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昨天以前Tomshardware

TP-Link proposes $1 billion US Wi-Fi router manufacturing alliance with Key Tronic

TP-Link is fully determined to get in the good graces of the U.S. government to break free from a total ban on newly developed routers manufactured outside of the country. Although TP-Link is incorporated in the U.S. with a headquarters in Irvine, California, the company has been under pressure from the full weight of the U.S. government because of its historical Chinese roots. However, in an effort to appeal to the Trump administration’s zeal for creating jobs and touting American manufacturing, TP-Link this week announced that it has signed a letter of intent to assemble routers in the U.S. through a crucial partnership with Key Tronic.

How did we get here?

The ongoing saga started back in late 2024, when the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party requested that the Department of Commerce investigate TP-Link. At the time, the committee warned that “TP-Link products are also found on U.S. military bases, with the Army and Air Force Exchange and the Navy Exchange selling these devices to members of the military and their families,” and claimed TP-Link routers were sending user data back to China.

The select committee implored the Department of Commerce to use its broad powers to investigate TP-Link and take any necessary action to mitigate threats to national security. The campaign against TP-Link ramped up in mid-2025, with 17 members of Congress petitioning the Commerce Department to ban the sale of the company’s hardware in the U.S. due to alleged deep ties to the CCP. In late 2025, 23 U.S. House members and Senators again asked the Commerce Department to investigate TP-Link’s actions, including adding the company to the Covered List, investigating any threats to national security, and informing the public about potential risks associated with using the company’s devices.

The situation reached a boiling point in March 2026, when TP-Link and other router manufacturers were added to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Covered List, forbidding the sale of foreign-made routers in the U.S. that hadn’t already been approved. At the time, the FCC noted, “Recently, malicious state and non-state sponsored cyber attackers have increasingly leveraged the vulnerabilities in small and home office routers produced abroad to carry out direct attacks against American civilians in their homes. From disrupting network connectivity to enabling local networking espionage and intellectual property theft, foreign-produced routers present unacceptable risks to Americans.”

TP-Link Router Render

TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra (Image credit: TP-Link)

Since that time, several things have changed, with none of them being positive developments for TP-Link. Over the past six months, Amazon, Asus, and Netgear have all gained conditional approvals from the FCC to sell new wireless products in the U.S., while TP-Link has been stonewalled (conditional approvals are valid for 18 months from the date of issuance). Considering that TP-Link has been the world’s largest provider of Wi-Fi routers and associated devices for over a decade, losing access to the U.S. market for its new line of Wi-Fi 8 devices is a significant blow. This was readily apparent in late September when TP-Link opened preorders for its Archer 8 Ultra Wi-Fi 8 router. The company announced that the router would be available in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. However, the U.S. was conspicuously absent from that list because of the ongoing ban.

Adding insult to injury, earlier this month, multiple states (including Florida, Montana, Iowa, and Nebraska) sued TP-Link Systems, alleging that the company has made false and misleading claims about the security capabilities of its products and continued ties to China.

“TP-Link’s conduct has placed Montana consumers at risk of harm by making their home and small-office networks vulnerable to exploitation and intrusion by foreign actors with a proven track record of nefarious conduct. That risk is ongoing: many consumers keep their routers for years, and many of the compromised TP-Link models in Montana homes do not support automatic firmware updates and no longer receive security support at all,” stated Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

Knudsen further claimed that while TP-Link touts that it employs 300 people in the U.S., the bulk of its workforce (numbering over 11,000 employees) conducts development and manufacturing operations in China. “Further, TP-Link claims to manufacture its U.S.-market products in Vietnam, but less than one percent of the components by value are sourced in Vietnam, and the rest are imported from or through China,” Knudsen added.

“Iowans’ sensitive data and our national security is at risk because of TP-Link and their connection to the communist Chinese government,” stated Iowa Attorney General Bird. “TP-Link tells Iowans its routers are safe, our personal data is secure, and that they have no ties to China. They are not telling the truth. It’s time to hold China and China-backed companies accountable.”

TP-Link barks back

Up until this point, TP-Link has vehemently denied any ties to the Chinese government and has refuted similar allegations from one of its primary competitors, Netgear. However, on October 13, the company issued its sharpest rebuttal yet in a letter to the FCC. TP-Link touted its “America-first” strategy and chastised the state lawsuits brought earlier this month.

“A group of 21 state-level officials recently raised a scattershot barrage of baseless and previously debunked allegations relating to TP-Link’s confidential, non-public application,” TP-Link exclaimed. Rather than seeking to advance legitimate public policy objectives, the letter appears aimed primarily at encouraging federal officials to apply a heightened standard to TP-Link’s pending application that would be unattainable to TP-Link or any other router manufacturer in the world.”

TP-Link stated that its innovation in the router space earned its position as the market leader in the U.S., and that the constant barrage of legal fights and war of words is undermining fair competition and is an actual threat to national security and critical infrastructure given the broad proliferation of its products.

To that end, TP-Link reiterated that it has officially filed for conditional approval from the FCC, so that it can specifically sell two next-generation Wi-Fi 8 routers in the U.S. The company noted, “As the United States positions itself as a leader in wireless technology, a Conditional Approval would guarantee American consumers access to the same cutting-edge wireless equipment that will soon be available in other parts of the world."

TP-Link proposes $1 billion investment in the U.S.

With its back against the ropes, TP-Link is appealing to the U.S. government in the best way it knows how: with money and jobs. If there’s anything that the U.S. government likes, it’s investment in manufacturing on its own soil and high-paying jobs to bolster local economies. To help push the U.S. government along in approving a conditional approval to sell Wi-Fi 8 hardware, TP-Link has signed a letter of intent with Key Tronic to manufacture routers in the U.S. instead of importing them from Vietnam. More specifically, the routers would be assembled in Corinth, Mississippi.

TP-Link Deco Router lifestyle shot

TP Link Deco 8 Ultra (Image credit: TP-Link)

“This LOI with Key Tronic demonstrates our firm commitment to expanding domestic advanced manufacturing, and establishing America as our base for delivering secure, reliable connectivity solutions to households and businesses around the world,” said TP-Link Systems Inc. CEO Jeffrey Chao. “By choosing to assemble cutting-edge products here at home, we are thrilled to support U.S. high-tech job growth and empower a new generation of American innovation and innovators.”

TP-Link hopes that the investment will cut through most of the red tape that is currently preventing it from selling its latest products stateside. However, it remains to be seen if these latest sweeteners will be enough to sway President Trump and the agencies under his purview. As the company notes, it was the first to deliver Wi-Fi 7 routers in the U.S., and it wants to continue that leadership position by offering the first Wi-Fi 8 routers. The hardware is ready to go, as evidenced by the opening of preorders; it’s just currently being held up by roadblocks at the federal level, along with added pressure from state governments.

Until that time, Wi-Fi 8 products like the Archer 8 Ultra and Deco 8 Ultra will remain off-limits to Americans, which have given TP-Link a reported 65 percent share of the U.S. consumer router market.

Save $60 on this TP-Link wireless router with ultra-fast Wi-Fi 7 support, now $189.98

作者 Ben Stockton
2026年10月20日 18:29

There's no point upgrading your internet connection if you've got a bad Wi-Fi router slowing you down. If the ISP-provided router isn't up to the task, and you're ready to banish the lag, you'll want to pick up this TP-Link router, on sale for a limited time only. The TP-Link Archer BE9700, also known as the BE600, is down to $189.98 right now, giving you a 24% saving on its list price.

● Check out this TP-Link router deal on Amazon

With the BE9700, you're getting a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with six external antennas, enough to give you coverage for up to 2,600 sq. ft. with up to 120 different devices connecting to it. TP-Link reckons you can expect to see speeds of up to 5,765 Mbps on the fastest 6 GHz band, with 2,882 Mbps at 5 GHz, and 1,032 Mbps at 2.4 GHz. MLO, or Multi-Link Operation, support means you're able to connect using these different bands at the same time, giving you even faster speeds and better protection against congestion.

