TP-Link Archer AX20 Review
Your familiarity with TP-Link and the use of a Wi-Fi network created by a product from the company is almost certain. After all, knowing that TP-Link is the largest manufacturer of WLAN equipment in the world, this should not be surprising. They’re well-known for producing high-quality items at prices that are lower than those of established companies.
With the release of the TPLink AX20 wireless router with Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 compatibility, TP-Link is refocusing its attention on the midrange market for the first time in several years. Because it is even less expensive than certain Wireless AC routers on the market, it is a no-brainer to acquire one of these devices.
Wi-Fi 6 is the most recent Wi-Fi technology, and it is currently supported by the majority of flagship products. It is expected that all new gadgets introduced in 2021 will support Wi-Fi 6 as well. One of my favorite features of Wi-Fi 6 is that it provides up to a 40% increase in Wi-Fi speed when compared to Wireless AC.
Not only that but Wi-Fi 6 also promises to offer faster Wi-Fi speeds when a greater number of devices are connected to the network. To increase the efficiency of the available bandwidth, Wi-Fi 6 routers will employ a smart resource allocation technique known as OFDMA. This will lead to an improvement in the overall performance of the network.
Despite the fact that the greatest advantage will be realized only on Wi-Fi 6 devices, Wireless AC devices will still reap substantial benefits. The signal is amplified by the Archer AX20, which utilizes Skyworks’s separate wireless front-end module, also known as an amplifier.
Design
Because it contains a four-core Broadcom BCM6755 system-on-a-chip (SoC) instead of a triple-core one, the TP-Link Archer AX20 is somewhat more expensive than the TP-Link Archer AX10, and it should be able to manage more clients that are simultaneously connected to the network. The device also includes 128 megabytes of RAM and 16 megabytes of flash storage for firmware.
The TPLink AX20 is a tiny router constructed of plastic materials with a traditional design that is typical of most devices of this type. It has a maximum cutting capacity of 20 mm. There’s also an attractive X on top, which indicates that the device is compatible with the 802.11ax standard, commonly known as Wi-Fi 6. The dimensions of this router are the same as those of the Archer AX10: 10.2 5.3 1.5 inches (260.2 135.0 38.6 mm) in width, depth, and height.
It also appears identical to the Archer AX10, and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference until you looked at the sticker on the bottom. It describes the exact model you have and provides information on the default Wi-Fi settings.. Furthermore, it is equipped with mounting holes, which may be advantageous to some users.
A total of four external antennae are included with the TP-Link Archer AX20, which are not removable but may be rotated as needed. With Wi-Fi 6, it has a theoretical maximum bandwidth of 574 megabits per second (Mbps) for the 2.4 GHz band and 1201 megabits per second (bps) for the 5 GHz band. It is a dual-band device. In addition, it is compatible with all current wireless protocols, including Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and it includes support for WPA3 wireless encryption. MU-MIMO (multiple users multiple input multiple outputs) is also used for wireless transfers.
A USB 2.0 port, the Power button, the Power jack, the Reset jack, the Wi-Fi on/off button, and the WPS function are all located on the back of the TPLink AX20. The front of the device has four 1 Gbps Ethernet ports, a WAN port (also at 1 Gbps), a Power button, and a Power jack.
Because it contains a four-core Broadcom BCM6755 system-on-a-chip (SoC) instead of a triple-core one, the TP-Link Archer AX20 is somewhat more expensive than the TP-Link Archer AX10, and it should be able to manage more clients that are simultaneously connected to the network. The device also includes 128 megabytes of RAM and 16 megabytes of flash storage for firmware.
The TPLink AX20 is a tiny router constructed of plastic materials with a traditional design that is typical of most devices of this type. It has a maximum cutting capacity of 20 mm. There’s also an attractive X on top, which indicates that the device is compatible with the 802.11ax standard, commonly known as Wi-Fi 6. The dimensions of this router are the same as those of the Archer AX10: 10.2 5.3 1.5 inches (260.2 135.0 38.6 mm) in width, depth, and height.
It also appears identical to the Archer AX10, and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference until you looked at the sticker on the bottom. It describes the exact model you have and provides information on the default Wi-Fi settings.. Furthermore, it is equipped with mounting holes, which may be advantageous to some users.
A total of four external antennae are included with the TP-Link Archer AX20, which are not removable but may be rotated as needed. With Wi-Fi 6, it has a theoretical maximum bandwidth of 574 megabits per second (Mbps) for the 2.4 GHz band and 1201 megabits per second (bps) for the 5 GHz band. It is a dual-band device. In addition, it is compatible with all current wireless protocols, including Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and it includes support for WPA3 wireless encryption. MU-MIMO (multiple user multiple input multiple output) is also used for wireless transfers.
A USB 2.0 port, the Power button, the Power jack, the Reset jack, the Wi-Fi on/off button, and the WPS function are all located on the back of the TP-Link Archer AX20. The front of the device has four 1 Gbps Ethernet ports, a WAN port (also at 1 Gbps), a Power button, and a Power jack.
Performance
With the help of my laptop, which has Wi-Fi 6 compatibility and is powered by an Intel AX200 Wi-Fi adapter, I will be evaluating the TPLink AX20. Testing it in two locations and comparing the results to other Wi-Fi 6 routers now available on the market will be the focus of this article.
It easily topped 800Mbps over a short distance, which is not surprising considering that this router is Wi-Fi 6 enabled. On the long-distance test, the speed is lowered, but it is still within a reasonable range when compared to the speeds of many other Wi-Fi 6 routers that I have tested in the past.
