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All reviews and overviews on this website are based on thorough hands-on testing and real-world first-hand experience.
Note: This category also includes previews, first-takes, and opinions—all derived from initial impressions, past experience, or preliminary assessments.
It was a nasty surprise. That’s right! If your Internet data usage suddenly increases by ten times your average monthly usage, something is definitely wrong! In this case, it was all about the Wi-Fi password or, more precisely, how you’re supposed to keep it secret. Home Wi-Fi security breach, a …
There’s a big, intriguing blue hole right in the middle of the ASUS Blue Cave that catches your full attention the first time you lay eyes on it. But that’s all there is to it. I was a bit disappointed when ASUS told me there was no deep meaning to …
Since the original Orbi RBK50 that came out two years ago, NETGEAR has released many variants of its popular Wi-Fi system. The Orbi CBK40 is the latest and a special one. It’s the first Wi-Fi system on the market that has a built-in cable modem. The new hardware means that cable …
The TOTOLINK T10 Smart Home Wi-Fi System is arguably one of the most affordable Wi-Fi mesh systems on the market. The low price doesn’t mean it’s a cheap product, however. For the most part, the system worked well in my testing, albeit not as well as more expensive systems like …
The NETGEAR EX7500 Nighthawk Mesh X4S Wall-Plug Tri-Band WiFi Mesh Extender the lesser version of the EX8000. It’s much smaller, has no port, and is designed to plug directly into a wall socket. In return, currently, at $160, it’s also more affordable. If you don’t want to (or can’t) replace your …
Generally, I’m not a fan of Wi-Fi extenders due to signal loss. The NETGEAR EX8000 X6S tri-band Wi-Fi Mesh Extender is somewhat of an exception, however. That’s because it can quickly work with almost any router to turn an existing network into a robust and efficient Wi-Fi mesh-like system. And …
Belkin’s new Linksys Velop Dual-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System is much cheaper than the original Tri-Band Linksys Velop that came out more than a year ago. At launch, it costs $299 for a set of three units, or you can get two for $199 or just one for $129. Before you get …
The Comtrend PG-9172PoE—like all other Powerline adapters—is an alternative to running network cables. But there’s more: It can also be an alternative to a power outlet. Unfortunately, the adapter is only suitable for low-bandwidth applications due to its slow network port that caps at just 100Mbps. That said, if you want …
If you look at the ASUS RT-AC86U as a single AC2900 Wi-Fi 5 Gaming router, you’ll overlook a lot, even though, as one, it works well and has a lot to offer. With the support for AiMesh, the router is now part of ASUS’ pool of routers that can work together …
Powerful hardware needs robust software to unlock its potential. Case in point: the NETGEAR XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming router. Running a special firmware tailored to online gaming, the XR500 is arguably one of the best routers for gamers on the market to date, rivaling the more expensive ASUS GT-AC5300. At …