The TP-Link Archer BE9700 router has six antennas and adds Wi-Fi 7 support for your network, with one 10Gb WAN port and four additional 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports for high speed wired connectivity.View Deal

Our TP-Link BE9700 review shows this is a serious option for your network. This is a good value router with solid Wi-Fi 7 support, with speeds that make it a competitive option, especially at this price point. Our review shows that it comes with class-leading 6 GHz performance, with decent enough speeds at 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. It's the top choice in our best Wi-Fi router shortlist, too.

While Wi-Fi 7 support is the big deal here, the wired connections aren't bad, either. You get a 10Gb WAN port to hook this router up to your super-fast modem, giving you max speeds. You also get four 2.5Gb Ethernet ports for your home devices, including your PC, laptop, NAS drives, game consoles, and more.

Aside from the speeds, you get a USB 3.0 port on the side, which you could use to hook up a printer or external hard drive as a basic NAS. EasyMesh support, meanwhile, means you can use this as a wireless node in a mesh network. It also has Quality of Service controls to help you prioritize traffic for your core devices, such as your gaming PC, so you don't lose out when you're gaming.

The $189.98 sale price for this TP-Link Archer BE9700 router is a good one, even if it has yo-yo'd in price over recent months. That said, this is a solid discount off the $249.99 list price that it was at a few weeks ago, and one that'll give you an ultra-fast upgrade to your local network.

GFiber and Qualcomm announce Wi-Fi 8 gateway

The Wi-Fi 8 (802.111bn) specification hasn't even been ratified by the IEEE yet, but that isn’t stopping manufacturers from getting an early jump on supported hardware. Late last month, TP-Link announced that it was taking preorders for its first Wi-Fi 8 consumer router, and we’re now learning that GFiber will soon offer its own branded Wi-Fi 8 Premium Gateway for its 20 Gig customers.

Qualcomm, GFiber, and Gemtek made the announcement earlier this week, explaining that the gFiber Wi-Fi 8 Premium Gateway will leverage the Qualcomm Dragonwing NPro A8 Elite Platform. Qualcomm is already a known quantity in the wireless business, supplying chipsets that power Wi-Fi for devices ranging from smartphones to laptops to wireless routers and accompanying client adapters. The Dragonwing NPro A8 Elite Platform combines a penta-core CPU and an NPU to extract the most performance for connected devices.

And given the artificial intelligence age that we now live in, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that the platform is “bringing together premium Wi-Fi 8 connectivity, high-performance networking, and native edge AI in a single architecture," according to Gautam Sheoran, SVP and GM for Connectivity, Broadband, and Networking at Qualcomm. “Combined with an open agentic AI framework, the platform provides a flexible foundation to deploy, customize, and scale agentic AI directly on the gateway."

Qualcomm Dragonwing NPro A8 Elite Platform

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

While Qualcomm provides the chipset onboard, Gemtek will actually manufacture the gateway. According to GFiber, customers currently subscribed to the 25G-PON-based 20 Gig service will be the first to gain access to the gateway. Those customers are currently using an Actiontec Wi-Fi 7 gateway, but will be upgraded to a Wi-Fi 8 Premium Gateway once the certification process is completed. Given that the 20 Gig service is priced at $250 per month and only available in select U.S. markets, we hope that those upgrades are provided free of charge when the rollouts start in 2027.

Although there were no images provided of the new Wi-Fi 8 Premium Gateway, it’s said to feature a “new aesthetic design” that will encourage customers to place it front and center in the home, where signal propagation is best, instead of tucked away, out of sight, in a closet or in a far-off corner.

While many Americans have access to 1 Gig, 2 Gig, and (to a lesser extent) 8 Gig fiber service, 20 Gig connections remain a rarity. But that isn’t stopping providers like gFiber from pushing forward. The company notes that its 50 Gig service, which is based on 50G-PON technology, begins residential trials during the spring of next year and will be fully supported by the Wi-Fi 8 Premium Gateway.

Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 with these stellar savings

Amazon Prime Big Deals Day 2026 is here, and we're already seeing some tasty deals on Wi-Fi routers. If you're in the market for a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 router, we've scoped out deals on standalone and mesh systems that could give your home (or office) network a much-needed performance boost.

If you have a smaller home that doesn't need the aid of wireless satellites to improve coverage, consider the TP-Link Archer AXE75 Wi-Fi 6E router. While it isn't one of TP-Link's newest Wi-Fi 7 offerings, it still offers a lot of bang for the buck. The Archer AXE75 has a retail price of $119.99, but a $30 instant discount reduces the cost to just $89.99 for Prime subscribers.

TP-Link Archer AXE75

(Image credit: TP-Link)

That price gets you Gigabit WAN, four Gigabit LAN ports, and even a USB 3.0 port for adding storage to your network. The Gigabit WAN port should be more than adequate if your ISP delivers 1 Gbps or slower speeds. If you're rocking a 2 Gbps or higher internet plan, you might want to invest in a router with at least a 2.5 GbE WAN to fully utilize your plan. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you plan to expand your network in the future, the Archer AXE75 supports TP-Link's OneMesh standard, enabling you to combine multiple compatible routers into a mesh network.

Regarding performance, the Archer AXE75 operates at speeds of up to 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and up to 2,402 Mbps on the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands.

The TP-Link Archer AXE75 combines excellent performance and value in a Wi-Fi 6E router. You get four GbE ports, a USB 3.0 port for external storage, and OneMesh compliance for less than $90.View Deal

If you need the added coverage of a mesh system, the TP-Link Deco XE75 also uses the Wi-Fi 6E standard. But while the Archer AXE75 covers just 2,000 square feet, the Deco XE75, a three-node system, covers up to 7,200 square feet (over three times the coverage).

Each satellite has three Gigabit Ethernet ports, which are excellent for connecting your wired-only network devices. However, there's another added benefit: the Deco XE75 supports wired backhaul, which can improve overall network performance compared to using the default wireless backhaul between satellites.

TP-Link Deco XE75

(Image credit: TP-Link)

When it comes to overall performance, expect a similar experience to the Archer AXE75, as it also offers a maximum of 574 Mbps over the 2.4 GHz band, 2,402 Mbps over the 5 GHz band, and 2,402 Mbps over the 6 GHz band.

The Deco XE75 is typically available for $249.99, but is currently on sale for $229.99. But that's not all; there's also an instant coupon that knocks another $30 off the price of the 3-pack, bringing the price down to $199.99.

Deco XE75: was $249.99 now $199.99
TP-Link is offering a complete three-node Wi-Fi 6E mesh router that covers up to 7,200 square feet. Each node has three GbE ports supporting wired backhaul.View Deal

Finally, the TP-Link Prime Big Deals Day trifecta is completed with the Deco BE5000. This is an entry-level Wi-Fi 7 mesh router. Because of this alignment, the Deco BE5000 isn't a full-featured tri-band offering; instead, it's a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 solution. Although you miss out on the higher-performance 6 GHz band, you do gain support for Multi-Link Operation (MLO), a key pillar of Wi-Fi 7 (although MLO is one of Wi-Fi 7's most misunderstood features).

TP-Link Deco BE5000

(Image credit: TP-Link)

Each node features two 2.5 GbE ports, and you also get wired backhaul support. Maximum throughput reaches 688 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz band, while the 5 GHz band achieves 2,882 Mbps.

The Deco BE5000 retails for $299.99 but is currently priced at $198.19, which is a healthy $100 discount.

