# Dedicated Mobile Proxies: Spotting True Device vs Port Marketing Most providers selling **dedicated mobile proxies** aren't lying exactly. They're just redefining "dedicated" in ways that'd make a marketing team proud. The expectation when paying premium rates is exclusive access to a mobile IP. What actually gets delivered is an exclusive port number that funnels traffic through a shared carrier pool sitting behind **CGNAT infrastructure**. Requests mix with dozens of other users who bought their own "dedicated" ports on the same device. When one of them triggers rate limits or suspicious activity flags, everyone sharing that IP block gets painted with the same brush. Most buyers don't realize this until they're troubleshooting failed sessions or unexpected bans. Understanding the **true dedicated vs port-based** distinction saves months of frustration. ## The CGNAT Shell Game Major providers market **dedicated mobile proxies** as if buyers are getting their own device. ProxyDize, IPRoyal, and similar platforms use language like "exclusive mobile connection" or "dedicated mobile IP" in their sales copy. Technically true if you squint hard enough. What they deliver is **port-based isolation** on shared hardware. One physical device runs multiple proxy instances, each assigned a unique port. Connection happens through a specific port, but the underlying mobile connection cycles through a carrier-managed IP pool under **[Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT)](https://blog.cloudflare.com/detecting-cgn-to-reduce-collateral-damage/)**. CGNAT was designed to [conserve IPv4 addresses](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/glossary/what-is-my-ip-address/) by letting hundreds of subscribers share a single public IP. Mobile carriers love it because spectrum is expensive and address space is finite. Proxy providers love it because they can sell the same device 10-20 times over. When multiple customers connect through different ports on one device, they're all routing through the same carrier IP pool. One bad actor triggers anti-fraud systems, and the entire IP range gets flagged - affecting everyone on that device. Session stability suffers too. Mobile carriers [rotate CGNAT IPs aggressively](https://www.spamhaus.org/resource-hub/network-security/the-conundrum-that-is-the-modern-use-of-nat-at-a-carrier-grade-level/), sometimes every 2-4 minutes during high-traffic periods. The "dedicated" connection drops mid-session because the carrier reassigned the IP to balance load across their network. There's no way to control rotation timing, can't lock a specific IP, and can't guarantee the next IP in the pool hasn't been burned by someone else's scraping job yesterday. Point is, nothing is being dedicated. It's renting priority access to a shared resource. ## What True Device Dedication Actually Means **Dedicated 5G/LTE devices** flip this model completely. Instead of port access to shared hardware, the arrangement provides an entire physical device with its own SIM card. One customer, one device, one SIM, one mobile connection. VoidMob provisions actual smartphones or LTE modems with active carrier SIMs. When connecting, that device's network interface belongs to only one user. No port multiplexing, no CGNAT pool sharing, no mystery neighbors triggering rate limits. The IP gets assigned directly by the carrier to the device's SIM. It's still dynamic (mobile IPs rotate by design), but rotation happens on a schedule based on carrier policy for that specific SIM, not because other users are hammering the same connection. Clean mobile IPs stay clean because nobody else can touch them. Session stability improves dramatically. True device [mobile proxies](/proxies) typically maintain connections for 30-60 minutes before carrier-initiated rotation. Port-based alternatives often show frequent rotations with connection instability during IP switches. This difference is one of the easiest ways to **test if a proxy is truly dedicated** - just monitor session duration under continuous use. ## Technical Architecture Behind Real Dedication Carrier-direct providers run farms of physical devices. Usually mid-range Android phones or industrial LTE modems, each with an active SIM from major carriers. These aren't virtualized instances or containerized proxies - they're actual hardware sitting on shelves, connected to cell towers. When purchasing a **1:1 mobile proxy**, assignment includes a specific device serial number. That device's network interface gets configured to route traffic exclusively. Connection happens through [SOCKS5](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1928) or VPN with dedicated DNS to prevent leaks and maintain protocol flexibility. Full device control enables changing **p0f fingerprint** parameters by installing custom browser profiles or adjusting [TLS handshake behavior](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/transport-layer-security-tls/). Port-based proxies lock users into whatever fingerprint the shared device presents, usually a generic server signature that screams "proxy" to sophisticated detection systems. Dedicated [DNS](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/what-is-dns/) matters more than most realize. Shared proxy pools often route DNS queries through public resolvers or datacenter DNS, creating a mismatch between the mobile IP and the DNS resolver's location. Anti-fraud systems flag this instantly. True device setups route DNS through the same mobile carrier network, keeping the entire connection profile consistent. ## Identifying Marketing vs Reality Most providers won't explicitly admit they're