Review: TP-Link Archer BE800 Router

Before we review TP-Link’s cutting-edge Archer BE800 Wi-Fi 7 router, let’s get something out of the way: No one needs to spend $600 on a router. The Archer BE800 is an enormous, all-singing, all-dancing, tri-band beast with several multi-gig ports, and its full potential will not be realized for months, perhaps years. It packs the best TP-Link has into a radically redesigned form with plenty of bells and whistles, and is aimed squarely at early adopters willing to pay a premium.

While the promise of tangible improvements over the disappointing Wi-Fi 6E is enticing, Wi-Fi 7 is not ready for prime time. Very few devices support the new standard, and the pre-certified Archer B800 is missing some features which are to be added later via firmware updates. We tested with the OnePlus 11 5G (7/10, WIRED Recommends), one of the only phones with Wi-Fi 7 support. But the BE800 is fully backward compatible and matches or beats all the best routers you can buy today.

Photograph: TP-Link

If you’re not keen on arachnid-looking routers bristling with antennas, TP-Link’s classy, new design will please you. The boxy rectangular case appears to be anodized aluminum and resembles a desktop computer, but it is pinched in the middle to form an X. This router looks serious enough to work in a fancy corporate office. To further zhuzh it up, TP-Link added a customizable dot-matrix LED screen to the front.

Though I like the classy look and the fresh design direction, the LED display feels gimmicky. It mostly just displays emoji faces or animations (I do love the Pac-Man). You can write text and design your own stills and animations in the app, but it feels like a missed opportunity that it can’t display anything useful other than the time.

When you pick the Archer BE800 out of the box, it turns out to be plastic. The router is surprisingly light for its size, with a mostly empty case that hides multiple antennas and allows airflow to keep things cool inside without a noisy fan. Over a couple of weeks of testing, it sometimes got a little warm, but never hot, and it has remained silent.

The Archer BE800 has ports aplenty, with a 10-Gbps WAN/LAN or SFP+ port, another 10-Gbps WAN/LAN, four 2.5-Gbps LAN ports, and a USB 3.2 port. With link aggregation you can combine two 2.5-Gbps ports for a 5-Gbps wired connection. If you want to plug in switches and hubs, or run Ethernet cables around your home, this router has you covered.

TP-Link via Simon Hill

Setup is quick and easy with the Tether app. By default, the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands will appear as one, and the router will pick the best connection. There’s also a separate 6-GHz network (appended “_6G”) that compatible Wi-Fi 6E or 7 devices can join. The MLO (Multi-Link Operation) option is new for Wi-Fi 7, and enables Wi-Fi 7 devices to connect simultaneously on multiple bands.

Further options include guest network, IoT network, VPN server or client, EasyMesh, and a few other bits and pieces. Everything is accessible through the web interface, if you prefer, and you can set up remote management. TP-Link’s HomeShield includes basic network security, parental controls (profiles, bedtimes, content filters), and QoS to prioritize devices. Enhanced security and better parental controls require HomeShield Pro ($6 per month or $55 per year). But I’m not a fan of the subscription model with a router this expensive.

Everything I said about TP-Link’s first Wi-Fi 7 mesh, the Deco BE85 (7/10, WIRED Review), applies to the BE800. In brief, you are paying a premium for Wi-Fi 7 right now, and you almost certainly don’t have the devices to take advantage. You can expect quirks and bugs, and these pre-certified devices lack the Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) that will boost the range of the 6-GHz band.

The Archer BE800 performed admirably in most of my tests. It topped the charts by moving a 2.2-GB file from one PC on my network to another in one minute and nine seconds, allowed me to download a 30-GB game in under five minutes, and finished in the top three for nearly all of my speed tests. It scored particularly well on the iPhone 14 Pro (5 GHz) and the Pixel 6 Pro (6 GHz).

Even with concurrent movie streams, online games, and video calls, there wasn’t a hint of buffering or pixelation for my busy family of four. The BE800 has blanketed my two-floor, 1,600-square-foot home and backyard with a consistently strong signal. Firmware updates have rolled out since I started testing, but I haven’t had any issues with stability. While my connection maxes out at 1 Gbps, this router can handle multi-gig connections for the lucky few that have one, and my internal network tests suggest you can expect speeds in excess of 3 Gbps within a few feet of the router.

Realistically, this router is overkill for most folks. That won’t stop you if you demand the latest releases and have disposable cash to burn. If you think that splurging now will future-proof you, that’s true to an extent, but there are some things to consider. With no Wi-Fi 7 devices and only a few Wi-Fi 6E devices capable of connecting on the 6-GHz band, which is still very limited in range, you will struggle to realize its full potential. It also has some flaws.

When I tested the Sony Xperia 1 V (7/10, WIRED Review), I was puzzled by speeds around a third as fast as the iPhone and Pixel. I also noticed some strange results on a desktop computer upstairs. Further investigation revealed that TP-Link’s Smart Connect, which is supposed to pick the best band for devices, sometimes picks the 2.4-GHz band when it should pick the 5-GHz band. You could always split the bands, but this detracts slightly from an otherwise impressive performance. With several updates to come, it will hopefully improve.

You have cheaper alternatives that will likely perform equally well in the short term. The Asus RT-AX86U ($250) is an excellent dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router. The tri-band Asus RT-AXE7800 ($280) is a Wi-Fi 6E router that delivered similar results, even beating the Archer BE800 in some tests. Both include security and parental controls at no extra cost. You could also snag an excellent mesh system for less than $600.

Ultimately, it’s too early for most folks to buy a Wi-Fi 7 router. Until more devices can take advantage and certification is complete, it is prudent to cool your heels. Prices will fall while you wait. Early adopters with multi-gig connections will be sorely tempted, and I don’t think the BE800 will disappoint, but it is a work in progress.