The BR1 Mini 5G is Peplink's affordable single-modem 5G mobile router, sized for fleet, branch and edge deployments where you need 5G but not the throughput or features of the BR1 Pro 5G. Single 5G modem, Wi-Fi 5, dual nano-SIM, fanless rugged metal case. 1-year PrimeCare bundled. SKU MAX-BR1-MINI-5GN-T-PRM, hardware revision HW2 with the Qualcomm X62 modem.
Designed for mass deployment. The price point and form factor make it sensible to roll out hundreds of these across a fleet, a retail estate or a public-safety network without compromising on Peplink's SD-WAN and InControl management.
What you get
- 5G with the X62 modem. Qualcomm X62, 3GPP Release 16 (5G Phase 2) support, sub-6 GHz NSA and SA, full UK and global band coverage. 2-way carrier aggregation across low and mid-band.
- 300 Mbps router throughput. The realistic ceiling for a single-modem mini-class router. Plenty for branch, vehicle and IoT workloads.
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). 2x2 MU-MIMO, simultaneous dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Recommended for 1-60 connected users.
- Dual nano-SIM, single active. Plus eSIM with two profiles. RemoteSIM via SIM Injector and FusionSIM compatible.
- Optional Ethernet WAN. Unlocked by PrimeCare (included for year 1) or the MAX-BR1-MINI-LC-FP feature pack licence. Up to 3x Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports.
- Wi-Fi as WAN. Also unlocked by PrimeCare. Bond cellular, Starlink (via Ethernet WAN) and Wi-Fi WAN with SpeedFusion.
- Fanless rugged metal case. Shock and vibration certified. Vent-less for fixed mobile installs.
- Vehicle-ready. Ignition sensing, 12V power supply included, supports DC direct wire (ACW-634) for hardwired vehicle installs.
- 1-year PrimeCare included. InControl 2 cloud, SpeedFusion peer entitlement, FusionHub licences, full feature pack (WAN activation, Wi-Fi WAN, Hot Failover, WAN Smoothing), warranty cover.
Built for
Fleet vehicles where 5G matters but cost matters more. Coaches, vans, taxis, public-safety vehicles. The price point allows wholesale fleet rollout where the BR1 Pro 5G would not be economic.
Retail and pop-up branches. 5G as primary at sites where wired broadband is impractical or temporary. Single SKU, push config from InControl, drop-ship to site.
Synergy Mode 5G adapter. Use the BR1 Mini 5G as a 5G adapter to bolt 5G onto an existing Peplink router. Cellular comes in via the Mini, hands off to the parent router over Ethernet WAN. Lower cost than buying the parent router with 5G factory-installed.
IoT and edge deployment. Connected vending, kiosks, signage, sensors, single-camera installs. Compact, rugged, cloud-managed.
The honest take
The BR1 Mini 5G is the right router for a specific use case: you need 5G connectivity, you need rugged fanless reliability, and you need it cheap enough to deploy at scale. It is not a sneaky alternative to the BR1 Pro 5G. The Pro is a meaningfully better router for SME branch or single-vehicle deployments where you want one good box. The Mini wins when economics dominate: when you're rolling out 50, 100 or 1,000 of these.
The single 5G modem is enough for most fleet workloads. A 300 Mbps router throughput sounds low until you measure typical fleet traffic: GPS telemetry, sensor data, voice, the occasional video upload. Real-world cellular speeds in the UK average 100-200 Mbps on 5G in good coverage, so the router rarely becomes the bottleneck.
Wi-Fi 5 is a deliberate choice. It adds throughput at the cost of complexity and price. For fleet and IoT, Wi-Fi 5 is plenty and the support footprint across older devices and hotspot users is wider.
PrimeCare unlocks the second WAN. Out of the box without PrimeCare, the Mini is a single-WAN router. With PrimeCare (included for year 1), Ethernet WAN, Wi-Fi WAN, Hot Failover, WAN Smoothing and Bandwidth Bonding all activate. Plan to renew PrimeCare or buy the MAX-BR1-MINI-LC-FP feature pack outright if you want those features after year one. We'll quote the renewal a few weeks before expiry.
SpeedFusion still works. 100 Mbps SpeedFusion VPN with 256-bit AES, 2 PepVPN peers built in, 5 with PrimeCare. Bond the cellular modem with Ethernet WAN or Starlink for hot failover and packet-loss smoothing. The same Peplink magic that makes the BR1 Pro 5G valuable, just at a smaller scale.
When it's not the right fit
Single-vehicle SME deployment. If you're buying one for your own van or RV, spend the extra and get the BR1 Pro 5G (HW3, X65, Wi-Fi 6, PoE input, Docker). The features compound when you actually use the router daily.
Dual-modem redundancy. The Mini has one 5G modem. For broadcast remotes, mission-critical fleet or any deployment where two cellular paths must be active simultaneously, look at the BR2 Pro 5G or MAX Transit Duo Pro.
Branch routing for many users. Above 60 active Wi-Fi users, the Mini's processor and Wi-Fi 5 chipset start to feel cramped. Step up to the BR1 Pro 5G or B One 5G.
