TP-Link Archer BE230 (Wi-Fi 7 BE3600, 2.5G)

Our analysis

Its sibling, the TP-Link Archer BE550, adds the 6 GHz band, tri-band BE9300 against dual-band BE3600 here, plus gaming QoS; both list four LAN ports and 186 m² of coverage in our spec sheet. The BE230 keeps Wi-Fi 7's MLO and two 2.5 Gbps ports, for people still on the router their internet provider handed them, in an apartment or a small house.

What stands out

• MLO, the key Wi-Fi 7 feature. A device can use two bands at the same time and move traffic to the less crowded one, which is how Wi-Fi 7 aims to reduce latency spikes.
• Two 2.5 Gbps ports. Useful if your plan is faster than a gigabit or you want a wired PC that is not capped at a standard gigabit link.
• Room to wire your devices. The spec sheet lists four LAN ports, and the description adds USB 3.0, so the console and the PC can both go wired.
• BE3600 and 186 m² of coverage. Sized for an apartment or a small home.

Where it falls short

• It has no advanced game prioritization, so it will not put your match first while someone else streams 4K.
• Its coverage will not reach a large house, and it is dual-band, without the extra band that tri-band models can leave clear for a gaming device.

Look elsewhere if

• Several people share the connection: the ASUS TUF Gaming BE6500 adds game prioritization and a gaming port. If the problem is distance, the TP-Link Deco BE5000 mesh uses three nodes to cover up to 613 m² as one network.

We explain why a cable still beats any router, and where this one fits as a first step if your current router is Wi-Fi 5 or 6, in our Wi-Fi 7 vs Ethernet cable guide.