Archer AXE75

Deco XE75

Deco BE5000

Wi-Fi Standard

Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 7

Wireless Bands

2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz

2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz

2.4 GHz, 5 GHz

Maximum Throughput (Combined)

5,400 Mbps

5,400 Mbps

5,000 Mbps

LAN Ports

1x GbE WAN, 4x GbE LAN

3 x GbE LAN/WAN per node

2x 2.5 GbE WAN/LAN per node

USB Ports

1x USB 3.0

None

None

Coverage

2,000 square feet

7,200 square feet

6,600 square feet

The TP-Link Deco BE5000 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router that features three nodes and covers up to 6,600 square feet. Each node features 2.5 GbE ports and supports wired backhaul.View Deal

There's one other deal perk possible with these router deals if you have an Amazon Prime Rewards VISA credit card. Amazon is offering up to 25% cash back on the purchase of each of these routers when you use the card.

We are working hard to find the best computer hardware deals for you this Amazon Prime Day. If you're looking for more savings, check out our Amazon Prime Day deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, or CPU Deals pages.

Florida sues TP-Link for ‘lying about the safety of its routers’

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier just announced that the state is suing TP-Link, claiming that the company has been “lying about the safety of its routers and its ties to the CCP.” Uthmeier posted a minute-and-a-half video clip on X, saying that TP-Link’s claims of having safe routers aren’t true.

Today, we sued TP-Link for lying about the safety of its routers and its ties to the CCP.TP-Link sold Floridians the digital front door to their home network while misrepresenting how secure it was, how separated the company was from China, and what could happen to their data. https://t.co/Hg3czpNvEVOctober 6, 2026

“Chinese state-sponsored hackers exploited TP-Link routers sitting in American living rooms. Many of those models cannot even update themselves automatically, and TP-Link has stopped supporting them,” the Florida AG said on the social media platform. “They also told Floridians they have split from China and that they build U.S. products in Vietnam, but that is fiction. Research and manufacturing remain rooted in China, less than 1% of the parts in that Vietnam plant actually come from Vietnam. TP-Link now claims to have separated from a company with Chinese ties — a company the Pentagon has designated as an arm of the Chinese military.”

The federal government first investigated the company back in 2024, with the Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, and Department of Justice opening inquiries into the company, with the DOJ looking at whether the company has engaged in unfair trade practices and poses a threat to national security. The company has tried to fight these allegations, especially as it points out that TP-Link in the U.S. has already separated from its Chinese parent company in 2024, and that it has been making its routers in Vietnam since 2018.

Unlike Huawei, TP-Link has been able to avoid a full ban in the United States. However, it’s currently facing a major challenge as the FCC has banned the import of new consumer routers. This ban would affect all router manufacturers, including American brands such as Cisco and Netgear, but they were able to go around this by applying for a conditional approval. TP-Link itself applied for this exemption, too, but it’s unclear if it has received one so far. But even if TP-Link hasn’t secured a conditional approval yet, it could continue selling its already existing router models in the U.S.

Florida isn’t the only state to file a case against TP-Link because of its alleged connections to Beijing and the safety of its routers. Iowa, Nebraska, and Montana have also sued the company for exactly the same reasons, and their attorneys general say that they’re doing it to protect their citizens from the Chinese Communist Party.

Grab this $79.98 TP-Link wireless router with Wi-Fi 7 support at its lowest ever price

作者 Ben Stockton
2026年10月6日 00:15

Why suffer lag or buffering on your home network when there's a budget-friendly TP-Link router on sale at a record-low price? Ahead of the official Big Deal Days launch, Amazon has slashed this TP-Link Archer BE3600 wireless router to $79.98. That's a 33% discount on its list price and the lowest it's ever been seen on Amazon to date.

You won't be surprised to find that this is one of the best Wi-Fi routers you can pick up on a budget, but that's before this discount. You'll see in our TP-Link Archer BE3600 review why this is such a good deal, as this router adds Wi-Fi 7 support to your network cheaply and easily, albeit with a few caveats. Those aside, you're still getting strong performance for 2.4 and 5 GHz with this router.

Archer BE3600 Wi-Fi Router: was $119.99 now $79.98
This TP-Link Archer BE3600 router is one of the best-value routers you can buy right now, offering some Wi-Fi 7 support and 2.5G LAN accessibility.View Deal

All in all, this is a no-nonsense router with a pretty basic design. You're getting a flat, rectangular box with four antennas for good wireless coverage. There's one 2.5 Gbps WAN port for your internet connection, another 2.5 Gbps for your LAN, and another three ports rated at 1 Gbps. There's also a single USB 3.0 port, which'll be useful if you want to hook up a printer or USB external hard drive to your network as a basic NAS drive. You'll find TP-Link's initial setup and configuration easy, too, using the router's web portal.

There's one trade-off you'll need to consider. This router doesn't support the full Wi-Fi 7 specification as it doesn't include the 6 GHz band. That's a shame, but you'll find that performance at 2.4 GHz, still the dominant Wi-Fi band and one you'll need for all your legacy devices, is still excellent with this BE3600 router at close range. You'd easily pay more for a router that had these specs elsewhere.

It's the price that sells this router, and why you'll want to consider it for your network. This would make for a brilliant upgrade over an ISP-issued router, or to use as a secondary repeater around your home. The $79.98 sale price for this TP-Link Archer BE3600 (also known as the BE230) is the best it's ever been, so if you want to grab it, now's your chance, as we'd expect prices to go back up once Amazon's sale event ends later this week.

Grab an $80 discount on this TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 router with five 2.5G Ethernet ports, now $169.99

作者 Ben Stockton
2026年10月2日 20:20

Good Wi-Fi is essential around the home, but there's no guarantee that your ISP-provided router is getting its signal where you need it to go. If you're sick of lag, Wi-Fi dropping out, and slow speeds, you'll want to consider this limited-time deal on a TP-Link router. You can pick up the TP-Link Archer BE550 for $169.99 right now, saving you 32% off its list price.

● Check out this TP-Link router deal on Amazon

This is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with no less than six antennas to deliver maximum coverage across a typical household in the U.S. This gives you a combined maximum theoretical speed of 9.3 Gbps, split across the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi 7, along with 5 and 2.4 GHz. If you're using a recent-enough device, Multi-Link Operation (or MLO) means you're able to use different bands, like 5 GHz and 6 GHz, simultaneously for faster speeds and greater reliability.

The TP-Link Archer BE550 router packs six antennas, unlocking Wi-Fi 7 support for your network, with five 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports to help you future-proof your home network.View Deal

While a lot of modern routers skimp out on high-speed Ethernet ports, you're getting a full set of 2.5 Gb Ethernet connectors here with the BE550, which is also known as the BE9300. One is for WAN, so your internet connection, along with four for other local devices you'll want to hook up, like your gaming PC. Even if your PC is a little older and doesn't feature a 2.5 Gb Ethernet port, it'll be able to hit the maximum speeds for that port with these connections.

You've got everything else you'd expect from a modern Wi-Fi 7 router here, too. It has a USB port for sharing an external hard drive on your local network, for instance. It also includes support for a mesh-style network, along with per-device Quality of Service controls, meaning you can set up priority for traffic on certain devices on a congested network. For instance, if you've got one PC downloading while you're trying to play games, you can prioritize one over the other with QoS. It also supports tagged VLANs, meaning you can configure your network with separated virtual networks for different devices to keep them isolated.

The $169.99 sale price for this TP-Link Archer BE550 is a good one for a router that can add Wi-Fi 7 support, along with a whole host of other features, to your local network. If you're struggling to get a signal and want an upgrade, this router is a good option, but with this limited-time deal set to run out in only a few hours, you don't have long to grab it at this price.

TP-Link opens global preorders for its first Wi-Fi 8 router, but ban keeps it out of US market

Today is a big day for TP-Link, as the company revealed that it has opened preorders for its first Wi-Fi 8 hardware. The previously announced Archer 8 Ultra router makes the company’s first entry into what will become a fully stocked portfolio covering Wi-Fi 8 standalone and mesh routers, access points, and client adapters. Interestingly, TP-Link makes it clear that preorders kicked off today in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and other global markets.

