TP-Link has established itself as a major player with its brilliant selection of wireless routers in the market. The newly launched AX55 is an AX3000 router that repeats its ingenuity in design by finding the perfect balance with 3000 Mbps speed capacity and a multitude of features. That too, at a highly competitive price!
Do you want to see how TP-Link AX3000 specs translate to performance? Does it handle the data-intense demands like gaming and 4K streaming? Well, to answer all this, I’ve finally decided to review the TP-Link Archer AX55. Do note that I used this routing device extensively for over a month before I put my honest opinions on it.
The Archer AX55 is built upon its predecessor, Archer AX50, by re-hauling its hardware unit. This TP-Link Archer AX55 review covers all the critical aspects of the router, including the advanced features, coverage, speeds, and security.
Before I begin, let me list out the key specs of the TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 router, i.e., AX55.
Table of Contents
TP-Link AX55 AX3000 Specs
| Wireless Standard | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Band Frequency | Dual-Band |
| Speeds | 574 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 2402 Mbps (5GHz) |
| Suitable Service Plan | Gigabit Internet |
| Range / Coverage | Up to 2500 Sq Ft |
| Device Handling Capacity | 25 |
| Ports | 4 LAN + 1 WAN + 1 USB 3.0 |
| Processor | 1GHz Qualcomm IPQ0518 |
| RAM Memory | 512MB |
| Flash Memory | 128MB |
| App Support | Yes |
| MU-MIMO | Yes |
| OFDMA | Yes |
| Beamforming | Yes |
| 160MHz Channels | Yes |
| DFS | Yes |
| QoS | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant |
TP-Link AX3000 Review: Should You Buy Archer AX55 in 2023?
1. Design & Key Features
Archer AX55 comes in shiny black chassis weighing close to 2 pounds. The plastic body leaves a durable impression despite its sleek appearance. The AX3000 router sports a striped design & a beveled rectangular top. The heat sink below the casing offers the right amount of ventilation for the device measuring 10.2 × 5.3 × 1.5 inches.
TP-Link lines up all 4 external, adjustable antennas on its rear. Spread out amongst the antennas are the USB 3.0 port, 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, WAN port, WPS, and a reset button. The LED indicators are on the front.
The TP-Link Archer AX55 supports the latest wireless standards, i.e., Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). It comes with advanced features like MU-MIMO, OFDMA & 160MHz Channels.
The TP-Link Archer AX3000 lets you access higher speeds and delivers low latency. Optimized data transmission from OFDMA & MU-MIMO allows access to high-speed internet to multiple devices. Premium internet security with comprehensive parental controls powered by Home-shield is one of the highlighting features of the Archer AX55.
2. Speeds & Throughput
It’s time for the most critical aspect to discuss in the TP-Link Archer AX3000 review!
TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 smart WiFi router offers theoretical top speeds of 574 Mbps in 2.4GHz frequency & 2402 Mbps in 5GHz frequency. Depending on the internet speeds and physical interference, the actual speed limits may vary between households.
I could get over 850 Mbps of download speeds from a Gigabit connection on the 5GHz band while I remained within the line of sight of the router. As I moved across to the farthest part of my home, the download speeds dropped to 300 Mbps. The legacy devices raked over 400 Mbps with full signal strength.
3. Coverage & Device Allocation
The 4 high-gain antennas are equipped with beamforming, providing stable signals on multiple devices. The flexibility of the antennas allows you to optimize the router placement and directions. This translates to solid coverage of around 2500 sq ft.
The TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 smart WiFi router can handle up to 25 devices. Connect your smart TV, gaming console, Voice assistants (supports Alexa & Google), tablets, laptops & security camera, video doorbells with no hassles & enjoy access to high-speed internet.
4. Service Package suitability
Anything higher than a gigabit-speed will be a stress test for the Archer AX55. The 600 Mbps plan from Xfinity would be an ideal match for the TP-Link Archer AX3000. Unless you have multiple gaming consoles or streaming devices, you can opt for speeds slower than 1000 Mbps.
The 500 Mbps plan of AT&T/Verizon FiOS /Cox or a 400 Mbps of Spectrum would work well with AX55. Do you have access to Google Fiber? You can opt for its 1Gbps connection at a much cheaper rate than its competitor.
5. Hardware & Performance
The most critical part of the TP-Link Archer AX3000 specs is its solid hardware. The routing device is powered by Qualcomm’s IPQ0518 dual-core chipset that clocks at 1GHz frequency.
The memory duo of 512MB RAM & 128MB flash storage, in tandem with the CPU, forms a strong duo. The power-efficient hardware qualifies it as one of the best-rated wireless routers for 4K streaming & online gaming without breaking a sweat. Adding mobile gadgets, tablets & laptops to the network wouldn’t cause a dent in its performance.
6. Security Features
If you are looking for a sophisticated internet security system, you cannot go wrong with the Homeshield Pro. This is one of the few sub $150 wireless routers that gets real-time IoT protection, advanced parental controls, DDoS attacks prevention, and a robust intrusion prevention system at a cost.
If you find the subscription costly, stick to the free HomeShield package. You’ll still have a set of parental controls, inbuilt VPN protocols, SPI firewall, IP & MAC filters, and WPA 3 protection to rely on. (Here’s how to configure WPA 3 on a router)
7. Installation & Management
You’ll have two choices to set up the TP-Link router. If you prefer mobile applications over the web interface, the Tether app will be a blessing. The intuitive interface of the app keeps the installation quick. Monitor your network and have control of the home network even when you are on the move.
If you are an experienced user, you can set up a guest network, view detailed reports of usage, configure parental controls and access filters using a comprehensive web portal.
TP-Link Archer AX55: Pros & Cons
- Wi-Fi 6 standard
- MU-MIMO, Beamforming
- Smart Connect
- DFS & 160MHz Channels
- Easy App based management
- Subscription-based advanced security
- Extender based OneMesh network
Frequently Asked Questions
Apart from the higher aggregated speed limits offered by AX3000, it also has a powerful hardware unit with additional operating memory. AX3000 outperforms AX1800 in terms of router management with extended customizability, parental controls, and a choice of advanced internet protection.
TP-Link Archer AX55 comes with 4 external flexible beamforming antennas. Adjustable antennas offer you more control over signal delivery and focus. The TP-Link AX3000 range extends up to 2500 sq ft, making it an ideal match for medium to large homes.
The robust hardware unit of AX-55 can deal with data-intensive streaming activities. Although you don’t have any gaming dedicated features, you can use
wired connectivity & QoS to ensure seamless gaming.
TP-Link Archer AX55 brings you the latest wireless standards and stable performance at a very competitive price. A multitude of features and advanced security to your smart home gadgets makes this a worthy choice of router.
Verdict
I hope this detailed TP-link Archer AX3000 review helps you make an informed decision. The shift to a new chipset in Archer AX55 feels justified by its display of stability in day-to-day performance. While it is not cheap by any measure, TP-Link has put together a combination that makes it very difficult to say no to the value offered by this AX3000 router.
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