Design
AX90 belongs to TP-Link’s new range of powerful Wi-Fi 6 video gaming routers. The Archer AX90 has a tri-band design that guarantees up to 574Mbps of cellular speeds on its 2.4GHz network; approximately 1201Mbps on its 1st 5GHz network; and up to 4804Mbps on its second 5GHz network that’s specifically created keeping gaming in mind. AX90 features a 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, a 1 Gbps WAN/LAN port, three Gigabit LAN ports, and both a USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0 slot. TP-Link’s Archer AX90 has a Gaming Accelerator feature which automatically detects gaming-oriented traffic on the network and accordingly assigns it an increased priority to ensure seamless connectivity and performance for online flash games.
Software
Users can use TP-Link’s Tether app, which works on all local networks, for super-easy configuration and management. This app is available for both iOS and Android. We also had the option to register a TP-Link account ID during installation, which quickly enabled us to access cloud services. We were able to control our entire network remotely from here. We were really impressed with TP-Link’s all-new GUI, which has all the vital information in the basic section and is more than sufficient to cater to an average user’s needs. The router comes with OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies. We think they are worth mentioning as they create several simultaneous connections to serve multiple users simultaneously, unlike traditional routers.
Features
TP-Link’s AX90 allowed us to configure the different networks, which could work separately as well as a combined network. AX90 automatically assigns the network using its Smart Connect feature depending on what the connecting device can support. We also found an option to set up a Guest Wi-Fi network, with or without a password, that we really liked. Archer AX90 supports the Amazon Alexa voice control function, and we could control different functions on the Archer AX90 by giving voice commands. It also comes with an additional feature – the HomeShield suite that includes Antivirus, network security scanning, advanced QoS and parental controls.
Performance
TP-Link’s Archer AX90 supports tri-band Wi-Fi 6 and features a 160 MHz bandwidth along with 1024-QAM to offer a total bandwidth of up to 6.6 Gbps (AX6600). The router makes use of 8 external high-performance antennas to match the 802.11ax blazing fast transmission with range boost, airtime fairness technology, and beamforming technology to provide seamless wireless coverage for the entire place. The Archer AX90 also supports Target Wake Time (TWT) technology wherein the router can automatically determine when and how often the connected devices wake up to effectively send and receive data accordingly.
To test this router’s performance, we connected three different devices from three different spots in the area. We connected the first device closest to the router, and the throughput was able to reach almost 900Mbps. We connected the second device at a distance of 10 meters (without any concrete barriers), and the throughput was able to reach about 720Mbps. We connected the third device at a distance of 10 meters again, but this time with a wall barrier and the throughput reached approximately 630 Mbps.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that TP-Link’s Archer AX90 is an incredible high-end Wi-Fi 6 router built for large homes and office spaces. It is actually cheaper than many other AX6000 alternatives available in the market today. For those seeking a powerful router that can cover a large area with high-speed Wi-Fi and 2.5Gbps wired network for connecting multiple devices simultaneously, this is an excellent buy.
