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Not sure if you have enough to get ready for Wi-Fi 6? Well, TP-Link got you almost totally covered. The networking vendor showcased today at CES 2020 a bunch of new Wi-Fi 6 devices, including two tri-band routers, an extender, and even a desktop add-on adapter. That's in addition to three Deco Wi-Fi 6 mesh system it unveiled yesterday.
Update: The Archer AX90's full review is available here.
Archer AX6600 Triband Wi-Fi 6 Router (model Archer AX90)
The first tri-band router is the Archer AX90, which has a 574Mbps 2.4GHz and two different 5GHz bands—one is a single-stream 1201Mbps band and the other a 4x4 band that delivers 4804Mbps.
Powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, the AX90 also includes a 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN port for multi-gig connection. On top of that, it also has the usual four Gigabit LAN ports and a Gigabit WAN/LAN port. There's also a USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0 port. Oh, by the way, you'll be impressed by the number of antennas.
Like most Wi-Fi 6 routers, the Archer AX90 features OFDMA and MU-MIMO and the latest WPA 3 Wi-Fi encryption. For security, it features TP-Link HomoeCore Pro, a subscription service that protects the entire network against online threats.
TP-Link Archer AX6600 Triband Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router (Archer GX90)
The Archer GX90 is virtually the same as the AX90 in terms of hardware specs and security features. However, it's a game-centric router with a cool design—it's mostly the Wi-Fi 6 version of the Archer C5400X—and a more refined user interface tailored to gamers' needs. It also dedicates its 4x4 4804Mbps 5GHz band to gaming applications.
The GX90 has a game-oriented QoS function called Game Accelerator that prioritizes the Internet connection for gaming streams. On top of that, a new feature called Game Statistics shows game-related traffic elements, including latency, game duration, and system performance at a glance.
TP-Link Archer Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 PCI-E Adapter (Archer TX3000E)
No matter how good your Wi-Fi 6 router is, you can't enjoy it without a client. That is where the Archer TX3000E comes into play. It's a PCIe adapter that works as an option to quickly adds Wi-Fi 6 to any desktop computer.
The Archer TX3000E is a dual-band adapter that featurs1024-QAM and a 160 MHz bandwidth and can deliver up to 2400Mbps of Wi-Fi 6 speeds. The add-on card also features Bluetooth 5.0. To increase the reception, the TX3000E has an external antenna with a magnetic base.
TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1500 Dual Band Range Extender (RE505X)
Finally, the RE505X is a Wi-Fi 6 AX1500 dual-band range extender designed to extend any Wi-Fi router's coverage. TP-Link says you can use its Tether app to make the extender work with any router in a few minutes.
The cool thing about the RE505X is the fact it can also work as an access point and also features TP-Link OneMesh. As a result, when working with supported routers, it can turn your network into a real mesh system, instead of working as an independent extender. Not sure why that's significant? This post will explain it in detail.
Pricing and availability
You can get the Archer TX3000E add-on adapter as soon as this month for $50. The RE505X extender will cost $70 when it's available in March. The Archer AX90 starts shipping in April for $300. Gamers will need to wait until the second quarter of the year for the GX90, which is a good thing since they might need more time to save for its relatively hefty price of $330.
I just read the AX96 6E will come out around Q3 this year. Is the Archer AX90 still a good buy? Looks like TPLink got hammered hard due to COVID as there really isn’t much marketing for the AX90 at all. Looks like their money is all on the AX6000.
Will you be doing a review on the Archer AX90 or is it old news?
Thanks
It seems that way. They have been non-responsive to my requests. And the Archer X90 is nowhere to be found where I am nor is the Deco X90. But both are going to be similar to the other TP-Link routers I’ve reviewed.
Thank you! Phenomenal website with so much useful information. It has helped me narrow down my selection for a router.
Keep up the great work
Did TP-Link give any pricing indication for the AX6600 (AX90) at the show in January?
No, Tim. It looks like it’s going to be delayed, but it’s quite similar to the AX6000, I’d say.
Tp-Link says these items will be released in March or April, have not seen them anywhere. Do you know if they are being released soon? Thanks.
Considering the virus, a lot of things will be delayed, David.