TP-Link AX3000 WiFi 6 Router, 2 x 2.5 Gbps Ports (Archer AX55 Pro)

Why it's worth it

The Archer AX55 Pro is a dual-band WiFi 6 router rated at AX3000 with two 2.5 Gbps ports and four antennas. For an apartment, a small house, or anyone on a plan under 500 Mbps, it covers what you actually use.

Most people don't need WiFi 7, and this is the router that proves it. PCMag notes that most U.S. households have plans under 500 Mbps, and the AX55 Pro handles 2,402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. Your internet connection will be the bottleneck long before this router is. For streaming, video calls, and gaming in a one- or two-bedroom place, it's enough.

The multi-gig ports are the surprise here. You get a 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port and a second 2.5 Gbps LAN port, plus three gigabit ports. That's unusual at this price and genuinely useful if you have a NAS or want a fast wired link to a desktop. Most budget routers cap out at gigabit everywhere, which quietly limits your wired transfers.

From our review of 8 wifi routers

What we like

• +Most people don't need WiFi 7, and this is the router that proves it
• +The multi-gig ports are the surprise here
• +It also does VPN client and server, so devices on your network can reach a remote VPN without you installing software on each one
• +This is the router we'd recommend to a renter, a student, or anyone who just wants their internet to work without a project

What to know

• –It's dual-band WiFi 6, so no 6 GHz and no WiFi 7 features
• –Range is fine for an apartment and mediocre for a house