The D-Link G530 5G NR AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router is a dilemma. It's too physically large to be a mobile router and too limited and expensive to be a traditional standard router. With two Gigabit ports and entry-level Wi-Fi 6 specs, it's hard for me to find where this bad boy fits in.
Here's the bottom line: Even if you only need sub-Gigabit bandwidth and want cellular backup in a router, the G530 is an overpriced option, considering its suggested retail cost of $389.99. Its only upside is the built-in 5G SIM slot, which is unique only because it's a full-size router that has one.
D-Link G530: The SIM slot has to carry too much weight
It was a bit of a surprise for me to get the D-Link G530 out of the box. The router turned out so much bigger than how I had pictured it.
The new router is the same size as any entry-level standard home Wi-Fi router, if not bulkier than some—it's, in fact, larger than the UDM. There's no battery option, either. You have to plug it into an outlet.
However, the D-Link G530's hardware specs are similar to a mobile router. It comes with entry-level 2x2 Wi-Fi 6 and only two Gigabit network ports, a WAN and a LAN. To put things in perspective, it shares the same hardware prowess as the Asus RT-AX57 Go, which is only a fraction of its physical size.
The D-Link does have one thing that stands out: the 5G SIM slot, which is the clearest sign that it's meant to be a mobile router. In that sense, this built-in cellular modem has to carry a lot of weight, considering its high price.
The Asus counterpart has no SIM slot. In return, it has a USB 3.0 port to host a tethered phone or an external cellular modem. Most importantly, it costs less than half and has a lot more features to offer. The table below shows the differences between these two.
Hardware specifications: D-Link G530 vs. Asus RT-AX57 Go
Full Name | D-Link G530 5G NR AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router | Asus RT-AX57 Go AX3000 Dual Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Travel Router |
Model | G530 | RT-AX57 Go |
Dimensions | 5.39 x 5.74 x 8.07 in (13.7 x 14.6 x 20.5 cm) | 4.72 x 4.72 x .85 in (12 x 12x 2.15 cm) |
Weight | 21.98 oz (623 g) | 7.1 oz (200 g) |
Processing Power | Undisclosed | Dual-core 1.3GHz SoC, 256 MB Flash, 512 MB RAM |
Wi-Fi Technology | Dual-band AX3000 | |
1st Band | 2.4GHz 2x2 AX: Up to 600Mbps (20/40 MHz) | |
2nd Band | 5GHz 2x2 AX: Up to 2.4 Gbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | |
Backward Compatibility | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | |
Wireless Security | WPA, WPA2, WPA3 | |
Built-in Cellular Modem | Yes (nano SIM slot) | None |
Cellular Specs | • 5G NR (SA mode) Downlink up to 2.4 Gbps/Uplink up to 900 Mbps • 5G NR (NSA mode) Downlink up to 3.4 Gbps/Uplink up to 550 Mbps • LTE Downlink up to 1.6 Gbps/Uplink up to 200 Mbps • DC-HSPA Downlink up to 42 Mbps/Uplink up to 5.76 Mbps | n/a (depends on the USB-tethered phone or modem) |
Mobile App | None | Asus Router |
Web User Interface | Yes | |
Networking Features | Simple Parental Control (web filtering/Internet access control) L2TP over IPSec VPN Dynamic DNS (no-IP and DynDNS) Port forwarding | All Asus Routers' Core Features, for example: Advanced VPN (WireGuard and OpenVPN server or client supported) AiProtection Parental Control QoS AiMesh |
Operating Roles | Standard router Cellular router | Mobile hotspot (via a tether cellular mode/phone) Wi-Fi (AiMesh) router/(AiMesh node) Wi-Fi repeater (WISP mode), Wi-Fi bridge, Wi-Fi access point |
Firmware Version (at review) | 1.10.05 | 3.0.0.6.102_22188 |
USB Port | None | 1x USB-C (charging) 1x USB 3.0 (all USB-related features) |
Gigabit Port | 1x LAN, 1x WAN | |
Multi-Gig Port | None | |
Dual-WAN | Yes (WAN+cellular failover) | Yes (WAN+LAN/USB) |
Link Aggregation | no | |
Power Intake | 110V- 240V | |
Power Consumption (per 24 hours of real-world usage) | ≈ 110 Wh | ≈ 130 Wh |
US Price (at launch) | $389.99 | $129.99 |
Standard web interface with thin network features
The G530 is a standard router in terms of setup and management. It has a local web user interface accessible via its default IP address, 192.168.125.1, and the unique password printed on its underside.
