The Ryoko Pro Portable WiFi Router has been everywhere lately. Every time I opened Facebook or Instagram, there it was, “fast internet anywhere,” “perfect for travel,” “secure mobile connection,” and a whole list of promises that sounded a little too perfect.
I travel a lot between cities and sometimes work from cafes, so I finally gave in and bought the Ryoko Pro to see if it could actually replace spotty public WiFi or my phone’s hotspot. After a few weeks of trying it out, here’s exactly what happened.
First Impressions and Setup
When the package arrived, the first thing I noticed was how light the device is. It looks clean and simple, and it doesn’t take much space in a bag. Setting it up wasn’t hard, but the instructions were vague. I had to read them twice to understand how to insert the SIM and change the settings.
The box does come with a SIM, but the part nobody tells you clearly is that it relies on local mobile networks in whatever country you’re in. There is no magical WiFi signal it creates out of thin air, it’s basically a tiny hotspot working like your phone.
Speed and Real-World Performance
Here’s the honest truth: the performance depends entirely on the network around you.
In places where my phone already had strong 4G, the Ryoko Pro did okay. It wasn’t faster than my phone’s hotspot, but it worked well enough for emails, videos, and messaging.
But the moment I went into an area with weaker coverage, it struggled badly.
Pages took long to load, video calls froze, and sometimes it disconnected for no reason. I tried resetting it a few times, but it didn’t change much.
I compared it with my phone’s hotspot side-by-side. My phone consistently performed better. That was my first red flag.
Battery Life
The battery lasts around 6 hours with moderate use, and less if you’re streaming or using it nonstop. It’s not terrible, but not great either. I ended up carrying a power bank because I couldn’t trust it to last a whole workday.
Where the Marketing Gets Misleading
This is where my frustration grew.
Most of the ads make it sound like:
- it works everywhere
- it boosts speed
- you get “secure” private internet
- it’s some advanced travel-tech device
But the truth is:
- it works only where the local SIM gets signal
- speeds depend on that same network
- the “security” is just a regular password-protected hotspot
- it’s not faster than your phone
The marketing makes it sound like a magical portable WiFi box. It’s not.
Red Flags I Noticed After Buying It
I wish I had seen these before purchasing:
1. The website gives vague technical details
There’s no clear information about supported bands, exact speed limits, or which networks it partners with.
2. The same product exists under many different names
Several sites sell identical-looking routers under different brand names. That’s usually a sign of dropshipping.
3. Customer complaints online show a pattern
I came across people saying they:
- never received their order
- got a different product than what the ad showed
- struggled to get refunds
- had very slow speeds
- received canned email responses from support
My own customer service experience wasn’t great either, replies were slow and not helpful.
Is the Ryoko Pro Portable WiFi Router Worth the Money?
For me, no.
It’s not completely useless, it does work, but it doesn’t live up to the hype that the ads push so aggressively. It’s basically a pocket hotspot with average performance that depends heavily on the local 4G network.
If you’re expecting:
- fast WiFi anywhere
- boosted speeds
- reliable travel internet
- something better than your phone
You’ll likely be disappointed, because it doesn’t deliver that.
I feel like the money would have been better spent on:
- a proper portable hotspot from a known brand
- a second SIM plan
- or even just increasing my phone’s data plan
Conclusion
After using the Ryoko Pro Portable WiFi Router for a few weeks, I can say it’s more marketing than magic. It works, but not in the impressive way the ads suggest. It’s fine for basic browsing when you already have good network coverage, but it’s nowhere near the “ultimate travel WiFi solution” it’s advertised as.
If you were considering buying it for travel or remote work, think twice. You might save yourself the frustration and the money, by choosing a more reliable alternative.
Check out Horsepower Scrubber I reviewed earlier.