TP-Link Archer AXE75 Router, Tested and Reviewed

TP-Link is a reputable brand for its affordable and high-quality tech products, including mesh Wi-Fi systems. With more households interested in extending their Wi-Fi to keep up with the growing number of connected devices, mesh networks provide a solution for faster internet speeds. While many mesh systems require multiple nodes to extend Wi-Fi, the Archer AXE75 provides a mesh network in just one device. If you need convincing, we tested the router based on specs, setup, price, performance and value.

Pick with confidence and learn more about how we assess each router.

Our TP-Link Archer AXE75 Video Review

Feel like watching a video version of our full review of this router? Check out our video review of the TP-Link Archer AXE75 below:

Walking Through Our TP-Link Archer AXE75 Experience

1. TP-Link Archer AXE75 Specs
2. TP-Link Archer AXE75 at First Glance: It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts
3. TP-Link Archer AXE75 Installation: Straightforward but Time-Consuming
4. TP-Link Archer AXE75 Performance: Not Optimized for Older Devices
5. Our Verdict: Out With the Old, in With the New

TP-Link Archer AXE75 Specs

TP-Link Archer AXE75 at First Glance: It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts

Most mesh Wi-Fi network systems require multiple nodes, usually two or three, to enjoy the benefits of a mesh network. The Archer AXE75 eliminates the need for multiple nodes with one router to deliver Wi-Fi throughout your home. This can be a great space-saver and eliminates having to set up more than one router and figure out the best spot to place it in.

Despite some benefits, having one router does come with a downside. Other routers I’ve tested, such as the TP-Link Deco S4 and eero devices, feature a sleeker design that can blend into any interior decor. But the Archer AXE75 is hard to discreetly place in a home. The best way to access strong Wi-Fi signals is to place your router out in the open, and I’m not sure I’d want my guests to see it when they come over. While aesthetics isn’t always a deal-breaker when shopping for a router, the Archer AXE75 isn’t my first choice.

Another feature on the router that’s new to me is the number of antennas. There are six antennas that are supposed to improve signal strength. It’s been a long time since I’ve used a router with antennas, and I’m inclined to think this is more cumbersome than anything. Can you imagine trying to fiddle with six different antennas to attempt to access a better signal? It seems like an exercise in futility!

The Archer AXE75 supports Wi-Fi 6 technology and Wi-Fi 6E circuitry to tri-band radios. This means the router can access a 6 GHz radio band and is also equipped with the standard 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. With tri-band radios, the router can achieve download speeds up to an impressive 5,378 Mbps.

TP-Link Archer AXE75 Installation: Straightforward but Time-Consuming

Advanced technology often gets a bad rap for being challenging to use and install. Luckily, that’s a misconception I’m happy to dispel! I’ve set up countless routers and mesh Wi-Fi systems and can say that the process was straightforward.

Unboxing and Initial Setup

Upon opening the box, the Archer AXE75 router had everything I needed, including a handy installation guide. I wrote a review on the TP-Link Deco S4, and the insert provided there wasn’t too helpful, so I was happy to see that this TP-Link product featured a simple yet comprehensive quick installation guide.

I spoke too soon, though. The instructions were a bit deceiving. It shows a two-step process, but both steps one and two feature three to four steps within them. The process was actually seven steps, but at least they were not overly complicated.

I recommend downloading the installation app, Tether (TP-Link has multiple installation apps depending on your device; the Archer AXE75 router uses Tether), before unplugging your current equipment. That way, if you have spotty or weak cellular service, you won’t run into any issues.

The instructions that came with setting up the equipment and going through the steps on the mobile app were straight to the point. However, going through the process on the app took longer than I anticipated. Overall, setup took around 35 to 40 minutes to complete, which is longer than my experience setting up the Deco S4 and eero mesh Wi-Fi routers (both the eero 6+ and eero Pro 6). In those instances, setup took around 20 minutes. Once I was inside the app, I followed along with the prompts and found additional steps to take — it never ends!

The app guides you through setting up a Wi-Fi username and password, which is used for each of the radio bands. You’ll also be required to set up a password for your local account to control your Archer router. This step seems redundant and now adds to my ever-growing list of passwords to keep track of.

The last step allows you to set a time for your router to perform system updates. The default is the middle of the night, but you can set a time that better suits your needs.

Navigating the Mobile App

Thankfully, you don’t have to be tech-savvy to use the mobile app during setup, as you’re clearly guided through each step. It’s the minimum you can ask for, but the Tether app delivers.

The app includes useful features typical of other mesh Wi-Fi network apps, including setting up a guest network, managing parental controls, editing the Wi-Fi username and password and managing devices. You also have the option of blocking devices from using your network, which could work if you’re trying to cut someone out of your network, such as an unruly teen or nosy neighbor.

One feature I found interesting is Security and Network Optimization. In the Security tab, you can perform a check to assess any risks associated with your network to keep your information safe. More advanced security features are available for a monthly or yearly subscription. They offer a 30-day trial so you can gauge whether the features make sense for you.

With Network Optimization, you can assess your network’s performance. This tool specifically checks for network congestion, so if you’re struggling with slow internet, you can use it to determine if congestion is the culprit. It’s an ideal resource for troubleshooting the internet.

TP-Link features parental control features to allow households with children increased security when using the internet. The router comes with a complimentary HomeShield Basic plan, offering essential parental controls and fundamental network security features. With the Basic plan, you can manage internet access for specific users, enforce age-appropriate content restrictions and monitor online activity duration.

