The cheapest WiFi 7 router ever is an exceptionally good deal: The $99 TP-Link Archer router has five Gigabit Ethernet ports and even comes with a VPN server
You don’t have to spend a fortune on a decent entry-level WiFi 7 router, as TP-Link’s recently announced Archer BE3600 is now available for a bargain $99, making it a promising and affordable option for both consumers and SMBs.
The Archer BE3600 operates on dual-band frequencies, offering speeds of up to 2,882 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 688 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. It is equipped with four external antennas with Beamforming technology, which increases signal strength and coverage. It offers Multi-RUs, 4K-QAM and Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for simultaneous data reception on different frequencies and channels.
Archer BE3600 supports both VPN clients and servers, and can run both VPN and regular Internet connections at the same time. It also supports EasyMesh, allowing users to seamlessly expand their network with other EasyMesh routers and range extenders.
6GHz band is not supported
The router features two multi-gig ports, each capable of 2.5Gbps, along with three 1Gbps LAN ports and a USB 3.0 port that supports a range of file systems including NTFS, exFAT, HFS+ and FAT32. These ports allow for decent data transfer capabilities within the network, even if the wide internet speeds don’t meet the ultra-high speed broadband requirements.
Archer BE3600 supports multiple encryption standards such as WPA, WPA2, WPA3 and WPA/WPA2-Enterprise. In addition, TP-Link’s HomeShield security suite provides a range of protective features such as malicious site blocking, intrusion prevention, and real-time IoT protection. The router can be easily set up and managed via the TP-Link Tether smartphone app.
Considering the price, it should come as no surprise that TP Link’s offering lacks features found on more expensive models like the Asus RT-BE88U. Notably, it doesn’t offer support for the 6GHz band, a feature that’s becoming increasingly common in higher-end routers but is limited by regional regulatory differences.