Summary
I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Flip 5 as my secondary smartphone ever since I bought it in 2023. Recently, though, its damaged flex cable—which causes the phone to shut down whenever it’s folded—forced me to rethink its role. Spending several hundred dollars on a repair didn’t seem worthwhile, especially since my iPhone 16 Pro Max had already become my primary device. At the same time, I wasn’t ready to retire a phone that still worked perfectly well as long as it remained unfolded.
Instead of letting it sit unused, I turned it into a dedicated mobile hotspot. The phone already had an active SIM card with a mobile data plan, so keeping it powered on made far more sense than leaving it in a drawer. While I could simply use my iPhone for tethering, I’d rather avoid draining its battery or charging it multiple times throughout the day.
Having a second phone that’s always ready to keep my PC connected has proven invaluable over the past year, particularly because my ISP schedules monthly maintenance and occasionally experiences unexpected outages.
Wi-Fi Hotspot
The Fastest and Most Convenient Way to Share Mobile Data
It’s probably no surprise that Wi-Fi hotspot tops my list. Whenever my internet connection goes down unexpectedly or during scheduled maintenance, it’s the quickest way to get back online.
There’s no need to search for cables or additional accessories. Since the phone stays on my desk, I simply open Settings → Connections → Mobile Hotspot and Tethering, enable Mobile Hotspot, and within seconds it appears among the available Wi-Fi networks on my PC, just like my home router.
I use this setup so frequently that I no longer have to enter the password manually.
To maximize performance, I’ve configured the hotspot to use the 5GHz band instead of 2.4GHz. Because the phone sits right next to my desktop, I don’t need the additional range offered by 2.4GHz, and the faster connection is a worthwhile trade-off.
This setup also allows me to keep my iPad and MacBook connected whenever my fiber internet goes offline. The ability to provide internet access to virtually any Wi-Fi-enabled device without plugging in a single cable is what makes this method so practical.
USB Tethering
A Wired Connection Is Worth It When Latency Matters
While Wi-Fi hotspot is unmatched for convenience, there are situations where I’d rather avoid wireless networking altogether.
For example, if my internet fails while I’m playing Valorant, I don’t immediately switch to Wi-Fi hotspot mode. Although it gets me back online, I’ve consistently noticed that my latency is around 7–10ms higher compared to using USB tethering.
When you’re playing competitively, every millisecond matters.
That’s why I’d rather spend an extra minute connecting a USB cable than deal with higher ping throughout an entire match.
Setting it up couldn’t be much simpler. I enable USB tethering from the same Mobile Hotspot and Tethering menu, and Windows recognizes it almost instantly as a wired network connection.
If my goal is simply to reconnect my desktop, plugging in a cable isn’t much of a compromise. Better yet, I can continue broadcasting a Wi-Fi hotspot simultaneously, allowing my iPad or MacBook to stay connected while my PC benefits from the lower-latency wired connection.
Ethernet Tethering
An Overlooked Feature That Can Be Surprisingly Useful
I’ll admit that this is the method I use the least.
In most situations, USB tethering accomplishes the same task with far less effort. Ethernet tethering requires both a USB-C to Ethernet adapter and an Ethernet cable, making it a less convenient solution.
However, there are situations where it becomes surprisingly valuable.
If a device doesn’t include a USB-C port or simply doesn’t support USB tethering, but you still prefer a wired connection over Wi-Fi, Ethernet tethering provides an excellent alternative.
One example is my LG C8 OLED TV.
Since USB tethering isn’t supported on the TV, I can connect my phone directly to its Ethernet port using a USB-C to Ethernet adapter and continue streaming without relying on a wireless connection.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I needed this setup because it’s less convenient than the alternatives, but it’s reassuring to know the option is available.
Considering that USB-C to Ethernet adapters can cost as little as $10, it’s an inexpensive accessory that’s worth keeping around for those occasional situations where it becomes useful.
Why I Still Haven’t Traded In My Old Phone
Before the flex cable issue made folding the device unreliable, I primarily used my Galaxy Z Flip 5 as an NFC wallet.
Even after switching to the iPhone, I never considered trading it in because, aside from the folding mechanism, the phone continued to function normally.
Rather than allowing it to collect dust, I’d much rather give it a practical purpose—like keeping me connected whenever my ISP decides to interrupt my evening.
For now, I expect it to remain my dedicated hotspot device until the battery eventually reaches the end of its life.