TP-Link Archer AXE75 router – the cheapest WiFi 6E router on the market

TP-Link Archer AXE75 router

The TP-Link Archer AXE75 – AXE5400 router is the first standalone Wi-Fi 6E router. On the plus side, the AXE5400 offers higher Wi-Fi speeds. On the minus side, as an entry-level 6E router, the price scale has tilted towards the price in relation to the functionality. Still, you can enter the realm of 6E WiFi for a reasonable price of around 230 Canadian dollars. This makes it the cheapest Wi-Fi 6E router on the market.

My experience with TP-Link’s range of routers has been excellent. You can check out previous impressions for the AC5400 and AX6000 here; The former a 5GHz router and the latter a 6GHz router. These reviews not only cover the strengths of both routers, but also provide background information on TP-Link. Also, check out our impressions of the AX11000, which also explains what Wi-Fi 6 is all about.

The AXE5400 stylistically carries the same aesthetic as the AX6000 in a smaller form factor. It’s all black Deco style with a wedge of piano black plastic placed diagonally across the top. I remember marveling at how light the AX6000 is compared to the AC5400 in comparison. My amazement deepened at the featherweight of the AXE5400, even considering the device’s smaller size and entry-level model.

While the AXE5400 is smaller compared to the previously mentioned brethren, it is a capable router backed by the latest technological advances. The big feature is that Wi-Fi 6E makes an entire frequency spectrum available. 2.4 and 5.0 GHz bands are becoming increasingly congested. The 6E band has only been available for a few years, so you won’t be competing with your neighbors for a while.

Woe to Wi-Fi 6E!!!!!!

Wi-Fi 6E also improves the ability to handle many more devices without significant performance loss. Other benefits include lower latency due to larger spectrum and higher throughput. In practice, I can confirm that. With the AX6000, I wasn’t able to fully test its 6G functionality as I didn’t own any 6G-enabled devices at the time. I do it this time. Two, to be precise: a PS5 and a Quest 2 VR headset.

Using the Quest 2 as my main Wi-Fi 6 test device, I was able to test the 6 GHz bands for both the AX6000 and AXE5400. I’ve seen a nice 30% speed increase for Wi-Fi 6, from 866 bps to 1200 bps. The only downside is that the range for 6GHz WiFi is much shorter, so the speed boost is only in plain sight. Leaving the room where the router is located will cause a big drop in speed. For those who want to take full advantage of their wireless VR headsets, Wi-Fi 6 and 6E routers are the way to go.

Setting up a TP-Link router just keeps getting easier. It’s almost become a plug’n’play experience. I had the router up and running in less than 15 minutes. TP-Link also offers a mobile app for Android and iOS devices that allows you to control the router from your smartphone. The Tether app allows you to connect to the router remotely via the cloud. You can see how many devices/clients are connected to the router and further control is allowed. You can prioritize each client – for example, my wife’s iPad, which is heavily used on the top floor, gets Internet bandwidth considered first over other devices.

The Tether app also comes with a HomeCare app suite that can customize internet content to a user’s profile. Parents can enable parental controls to prevent their children from accessing material deemed inappropriate. Antivirus protection is also available, which can be enabled or disabled.

Lots of customization features

Then there is the QOS – Quality of Service. This nifty utility lets you customize how the TP-Link AXE5400 handles internet usage. You can prioritize the gaming, streaming, surfing, downloading or chatting usage categories. Each Wi-Fi category can be assigned a priority: Low, Normal, or High. Very easy to use and very handy.

There’s even built-in Amazon Alexa compatibility. You no longer need to access a web browser from a device connected to your network to configure the router. There’s also an extensive suite of tools that you can even use to limit the hours that a user has Wi-Fi access on the network. Parents rejoice!

The first cost-cutting step comes with the allocation of Wi-Fi throughput with tri-band allocation. In total you can reach 5400 bps over the three bands. The 5 and 6 GHz bands are mid-tier and capped at 2042 bps. We can see price advantages here with the number and speed of ports. They limit the ethernet ports to 1 gigabit. So if you’re hoping for higher Wi-Fi speeds, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Another cost-cutting step is the virtual move of Homeshield services from the router to a web-based subscription service. That means they host all your security settings on TP-Link servers. Something to remember if you are reluctant to share such information. This includes things like QoS (Quality of Service), parental controls, and online protection. Important to note as the company is based in China, which has different standards for security and online privacy.

Good Wi-Fi coverage for the price

It provides reasonable coverage for a 2000 square foot home. The signal drop off starts at about 40 feet. So your experience will vary depending on the layout of your home. After setting up the device and letting it run for a few days, it was rock solid. As with the other TP-Link routers, I haven’t experienced any dropouts or service interruptions.

The TP-Link Archer AXE75 is an entry-level Wi-Fi 6E router that’s a good choice for most consumers and those with sub-1 Gigabit broadband feeds. Power users, like gamers and creatives, should look for more powerful and more expensive options.

***TP-Link Archer AXE75 router provided by publisher***