"TP-Link Archer AX55 Review" Affordable and just right Wi-Fi6 router
TP-Link boasts the world's No. 1 market share for wireless LAN products.
Nowadays, TP-Link is a well-known internet equipment maker in Japan, with a variety of TP-Link products on the shelves of every consumer electronics mass retailer.
This time, TP-Link provided us with the Wi-Fi6 router "Archer AX55" released on December 16, 2021, so we will introduce the features and specifications of the product, check the included items, appearance, and use. I will do a review.
We also compared the performance of the Archer AX73, which we reviewed earlier, with the Archer AX10, which we personally purchased. is.
First, let me introduce the features of the Archer AX55.
Contents of the articleTP-Link Archer AX55
TP-Link Archer AX55 is a dual-band Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 router that supports IPv6 IPoE.
With four external antennas and an independent front-end module (FEM), the maximum communication speed is 2402 Mbps in the 5 GHz band and 574 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band, realizing high-speed data communication that also enables 8K video playback.
The recommended number of connections is 48, which is sufficient for people living alone as well as for families.
In addition, by combining with a repeater that supports TP-Link OneMesh, you can smoothly switch between the repeater and router while moving around the house, so you can build a seamless mesh Wi-Fi environment. can.
The main unit price is 10,780 yen including tax (estimated market price), making it an affordable price for a multi-functional Wi-Fi6 router.
However, with such an affordable price, you may be worried about whether you can use it properly or whether the internet will be interrupted.
We are also checking the area, so please continue to see it.
About each function of Archer AX55The characteristics of each function such as Wi-Fi6, OneMesh, IPv6 IPoE are explained in the review article of Archer AX4800, so if you are interested, please refer to it.
TP-Link WiFi wireless LAN router 11ax AX3000 2402 + 574Mbps WiFi6 3 years manufacturer warranty Archer AX55(JP)/Acreated by RinkerTP-LINK The features of the product are described in such detail that you can understand it.By the way, it is much more compact than the Archer AX73 package.
Chiharu YumenoIt might be appreciated if you live alone
When I opened it, the inside was stored like this.
In addition to the main body of Archer AX55
It contained a.
The AC adapter looks like this.
The LAN cable included was a Category 5E cable.
The Easy Setup Guide has detailed instructions on how to set up the Archer AX55 with images.
You can easily set up by following the instructions on the screen with the dedicated app "Tether".
Since it comes with a 3-year warranty, you can rest assured even in the unlikely event of a natural failure or initial failure, such as "I used it normally but it suddenly stopped working" or "The internet is unstable from the beginning of purchase".
The default SSID and password are printed on the Wi-Fi information card, which you will use to connect your computer or smartphone to the Archer AX55.
In addition, when you change the SSID or password, you can write a memo, and since the back is a sticker, you can paste it in an easy-to-understand place.
The default SSID and password are also printed on the back of the Archer AX55.Let's check out what the Archer AX55 looks like.
In addition to the packaging, the top plate and antenna are protected by a film, so remove it before use.
This is what the Archer AX55 looks like.
It looks somewhat similar to Archer AX73, but Archer AX55 has a mesh top design, while Archer AX73 has a wedge pattern.
The number of antennas has also been reduced from 6 to 4, and the size of the main unit has also become more compact.
I also compared it with the Archer AX10, but in terms of size,
Archer AX73 > Archer AX55 > Archer AX10
Is it something like that?
There is an LED indicator on the front.
There is nothing special on either side.
On the back, from the left, there is a WPS / Wi-Fi button and a reset button, a USB 3.0 port has a WAN port x 1, a LAN port x 4, and a power button has a power terminal.
[USB 3.0 port specifications] Supported formats: NTFS, exFAT, HFS+, FAT32 Functions: Apple Time Machine, FTP server, media server, Samba server (upper limit of HDD size and number of files available depending on router usage) moves up and down)There are two grooves on the back for hanging on a wall.
Impression after using it normally
Before I tell you the comparison result with Archer AX10 and Archer AX73, I tried using Archer AX55 normally for about 2 weeks. I'll tell you how it was.
To summarize what I thought, it looks like this.
The most important thing in a Wi-Fi router is stability.
I tried connecting and using IoT devices such as personal computers, smartphones, and smart home appliances with Archer AX55, but even if I connect 3 or 4 terminals at the same time, such as watching videos, playing games, and remote control with remote desktop, , I was able to use it stably without any interruption in communication.
