What we are writing today is our TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review. It will discuss everything related to the WiFi router from TP-Link and include details such as performance, design, features, etc.
These will help you figure out if the router is sufficient for your needs or not. Continue reading our TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review to gather more insights on it. But before looking deeper into the product, for starters, let us discuss its packaging and contents.
TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Packaging
Our package arrived in time for our TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review. It came in a teal-coloured box with a lot of information on it.
The front has an image of the router in the centre. At the top is a darker-coloured strip featuring the company branding, tagline, and WiFi6.
You will see the router name and its primary function on the left portion of the image. Below the image is another darker-coloured strip that displays its advertised features.
There are more details related to the product, and these are on the package rear.
Inside the box, you will find the AX90 router, power adapter, RJ45 Ethernet cable, and an installation guide.
TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review – Design and Functionality
We will discuss its functions and design to continue our TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review. It has eight antennas popping out from its case, so it is not the best-looking kit. You will also need a fair amount of space to make it stand.
The front of the router displays buttons for toggling WiFi and the router lights. There is also a WPS button to immediately link supported devices to the home network.
Spinning the router will display its rear houses a range of ports. You will find three regular Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired gadgets. Then, some work as a LAN or a WAN port for the internet connection.
The difference between these two ports is that one is a standard Gigabit Ethernet. For the other, it is a faster 2.5Gbps port.
A Gigabit Ethernet should be ideal for any UK internet connection. That means you can leave the faster ports for gadgets that support it, like new PCs. Also, there is a USB port specific for file sharing.
Despite being a standalone router, it supports the OneMesh technology from TP-Link. With compatible range extenders, you can make a proper mesh network.
With the ideal range extenders, you can create a mesh network, which can be helpful. Using these extenders is essential when you realise the router does not reach an area in your home.
Key Features of the TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router
This TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review will also discuss the features that make it stand out. Also, these will help you determine if the product is adequate for your needs and if it is worth purchasing.
Ideal for the Latest Phones & Laptops
The latest phones and laptops already support WiFi6, so your router should also support it. WiFi6 promises to future-proof your home network for the years to come. But now is the best time to embrace and enjoy this new technology.
Powerful Connection Everywhere with the TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router
The router has high-tech WiFi6 and Tri-band WiFi together to provide eight continuous data streams. This design helps open more bandwidth and helps devices operate at high speed.
Its eight high-gain antennas deliver optimised WiFi signals to all parts of your home for intense speed and stable connection.
Go Faster No Matter if You Connect Wired or Wirelessly
Aside from its wireless speed of over 6.6Gbps, the AX90 offers premium wired connections. These include a 2.5Gbs port and a 1Gbps port, which allows the full use of gigabit speeds via local ISP.
Break through the bottleneck 1G and make your devices reach peak performance. The LAN/WAN support provides adequate flexibility, catering to both ports to suit your network needs.
Powerful CPU of the TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router for Faster Performance
A 1.5GHz quad-core processor guarantees quick transmission speeds and seamless operation of numerous applications and devices.
HomeShield – Secure Your Home with the Experts
Like other TP-Link routers such as the AX11000 and AX73, the Archer AX90 features a free HomeShield Basic plan. It is necessary for increased parental controls and regular network security scans.
You can utilise HomeShield to monitor how long users are online, set age-based website filters, and the sites they visit. Also, you can block users from accessing specific websites.
Customise your Smart home network with optimised security using the HomeShield kit from TP-Link. It has integrated features to help you identify network security holes, limit time spent online, or block websites. With HomeShield, you can utilise tools to manage your network.
WPA3 – Stronger and Better Security for Your Network
Establishing the adoption of WPA2, the newest WPA3 offers new capacities to enhance cybersecurity in your networks. Secure password encryption and optimised protection against brute-force attacks work together to safeguard your home WiFi.
TP-Link OneMesh
You can make an entire Home WiFi using the AX90 with the help of OneMesh. It is easy to form mesh networks using one WiFi name for smooth whole-home coverage.
Just connect the OneMesh range extender to a OneMesh router and enjoy no more searching for stable connections.
