In today’s travel-connected world, staying online while exploring new places is essential. Whether it’s navigating foreign cities, using ride-hailing apps, booking tickets, or sharing travel photos, a dependable internet connection makes the trip smoother. Two popular solutions for tourists are eSIMs and pocket WiFi devices. While both help you get online abroad, eSIMs — and in particular RORO eSIM — offer several advantages that often make them a better choice for modern travelers.
eSIM vs Pocket WiFi: What’s the Difference?
Before exploring why eSIMs are generally superior for tourists, let’s define the two:
eSIM (embedded SIM): A virtual SIM built into your smartphone that lets you download a travel data plan directly to your device. You don’t insert a physical SIM card — instead, you install the eSIM profile via QR code or digital activation.
Pocket WiFi: A physical mobile hotspot device you rent or buy that creates a personal Wi-Fi network wherever you go. Your phone, tablet, or laptop connects over Wi-Fi to the pocket device, which uses local mobile networks for internet.
Both methods provide data abroad, but their user experience, cost, and convenience differ significantly.
1. Convenience and Ease of Use
eSIMs are a digital, all-in-one solution. With RORO eSIM, you can purchase and install your travel data plan before you leave home — no waiting at airport kiosks or local SIM shops. Once installed on your phone, it works automatically when you arrive, connecting to local networks without any extra hardware.
In contrast, pocket WiFi requires:
Renting or buying a device
Carrying the device physically
Charging it daily
Passing it among traveling companions
For solo travelers or backpackers, this extra gear adds unnecessary complexity.
2. No Extra Devices to Carry or Charge
When you use RORO eSIM, your connectivity is managed entirely through your phone. That means:
No extra device to remember or lose
No separate battery to recharge each day
No bulky pocket WiFi unit in your bag
These small conveniences matter a lot when you’re navigating crowded airports, public transport, or tourism sites with a heavy travel load.
3. Cost and Value
Pocket WiFi often comes with rental fees, deposit charges, and sometimes daily rates that add up quickly — especially for longer trips. You may also pay extra if you damage the device or return it late.
With RORO eSIM, you pay only for your data plan:
No rental or equipment fees
No deposit
Flexible plan lengths (from a few days to weeks or months)
Easy online purchase and top-ups
Because RORO’s plans connect directly to local carriers’ networks (including 3G/4G/5G), you get the same mobile internet service without the hidden costs pocket WiFi sometimes carries.
4. Better Mobility and Coverage
Pocket WiFi acts as a small Wi-Fi hotspot — but your experience is still limited to the coverage footprint of that mini-router. If you step outside the coverage area or if the device itself loses signal, all your connected devices go offline.
RORO eSIM connects directly to local cellular networks the moment your phone detects them. This typically provides:
Broader coverage, especially in urban and suburban areas
Stronger signal because there’s no intermediate device
Fewer connection drops because your phone connects natively
For tourists exploring large cities or traveling between towns, an eSIM often feels more stable and seamless.
5. Sharing and Device Compatibility
Pocket WiFi can share internet with multiple devices — that’s a genuine advantage if you are traveling with a group. However, many of RORO’s eSIM plans support mobile hotspot/tethering too, letting you share your data with a laptop or tablet when needed. Just check your specific plan’s terms for limits on hotspot data.
Meanwhile, not all devices support pocket WiFi equally — and tethering multiple devices can drain the router’s battery quickly, while your phone’s battery is easier to manage and recharge with a single cable.
6. Security and Privacy
With pocket WiFi, you create a shared hotspot, and all connected devices see the same network — which can pose security risks on public networks if not properly encrypted. By contrast, an eSIM like RORO’s inherently connects via a secure mobile data network specific to your device and plan, reducing exposure to public Wi-Fi vulnerabilities. Your personal data traffic remains encrypted as with any mobile data connection.
7. Ease of Setup Before Travel
One of the biggest time-savvy advantages of RORO eSIM is that you can set up before departure:
Purchase your plan online
Download the eSIM via QR code or on-screen activation
Have connectivity ready upon landing
With pocket WiFi, you often need to rent or pick up a device at the airport counter or a local store — a process that often involves time, lines, and extra interactions first thing after arrival.
