Why is the data traffic recorded on two devices using the Things Mobile SIM card different, even though the consumption should be identical?

The difference in recorded data traffic on devices may be caused by several factors. Here are some possible reasons:

Traffic session management: Devices may manage traffic sessions differently. Some devices may maintain longer sessions, while others may create shorter sessions, which can affect the recorded traffic.
Metering in data chunks: Things Mobile's billing system typically uses 1 kB chunks. However, there are exceptions for some operators in specific countries, where the metering is done in 10 kB chunks. You can find a list of these operators and their respective countries in your pay-as-you-go plan details (both for private and business users). Therefore, even very small data consumption (e.g., 0.5 kB) could be rounded up to 1 kB, or in some cases, to 10 kB, leading to slight differences in recorded traffic.
Background updates and apps: Some devices, such as routers, may perform automatic updates, sync data, or run apps in the background that consume data, even without the user's knowledge. This can cause higher data consumption compared to devices that do not have such activities running.
Network technology and signal quality: Devices connecting to different network technologies (e.g., 4G+ vs. 3G/4G) may record different data usage due to varying efficiencies in data transmission. Additionally, weak signals may lead to increased retransmissions, which can raise the overall traffic.
Connection management (NAT): Routers, especially those managing multiple devices simultaneously, tend to generate additional traffic for managing the connections, compared to devices like mobile hotspots, which are usually used by a single device.

If data usage appears abnormal, it is recommended to monitor the settings of each device to identify apps or processes that might be consuming data in the background. If the issue persists, please contact support for further checks.