It works by destroying WiFi dead zones by optimising device compatibility. It expands your network and creates top-speed WiFi in your home. You only need to add specific devices to the OneMesh ecosystem for faster streaming and broader wireless coverage.
Specifications
Here is the specifications section of our TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review. Its network standard is 2.4GHz and 5Ghz. Also, the router uses a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and 12V = 3.4A power.
WiFi speed is 5GHz: 4808Mbps (802.11ax, HE160), 5GHz: 1203Mbps (802.12ax), and 2.4GHz: 574Mbps (802.11ax). WiFi encryption is WPA, WPA3, WPA2, WPA/WPA2 Enterprise (802.1x).
The VPN server of the router is PPTP and OpenVPN, plus the protocols are IPv4 and IPv6.
System requirements of the router include Internet Explorer 11+ and Chrome 20.0+. It also requires Firefox 12.0+, Safari 4.0+, and other JavaScript-enabled browsers.
Also, you will need a cable/DSL modem and a subscription with an internet service to use the router.
For its dimensions, the router measures 311 x 207 x 174mm (WxDxH).
Hands-on with the TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router
We used the router for a couple of weeks. We did it to experience its performance and share it in our TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review. Before we discuss how well it works, we will share our experience with the application to set up the router.
You can manage and install the AX90 via the web console or the TP-Link Tether application for Android and iOS.
The mobile app is more user-friendly and allows you to configure the HomeShield features. On the other hand, the web console provides access to advanced settings on NAT, IPv6, and DHCP.
The TP-Link Tether app is downloadable for free from Google Playstore or the App store.
Once you install the AX90, the router appears in its panel on the My Devices screen. Here, you will find the name of your router and its MAC address.
Tapping the router panel will take you to a Home screen that displays a network map. You will also find a list of connected devices on main and guest networks.
At the bottom of the screen, you will find buttons for Home, Tools, Clients, and HomeShield. The Home button brings you to the Home screen, which displays the client IP and MAC addresses. You can also block internet access of clients or enable parental controls and QoS.
The application also has HomeShield integrated. With its free version, you can make profiles for each family member and assign them their devices. You can choose web filtering levels, pause the internet for particular individuals, and set a single bedtime. Also, the feature provides basic network security and QoS settings.
If you want more, you can upgrade to the HomeShield Pro, which allows you to set multiple bedtimes. You can even get more advanced security with the Pro version.
It compares well to the standard services you receive on products like RBK862 and Netgear Orbi. Here, you receive regular filtering built-in but have to pay separately for security and other advanced parental controls.
You cannot configure more advanced settings like port forwarding via the app. However, you can manage these via the web management page.
Installing the AX90 was a breeze via the web console or the mobile app. We began the process by shutting off our modem before connecting it to our router with the included LAN cable.
Next, we powered up the modem and router, then connected via mobile app for configuration. Those who prefer using the web interface can go to http://tplinkwifi.net instead.
We created a password in the login window and followed the instructions. We selected our timezone and a WAN port (1Gbps or 2.5Gbps). After configuring the settings, we did a quick internet connection test and updated the firmware before rebooting the router.
We completed the installation process seamlessly and were ready for our product test to see its capabilities. This time, we will discuss our user experience to help you determine if this router is an excellent router upgrade.
TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review Summary
The AX90 from the Archer series is a capable WiFi6 router with multiple gig ports and comprehensive parental controls. Although its throughput speeds are not record-breaking, these are fast enough to provide adequate network speeds for homes.
This well-equipped tri-band router uses WiFi6 technology to provide a strong 5GHz signal and solid throughput. Controlling its features is also easy, thanks to the user-friendly app and web interface of TP-Link. It also offers basic network scans and advanced features when you purchase the HomeShield Pro package.
During our product test for our TP-Link Archer AX90 AX6600 WiFi Router Review, it delivered reliable performance. The router provided strong signals in all areas of our home and offered fast & stable network speeds. Plus, you can extend its coverage with mesh extenders when necessary.
With its unique features and notable performance, this router is an excellent option for a home router. It is highly reliable, and we highly recommend it.
Visit the official product page of TP-Link for more details about the Archer AX90 AX660 WiFi Router.