Because of Wi-Fi 6, it shouldn’t be too difficult to locate a Wi-Fi router that delivers both coverage and speed at a price that’s easy on the pocketbook in this day and age. The TP-Link Archer AX73 meets all of these requirements owing to its six antennas, blazing dual-band 5,400Mbps speeds, and affordable pricing. Is this the Wi-Fi 6 router that you’ve been waiting for? Find out more in the TP-Link Archer AX73 review at bestwifirouterguide.com.
The TP-Link Archer AX73 is an AX5400-class router, which means it supports 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 at a speed of 5,400Mbps and is compatible with 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6. Also included is 8K streaming capability, which allows you to stream content to dozens of devices at the same time while providing a high-speed signal across your whole home. In addition to sheer performance, the Archer AX73 provides WPA3 security, USB media sharing, and a full-throttle CPU that is constantly available owing to its vented architecture.
Add in parental controls, backward compatibility with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and intelligent power-saving capabilities, and you have an enticing choice at a reasonable price on your hands.
Design
If you look closely, you will see that TP-Link routers are rarely plain in their appearance, and the AX73 is one of those devices in which the manufacturer agreed to every design suggestion made by its design staff. And the end effect is a little strange, but it’s still a lot of fun. That being said, the TP-Link AX73 is housed in a rectangular plastic shell with a matte black finish, with the exception of a big chunk of glossy black plastic at the top of the device.
A distinctive design that spans virtually the whole upper portion of the router is broken up by this piece — the pattern is reminiscent of some type of textile braiding, and there are various cut-outs to allow air to circulate through the machine.
A similar design is used to cover the bottom portion of the router and the small but many ventilation holes perform a good job of keeping the interior temperature under control. It is true that the router gets warm when it is in use, but it did not exhibit any indications of overheating as of this writing.
Performance
The Archer AX73 is a lightning-fast aircraft. It was designed to provide raw data rates of up to 5,400Mbps by combining both 5GHz and 2.4GHz frequencies. During operation at 5GHz, it can accommodate a single 4.8Gbps stream and a single 574Mbps stream at 2.4GHz. Most home connections aren’t nearly that fast, but it’s still crucial for future-proofing your home connection. Its dual-band architecture allows it to double the bandwidth to 160Hz, which is a great broad channel — this is what allows it to handle multiple devices at the same time thanks to its increased capacity. In addition, the six antennas allow for up to six simultaneous streams to be supported. At endpoints such as cellphones, tablets, and laptops, the Archer AX73 achieved maximum speeds of 940Mbps, which is comparable to the speeds I experienced with my home internet connection (Verizon FiOS). To be fair, such speeds were achieved when I was in close proximity to the AX73. The more I walked away from the router, the slower the internet connection became. Nonetheless, my minimum download and upload rates were in the 300Mbps range, which was more than sufficient for streaming.
2.4GHz results (two tests):
| Device | Living room (router) | Front room | Bathroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG V60 | 111 Mbps 105 Mbps | 102 Mbps 96.5 Mbps | 82.1 Mbps 75.2 Mbps |
| Galaxy S20+ | 105 Mbps 108 Mbps | 87.4 Mbps 65.5 Mbps | 78.5 Mbps 63.9 Mbps |
| LG G8 (Wi-Fi 5) | 108 Mbps 110 Mbps | 86.8 Mbps 62.8 Mbps | 67 Mbps 69 Mbps |
| iPhone 11 Pro | 119 Mbps 126 Mbps | 80.9 Mbps 80.5 Mbps | 90.9 Mbps 79.2 Mbps |
The Archer AX73 offers a respectable level of coverage. Sure, the AX73’s six antennae give it the appearance of an alien spaceship, but it is these antennas that are responsible for broadcasting the signal across your home. All of my networking equipment is housed in a second-floor bedroom, which also serves as my office. With the AX73, I was able to establish a robust Wi-Fi signal across the second story as well as the first level’s ground floor and basement. Although I observed a slight decrease in signal strength in the basement (which is two stories below the router), the connection was still strong enough to stream high-definition movies. The signal was also successful in reaching my front and rear yards without difficulty but at considerably lower rates.
5GHz results (two tests):
| Device | Living room (router) | Front room | Bathroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG V60 | 573 Mbps 551 Mbps | 492 Mbps 531 Mbps | 513 Mbps 494 Mbps |
| Galaxy S20+ | 582 Mbps 585 Mbps | 569 Mbps 554 Mbps | 541 Mbps 535 Mbps |
| LG G8 (Wi-Fi 5) | 523 Mbps 503 Mbps | 411 Mbps 446 Mbps | 386 Mbps 330 Mbps |
| iPhone 11 Pro | 530 Mbps 521 Mbps | 537 Mbps 554 Mbps | 437 Mbps 410 Mbps |
The Tether app, which is also available for other TP-Link routers, is the quickest and most convenient method of configuring and managing the Archer AX73. This software makes it simple and quick to get your network up and running, but if you want greater control over your network, you’ll need to use a web browser to make the necessary adjustments. The Tether software includes a link to the setup page, which is located under the advanced settings menu option, which is quite convenient.
My settings were easy to customize because the web browser interface is well-designed and straightforward to utilize. Because of this, the 5GHz channel was initially set at 80MHz, although it could be increased to 160MHz without causing any problems. It is possible to use Smart Connect to combine both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz channels under a single name, but it is not designed specifically to provide the fastest possible performance. My devices were only able to get a connection speed of 600Mbps while using smart connect. This is sufficient for the majority of ordinary usage, but in order to understand what this router is capable of, I wanted to divide my bands and configure them for maximum performance.