Also, I tried full HD live distribution on YouTube for about 6 hours, and I confirmed that the live distribution was able to be performed without any problems even when monitoring the live distribution on another device.
After that, as with any router, if you leave it running for a long time, the communication will be interrupted or slowed down, and things will get worse and worse.
The Archer AX55 allows you to set the reboot timing from the management screen, so if you set a schedule to reboot while you sleep at night, you can always use the Internet in the best condition.
Depending on the router, you may feel heat even in the cold season of December, but the Archer AX55 only feels slightly warm to the touch, so as long as it is not installed in a very hot place, it can be used without problems.
The Archer AX55 is compatible with Amazon Alexa, and has the unique feature of being able to control the router with your voice.
At first, I was wondering if the router can be operated by voice, but it's quite convenient because you can open the Wi-Fi by voice without opening the router's management screen for sudden visitors. right.
What you can do with Alexa – Open Wi-Fi for guests when guests arrive – Enable WPS when connecting new devices – Control LED – Internet line speed test – Prioritize devices and apps using QoS – Good night modeNURO Hikari Since the ONU already has a Wi-Fi router function, there is no need to prepare your own router. Rather, it is said that by using a router, it becomes a double router, and in some cases the Internet may become unstable.
Regarding this matter, it may depend on the router, but as a person who has been using a TP-Link router with NURO Hikari for about 3 years, "I can use it without any problems, no, I should use a router. more comfortable.”
The specific story is here, so if you are interested in dual routers, I hope it will be helpful.
Can I use my own router with NURO Hikari? Explain the merits and demerits of dual routers Can't you use your own router because NURO Hikari's ONU can't turn off the router function? But how does it actually work? Explains the advantages and disadvantages of dual routers. studio-de.comPerformance comparison of AX10, AX55, AX73
Now, let's compare Archer AX10, Archer AX55, and Archer AX73.
First, let's take a look at the specs.
Looking at the specs, the Archer AX73 has the best performance, but the Archer AX55 has a well-balanced performance, although the dual-core CPU is worrisome.
This time, I tried to measure the Wi-Fi speed and flight distance at my home.
The layout of our house is roughly like this, a two-story wooden building, and the internet line is the NURO Hikari 2Gs plan. I measured the link speed with the Wi-Fi SweetSpots app, and the router is installed in the center of the house on the second floor.
I put together a table of how fast Wi-Fi is in each room.
With 2.4GHz communication, the Archer AX55 was as fast as the Archer AX73, and when it was away from the router, it was as fast as the Archer AX10.
In order to check the unevenness of the Wi-Fi, when I measured it while wandering around the second floor, the Archer AX55 tended to have extremely poor communication compared to others. Since the communication is less stable than Archer AX10, I felt that there was a difference in the number of CPU cores and clock frequency.
There is no particular problem if you keep still, but if you use it to play videos or download data while moving, you can expect stable communication from the Archer AX73.
With 5GHz communication, Archer AX55 has almost the same speed as Archer AX73, and Wi-Fi is more stable than 2.4GHz communication.
Looking at the unevenness of the Wi-Fi, the Archer AX73 is still stable.
I tried to measure the load on the router when playing 4K video on 3 devices.
The Archer AX55 has the highest CPU load. If you don't use it heavily, you can use it without any particular problems, but in situations where there is a load on the line, such as when connecting dozens of devices at the same time or when operating a server, the Archer AX73 can be used more stably.
Summary
After using the Archer AX55, I felt that it was a router with an excellent cost balance, as it was a combination of the best of the Archer AX10 and the Archer AX73.
Overall, the Archer AX73 has excellent Wi-Fi communication speed, flight distance, and stability, but the Archer AX55 is also 2402 Mbps in the 5 GHz band, 574 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band, The number of simultaneous connections is 48, and I felt that the performance was sufficient for general household use, as long as it was not used under heavy load.
There is also a USB 3.0 port on the back, so it can be used as an Apple Time Machine or a media server, expanding the range of uses.
The main unit price is 10,780 yen (estimated market price), but you can buy it on Amazon for 9,800 yen (according to a survey on December 16, 2021), so it's a little cheaper, but it's decent. For those who want Wi-Fi performance, the Archer AX55 may be the best match.
TP-Link WiFi wireless LAN router 11ax AX3000 2402 + 574Mbps WiFi6 Manufacturer warranty 3 years Archer AX55(JP)/Acreated by RinkerTP-LINK TP-Link official HPTP-Link official TwitterOther TP-Link products I am reviewing ↓
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