selling port access to shared devices. Reading between the lines in their technical specs becomes necessary. Use this checklist to **verify dedicated proxy** claims before committing. **Red Flags Checklist:** - **Pricing under $50/month** - True dedicated devices cost $50-150/month because providers can't oversell hardware. One customer per phone means higher per-unit cost. If "dedicated mobile" pricing seems too good to be true, someone else is sharing that device. - **Multiple simultaneous connections allowed** - True dedicated devices support one active session because there's one network interface. Port-based systems sell multiple connections on the same "dedicated" proxy by opening more ports on shared hardware. - **No CGNAT disclosure in documentation** - Honest providers mention carrier pooling or CGNAT somewhere in their specs. Others bury it in vague language about "mobile IP rotation" without explaining why rotation happens so frequently. - **No short-term plans available** - Providers confident in their infrastructure offer monthly options. If they only sell quarterly or annual contracts with no flexibility, they're banking on lock-in over quality. - **Vague answers about IP exclusivity** - Ask directly: "Will any other customer ever use the same IP address as me?" True dedication means only one answer is acceptable. ### Questions to Ask Before Buying Before committing to any "dedicated" mobile proxy, get clear answers to these questions: 1. **"Is this an exclusive mobile IP or exclusive port access?"** - Forces the provider to clarify architecture. Port access ≠ device dedication. 2. **"How many other customers share the same carrier IP pool?"** - If they deflect or say "it's dedicated to you," push for specifics about infrastructure. 3. **"What's the typical session duration before carrier-initiated IP rotation?"** - True devices show 30-90 minutes. Port-based often rotates every 2-15 minutes. 4. **"Do you offer monthly plans or only long-term contracts?"** - Quality providers don't need lock-in. Monthly flexibility signals confidence in their infrastructure. 5. **"Will reconnecting give me the same IP or a different one from a pool?"** - True dedicated hardware returns the same IP on reconnect. Pool-based systems assign whatever's available. ## Common Pitfalls and Prevention The biggest mistake is assuming "dedicated" means the same thing across providers. It doesn't. ### Pitfall #1: Not Testing Early Always verify the architecture in your first few days. Test session persistence under load - open a connection, run continuous requests for 30 minutes, monitor IP changes. Port-based proxies typically show multiple IP rotations. True devices show minimal or no rotations during the same period. Start with monthly plans when testing a new provider. The flexibility to switch costs less than being locked into infrastructure that doesn't perform. ### Pitfall #2: Ignoring IP Intelligence Tools Monitor for IP overlap using third-party verification. If the setup is supposedly dedicated but tools like [IPQualityScore](https://www.ipqualityscore.com/documentation/proxy-detection-api/overview) show the IP has been seen from multiple ASNs or geolocations simultaneously, it's a shared pool. Run these checks weekly, not just at signup. Some providers start customers on clean IPs then migrate them to busier pools after the honeymoon period. ### Pitfall #3: Assuming Bans Are Your Fault Watch ban rates across platforms. An **exclusive mobile IP** from a dedicated device rarely triggers instant bans on major platforms. If you're seeing immediate blocks on fresh accounts or sessions, the IP is likely contaminated from previous users. Shared CGNAT pools get flagged regularly because other customers burned them. Before blaming your automation setup or fingerprint configuration, [test whether upgrading from shared to dedicated](/blog/when-to-upgrade-shared-to-dedicated-proxies) solves the problem. ### Pitfall #4: Overlooking DNS Consistency Your proxy IP might be clean, but if DNS queries route through mismatched resolvers, detection systems notice. Platforms correlate IP geolocation with DNS resolver location. A mobile IP from Chicago routing DNS through a datacenter in Frankfurt raises flags. True dedicated setups route DNS through the carrier network, maintaining geographic and network consistency across the entire connection profile. Connect to the "dedicated" proxy and check the IP. Disconnect completely, wait 30 seconds, reconnect. If the same IP appears immediately, it's likely true dedicated hardware. Port-based systems usually assign different pool IPs each connection. For more on identifying proxy quality and managing [sessions effectively](/blog/avoid-proxy-bans-fingerprinting-session-management), the fingerprint consistency between your proxy and browser profile matters as much as IP reputation. ## FAQ ## Wrapping Up **Dedicated mobile proxies** should mean exactly that - dedicated hardware under exclusive control. Port marketing has muddied the waters, turning "dedicated" into a term that describes access level rather than actual resource allocation. When exclusivity matters (account management, high-volume operations, anything requiring clean mobile IPs), verify getting true device dedication with carrier-direct SIM assignment. Anything less is just premium-priced port access to shared infrastructure. For a broader comparison between [dedicated vs shared mobile proxy architectures](/blog/mobile-dedicated-vs-shared-proxies), understanding when each makes sense depends heavily on your specific workload requirements.

#Cgnat

Dedicated Mobile Proxies: True Device vs Port Marketing