In the market, there are many expensive wireless routers that offer advanced features such as Gigabit internet support, the latest security, firewall, device management, QoS, MIMO, and many more. But from Tp-Link, the TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 which is just around 2500 Indian rupees or about 40 USD, offers even more features.
The TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 is the best affordable router even for people who have high-speed internet connections. It offers true Gigabit internet support, the latest WPA3 security, firewall, Malware protection, MU-MIMO, QoS, App Support, and many more.
TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 Box contents
- Router itself
- 12V 1A Power Adapter
- Cat 5e Ethernet Cable
- Quick Installation Guide
TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 Design and Build
The overall design of the TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 is really great and it looks quite smart with modern aesthetics and compact size. On the top, it has knurled pyramid pattern on its top with the Tplink logo on it which is not glossy and has no fingerprint magnet.
At the back of the TP-Link Archer A6 V3, you have four adjustable Omnidirectional Antennas along with one Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports with a reset and a WPS button that can also be used to switch wifi on or off. At the front, the router has five LEDs to indicate the status of different networks. At the bottom, you can also see holes for wall mounting with plenty of ventilation.
The design of the TP-Link Archer A6 AC1200 is 100% similar compared to its bigger version The TP-Link Archer C80. The body measures 8.5 × 4.6 × 1.2 in Dimensions (W×D×H) and has four non-removable Omnidirectional antennas.
TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 Features
The TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 router is powered by a Dual-Core MediaTek MT7621A Processor clocked at 880 MHz. The MediaTek MT7621A Wi-Fi SoC is very capable of handling high-speed internet connection along with many connected devices.
It comes with 1× Gigabit WAN Port and 4× Gigabit LAN Ports. If you have a 1Gbps internet connection, you can fully utilize that internet speed through the LAN ports. The Gigabit WAN port supports Dynamic IP, Static IP, PPPoE, PPTP, and L2TP connection types. You can also use this router in Router Mode or Access Point Mode.
Wireless Features
The TP-Link Archer A6 has 4× Fixed High-Performance Antennas that support Wi-Fi 5 standards (IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz and IEEE 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz). It uses 802.11ac Wave 2 technology which helps to reach maximum data rates of up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz band.
This router is packed with advanced wireless technologies such as 2×2 MU-MIMO (simultaneous data streaming) and beamforming (direct-to-client signal transmissions), and Air time Fairness. These features help the router to communicate with the connected devices without any lag and interference.
It supports the latest WiFi Encryption WPA3 along with WPA, WPA2, and WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x).
This Archer A6 also supports Guest networking for both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz which helps you create a separate network with separate SSIDs and passwords for guests. You can also disallow Guests to access your local network or setup page.
This router also has TP-Link One Mesh technology, where you can use another Access point/Wireless router/Repeater which also supports One Mesh technology, to get a whole home mesh wifi technology. See One Mesh Compatible Devices here.
Security and other features
The TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 has plenty of features like Parental Control for restricting access, and Quality of service (QoS). Also, it has a firewall, IP & MAC Binding, IPv6, OpenVPN, PPTP VPN, Net Forwarding, and IPTV. You can also control some of the features of the router with Alexa. You can experience all the features of the Tp-Link Archer A6 by clicking here.
Archer A6 V3 User Interface And Setup
The setup is quite easy and tp-link archer a6 v3 ac1200 has one of the best web interfaces for controlling its features while also keeping it simple. you can also control most of these features with TP-Link’s Tether app on your phone.
You can also control one or more routers from the Tether app anywhere in the world. You just need to log in to your TP-Link ID in your router’s Dynamic DNS setting.
TP-Link Archer A6 V3 Range and Performance
The range of the TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 is quite impressive. I was able to get a Wi-Fi speed of about 520 Mbps on the 5Ghz and 115 Mpbs on the 2.4Ghz, in the best-case scenario. While in the room next to the router with one wall in between I was able to get 440Mbps on the 5Ghz and 95Mpbs on the 2.4Ghz.
But if I talk about a normal scenario I would suggest everyone to use this router if they have an internet connection of less than 300Mbps. Also, the Archer A6 can easily handle 15 connected devices very easily.
If I talk about the home range I will suggest you use the Archer A6 V3 for a 1500 square feet house. But for larger homes, you may consider getting a range extender that supports One-Mesh.
TP-Link Archer A6 V3 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Build Quality and Internal Cooling System and many air vents
- Guest Network,
- True Gigabit Ports
- Very good and stable range.
- IPV6, QoS, Firewall, and Latest Security.
- Easy to set up, App Support, Remort Access.
Cons:
- No Bandwidth Control for Individual Devices.
- Takes 75 seconds to boot up completely.
- No USB Port.
- Antennas are not Removable.
Conclusion and Archer A6 V3 Best Buy Link
TP-Link Archer A6 V3 AC1200 costs around 2500 rupees or about 40USD. In this Price range, it has the best build and it is packed with all the required features you need.
In conclusion, the Archer A6 V3 AC1200 is the best gigabit router for the price and you are getting basically everything that you may need. Now with more expensive routers, you will get better performance but in most cases, the difference is only noticeable once.