retailer's site at the time of purchase apply. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Ericsson Cradlepoint R980
#7 in RoutersFull review
For full-time RVers and fleet owners who want a rugged 5G router with eSIM and dual-carrier flexibility.
Amazon $1,025$1,025
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Peplink MAX BR1 Mini 5G (Wi-Fi) for multi-WAN (SpeedFusion bonding vs WAN failover).
- Choose the Ericsson Cradlepoint R980 for power draw (11 W published vs 13 W published) and wiFi (Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band concurrent 2x2 MU-MIMO vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) dual-band 2x2 MIMO).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every routers cellular router; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Peplink MAX BR1 Mini 5G (Wi-Fi) | Ericsson Cradlepoint R980 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.7/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Price 20% | 5 $830 | 0 $1,025 |
| Modem speed 15% | 96 3,400 Mbps peak downlink | 96 3,400 Mbps peak downlink |
| SIM slots 8% | 100 2 SIM slots plus eSIM | 100 2 SIM slots plus eSIM |
| Antenna ports 15% | 100 4 external antenna connectors | 100 4 external antenna connectors |
| Multi-WAN 10% | 100 SpeedFusion bonding | 40 WAN failover |
| 12 V input 10% | 100 10-30 V DC input | 100 9-36 V DC input |
| Power draw 10% | 17 13 W published | 33 11 W published |
| WiFi 5% | 45 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) dual-band 2x2 MIMO | 70 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band concurrent 2x2 MU-MIMO |
| Warranty 7% | 0 1-year warranty | 0 warranty not published, scored as none |
Specifications
| Peplink MAX BR1 Mini 5G (Wi-Fi) | Ericsson Cradlepoint R980 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cellular | ||
| Modem | 5G sub-6 NSA/SA, LTE Cat 20 | 5G sub-6 NSA/SA, LTE Cat 19 fallback (R980-5GD) |
| Peak downlink | 3,400 Mbps | 3,400 Mbps |
| mmWave | No | No |
| Bands | 5G n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n13, n14, n18, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79; LTE B1-B5, B7, B8, B12-B14, B17-B20, B25, B26, B28-B30, B32, B34, B38-B43, B46, B48, B66, B71 | 5G n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n13, n14, n18, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79; LTE B1-B5, B7, B8, B12-B14, B17-B20, B25, B26, B28-B30, B32, B34, B38-B43, B46, B48, B66, B71 |
| Carriers | AT&T, Verizon, FirstNet certified; T-Mobile pending | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Telstra certified; FirstNet Trusted, Verizon Frontline |
| SIM slots | 2 | 2 |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| External antenna connectors | 4 | 4 |
| Antenna connector type | SMA | SMA |
| Network | ||
| Ethernet ports | 3 (1 Gbps) | 2 (1 Gbps) |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) dual-band 2x2 MIMO | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band concurrent 2x2 MU-MIMO |
| Multi-WAN | Bonding | Failover |
| Power and build | ||
| Power input | 10-30 V DC power port; 802.3at PoE input; 12 V AC adapter | 9-36 V DC (4-pin Molex Micro-Fit); ignition sensing |
| Power draw | 13 W | 11 W |
| Operating temperature | -40 to 65 C (-40 to 149 F) | -30 to 70 C (-22 to 158 F) |
| Weight | 425 g | 601 g |
| Warranty | 1 year | - |
| Released | 2025-01-27 | 2024-09-13 |