TP-Link TL-WR3602BE Travel Router, Released: Wi-Fi 7 on-the-Go is Now a Real Thing

TP-Link today announced the availability of the TL-WR3602BE travel router. First announced at the beginning of the year, this mobile router allows users Wi-Fi 7 connectivity while on the go, the first of its kind to do so for now, until others from competing vendors become available.

Other than that, it’s very similar to the TL-WR3002X Wi-Fi 6 couter part. So, the question is, is it worth the extra cost? Let’s find out more!

TP-Link TL-WR3602BE vs. TL-WR3002X: The same physical size now with external antennas and dual-band Wi-Fi 7

Physically, the TL-WR3602BE shares the same physical size as its older Wi-Fi 6 cousin, the TL-WR3002X, but now with two external antennas attached to its sides. That, plus the support for dual-band Wi-Fi 6, sets it apart.

It’s worth noting that the router’s support for Wi-Fi 7 is minimal, which is expected for a travel router. In terms of number, the new router feature, BE3600, is the same as the Archer BE230.

Other than that, the new router retains all the goodness of the TL-WR3002X, including a 2.5Gbps (WAN) port and a miniSD slot. The table below shows the hardware specs of the two.

TP-Link TL-WR3602BE vs. TL-WR3002X: Hardware specifications

Full Name	TP-Link TL-WR3602BE BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router	TP-Link TL-WR3002X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router
Model	TL-WR3602BE	TL-WR3002X
Dimensions (without antennas)	4.09 × 3.54 × 1.10 in (104 × 90 × 28 mm)
Weight	≈ 6 oz (170 g)	5.4 oz (153 g)
Wi-Fi Technology	Dual-band BE3600	Dual-band AX3000
2.4GHz Band (channel width)	2×2 BE: Up to 688 Mbps	2×2 AX: Up to 578 Mbps
5GHz Band (channel width)	2×2 BE: Up to 2882 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz)
Backward Compatibility	802.11a/b/g/n/ac/AX	802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Wireless Security	WPA, WPA2, WPA3
Built-in Cellular Modem	None
Mobile App	TP-Link Tether
Web User Interface	Yes
Networking Features	VPN (Server and Client) Device-based QoS, Dynamic DNS
VPN Server Support	OpenVPN WireGuard L2TP/IPSec PPTP
Operating Roles	Router Mode USB Tethering Mode 3G/4G/5G USB Modem Mode Hotspot Mode (WISP Mode) Access Point Mode Range Extender Mode Client Mode
Firmware Version (at review)	not yet reviewed	1.0.3 Build 20250221 Rel. 47347(5553)
USB Port	1x USB-C (power) 1x USB 3.0 (cellular tethering and storage)
Card slot	1x microSD
Gigabit Port	1x LAN
Multi-Gig Port	1x 2.5Gbps WAN
Dual-WAN	Yes (broadband with cellular backup)
Link Aggregation	No
Power Intake	USB-PD via USB-C
Power Consumption (per 24 hours)	TBD	≈ 140 Wh
US Launch Price (Check street prices)	$139.99	$99.99

Likely a familiar Archer router

As shown on the chart above, the support for Wi-Fi 7, which is a novelty, doesn’t make the TL-WR3602BE a massive leap over the TL-WR3002X: the two are just 600Mbps apart in terms of total theoretical bandwidth. In real-world usage, after the overhead, they might be identical in terms of the data rate for connection.

In terms of features and settings, the two are practically the same. Specifically, per TP-Link, you can use the TL-WR3602BE in the following ways:

1. As a standard router: In this case, the router can host a standard internet connection via its 2.5Gbps WAN port, or a cellular modem/cellphone via the USB port. You can also use both at the same time, with the latter being the backup. It’s basically Dual-WAN with failover.
2. As a hotspot: The router can connect to an existing Wi-Fi network and use it as the broadband source for its network. This mode is often known as the WISP mode, a.k.a. public Wi-Fi mode.
3. As an access point, an extender (repeater), or a client (bridge).

Additionally, like the TL-WR3002X, the TL-WR3602BE can work as a flexible and advanced VPN solution as it features all popular VPN protocols, namely PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, and WireGuard, and supposedly can handle all of them simultaneously.

That said, other than the Wi-Fi 7 bragging rights, which can be significant, and the ostentatious antennas with their own allure, I’d say the TL-WR3602BE has little in real-world practical usage over the previous model. How much that extra translates into cash, as in the extra cost, is personal preference.

Availability and pricing

The TP-Link TL-WR3602BE Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 BE3600 Travel Router is available today with the suggested retail cost, per TP-Link, of  $139.99. However, in the classic way of TP-Link’s hardware, you never have to pay the full price. The new router is now on Amazon with a $30 “launch” discount, making it just slightly more expensive than the previous model, which has other discounts of its own.

So, I’d say go for the Wi-Fi 7 bragging rights. Why not.