Given that the United States is a key consumer market for TP-Link, the fact that the country is left off the preorder list is telling, but not exactly a surprise to anyone who has been following the wireless industry over the past six months. TP-Link has sat on the sidelines as competitors including Netgear, Asus, and Amazon gained Conditional Approvals from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to sell their hardware in the U.S. Without the Conditional Approval, companies are effectively banned from selling new wireless hardware in the country that wasn't already approved by the FCC.

So, while earlier Wi-Fi 7 gear from TP-Link that received FCC certification can still be sold, any new Wi-Fi 7 or Wi-Fi 8 products are effectively blocked from the market. The company has made several critical moves to position itself as a U.S. company, including incorporating TP-Link Systems in California, but those moves have been challenged in legal filings.

At this point, there haven’t been any clear signs that the U.S. government will lift its freeze on TP-Link hardware, so until that time comes, the Archer 8 Ultra will remain unavailable stateside. And it’s a shame, because the Archer 8 Ultra, which utilizes a Broadcom Wi-Fi 8 chipset, will deliver up to 33 percent more real-world throughput compared to TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 7 hardware, and 24 percent more consistent throughput when operating in high-interference conditions.

The Archer 8 Ultra will feature two auto-sensing 10 Gbps WAN/LAN ports and four 2.5 Gbps LAN ports. TP-Link says that the router covers up to 3,600 square feet and will support up to 200 devices.

"Wi-Fi 8 sets a new foundation, and we’ve built beyond it,” said Jim Poder, Senior Vice President of R&D at TP-Link. “Archer 8 Ultra combines our Wi-Fi 8 StabilityEngine with intelligent antenna technology and AI-powered optimization to deliver what matters most: a smarter, more reliable network that’s easier to use.”

TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 8 family will expand in Q1 2027 with a Deco 8 Ultra mesh router, and a Roam 8 travel router in Q2 2027. Throughout the year, further additions will come in the form of new PCIe/USB wireless adapters, access points, and range extenders.

Asus routers gain FCC's 'Conditional Approval' for sale in the US as TP-Link remains locked out — Asus's Wi-Fi 8 ambitions remain intact

2026 has been a trying year for router manufacturers, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has subjected leading companies to strict oversight and outright bans. As an olive branch of sorts, the FCC has handed out "conditional approvals" to be included on the Covered List to companies that have jumped through all the necessary hoops to satisfy the commission's concerns. Asus is the latest company to secure that approval, which was confirmed in an FCC notice issued this week.

According to the FCC, the following Asus networking products have been granted conditional approval:

  • RT Series
  • ROG GT Series
  • OG Strix GS Series
  • TUF Gaming Series
  • ExpertWiFi Series
  • ZenWiFi Mesh Series
  • 5G MiFi Series
  • Wireless repeaters
  • Wireless access points

In other words, Asus' entire wireless networking portfolio is cleared for sale in the U.S., with the conditional approval granted until March 6, 2028 (18 months from the date of issuance). The FCC explains, "We find that each of the Conditional Approvals constitutes 'a specific determination' by [Department of War] that such devices do not pose risks to U.S. national security."

This latest move by the FCC is a welcome sigh of relief for Asus, a Taiwanese company with an extensive networking portfolio and some of the best Wi-Fi routers. More importantly, Asus is ready to unleash a whole new generation of Wi-Fi 8 products over the next year. Wi-Fi 8 promises significant reliability and quality-of-life improvements across a wide range of wireless devices, so having a front-row seat to the transition from Wi-Fi 7 to Wi-Fi 8 is pivotal for Asus.

We've already seen a concept ROG NeoCore Wi-Fi 8 router from Asus at CES this year, and the company announced its first consumer Wi-Fi 8 router, the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro, in June. The ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro is promising a 2x uplift in real-world throughput compared to its current-generation Wi-Fi 7 products.

Asus joins Netgear and Amazon Eero/Leo on the conditional approval list. The largest player in the U.S. wireless router market is TP-Link, and it still hasn't gained FCC approval. The U.S. government has been reluctant to give its blessing, and a war of words has been brewing over alleged Chinese ties despite TP-Link Systems Inc. being headquartered in California. As a result, the company has not confirmed a release date for its newly announced Wi-Fi 8 "Ultra" routers in the U.S.

TP-Link announces its first consumer Wi-Fi 8 routers — Archer 8 Ultra preorder commences September 30, in select regions

2026年9月1日 12:00

Earlier this year, TP-Link announced its intentions to launch the first members of its Wi-Fi 8 (802.11bn) networking family. At the time, the company revealed that it would first launch a standalone Archer 8 consumer router this fall, followed by a Deco 8 mesh router. And right on cue, TP-Link stated today that the Archer 8 Ultra BN19000 tri-band router will launch on September 30.

TP-Link is going light on the details at this time, but this is what we know so far. The Archer 8 Ultra BN19000 will come equipped with 18 internal antennas and deliver up to 19 Gbps aggregate wireless speeds. In addition, it will have 10 Gbps wired connectivity, though we don’t know whether that includes WAN and LAN ports or just the latter.

For users who require broader coverage in larger homes or offices, the Deco 8 Ultra BN22000 tri-band mesh router offers aggregate speeds of up to 22 Gbps and includes 10 Gbps wired connectivity. TP-Link typically sells its mesh systems in two- or three-pack configurations, and the Deco 8 Ultra BN22000 3-pack covers up to 9,800 square feet. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi 8 mesh system won’t be available until Q1 2027, according to TP-Link.

TP-Link plans to expand its Wi-Fi 8 portfolio by Q2 2027 with a new Roam 8 travel router, along with range extenders and PCIe/USB client adapters. Although we don’t know which specific chipsets will power Archer 8 Ultra, Deco 8 Ultra, and other unannounced Wi-Fi 8 devices, the company says its products will use hardware from Broadcom, MediaTek, and Qualcomm.

Wi-Fi 8 is shaping up to be more of a quality-of-life improvement over Wi-Fi 7 than a substantial theoretical speed improvement. Put simply, Wi-Fi 8 hardware devices should be able to come closer to fulfilling the real-world performance metrics that Wi-Fi 7 devices originally promised.

To this end, TP-Link says that its so-called StabilityEngine leverages core Wi-Fi technologies including Enhanced Long Range (ELR) and Distributed Resource Units (DRU). These features together help improve wireless connectivity, primarily for low-power IoT devices that are typically positioned at the edge of your home’s wireless coverage. There are also additional technologies at play, such as Unequal Modulation (UEQM) and Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS), to ensure uninterrupted wireless traffic in high-interference situations.

A new design language is also being ushered in with the Archer 8 and Deco 8 products, which was teased during TP-Link’s May 2026 announcement. “We stopped building a piece of networking equipment and started designing for the home,” explained TP-Link industrial design chief Gary Chang. “When a router’s design becomes something people want to display, it ends up exactly where it performs best.”

What remains unclear is how or when these new Wi-Fi 8 products will launch in the U.S. As of today, TP-Link has yet to obtain FCC approval to release all-new products in the country. Unlike competitors Amazon and Netgear, which received conditional approval from the FCC Covered List, the U.S. government is still playing hardball with TP-Link. For its part, TP-Link only says that preorders for the Archer 8 Ultra will open in “select regions” on September 30.

TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000 Wi-Fi 7 mesh router review: Value pricing, but average performance

2026年8月23日 20:05

TP-Link has a rather expansive family of Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers, and it can often be confusing to keep up with the growing assortment. We’ve tested several Deco Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers over the past three years, and they’ve offered class-competitive performance and a well-designed app for controlling all aspects of the network.

