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TP-Link today announced the availability of the Archer AX5400 Pro, and as the name suggests, it comes with a 2.5GbE Multi-Gig WAN port.
Since the Deco XE75 Pro, TP-Link has been releasing the “Pro” version of existing Wi-Fi broadcasters with the support for Multi-Gig as the sole apparent upgrade.
While the Archer AX5400 Pro is a separate model on its own, its specs remind me of the Archer AX73 — the 2.5Gbps WAN port is the only thing that separates the two.
But the new router also has a relatively new design.
TP-Link Archer AX5400 Pro: The Multi-Gig support makes a difference
The new router shares the familiar design of a traditional router — it’s a rectangular box with six non-detachable external antennas sticking up from the back and sides. But it now has a different top that no longer has an “island,” like the case of the Archer AX73.
The Archer AX5400 Pro has the same amount of ports as its older cousin, four LANs and one WAN. However, one is now a 2.5Gbps port, which will make a difference in testing since it can now host a Gig+ (or faster) broadband plan or a Mulit-Gig server.
On the Wi-Fi front, there’s nothing new. It supports Wi-Fi 6 with a top-tier (4×4) 5GHz band and an entry-level 2.4GHz band, just like the case of the previous model.
TP-Link Archer AX5400 Pro vs Archar AX73: Hardware specifications
At the gist of it, the TP-Link Archer AX5400 is the Archer AX73 with a 2.5Gbe Mulit-Gig port.
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| Full Name | TP-Link Archer AX5400 Pro 6-Stream Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 Router | TP-Link Archer AX73 AX5400 Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 Router |
| Model | Archer AX5400 Pro | Archer AX73 |
| Dimensions | 10.3 × 5.6 × 2.0 in (262 × 143.5 × 51.5 mm) | 10.7 × 5.8 × 1.9 in (272.5 × 147.2 × 49.2 mm) |
| Weight | TBD | 1.61 lbs (734 g) |
| Processing Power | Undisclosed | 1.5 GHz Triple-Core CPU, 512MB RAM, 16MB Flash |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Dual-band AX5400 | Dual-band AX5400 |
| 5GHz Wi-Fi Specs | 4×4 AX: Up to 4804Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | 4×4 AX: Up to 4804Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) |
| 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Specs | 2×2 2.4 GHz: 574Mbps (20/40MHz) | 2×2 2.4 GHz: 574Mbps (20/40MHz) |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi |
| Wireless Security | WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 | WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 |
| Mobile App | TP-Link Tether | TP-Link Tether |
| Web User Interface | Yes | Yes |
| Bridge Mode | No | No |
| AP Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Mesh-Ready | Yes (OneMesh) | Yes (OneMesh) |
| USB Port | 1x USB 3.0 | 1x USB 3.0 |
| Gigabit Port | 1× WAN/LAN 3× LAN | 4x LAN, 1x WAN |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1× 2.5 WAN/LAN | None |
| Link Aggregation | TBD | Yes (LAN1+LAN2) |
| U.S MSRP | $199.99 | $199.99 |
A familiar member of the Archer family
Like other Archer routers, the new AX5400 Pro features robust firmware, a full web user interface, and an optional mobile app.
The router will support a standard set of network settings and features, including device-based QoS, VPN, Dynamic DNS, port-forwarding, etc.
TP-Link says it also comes with HomeShield, which provides a basic level of online protection with more functions with subscribers.
Out of the box, the new router works as a standalone broadcaster, but you can scale up its Wi-Fi coverage by adding a OneMesh extender, making it a piece of mind for those unsure if its Wi-Fi range is enough for their place.
Availability and pricing
According to the networking vendor, the new TP-Link Archer AX5400 Pro is now available with the suggested retail price of $199.99, the same as the Archer AX73 at launch.
Other than the 2.5Gbps WAN port of the new Archer AX5400, the two routers are likely very similar if not the same. Check out AX73’s in-depth review for more. Below is the rating for reference.
TP-Link Archer AX73's Rating
Pros
Fast Wi-Fi with an excellent range
160MHz Channel width support
Comparatively affordable
Standard web interface with lots of useful settings
Wall-mountable
Cons
Fluctuating Wi-Fi speeds
Mobile app and login account required for advanced features
Mobile app not reliable
Write performance for network storage when hosting a portable drive could be better
maye i dont understand something but what in world do 2.5Gb LAN port ?!?!? For example I have PC with 2.5G Card and a NAS with similar port !! so a router with 2 such ports will make sense but one ???? for what !!
It increases the bandwidth for the supported connection, Mario. You might not experience the increased speed in a single device but if you have two or more drawing data from the same connection the at the same time, it makes a big difference. More in this post on Multi-Gig.
The official website of tp link says that ax72 pro has a cpu of 1ghz dual core
While ax73 has a cpu pf 1.5 ghz triple core
What should i prefer
It’s your call what you prefer, Manish. But here’s the review of the AX73. 🙂