tp-link AX3000 Archer Air R5 Wi-Fi 6 Air Router Review

The internet has come a long way… those of us who are old enough remember the screaming, painful sounds of data connections being made over phone lines. Later the sounds were no longer part of the experience and we were able to download images in moments not minutes. Then things started to really get faster and now we are streaming full super high definition video, in multiple locations throughout our homes on multiple devices. If you’ve only ever used the equipment your service provider gave you… you might just be missing out. That is where the tp-link AX3000 might be able to help.

So for a quick bit of reference, I am currently on a 250Mbps NBN plan… It’s my balance between cost and speed. I had been happy enough with the increase in speed over my previous connection (a 100Mbps) but was curious if perhaps I wasn’t quite getting the most out of my internet. Turns out I was right, but I’ll get back to that.

The tp-link AX3000 Archer Air R5 is a Wi-Fi 6 Air Router. It is extremely stylish and very compact. In a world of giant black angular beasts with multiple aerials stretching out like a squid in motion… the AX3000’s simple white rectangle with a single lit logo is a breath of fresh air. In the box is the Router, mounting bracket, power cable, and cable to connect to your modem. There’s even a tiny spirit level that you can use to help make sure the mounting plate is level… I opted for the 3M adhesives on the back for my mounting.

In terms of getting it set up… it is extremely simple. The manual has a QR code that you can scan (or you can enter the website that is provided). Setup can either be done online or via an app. I opted for the app and within moments I was up and running. The Router doesn’t have a lot of options for connecting to anything else… I mean it’s intended to be a Wi-fi Router but it does have one ethernet port and I used this to connect it to my home mesh network, doing so was basically as easy as plugging it in and waiting for it to establish the connection, but I’ll come back to this later.

The app is quite handy in that it doesn’t just set things up, it also gives you access to more options if you want to dig in a bit deeper, put restrictions on traffic to certain devices etc, it’s a nice neat interface and certainly makes things simple for new users and those not too familiar with the settings.

But what about the results? Well as mentioned I don’t have the fastest internet… but I noted a distinct difference in speed when I switched to the AX3000. Where I was previously getting on average around 110 or so Mbps… I peaked at about 206Mbps with the AX3000 and I tend to get around 160Mbps average during peak times (the upload is a limitation of my service… not the router). I have my main computer connected to the tp-link itself whilst other devices around the home connect via the mesh system. There’s a chance the mesh system is better at delivering the signal around the house… but that’s not overly surprising given there are multiple units and they aren’t just restricted to the room the modem is in. Having said that… connecting directly to the tp-link on my main computer which is just about the opposite side of the house provides the strongest and fastest link… so clearly the AX3000 is quite capable even on its own.

The only real issue I had with the set up is the length of the power cord. The device is intended to be mounted on a wall and as much as it states it’s not meant to be more than 1 meter off the ground… the length of the power cord means unless you have a power point sitting some way off the ground… you may need an extension cord. For me it’s mounted near an entertainment unit so I connected it to a powerboard which sits on that… but it might be tricky for some.

Ultimately… if you want to bump up your home internet performance but don’t want any hassle doing so… I highly recommend the tp-link AX3000 Archer Air R5. At 8mm thick it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb and it is easy to mount and get started. A fantastic Wi-Fi 6 option for your home.