Specifications
| WIRELESS | |
|---|---|
| Standards | Wi-Fi 6 IEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/a 5 GHz IEEE 802.11ax/n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
| WiFi Speeds | AX5400 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps (802.11ax, HE160) 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps (802.11ax) |
| WiFi Range | 3 Bedroom Houses6× Fixed High-Performance 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 4T4R Multiple streams in the same band strengthen the fault tolerance in transmission |
| WiFi Capacity | HighDual-Band Allocate devices to different bands for optimal performance 4×4 MU-MIMO Simultaneously communicates with multiple MU-MIMO clients OFDMA Simultaneously communicates with multiple Wi-Fi 6 clients Airtime Fairness Improves network efficiency by limiting excessive occupation DFS Access an extra band to reduce congestion 6 Streams Connect your devices to more bandwidth |
| Working Modes | Router Mode Access Point Mode |
| HARDWARE | |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1.5 GHz Triple-Core CPU |
| Ethernet Ports | 1× Gigabit WAN Port 4× Gigabit LAN Ports Static Link Aggregation (LAG) available with 2× LAN ports |
| USB Support | 1× USB 3.0 Port Supported Partition Formats: NTFS, exFAT, HFS+, FAT32 Supported Functions: Apple Time Machine FTP Server Media Server Samba Server |
| Buttons | Wi-Fi On/Off Button Power On/Off Button LED On/Off Button WPS Button Reset Button |
| Power | 12 V ⎓ 2.5 A |
| SECURITY | |
|---|---|
| WiFi Encryption | WPA WPA2 WPA3 WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x) |
| Network Security | SPI Firewall Access Control IP & MAC Binding Application Layer Gateway HomeShield SecurityReal-Time IoT Protection Malicious Site Blocker Intrusion Prevention System DDoS Attack Prevention Home Network Scanner |
| Guest Network | 1× 5 GHz Guest Network 1× 2.4 GHz Guest Network |
| VPN Server | OpenVPN PPTP |
| SOFTWARE | |
|---|---|
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
| Service Kits | HomeShield |
| OneMesh™ | OneMesh™ Supported Without replacing your existing devices or buying a whole new WiFi ecosystem, OneMesh™ helps you create a more flexible network that covers your entire home with TP-Link OneMesh™ products. |
| Parental Controls | HomeShield Parental ControlsCustom Profiles Professional Content Filter Library Family Time Bedtime Off Time Time Rewards Family Online Time Ranking Pause the Internet Weekly and Monthly Reports |
| WAN Types | Dynamic IP Static IP PPPoE PPTP L2TP |
| Quality of Service | QoS by Device |
| Cloud Service | Auto Firmware Upgrade TP-Link ID DDNS |
| NAT Forwarding | Port Forwarding Port Triggering DMZ UPnP Virtual Server |
| 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 | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 10.7 × 5.8 × 1.9 in (272.5 × 147.2 × 49.2 mm) |
| Package Contents | Wi-Fi Router Archer AX73 Power Adapter RJ45 Ethernet Cable Quick Installation Guide |
| OTHER | |
|---|---|
| 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, CE, RoHS |
| 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 | |
|---|---|
| WiFi Transmission Power | CE: <20dBm{2.4GHz} <23dBm{5.15GHz~5.35GHz} <30dBm{5.47GHz~5.725GHz} FCC: <24dBm{5.25GHz~5.35GHz&5.47GHz~5.725GHz } <30dBm{2.4GHz &5.15GHz~5.25GHz&5.725GHz~5.825GHz } |
| WiFi Reception Sensitivity | 2.4GHz: 11ac VHT20 MCS0:-94.5dBm 11ac VHT20 MCS8:-72.5dBm 11ac VHT40 MCS0:-92.5dBm 11ac VHT40 MCS9:-69.5dBm 11ax HE20 MCS0:-95dBm 11ax HE20 MCS11:-64.5dBm 11ax HE40 MCS0:-92.5dBm 11ax HE40 MCS11:-62dBm 5GHz: 11ac VHT20 MCS0:-97dBm 11ac VHT20 MCS8:-74dBm 11ac VHT40 MCS0:-95dBm 11ac VHT40 MCS9:-70dBm 11ac VHT80 MCS0:-91.5dBm 11ac VHT80 MCS9:-66dBm 11ac VHT160 MCS0:-86dBm 11ac VHT160 MCS9:-61dBm 11ax HE20 MCS0:-95dBm 11ax HE20 MCS11:-64dBm 11ax HE40 MCS0:-91.5dBm 11ax HE40 MCS11:-62dBm 11ax HE80 MCS0:-88dBm 11ax HE80 MCS11:-58dBm 11ax HE160 MCS0:-85.5dBm 11ax HE160 MCS11:-55dBm |
Verdict
A router’s unexpected disconnects can’t be ignored since they are unpredictable. Even so, I haven’t been able to duplicate the drops, and the router has been performing beautifully since I haven’t interfered with the configuration. In any case, it is simply not suitable for heavy users who rely on their internet connections if it is unable to ensure 100% uptime outside of internet connection problems and power outages. If you want 100% uptime, however, you should select a router that has been in operation for a longer period of time and has more mature software.
With the Archer AX73, TP-Link is so close to having a winner on its hands. The speeds are rapid, and the coverage is sufficient for the majority of households. Because the pricing is far lower than the bulk of the competitors, there is nothing that can be done to move quicker for less money. The USB choices are also excellent, and there are some additional benefits for Mac users. If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi 6 router that supports full 160MHz bandwidth, is simple to set up, and has parental control features, this is still a good option.
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