Today, we’re taking a look at the Deco 7 Pro BE13000, which is one of TP-Link’s tri-band “whole home mesh Wi-Fi 7” systems. It’s also a rather interesting option, as it’s exclusively available at Costco as a 3-pack. With a selling price of $399 and coverage for up to 8,100 square feet, the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 has stiff competition among the best Wi-Fi routers.

Design of the TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000

Like all other members of TP-Link’s tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh family, the satellites on the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 are white cylinders measuring 4.23 inches in diameter and 6.93 inches in height. A stylized “7” is molded into the plastic, and the top of the unit features the TP-Link logo under a clear circular cover. Looking down, the molded concentric circles give the impression that the logo suggests a splash in a puddle of water.

Beneath the stylized 7 on the front of the satellite, there’s “deco’ branding, and below it is a status LED. It blinks blue during setup, is solid green when the satellites are online, and stays solid red if there’s a connectivity problem. Out back is where things get a bit interesting. The slightly lower-positioned Deco BE63 features four 2.5 GbE LAN/WAN ports. The Deco 7 Pro BE13000, on the other hand, only has three LAN/WAN ports, and they’re oddly spec’d. You get one GbE, one 2.5 GbE, and one 5 GbE port.

TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000
Tom's Hardware
TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000
Tom's Hardware
TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000
Tom's Hardware

Personally, I would have preferred four LAN/WAN ports: two 2.5 GbE and two 5 GbE. At the very least, the single GbE port should have been replaced with a 2.5 GbE port. In addition to the LAN/WAN ports, there’s also a USB 3.0 port for storage. The port allotment is the same across all three wireless nodes.

TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router Specifications

MSRP

Wi-Fi Standard

# of Bands

2.4 GHz Speeds

5 GHz Speeds

6 GHz Speeds

Coverage

Ports (Router)

TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000

$399 (3-pk)

Wi-Fi 7

3

688 Mbps

3891 Mbps

8647

8,100 sq ft

1x 1G, 1x 2.5G, 1x 5G WAN/LAN, 1x USB 3.0

MSI Roamii BE Pro

$349 (2-pk)

Wi-Fi 7

3

688 Mbps

4323 Mbps

5,764 Mbps

6,000 sq ft

1x 2.5G WAN, 3x 2.5G LAN, 1x USB 3.0

TP-Link Deco BE63

$349 (2-pk)

Wi-Fi 7

3

574 Mbps

4,324 Mbps

5,188 Mbps

5,800 sq ft

4x 2.5G WAN/LAN,1x USB 3.0

Setting up the TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000

The setup process for the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 is rather straightforward and is accomplished solely via the TP-Link Deco smartphone app for iOS or Android. Before getting started, you'll need a TP-Link account, which enables remote management of your network when you're not at home.

I started the setup regimen by placing the three wireless nodes throughout my house, trying to keep them as evenly spaced as possible. Next, I plugged each node into power. Since all of the wireless nodes are identical, the first one that you plug into your modem will serve as the main router. In this case, I plugged the node in my office into my fiber modem. The setup program asked me to bring my phone close to the router, and it was quickly found; then the configuration process began.

For simplicity, I created a single network, using Deco 7 Pro as the SSID. This single SSID encompasses 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. You can also enable MLO, Guest, and IoT networks with further granular controls for the bands that you want to make available. For example, you can limit the Guest network to just 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz traffic (or, only one of the two) at any time. If you want to give guests access to the 6 GHz band, you can do that as well.

After completing the setup (which took under 5 minutes), the network was fully operational. I then went into the advanced settings to check for any firmware updates. One was available, so I downloaded it and installed it across the three wireless nodes.

TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000 Software

TP-Link’s Deco and Tether apps continue to be among the best thought-out and well-rounded apps for wireless routers. And that’s a good thing, because the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 cannot be configured using a traditional desktop web browser – it’s exclusively controlled via the app.

The router homepage provides relevant at-a-glance information about your network. Front and center are your main router and its two satellite nodes. The diagram also shows how the satellites are connected to the main router, which, in this case, is via a 5 GHz/6GHz wireless backhaul. Current upload/download activity is shown, along with a green status light indicating “Everything looks good.” If there were an issue with your network, there would be a red status light and an explanation of what was amiss. You can also see how many devices are actively connected to the network.

TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The Security tab offers some basic features without requiring the paid Security+ subscription. However, these are simply quick links to features that are buried in the Advanced settings tab. For example, you can control network access on a per-device basis with Network Access Control and Device Isolation. Camera Security lets you limit internet access to your smart cameras.

Upgrading to the Security+ subscription services gives you more features, including Web Protection, Intrusion Protection, Antivirus, VPN access, and password management (among other security-related features). Security+ costs $35.99/year, while the Total Security Package is $129.99/year. As I've mentioned ad nauseam, I have to applaud Asus for providing most of the features (minus the VPN) for free with its AsusWRT platform.

TP-Link offers parental controls that let you create individual profiles for your children's devices. For $17.99/year, you can enable Advanced Parental Controls, including SafeSearch, YouTube restrictions, bedtime controls, offline control, and more. However, all of these subscriptions seem a bit much for a consumer router. We should note that the Total Security Package includes Advanced Parental Controls. The More tab opens access to the full complement of network settings, from Wi-Fi settings to WPS control, firmware updates, VPN access, and Network Optimization (for optimizing your mesh network to avoid household radio interference).

TP-Link Deco Pro 7 BE13000 Performance

Our wireless client system consists of a Windows 11 Home desktop system with an MSI Herald-BE Wi-Fi 7 adapter. Our testing server was a Windows 11 Professional desktop with a 10 GbE network card connected to the 5 GbE port on the main Deco 7 Pro BE13000 router.

The iPerf3 tests are conducted at six feet and 25 feet (from the main router), with and without traffic across the network. In the congested traffic tests, we add six wireless clients streaming 4K YouTube videos evenly across all bands.

TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000
Tom's Hardware
TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000
Tom's Hardware
TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000
Tom's Hardware
TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000
Tom's Hardware
TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000
Tom's Hardware
TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE13000
Tom's Hardware

The Deco 7 Pro BE13000 proved to be the best performer on the 6 GHz band in both uncongested and congested testing. The router reached 2,200 Mbps at 6 feet and pulled roughly half that at 25 feet, with no additional traffic on the network. This put it comfortably ahead of the MSI Roamii BE Pro and just ahead of the Deco BE63. It was a similar situation with congested traffic, as the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 was still able to maintain over 2,100 Mbps at close range and nearly 1,100 Mbps at 25 feet.

During testing on the 5 GHz band, the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 couldn't quite keep up with its two rivals. We saw 1,113 Mbps at six feet and 701 Mbps at 25 feet during the uncongested test. That put it in third place at close range and second place at long range. Those rankings held firm with congested traffic, with the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 still pulling over 1,000 Mbps at six feet.

The Deco 7 Pro BE13000 once again found itself in last place during the 2.4 GHz band testing, falling roughly 15 Mbps shy of the Roamii BE Pro and Deco BE63 at close range with uncongested traffic. Things were a bit closer when we moved out to 25 feet, with the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 nearly matching its Deco BE63 sibling (53 Mbps versus 54 Mbps). With increased network traffic, the performance differential between the routers narrowed, although the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 still lagged slightly.

Bottom Line

The Deco 7 Pro BE13000 is a bit of an odd duck in the TP-Link mesh router family. While its 6 GHz performance is commendable and superior to that of the cheaper Deco BE63, it couldn’t quite reach its more affordable rivals on the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands. With that said, the Deco 7 Pro BE13000 is by no means a poor performer – it just isn’t a standout across the board.

A bit more confounding is its port layout. Although it’s higher-positioned than the Deco BE63, it comes with one fewer LAN/WAN port. And while you do gain a 5 GbE LAN/WAN port, what you’re left with is a GbE LAN/WAN and a 2.5 GbE LAN/WAN. At this price point, TP-Link shouldn’t be putting GbE LAN/WAN ports on its mesh routers.

