TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router (Archer BE550) - 6-Stream, Full 2.5G Ports w/ 6 Internal Antennas, Up to 2,000 Sq Ft, Add Easy-Mesh Device for Extended Coverage, VPN Support, Free Expert Support

I had great success with this router so far (BE550). This is probably one of the easiest routers I have ever setup. The wireless capabilities are really impressive having great range and speed. I also love the look of it and I like how it’s oriented vertically. For anyone using CenturyLink Fiber, this router has all the VLAN tagging settings already in the router menu. To get it working, connect your ONT to the routers WAN port. Then, go to Network > IPTV/VLAN and check Enabled, then on the dropdown menu for Mode, simply select USA-CenturyLink. It sets the VLAN tag setting and all other settings for this ISP. It sets your Internet Connection Type as PPPoE and asks for your user name and password (if you don’t know this, call CenturyLink). That’s it, I was connected in under 60 seconds. It was as if this was a preconfigured router from CenturyLinkl - AWESOME!Oh, and when I ran a speed test on my Gaming PC (it is directly wired to the router), I got faster speeds then when I was using my CenturyLink’s router (Zyxel C3510XZ). Very happy.

I wanted its bigger brother with the 10gbe ports but ultimately my ISP is only 2.5gbps (not paying for the 5gbps, it's not worth the cost). If the competing ISP ever rolls out 10gbps then I'd upgrade, but that could be years. 10gbps could be a long while for a lot of people. So unless you have some NAS on your LAN where you can benefit from the faster wired speeds it's just overkill. 2.5gbps worked for me and that meant I could spend half as much on the router.For $269 (on 10% sale) it's honestly hard to find a better router than the BE550.I was a big Asus fan with Merlin firmware flashed on their routers. I was eyeing up their 10gbe router but it's also expensive.The TP-Link Archer BE550 has some negative reviews on the Internet, but I believe they issued a firmware fix...I did not experience any issues at all.Speed tests on wifi? 1.3gbps. Which I never thought I'd see from wifi. Granted I'm standing next to the router, but even from a distance the speeds are terrific. This is much better than my Amplifi and older Asus router 802.11ac. This is probably simply due to the 802.11ax. But the signal is still stronger overall.I picked up a Deco X55 as an AP and may get another, because those have two 2.5gbe ports. If your internet is above 1gbps then you need backhaul faster than a 1gbe port if you're running 802.11ax or higher to get maximum speed (though nothing wrong with 1gbps).I think most people focus on wifi, but I'd really suggest to focus on your wired connections. If you do have more than 1gbps from your ISP this becomes critical. Your choice in routers shrinks. I think the BE550 is a solid choice though.The parental controls seem decent so far. I don't know if it's worth the subscription. The basic features that you get for free provide the basic turn off on demand and/or on a schedule. The YouTube content filter is attractive but it doesn't seem to let you customize it so I have my doubts.The other features of this router seem good. It even has wire guard for a VPN option.It's easy to set up. It's nice looking. So I call it a gentle beast because you don't need to be an expert to set it up and get good performance. It even has wifi7 for whenever things start using that. Most devices in my home doesn't even use 802.11ax yet so to say this router is future proof is an understatement. It'll be years before 802.11ax feels old and since it can reach over 1gbps with ease and most people don't have over 1gbps internet...there's just no point. A router like this will last you years.I'm a nerd here. Very much into programming and computers and networking. I have a rack in my closet and a server in it that I built from used data center parts. So for whatever that's worth, this router gets a recommendation from me.

I'm a 37 year old computer scientist that has breathed computers, internet, and all its assorted devices his whole life. TP-Link is a standout router company right now, probably due to relative under-performance in the medium term. But their current Wifi 7 routers are unmatched; it's not even a debate. This is the best router you can get for the money right now, and with Wifi 7 bringing the MLO network, your wifi will have never been better (once you have devices that also support it, with the most important one being your smartphone (Samsung's newest as of writing already has Wifi 7 support, with iPhone 16 pro rumored to be getting it. If you have both of these, you need to turn on the MLO network setting in your router. It is absolutely worth paying for to have it done if you don't have the slightest clue how).The app is also very easy and very pleasant to use, with a modern UX that today's consumer demands. It can also help you set up your router, including said MLO network. Don't forget to enable EasyMesh, too, if applicable.And speaking of EasyMesh - do you need a new router? If that's the question you have for yourself, I'd say that if it's not Wifi 7 (and it almost definitely isn't, or you wouldn't be here) at the very least, then you do. But there's another metric with a lower bar: go into your router settings and update its firmware right now. If it doesn't support EasyMesh after that firmware update, yeah, you should upgrade. EasyMesh is the Wifi Alliance's new standard Mesh system that will support a mesh network not just between different models of routers, but different companies. That's huge. This, along with the MLO network, means that these modern routers are a very large step-change in technology, quite possibly the largest since 5Ghz and the advent of WPA2 encryption, and these were ages ago.Bonus MLO network section:Why is the MLO network a big deal for your smartphone? At a glance, it seems to just combine all the bands (2.4, 5, and 6Ghz) into one. So that just means higher throughput, right? Isn't 5Ghz enough even for HDR 4k video on Netflix? Yes, it is. But while greater throughput is nice, think about it for a second. Right now, any Wifi network you connect to (meaning a singular named SSID) only supports one band. So if you're connected to 5Ghz, and then you go outside into your backyard, you have to depend on your phone to be smart enough to switch to the 2.4Ghz to maintain a connection (since higher Ghz don't travel as far). This often fails. What's worse, even if it does switch, the phone often never sees the use in switching BACK to 5Ghz when you go back in the house, so you will be connected to the slower band potentially indefinitely, unless you go change the Wifi you're connected to manually. And you'd have to do this every. single. time. Why even have all these nice bands with specific purposes if it's so annoying to use? Well, here comes the MLO network to save the day. If all the bands can simply always be active on just one Wifi network, there's never a choice to make in the first place: not for you, NOR your phone. You're just always using all them. That means when you go into your backyard, your phone will simply be unable to use 5Ghz only because it's too far away, but the MLO will still be sending packets on 2.4Ghz. And when you go back inside, there doesn't need to be any intelligent decision by you nor the phone, since it's still on the same network, and once you're back in physical range, the 5Ghz will just start sending again right away. No user input needed, and no stupid algorithms making bad choices. And, it works with 6ghz too, of course. All 3 bands at the same time, on the same SSID. Do you see what I'm getting at now? It's a huge step forward for both performance AND ease of use. Wifi 7's MLO network, along with the Wifi Alliance's EasyMesh standard will usher in a new era of Home Wifi performance, reliability and user experience, with the long-term goal of single band Wifi SSID's disappearing completely and MLO network SSID's being the norm.But don't get too excited - devices have to support Wifi 7 to see the MLO network. So for now, your phone will be one of the only devices to use it. But honestly, that's good enough for now - the tech is that transformative. But one day, your toaster, fridge and Hue lighting system will simply connect to the one MLO network that exists, and no other single-band Wifi's will even be on, because they will no longer have a use outside of legacy devices that some people just can't live without.