The use of TP-Link OneMesh technology in conjunction with larger properties can result in the formation of an interconnected mesh WiFi network. You may use the Archer AX20 router in conjunction with a WiFi extender that supports OneMesh to create a real Mesh WiFi network. The mesh WiFi network will have the same WiFi name as the traditional WiFi network, as well as all of the features of traditional WiFi, such as seamless roaming and AP steering.
Despite the fact that the Archer AX20’s coverage is likely to be sufficient for the majority of users. A mesh WiFi system, on the other hand, may be advantageous for people who live in a larger home with three floors and wish to add a TP-Link OneMesh extension to their network. The TP-Link RE505X is the only WiFi 6 OneMesh extender available at this time.
To utilize this router, you’ll need to download the TP-Link Tether app, which you can get here. The app will allow you to see all of the devices that are currently connected as well as their current consumption. It is also capable of doing certain sophisticated setups just through the app, which is quite convenient. Those LED indications on the router may also be turned off via the app if desired.
Overall, the firmware on the Archer AX20 proved to be rather solid and dependable over my testing period. I have only one complaint: there is no HomeCare advanced parental control function, which is only available on the more costly Archer AX50 model, which is my preferred choice.
Specifications
WIRELESS | |
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Standards | Wi-Fi 6 IEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/a 5 GHz IEEE 802.11ax/n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
WiFi Speeds | AX1800 5 GHz: 1201 Mbps (802.11ax) 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps (802.11ax) |
WiFi Range | 3 Bedroom Houses Antennas Multiple antennas form a signal-boosting array to cover more directions and large areas Beamforming Concentrates wireless signal strength towards clients to expand WiFi range High-Power FEM Improves transmission power to strengthen signal coverage |
WiFi Capacity | High Dual-Band Allocate devices to different bands for optimal performance OFDMA Simultaneously communicates with multiple Wi-Fi 6 clients Airtime Fairness Improves network efficiency by limiting excessive occupation 4 Streams Connect your devices to more bandwidth |
Working Modes | Router Mode Access Point Mode |
HARDWARE | |
---|---|
Processor | 1.5 GHz Quad-Core CPU |
Ethernet Ports | 1× Gigabit WAN Port 4× Gigabit LAN Ports |
USB Support | 1× USB 2.0 Port Supported Partition Formats: NTFS, exFAT, HFS+, FAT32 Supported Functions: Apple Time Machine FTP Server Media Server Samba Server |
Buttons | WPS/Wi-Fi Button Power On/Off Button LED On/Off Button Reset Button |
Power | 12 V ⎓ 1.5 A |
SECURITY | |
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WiFi Encryption | WPA WPA2 WPA3 |
Network Security | SPI Firewall Access Control IP & MAC Binding Application Layer Gateway |
Guest Network | 1× 5 GHz Guest Network 1× 2.4 GHz Guest Network |
VPN Server | OpenVPN PPTP |
SOFTWARE | |
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Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
Parental Controls | URL Filtering Time Controls |
WAN Types | Dynamic IP Static IP PPPoE PPTP L2TP |
Quality of Service | QoS by Device |
Cloud Service | Auto Firmware Upgrade OTA Firmware Upgrade TP-Link ID DDNS |
NAT Forwarding | Port Forwarding Port Triggering DMZ UPnP |
IPTV | IGMP Proxy IGMP Snooping Bridge Tag VLAN |
DHCP | Address Reservation DHCP Client List Server |
DDNS | TP-Link NO-IP DynDNS |
Management | Tether App Webpage |
PHYSICAL | |
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Dimensions (W×D×H) | 10.2 × 5.3 ×1.5 in (260.2 × 135.0 × 38.6 mm) |
Package Contents | Wi-Fi Router Archer AX20 Power Adapter RJ45 Ethernet Cable Quick Installation Guide |
OTHER | |
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System Requirements | Internet Explorer 11+, Firefox 12.0+, Chrome 20.0+, Safari 4.0+, or other JavaScript-enabled browser Cable or DSL Modem (if needed) Subscription with an internet service provider (for internet access) |
Certifications | FCC |
Environment | Operating Temperature: 0℃~40℃ (32℉ ~104℉) Storage Temperature: -40℃~70℃ (-40℉ ~158℉) Operating Humidity: 10%~90% non-condensing Storage Humidity: 5%~90% non-condensing |
TEST DATA | |
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WiFi Transmission Power | FCC: <30dBm(2.4 GHz & 5.15 GHz~5.825 GHz) |
Pros
- WPA3 security support
- Strong Wi-Fi coverage
- Good Wi-Fi performance
Cons
- OneMesh not available yet
Verdict
When it comes to a good wireless router, the TP-Link Archer AX20 scored high on the three most essential criteria. There is no lag, the coverage is extensive, and the stability is superb. At this price point, there is nothing else that performs as well as this Archer AX20 in terms of performance. This will most likely be my best cheap mid-range router around RM300 in the near future.
The Archer AX20 is without a doubt my favorite selection when compared to the Archer AX10 and the Archer AX50, respectively. Because of the use of external Wi-Fi FEM, it provides a significantly stronger and quicker Wi-Fi connection than the Archer AX10 (TP-Link so-called amplifier). However, although the AX50 outperforms the TPLink AX20 in a 160Mhz circumstance, the TPLink AX20 outperforms the AX50 in an 80Mhz one.