Finally, we come to the subscription services required to enable features such as web protection, intrusion protection, and antivirus. You’re looking at upwards of $129.99/year for the Total Security Package. Other router manufacturers like Asus give you those tools for free, which should definitely factor into the pricing equation for the Deco 7 Pro BE13000.

If the extra security protection isn’t appealing to you (or if the built-in tools are sufficient for your needs), the $399 price tag for three nodes is a good value, especially given the 8,100-square-foot coverage.

Comcast turns Xfinity routers into home motion detectors — free Wi-Fi sensing feature tracks RF interference with zero extra hardware required

2026年8月19日 20:20

With the pervasiveness of Flock cameras and the public’s backlash against surveillance technology that can track their movements under seemingly lax oversight, Comcast hopes consumers will be more receptive to monitoring activities inside the home. This week, Comcast announced Xfinity Shield, which it claims offers first-of-its-kind “intelligent home protection” courtesy of your seemingly mundane Wi-Fi router.

While the best Wi-Fi routers on the market are supposed to give you higher connection speeds, extended coverage, and enough capacity to handle all of your wireless devices, Comcast is tapping into a little-used aspect of Wi-Fi signals. Called Wi-Fi Motion, it monitors the signal strength and interference between your Wi-Fi router and connected devices. By measuring these frequency signals, it can detect if someone is moving around in your house. When unauthorized activity is detected, the router can instantly send an alert to your phone.

You could achieve the same intruder detection using traditional motion sensors in your home, or even an off-the-shelf security camera, but Wi-Fi Motion doesn’t require you to purchase additional hardware to function. However, since it’s only relying on changes in frequency signals, we’d imagine that it won’t offer as much granularity in motion detection, and it could even be more prone to false positives.

This isn’t exactly new technology, as we reported on Wi-Fi routers being used to detect humans in a room over three years ago. At the time, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University used a TP-Link Archer AC1750 router to track human movement and positions in a room.

Comcast Xfinity

(Image credit: Comcast)

With that said, we must be clear that this feature is opt-in by default. You will need to use the Xfinity app to enable Wi-Fi Motion, then enable alerts to monitor for suspicious activity. The app also provides three protection modes for monitoring: Home Watch, Away Watch, and Dark Watch.

Wi-Fi Motion is just one pillar of Wi-Fi Shield, which is a subset of Xfinity Shield. The other two pillars are Xfinity CyberSecure, which provides automatic protection for devices against phishing attacks and malware, and Family Settings, which allows you to manage screen time for individual devices. Wi-Fi Shield is available free of charge to Comcast customers with Advanced Xfinity Gateways. If you want additional protection, Comcast offers Shield Select for $15/month. Shield Select includes an indoor camera, a window/door sensor, cloud storage for captured video footage, and 24/7 emergency response support.

Elon Musk's Starlink releases smaller and lighter V5 residential kit — offers speeds of up to 375 Mbps and almost half the power consumption of V4

2026年7月15日 19:47

The SpaceX satellite internet service Starlink has just introduced its latest residential kit, letting users connect to the satellite network using a smaller and lighter terminal. The company announced the Starlink V5 on X, saying that it could hit up to 375+ Mbps for “streaming, video calling, gaming, and more.” It’s currently available in select areas only, though, with wider availability expected later as the company ramps up production.

Download speeds

Antenna

Field of View

Dish Weight

Environmental Rating

Operational Temperature

Mounted Wind Speed

Snow Melt Capability

Average Power Consumption

Power Indicator

Starlink V5

Up 375+ Mbps

Electronic Phased Array

110 degrees

2.4 lbs. (1.1kg)

IP67 Type 4

-22 deg F to 122 deg F (-30 deg C to 50 deg C)

165 mph (265 kph)

Up to 1.6 in. per hour (40mm per hour)

35 to 50 watts

LED / Starlink Top Face

Standard 4

Up to 400+ Mbps

Electronic Phased Array

110 degrees

6.4 lbs. (2.9kg)

IP67 Type 4

-22 deg F to 122 deg F (-30 deg C to 50 deg C)

60 mph (96 kph)

Up to 1.6 in. per hour (40mm per hour)

75 to 100 watts

LED / Router Face Plate

Mini

Up to 300+ Mbps

Electronic Phased Array

110 degrees

2.43 lbs. (1.1kg)

IP67 Type 4

-22 deg F to 122 deg F (-30 deg C to 50 deg C)

60 mph (96 kph)

Up to 1 in. per hour (25mm per hour)

25 to 40 watts

LED / Starlink Rear Face Plate

The new unit is significantly smaller and lighter than the Standard 4 used in most home deployments, and brings it close to the Starlink Mini, which is designed for both fixed and portable use. However, the Starlink V5 still requires a router (included), whereas the Mini can work without one, providing a wireless connection using its built-in Wi-Fi antenna. Still, the former is faster, offering speeds of up to 375+ Mbps. Although this is 25 Mbps slower than the 400+ Mbps that the Standard 4 is rated for, it’s still higher than the up to 300+ Mbps that SpaceX has set for the Mini.

The changes that SpaceX made to the Starlink V5 would make it much easier to set up, which is especially helpful for users who prefer to DIY their Starlink setup. Another interesting update to the new terminal is that it can handle faster wind speeds while mounted despite being lighter than the Standard 4. This should help it withstand tougher meteorological conditions, especially in areas frequently battered by storms and tornadoes.

Starlink V5 contents

(Image credit: Starlink)

The much lower average power consumption, which is just about half of what the previous-generation Starlink terminals consumed, would also help power stations last longer, making it ideal for keeping communications alive, especially during emergencies. This is exactly what Japan is experimenting with, as Tokyo has started putting up Starlink antennas on fire hydrant signs to provide emergency Wi-Fi.

Although SpaceX and its owner, Elon Musk, are no strangers to controversy, Starlink has proven useful in various situations. Aside from being useful for first responders in disaster zones, it also helped Ukraine stay connected during the height of Russia’s invasion of the country in 2024. It has even gotten to the point that China simulated a Starlink blockade over Taiwan because of how useful the service is in keeping a government online and communicating with its allies during times of distress.

Global consumer Wi-Fi router shipments fell 6% in Q1 2026, down 34% from 2021 peak — mesh systems and gaming routers still prove popular

2026年7月8日 22:49

The Wi-Fi router market is facing headwinds as consumers pull back on spending. According to a new report from Counterpoint, we’re witnessing a softening in global consumer Wi-Fi router shipments, with a 6 percent YoY decline in Q1 2026. This decline follows an explosion of market growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, when consumers upgraded their Wi-Fi hardware to enhance their work-from-home capabilities.

Counterpoint notes that global Wi-Fi router shipments peaked in 2021, which was at the height of consumer hardware spending during the pandemic. There were some positive points in the report, with Asus and Google seeing global shipment increases of 3.8 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively, during Q1 2026. However, Xiaomi had a 1.3 percent shortfall, Netgear was down 3 percent, while TP-Link fell by 5.4 percent. Counterpoint also notes that “Others,” which includes dozens of other hardware vendors whose sales aren’t significant enough to be broken out individually, fell by 10.4 percent.

Since 2021, global shipments have declined by almost 34 percent, and a couple of factors explain this turn of events. For starters, many people who upgraded their Wi-Fi hardware in 2021 or 2022 simply see no reason to shift to newer technology. Even though the best Wi-Fi routers use the Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) standard, offering multi-gig speeds across the 6 GHz and 5 GHz bands, those performance benefits are not enticing consumers on the sidelines because of rising costs for more essential goods.