Specifications
| Cellular | |
|---|---|
| Modem | 1x embedded 5G (Qualcomm X62) |
| 5G mode | NSA and SA, sub-6 GHz, 3GPP Release 16 |
| 5G bands (5GN, global) | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n28, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 |
| LTE bands | B1-B71 across major UK and global bands |
| Cellular throughput (theoretical) | 5G 4 Gbps DL / 700 Mbps UL |
| Wi-Fi | |
| Standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| MIMO | 2x2 MU-MIMO |
| Bands | Simultaneous dual-band 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz |
| Modes | AP and Wi-Fi-as-WAN (with PrimeCare or feature pack) |
| Networking | |
| Router throughput | 300 Mbps |
| WAN | 1x Optional Gigabit Ethernet (with PrimeCare or MAX-BR1-MINI-LC-FP) |
| LAN | Up to 3x Gigabit Ethernet |
| Recommended users | 1 to 60 |
| SpeedFusion | |
| Throughput (no encryption) | 200 Mbps |
| Throughput (256-bit AES) | 100 Mbps |
| Peers built in | 2 |
| Peers with PrimeCare | 5 |
| SIM and connectivity | |
| SIM slots | 2x Nano-SIM (4FF), single active |
| eSIM | Peplink eSIM, BYO eSIM (2 profiles, with PrimeCare) |
| Power | |
| AC adapter | 12V 2A 4-pin (ACW-632), UK plug supplied |
| DC input | 10-30V via Power Port, ignition sensing supported |
| Physical and environmental | |
| Form factor | Fanless, ventless rugged metal case |
| Operating temperature | -40°C to +65°C |
| Package dimensions | 238 x 162 x 60 mm, 800 g |
| Compliance | |
| Certifications | FCC, CE, RoHS, E-Mark, EN61373 shock and vibration |
| Management and warranty | |
| Management | InControl 2 cloud, web admin, REST API, Peplink App, InTouch |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (extendable via PrimeCare or PrimeCare+) |
What's in the box
- 1x BR1 Mini 5G (HW2) router
- 4x LTE/5G antennas (ACW-235)
- 2x dual-band Wi-Fi antennas (ACW-342)
- 1x 12V 2A 4-pin power supply with UK plug (ACW-632)
- Quick start guide
Recommended antennas
- Mobility 42G (ANT-MB-42G-S-B-6 black, ANT-MB-42G-S-W-6 white). 4x4 cellular plus Wi-Fi and GPS in a single low-profile dome. The standard recommendation for fleet vehicles.
- Antenna MAX (ANT-MAX). Enclosed 4x LTE/5G, 2x Wi-Fi, 1x GPS. IP67 for fixed outdoor and harsh environments.
- Slim 40G (ANT-SLM-40G-S-B-6). Low-profile alternative to Mobility 42G where roof-mount aesthetics matter.
Recommended add-ons
- PrimeCare extension (PRM-C-1Y/2Y/4Y or PCP-C-1Y/2Y/4Y for PrimeCare+). Renews InControl 2, peer counts, feature pack and warranty cover beyond year one.
- MAX-BR1-MINI-LC-FP feature pack. Permanent unlock of WAN activation, Wi-Fi WAN, Hot Failover and Smoothing as a one-off licence.
- 10ft DC power cable (ACW-634). For hardwired vehicle installs.
- Vehicle Cigarette to Molex Power Cable (ACW-643). For temporary or accessory-power installs.
- SpeedFusion Connect data plan. Bonded SD-WAN as a service, no FusionHub required.
How it compares
| BR1 Mini 5G (HW2) | BR1 Pro 5G (HW3) | B One 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5G modem | X62 (Phase 2) | X65 (latest) | X62 (Phase 2) |
| Router throughput | 300 Mbps | 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| WAN | 1 GbE optional (PrimeCare) | 1x 2.5 GbE | 1 GbE |
| LAN ports | Up to 3x GbE | 1x GbE | 4x GbE |
| SpeedFusion (AES) | 100 Mbps | 200 Mbps | 250 Mbps |
| PoE input | No | Yes (802.3at) | No |
| Form factor | Compact, vehicle-grade | Half-1U, vehicle-grade | Desktop |
| Recommended users | 1-60 | 1-150 | 1-100 |
| Best for | Fleet, IoT, mass deployment | SME vehicle, vessel, branch | Small office, retail back |
| Price (inc PrimeCare) | £509 | £939 | £559 |
Frequently asked questions
Why does the WAN port need PrimeCare to work?
Peplink unlocks the secondary WAN port (Ethernet or Wi-Fi as WAN) and SpeedFusion features as part of PrimeCare and the feature pack licence. Year 1 is bundled with the router. After that, renew PrimeCare or buy the MAX-BR1-MINI-LC-FP feature pack as a one-off perpetual unlock.
Is this compatible with Starlink?
Yes. Plug Starlink's Ethernet output into the WAN port (after PrimeCare or feature pack activates it). Bond it with cellular via SpeedFusion for instant failover and combined throughput.
What's "Synergy Mode"?
The BR1 Mini 5G can act as a pure 5G adapter that hands off to a parent Peplink router over Ethernet. Useful for retrofitting 5G onto an existing fleet without replacing the in-vehicle router.
What carriers is it certified for?
The 5GN (global) SKU works on EE, Vodafone, Three, O2 in the UK and major European carriers. The 5GK SKU adds North American carrier certifications. UK and EU buyers want 5GN.
Can I deploy at scale via InControl?
Yes. InControl Cloud Provisioning means configuration is pushed to the device before it leaves our warehouse. We can pre-configure 100 routers as easily as one.
Does the X62 hold up against the X65 in the BR1 Pro?
For most workloads, yes. The X62 is Phase 2 5G with carrier aggregation; the X65 has more bands and slightly better reception in marginal coverage. If your fleet operates in poor signal areas, the Pro is worth the upgrade. In typical UK and EU coverage, both perform similarly.
Resources
Need help choosing?
The Tech Factory is a Peplink Gold Partner with an in-house engineering team that deploys these globally. For mass-deployment scenarios we'll quote and design the deployment properly, including InControl Cloud Provisioning to push configuration before devices leave our warehouse.
Email info@thetechfactory.co.uk or call +44 (0)1788 550000.
Router-side SpeedFusion throughput: up to 80 Mbps unencrypted, 60 Mbps with 256-bit AES.