That said, you can set it up and manage it the way you do any standard router. Once logged in, you'll be greeted with the option of using it either as a standard router or a mobile router. The latter means it will use the SIM slot to access the Internet.
No matter which option you pick, you can later turn on the "Failover" option for it to work with two Internet sources. Still, whichever you pick will be the one it uses first. That said, unless you want to use it entirely as a cellular router, it's best to pick the first option and use the cellular as the backup.
In my testing, as a standard router hooked to a traditional broadband source, such as a cable modem or a fiber-optic ONT, the G530 worked as intended. However, as a mobile router with a SIM card, it can be problematic. We'll get back to this in the performance section below, but first, let's have a quick rundown of what it can do as a router.
"Quick" because there's not much to talk about, the G530 has a pretty thin set of features. It has L2TP over IPSec VPN, simple parental control, and Dynamic DNS with port forwarding, and that's all that is worth noting.
The Dynamic DNS supports no-IP, and DynDNS. D-Link removed its hosting service a few years ago.
In terms of Wi-Fi settings, the G530 is standard. Specifically, you can use Smart Connect or name the two bands as two separate SSIDs. After that, you can pick different channels and security settings for each SSID. Like all previous D-Link routers, the G530 only allows for options that favor compatibility.
Performance: The D-Link G530 is a mixed bag
I tested the D-Link G530 for over a week using a couple of 5G SIM cards from AT&T and Google Fi and my 10Gbps Fiberoptic broadband. It proved to be a mixed bag.
Problematic cellular reception, no external antenna option
On the cellular front, the router had no issue getting connected to the cellular network. However, getting connected at a fast speed was a different story.
Generally, for the best connection, a cellular receiver needs to be placed out in the open, which is not applicable to the G530 due to the fact it's not an outdoor device, nor does it have a slot for external antennas like the case of other mobile routers, such as the Netgear M6 Pro or TP-Link TL-WR1502X. That, plus the fact it has no battery and is, therefore, tied to a wall socket, means it generally has terrible cellular reception.
Indeed, in my testing, the G530 had worse cellular signals compared to my phone, which was placed right next to it. And while I could move the phone around quickly, the router was stuck in one place. During the weeklong trial, I was never able to get faster than a few megabits per second of cellular connecting out of it using my 5G SIMs.
Your mileage will vary, though it's easy to figure out: If your phone has a fast connection where you want to place the G530, then chances are you'll get a decent connection from the router. On the other hand, if you've had issues getting connected to your cellar network from inside your home, this router won't help.
Good Wi-Fi performance for the specs
The D-Link did well as a traditional Wi-Fi router. Considering it only has Gigabit ports, its Wi-Fi performance is generally capped at Gigabit, and that was the case in my testing.
Overall, it was similar to the Asus RT-AX57 Go in sustained Wi-Fi rates and coverage, which is similar to that of most AX3000 routers. In terms of range, the D-Link G530 was also typical. It's generally hard to put Wi-Fi coverage in a number, but if you place it at the center of a home of around 1500 ft2 (139 m2), it will likely reach every corner.
The D-Link G530's Wi-Fi also passed my three-day stress test, during which there was no disconnection. The router has no internal fan and remains completely silent. It also produced almost no heat.
D-Link D-Link G530's Rating
Pros
Built-in 5G modem with a dual-WAN failover option
Reliable mid-tier Wi-Fi 6 performance with good coverage
Standard web user interface with a decent set of network settings and features
Cons
Only two Gigabit ports; bad cellular reception; no support for external cellular antennas
Too large to be a mobile router; no battery option
Expensive
Conclusion
It's hard for me to find the demographic to recommend the D-Link G530 5G NR AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router.
For one, its built-in 5G support could have been an excellent feature if the router itself were more compact or had the options to show off its cellular capabilities, such as a built-in battery, outdoor ruggedness, or a couple of TS9 RF ports to host external antennas.
Addtionally, with the physical design that resembles a standard router, yet only two network ports, this entry-level Wi-Fi machine also lacks the minimum requirement to be a standalone home router.
Finally, the suggested retail price of $390 is just way too high for what it has to offer.
But if you live in a small place with excellent 5G coverage and no other way to go online, this router will serve you well. Pop a nano SIM in, and you're good to go. Give it a try!
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