Counterpoint Retail Wi-Fi CPE Tracker

(Image credit: Counterpoint)

Another reason global shipments of consumer routers have seen a steady decline is that ISPs have become more adept at bundling higher-end networking hardware with their services. Whether you’re signing up for new fiber, cable, or 5G home internet service, ISPs are including routers with integrated Wi-Fi 6, 6E, or 7 wireless connectivity. For customers with non-demanding network needs, this ISP-provided hardware is sufficient. For example, T-Mobile provides a Wi-Fi 7 gateway with its $60/month 5G home internet plan and a Wi-Fi 7 gateway plus a mesh extender with its $70/month plan.

Speaking of mesh systems, this is one of the few bright points for hardware vendors. Counterpoint notes that mesh Wi-Fi systems have seen significant growth as consumers seek to blanket every area of their homes with wireless coverage to support a substantial number of connected devices. Amazon’s Eero and Google’s Nest mesh Wi-Fi router systems were called out specifically for their strong performance (driven in part by high brand recognition and heavy sales promotions). The gaming router segment also bucked the decline in the broader Wi-Fi router market, as online gaming enthusiasts seek a competitive edge with lower latency and higher available network bandwidth.

There’s a possibility we could see a rebound in sales in the second half of 2026 and into early 2027 as the first Wi-Fi 8 hardware enters the market. However, Wi-Fi 8 is seen as more of a quality-of-life upgrade than another leap in performance over previous Wi-Fi generations.

Amazon Eero Max 7 Wi-Fi 7 mesh router 4-pack price slashed by 50 percent — flagship Wi-Fi 7 at a major discount for Prime Day

2026年6月26日 23:15

The Amazon Eero Max 7 was one of the very first Wi-Fi 7 routers that arrived on our test bench way back in November 2023. At the time, Wi-Fi 7 was still a relatively new standard, and chipset production hadn’t kicked into full gear. As a result, those early systems were incredibly expensive, with the MSRP of the Eero Max 7 3-pack we reviewed at a staggering $1,699. What a difference two and a half years makes — Amazon is now selling the Eero Max 7 4-pack for just $1,149.99, representing a dramatic 50 percent price cut.

It’s not often that we see a 50 percent reduction on a current-generation wireless router, let alone the flagship model. With that said, you do get a lot for your outlay, which we admit is still quite high despite the price cut. The Eero Max 7 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh router with a 2x2 2.4 GHz band (688 Mbps), a 4x4 5 GHz band (8,647 Mbps), and a 4x4 6 GHz band (11,530 Mbps). The four satellites communicate via a wireless backhaul, though you can use a wired one for improved performance.

The Eero Max 7 is Amazon's flagship Wi-Fi 7 mesh router system. This is a 4-pack, with each node featuring two 2.5 GbE ports and two 10 GbE ports.View Deal

Each node is decently equipped with respect to ports, with two 2.5 GbE ports and two 10 GbE ports, any of which can be used for WAN. However, do note that you won’t find a USB port on either node for adding storage.

To make things as simple as possible for consumers, the Eero family of routers (including the Eero Max 7) features an app-only approach for setup and management. That means you can’t manage the network from a desktop computer and must rely on your smartphone for tinkering with settings. Perhaps that’s for the best, because you also don’t have nearly as many settings to manage as with other wireless routers. For example, the Eero Max 7 only supports Smart Connect and doesn’t let you create custom SSIDs or separate the bands. You also have limited control over Guest accounts.

But for someone who wants to get a network up and running in a few minutes and not have to worry about it again for the next three or four years, the Eero Max 7 is about as “hands off” as you can get with a modern wireless router.

The Eero Max 7 is currently available as an Amazon Prime-exclusive Lightning Deal with 16% units claimed as of this writing.

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Asus offers up to 36% off its ZenWiFi mesh routers — tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers starting from $297

2026年6月26日 09:28

During this week’s Amazon Prime Day 2026 festivities, several router manufacturers have offered deep discounts on their products, including Netgear and TP-Link. Not to be left out, Asus is getting in on the action with its ZenWiFi BT and BQ family of Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers. For example, the ZenWiFi BT6 2-pack is priced at $297, which is a 20% discount off its MSRP. You can also look at our Best Amazon Prime Day Wi-Fi router deals 2026 for more deals on Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, and mesh routers.

The ZenWiFi BT6 is the entry point for Asus’ tri-band Wi-Fi 7 routers, with the 2-pack covering up to 5,800 square feet. The mesh system supports up to 9.4 Gbps (688 Mbps at 2.4 GHz, 2,882 Mbps at 5 GHz, and 5,762 Mbps at 6 GHz). Each wireless node includes a single 2.5 GbE WAN port, three GbE LAN ports, and a single USB 3.0 port.

The next step up is the ZenWiFi BT8, with the 2-pack currently on sale for $374 (36% off). This home mesh system increases cumulative speed from 9.4 Gbps to 14 Gbps and gives you an extra 100 square feet of coverage. The boost in speed comes from a 3x3 5 GHz radio (4,323 Mbps) and a 3x3 6 GHz radio (8,643 Mbps). You also get enhancements to the onboard ports: while the 2.5 GbE WAN remains, you also get a 2.5 GbE LAN alongside two GbE LAN ports and a USB 3.0 port.

The ZenWiFi BT6 includes two wireless nodes, each with a 2.5 GbE WAN port, three GbE LAN ports, and tri-band Wi-Fi 7 support.View Deal

The ZenWiFi BT8 includes two wireless nodes, each with two 2.5 GbE ports, two GbE LAN ports, and tri-band Wi-Fi 7 support.View Deal

Asus brings performance to the table with its ZenWiFi BT10 mesh system. It includes two wireless nodes, each with dual 10 GbE LAN/WAN ports onboard and tri-band Wi-Fi 7 support.View Deal

The ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is the flagship mesh router from Asus, offering 30 Gbps wireless speeds across quad bands. You'll also find a healthy selection of 10 GbE ports.View Deal

Going even further up the Asus Wi-Fi 7 mesh ladder brings you to the ZenWiFi BT10, priced at $579.99 (16% off) for the 2-pack, which steps up cumulative speeds to 18 Gbps and brings total coverage to 6,000 feet . This time around, the 5 GHz and 6 GHz radios jump to a 4x4 arrangement, delivering up to 5,764 Mbps and 11,529 Mbps, respectively. The number of onboard ports has declined, though you do get a 10 GbE WAN, 10 GbE LAN, a single GbE LAN, and a USB 3.0 port.

Finally, for those needing the ultimate in speed and flexibility, there’s the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro. It’s available with a 16% discount, bringing the 2-pack down to $928.99 instead of $1,099. This mesh system has all the bells and whistles, including enough power to cover up to 8,000 square feet. It’s also a quad-band system (it has two 6 GHz bands), with all radios operating at 4x4, supporting up to 30 Gbps. This means that the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz-1, and 6 GHz-2 max out at 1,376 Mbps, 5,764 Mbps, 11,529 Mbps, and 11,529 Mbps, respectively.

Asus also didn’t skimp on the ports, as you’ll find a 10 GbE WAN/LAN, 10 GbE LAN, GbE WAN/LAN, two GbE LAN, and a USB 3.0 port.

All of the ZenWiFi routers run Asus’ excellent AsusWRT software, which is highly configurable and includes built-in malware protection and device management (something that Netgear and TP-Link charge you extra for). The routers can also use their USB ports for storage or to connect to a cellular internet connection via a USB 4G/5G dongle or a smartphone.

These deals aren’t likely to last long, so strike while the iron is hot.

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Netgear rolls out stellar Prime Day deals on Wi-Fi 7 gear — up to 33% off for routers, mesh systems, and range extenders

2026年6月24日 18:00

Yesterday, we brought you some poppin' deals on TP-Link Wi-Fi networking gear, and today, we're back in action with the latest sales from Netgear. Netgear has a wide assortment of Wi-Fi 7 hardware, ranging from entry-level dual-band Wi-Fi 7 routers to premium tri- and quad-band Orbi mesh routers.

