TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73)- Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, High-Speed ax Router for Streaming, Long Range Coverage

There are many routers claiming to be fast and support the max speed of the wifi 6 protocol. However, most routers fall short terribly. Some heat up like a toaster like AX3000 and some don't have the processing power i.e. the required number of CPUs to quickly process the packets by 20+ devices. Further, some are $300+ which kind of brings the affordability into play.This router however finds the right balance in all the features which I was looking to upgrade. I was looking in the range of about $100 and tried to AX3000. However, it heats up too fast and then starts to thermal throttle the speed and doesn't even stay connected with the clients like a laptop or mobile devices. I have tried a Netgear router from Costco AX4300 but fall short when around 20 devices are connected to it and don't support the mesh networking.Features which I wanted and like:Range:This device has a superb range by itself and covers my home pretty easily. I see I have a good wifi signal at all ends of my home and I live in a 2-floor apartment with the router placed upstairs.Mesh:I like to receive a good network in my backyard as well and so I have added a RE505X which costs another 80 bucks but saves money on my mobile data plan as I don't invest in an unlimited data plan. There is only 1 SSID that is broadcasted and it automatically switches based on where I am in the home.Heat:Some routers heat up and create a fire hazard and also have the probability of breaking down sooner than I like them to. This is not the case with this one and it stays relatively cooler and never experienced any slowing down of the network. I have touched it to check several times and it's good.Setup:The setup was really easy. The basic setup can be done in minutes and there is no RnD required. The tether app is pretty cool for basic setup. I also have requirements for static IP based on mac address and port forwarding. Both of them are easy to configure. They also have support for dynamic DNS so you can easily host your basic website in your home network. For this, I need static IP address reservation and port forwarding.Parental controls:This is a real plus that allows me to block youtube or any site whenever I need to get my kid away from the TV.Reboot schedule:I like to have a reboot schedule which is good this router has it and very easy to set up.LED lights:This router allows to turn off led lights and I like it that way once the setup is complete.Summary:I think its a router for average home with right balance of ease of use and price and features.Note: I have not been paid for this review and have bought the router with my own money.2 Weeks Update:Going strong with over 20 devices connected, no disconnections reported by anyone in device. I have 3 heavy internet users at home. No heating issues, range is good.4 Months Update:Working perfectly for 4 months. No issues.2 year updateStill works as new with no issues

Do you remember when you could type in the IP of your router and access the admin menu to setup your device and network without downloading an APP? TP-Link Remembers! There is an app if you are an app-inclined person, but you aren't forced to use it. You can legit set this router up fully from the admin login through a connected browser. The range is great, the speed is exactly as specified, the firmware update is accessed through the admin page, the advanced settings actually work. I am actually happy with a modern tech device, that's saying something. The only complaint I have is they wrapped every inch of the device in plastic including the antennas, which were a pain to remove, but I guess in the age of people selling used items as new ones (looking at you "renewed device" sellers), that's a fact of packaging. Seriously though, for the price you get a very capable router that can be setup fully through the admin login without the APP.

The TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73) is a big upgrade! You can set it up easily through a browser, and the app is really cool if you prefer using it. The range is excellent, the speed is as promised, and it handles 30+ devices without any drops. Streaming, uploading, and downloading work smoothly with no lag. Setup was quick, and most devices connected right away. The price is reasonable, and overall, this router is fast, reliable, and a great value.

I started with a 2-star review for this, but have since revised it to 4. I've come to realize that compared with competing products, what it can be reasonably expected to do, it seems to do pretty well so far. Setup was easy, features seem solid, coverage has been pretty good. Read on for more detail:First, my gripes and the basis of my initial 2-star review:I picked this up along with a new Motorola 8600 for an 800 Mb cable internet upgrade. I set it up, connecting my PC directly through one of the GB wired ports on my TP Link 5400AX, and speed was around 300 Mb. I initially assumed it was a Comcast problem, but they just came out and tested the internet coming out of the modem, which tested at over 800 Mb. The router seems to be failing to route at anywhere near the speeds needed.Why giving this a 2-star review because of this horrendous issue would be misleading:First, a 300 Mb internet routing limit probably won't be an issue for most users. But if you have a higher speed plan and you're someone who intends to fully utilize it, it's a big problem. I was initially very displeased with the performance of this device. Indeed, I think it's pretty shady for TPLink to market speeds that it can't deliver. However, in researching competing products and combing through the reviews, basically everything I could find under $400 from EVERYONE, including Asus, Linksys, Netgear, all has stories of the exact same thing - actual speeds well under the router port speeds, and similar to what I observed with my 5400AX. Maybe lan and wireless lan is close to advertised speeds, I'm not sure - that doesn't represent a huge use case for me so I haven't tested it. I'd be willing to bet it performs better and the routing capacity is where the throttling occurs. But point being my big issue with the product seems to be shared by all the other competing in-category products, so it wouldn't be very informative to give a 1-2 star review. If you want a wireless router that is going to route at greater than 600 Mb, as far as I can tell it's going to run $350+, and even those I found seemed to have stories of throttling, connectivity, and firmware issues. Here's the path I wound up taking instead:After lots more research I ordered a Ubiquiti Edgerouter 4 (basically every other wired router I found, including lesser Ubiquiti models, ALSO suffered the same issue of throttled speeds way under port speeds). I'll be connecting that to my modem and combining that with my 5400 AX in AP-mode to provide wireless lan, and a gigabit switch for wired connectivity. I'm pretty optimistic this will provide the connection speeds I want, at least 800 Mb for wired, and decent coverage/speed for the price point via wireless through this device. I can't say from experience yet but it's worth noting that Ubiquiti routers are not renowned for being easy to configure - if you aren't familiar with configuring network equipment this may not be a good design for you, or you might need to line up some help to pull it off.Summary: If you have 400 Mb or slower internet, this is a solid buy, as far as I can tell after reading dozens of reviews, no worse than anything else remotely in the price range. If you have higher than 400 Mb internet and want to actually get those speeds, you'll probably need to look CLOSELY (look deep in those reviews for reviewers who had your internet speed or faster, with the exact model you're looking at, and actually speed tested their connection after setting up - basic users won't even be aware this kind of issue exists) at higher end routers in the $350+ range (I didn't find one I was comfortable with after reading all the reviews), or run this in AP-only mode in conjunction with a wired router that you know will handle your ISP connection speed (again, read those reviews closely and look for speed tests). Splitting functions out this way is a bit more involved, but can reduce exposure to a single expensive device failing on you, which is kinda nice. Stories abound of such failures in the review pages of the high end wifi routers.

I kept getting weak signals all over my house, and was constantly being kicked out of my online game. Needless to say, this device was easy to install, and installing it....solved all of my problems. Works well in a 3,500 square foot house, with all of my numerous streaming devices. So far I am very satisfied.