The basic plan has some limitations. So if you’re looking to set time limits and reward your children with extra internet time for good behavior, you can upgrade to the HomeShield Pro plan. This premium plan costs $5.99 per month, or $54.99 per year, and includes advanced security options such as malicious-content filtering, denial-of-service protection and detailed network security reports.

Aside from these features, I was underwhelmed, overall, by the Tether app. One feature I enjoyed on the TP-Link Deco app is the Discover page, where you can assess articles related to internet usage. This makes learning about safety, troubleshooting and Deco-specific tools simple. As another TP-Link app, I assumed Tether would feature a similar tab.

The app’s layout also left something to be desired, as there was a lot of hunting and pecking for information. Some criteria, such as the Guest Network option and Parental Controls, are double-exposed in the app.

TP-Link Archer AXE75 Performance: Not Optimized for Older Devices

After getting the Archer AXE75 up and running, it was time to test it. I placed the device in a central location in my home: the living room. I tested the router on a Spectrum gigabit internet connection using my iPhone (Wi-Fi 5).

Testing the Router

I tested the router from four locations: right beside the router, 15 feet away, from behind a wall and at the farthest point away from the router. In my home, that was in an upstairs bedroom at the back of the house. I also compared the results to my current router, the eero Pro 6. While our team already tested the Archer AXE75 to include it as one of our top picks for the best Wi-Fi routers, I put it to the test in a two-story, stand-alone home.

The performance was exceptional in close proximity to the router, both beside it and from 15 feet away. Speeds topped out between 535 to 559 Mbps. Compared to my previous router, the speeds were nearly identical. This result is to be expected, as mesh routers often perform well the closer they are to the devices in use.

As I moved farther from the router, I naturally noticed a decrease in speed. When behind a wall from me and the router, I logged 448 Mbps, which is a 19 percent decrease. Unfortunately, when I moved upstairs, I was disappointed with the speed. I recorded a measly 244 Mbps, a 56 percent decrease from the closest area and a 45 percent decrease from behind a wall.

As I noted earlier, though, I have an older iPhone that operates on Wi-Fi 5, which is where the Archer AXE75 doesn’t perform at its best. In our test home results, where the team was able to test on Wi-Fi 6 devices, the Archer AXE75 achieved the highest speeds in both a normal and busy environment. It reached 946 Mbps near the router and had a slight drop 15 feet away. If you have a gigabit internet plan and Wi-Fi 6 or 6E devices, then you have a better chance of accomplishing near-gigabit speeds than I did.

While I was personally disappointed with the results in my home, they served as a good reminder to upgrade my devices so the Archer AXE75 can perform at its best.

Comparing to Competitors

Compared to my eero Pro 6, the speeds were similar, with the exception of my rooms upstairs. Admittedly, the eero Pro 6 was 21 percent faster than the Archer AXE75 at 309 Mbps, so I would say these two devices perform similarly, despite their distinct features. With the Archer AXE75 coming in at considerably less than an eero system, it’s a viable alternative to a pricier Wi-Fi extender.

When comparing the Archer AXE75 to my testing of the Deco S4, the latter outperforms the former. With the Deco S4, the speeds from behind a wall and upstairs were very similar, and I didn’t notice a sharp decrease in internet speed when moving upstairs. In our test home, however, the team found that the AXE75 performed way better than the Deco S4 on Wi-Fi 6 devices.

Our Verdict: Out With the Old, in With the New

As a Wi-Fi 6E router, the TP-Link Archer AXE75 shines brightest with newer devices that run on Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E technology. Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t able to experience a similar throughput as the rest of the team because I’m still using Wi-Fi 5 devices. While my speed test results were disappointing in comparison to other mesh Wi-Fi routers that I’ve tested, that’s not to deny the Archer AXE75’s strong performance overall. After all, there’s a reason our team included it in our list of the best Wi-Fi routers. For the price and the performance, the Archer AXE75 is one of the most affordable Wi-Fi 6E mesh Wi-Fi routers that doesn’t require you to buy multiple devices in order to achieve full coverage. I didn’t vibe with its appearance, but I give credit where credit is due: It’s the most budget-friendly, blazing-fast router for those with newer devices.

How We Assess Routers

In our router evaluations, we maintain consistency by using a standardized set of criteria for every review. Our team of tech experts relies on these guidelines to conduct their assessments.

• Specs: Our evaluation process includes an in-depth analysis of router components, with a focus on wireless standards like Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, as well as CPU and RAM specifications. This thorough review enables us to determine whether a router aligns with current standards and facilitates comparisons with other models.
• Setup: Modern routers, unlike older models, should be user-friendly and easy to set up. A fast and simple installation process is crucial for getting you online quickly. We evaluate each router based on how long it takes to set up and how straightforward the process is, with a focus on speed and ease of use. We also examine the brand’s apps to determine their user-friendliness and how they enhance the overall experience of owning and managing the router.
• Price: Every household has a different budget to consider, and router prices range from $50 to over $500. In our reviews, we assess not only the initial price but also any extra costs, like accessories or subscriptions, needed to fully utilize the device’s features. We compare prices across different brands and models and also review discounts and special offers.
• Performance: High-performance routers are built to enhance your internet speed and meet various needs, whether for different home sizes, activities or multiple connected devices. We carry out practical tests on each router, assessing its performance at various distances and with different devices to determine how it performs in real-world situations.
• Value: We assess a router’s overall value by considering factors such as price, performance, ease of installation and technological features. Determining value requires finding the right balance. We expect higher-priced routers to offer exceptional performance, while more affordable options may deliver lower speeds. Our top choices are routers that combine excellent performance with affordability, ensuring a satisfying user experience over time.