TP-Link Archer AX55 review

TP-Link Archer AX55 is the entry-level Wi-Fi 6 upgrade on this list for homes that still have a Wi-Fi 5 router and a plan of 1 Gbps or less. TP-Link rates it AX3000, with 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz, and 160 MHz channel support on 5 GHz. Four high-gain external antennas with Beamforming and four high-power FEMs push coverage, and TP-Link rates the range for 3 bedroom houses. It has 512 MB of RAM, Gigabit ports and a USB 3.0 port for sharing an external drive. TP-Link HomeShield adds a network scanner, parental controls and QoS, alongside WPA3, and OneMesh lets compatible TP-Link extenders form whole-home coverage. Setup runs through the Tether app or a web interface. It has no multi-gig port and no 6 GHz band, and TP-Link's US page showed no price, so its price is pending. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not test the router ourselves.

Who it is for

apartments on Gigabit or slower plans

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• AX3000 Wi-Fi 6: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz
• 160 MHz channel support on 5 GHz
• Four high-gain external antennas with Beamforming
• Gigabit ports and a USB 3.0 port for shared storage
• TP-Link HomeShield, WPA3, parental controls and OneMesh

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: TP-Link rates its range for 3 bedroom houses
• Strength: 512 MB RAM and four high-power FEMs
• Strength: OneMesh adds TP-Link extenders for whole-home coverage
• Weakness: Gigabit ports only, so it caps plans above 1 Gbps
• Weakness: Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 with no 6 GHz band
• Weakness: TP-Link's US page showed no price, so we could not verify cost

Key facts

• Price checked: Pending, no US price on TP-Link's page
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6, AX3000 dual-band
• Ports: Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0
• Range: 3 bedroom houses
• Mesh: TP-Link OneMesh

Where it ranks

TP-Link Archer AX55 is No. 9 in our Best Wireless Routers verdict.