The higher-end Wi-Fi 6 model costs more than the entry Wi-Fi 7 one. Which to pick?
Short answer
Archer BE230 - Wi-Fi 7, MLO, 2.5 Gbit/s WAN and LAN, cheaper. Archer AX73 - 574 + 4804 Mbit/s, 6 antennas, 4 LAN.
Key differences
| Spec | TP-Link Archer AX73 | TP-Link Archer BE230 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | router | router |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6, AX5400 | Wi-Fi 7, BE3600 |
| Wi-Fi speed | 574 + 4804 Mbit/s | 688 + 2882 Mbit/s |
| Bands | 2.4 + 5 GHz | 2.4 + 5 GHz |
| WAN | 1 × 1 Gbit/s | 1 × 2.5 Gbit/s |
| LAN | 4 × 1 Gbit/s | 1 × 2.5 Gbit/s + 3 × 1 Gbit/s |
| USB | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 |
| Antennas | 6 external | — |
| Mesh | EasyMesh | EasyMesh |
| MLO | — | yes |
| VPN | yes | yes |
| Dimensions, weight | 272.5×147.2×49.2 mm | — |
| Price | current prices | current prices |
Specs come from the device pages on Smartphone.ua.
Wi-Fi
AX5400 (574 + 4804) vs BE3600 (688 + 2882 Mbit/s) - the AX73 is faster on 5 GHz.
Ports
Gigabit WAN and 4 LAN vs 2.5 Gbit/s WAN and 1 × 2.5 + 3 × 1 Gbit/s.
What's the same
USB 3.0, EasyMesh, VPN.
Verdict: who should buy which
- The new standard and fast internet - Archer BE230.
- Maximum 5 GHz speed - Archer AX73.
FAQ
Is there USB?
Yes, USB 3.0 on both.
Does the AX73 have MLO?
No, it's a Wi-Fi 7 feature.
Which is cheaper?
The Archer BE230.