Today, you’ll find deals on everything from EXS25 plug-in range extender to the Orbi 770 tri-band mesh system.

The Netgear Orbi 770, currently on sale, is a mid-range Wi-Fi 7 mesh system that includes two wireless nodes. The system carries a regular asking price of $549.99, but is currently available with a $125 discount, taking the price to $424.99.

The main node (router) features three 2.5 GbE LAN ports and a dedicated 2.5 GbE WAN. The second node (satellite) only features two 2.5 GbE ports. Interestingly, neither node includes a USB 3.x port, which is increasingly common at this price point.

Regarding wireless connectivity, the Orbi 770 supports 2.4 GHz at up to 688 Mbps, 5 GHz at up to 4,320 Mbps, and 6 GHz at up to 5,760 Mbps. It also covers up to 5,550 square feet, which should be more than adequate for the average American home (around 2,220 square feet). Managing the Orbi 770 can be done using Netgear's web GUI or the Orbi smartphone app.

We reviewed the three-node variant of the Orbi 770 and praise its easy of use and plentiful ports, but knocked it for the high price. This Amazon Prime Day sale addresses our primary concern.

The Orbi 700 Wi-Fi 7 mesh router is designed to envelope a spacious 5,500 square feet of space with peak speeds of up to 11 Gbps. These speedy routers come with three 2.5 GbE LAN ports and a single 2.5 GbE WAN port. View Deal

The Nighthawk RS90, RS140, and RS180 are all dual-band Wi-Fi 7 routers, meaning that they don't include the higher-performance 6 GHz radio. While that means that short-range performance suffers compared to a tri-band router (when using a compatible Wi-Fi 7 or Wi-Fi 6E client), it allows them to be offered at much lower prices. The RS90 is priced at just $87.89 (33% off). The RS90 includes four GbE ports, one 2.5 GbE WAN port, and supports up to 2,000 square feet.

The RS140, on sale for $121.46, is a slight step up, offering faster cumulative speeds across the two bands (5 Gbps versus 3.6 Gbps) while increasing coverage to 2,250 square feet. It also comes with three GbE LAN ports and one 2.5 GbE WAN port.

The RS180 is faster still, offering up to 5.5 Gbps speeds while boosting coverage to 2,500 square feet. It also brings upgraded hardware with three GbE LAN ports, one 2.5 GbE LAN port, a 2.5 GbE WAN port, and a single USB 3.0 port for network storage. It’s currently priced at $142.99, representing a 28% discount.

This Wi-Fi 7 router covers 2,500 square feet at up to 5.5 Gbps speeds, and also sports one 2.5 GbE and three 1GbE LAN ports along with a single 2.5 GbE for WAN connectivity. View Deal

The Wi-Fi 7 RS140 covers up to 2,250 square feet at 5.0 Gbps and supports up to 80 devices. This Dual-Band router comes with three 1 GbE LAN ports and one 2.5 GbE WAN port. View Deal

Netgear's Nighthawk RS90 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router with a sleek exterior (aided by its internal antennas). It also has a full load of GbE and 2.5 GbE ports to support your wired client.View Deal

The EXS25 is a slightly different beast, as it's a Wi-FI 7 range extender. It's on sale for $99, a 33% discount off its regular price. The EXS25 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 extender that plugs directly into a free wall outlet.

Once set up, it adds an additional 1,500 square feet of coverage to your wireless network while supporting up to 4.5 Gbps speeds. The EXS25 can work with any wireless router, not just Netgear-branded ones. In addition, thanks to its 2.5 GbE port, you can use it to add wireless functionality to a device that only supports a wired network connection.

This Wi-Fi 7 range extender covers 1,500 square feet and runs at 4.5 Gbps, supporting up to 45 devices to enable easy roaming in far-flung areas away from your router. View Deal

According to Netgear, are only good through June 26, so you had better act fast if you want to want to upgrade or expand your home wireless network.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, or CPU Deals pages.

Upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 with these Prime Day savings — TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 routers get big Prime Day discounts

2026年6月23日 19:00

Amazon Prime Day 2026 is here, and we're already seeing some tantalizing deals on Wi-Fi routers. If you're in the market for a new Wi-Fi 7 router, we've scoped out deals on standalone and mesh systems that could give your home (or office) network a much-needed performance boost.

If you have a smaller home that doesn't need the aid of wireless satellites to improve coverage, consider the TP-Link Archer BE230 Wi-Fi 7 router. It zeroes in on one of the company's hallmarks: value. The Archer BE230 has a retail price of $119.99, but is currently on sale for just $79.99.

BE3600

(Image credit: TP-Link)

That price gets you 2.5 GbE WAN, one 2.5 GbE LAN, three GbE LAN ports, and a USB 3.0 port for adding storage to your network. One thing to keep in mind is that if you plan to expand your network in the future, the Archer BE230 supports TP-Link's EasyMesh standard, which lets you combine multiple compatible routers into a mesh network.

Regarding performance, the Archer BE230 operates at speeds of up to 688 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and up to 2,882Mbps on the 5 GHz band.

The TP-Link Archer BE230 combines excellent performance and value in a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router. You get two 2.5 GbE ports, three GbE ports, a USB 3.0 port for external storage, and EasyMesh compliance for $80.View Deal

If you need the added coverage of a mesh system, the TP-Link Deco BE63 is a good mid-range solution. The Deco BE63 is available in a two-node system covering up to 5,800 square feet.

Each satellite has four 2.5 GbE ports (one of which can be used for WAN), which are excellent for connecting your wired-only network devices. However, there's another added benefit: the Deco BE63 supports wired backhaul, which can improve overall network performance compared to using the default wireless backhaul between satellites.

Deco BE63

(Image credit: TP-Link)

When it comes to overall performance, the mesh system offers up to 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band, 4,324 Mbps on the 5 GHz band, and 5,188 Mbps on the 6 GHz band.

The Deco BE63 is typically $349.99, but is currently $249.99 at Amazon.

The Deco BE63 is a mid-range, tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with four 2.5 GbE ports, 10 Gbps of combined throughput, and coverage of 5,800 square feet.View Deal

Finally, the TP-Link Prime Day trifecta wouldn't be complete without the Deco BE23. This is the company's entry-level Wi-Fi 7 mesh router. Given its positioning in the lineup, this isn't a full-featured tri-band offering; instead, it's a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 solution. Although you miss out on the higher-performance 6 GHz band, you do gain support for Multi-Link Operation (MLO), a staple of Wi-Fi 7.

TP-Link Deco BE23

(Image credit: TP-Link)

Each node features two 2.5 GbE ports, and you also get wired backhaul support. Maximum throughput reaches 688 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz band, while the 5 GHz band achieves 2,882 Mbps.

The Deco BE23 retails for $219.99 but is currently priced at $169.99 for a limited time.

The TP-Link Deco BE23 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router that features three nodes and covers up to 6,500 square feet. Each node features 2.5 GbE ports and supports wired backhaul.View Deal

Archer BE230

Deco BE63

Deco BE23

Wi-Fi Standard

Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7

Wireless Bands

2.4 GHz, 5 GHz7

2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz

2.4 GHz, 5 GHz

Maximum Throughput (Combined)

3,600 Mbps

10,000 Mbps

3,600 Mbps

LAN Ports

1x 2.5 GbE WAN, 1x 2.5 GbE LAn, 4x GbE LAN

4 x 2.5 GbE LAN/WAN per node

2x 2.5 GbE WAN/LAN per node

USB Ports

1x USB 3.0

1x USB 3.0 per node

None

Coverage

2,000 square feet

5,800 square feet

6,500 square feet

There's another possible deal perk with these router deals if you have an Amazon Prime Rewards VISA credit card. Amazon is offering up to 15% cash back on the purchase of each router when you use the card.

Join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.

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