We retested the Archer AX11000 for this review, and the results are much higher than our original averages. Chalk it up to new firmware or less interference, but the updated averages now put the Archer AX11000 closer to NETGEAR’s faster but far more expensive Nighthawk RAX200 and RAXE500 routers.

That said, we recorded an 860Mbps average out of a 1,200Mbps max rate with the Archer AX11000—20Mbps less on average than the pricier Nighthawk RAX200. Meanwhile, our Lenovo laptop at close range tested with speeds up to 1,610Mbps out of a 2,400Mbps maximum, which is excellent. By comparison, the similar Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 tested slower than both routers at close and long range.

If you want a router with long range, the Archer AX11000 delivers. We tested 282Mbps at 120 feet, a distance that includes two doors, some furniture, and a nosy cat or two. That’s a decent speed at that range, but we recorded faster speeds with TP-Link’s Archer AX6000 and Reyee’s RG-E5. NETGEAR’s Nighthawk RAX200 and RAXE500 are the only tested routers to date that can even connect with our devices at 160 feet.

The Archer AX11000 packs lots of features for the price. For starters, HomeCare covers your security and parental control needs for free. We provide a list of what HomeCare does, but in short, you can create profiles, filter traffic, set bedtimes, and more.

The VPN server allows you to access the internet safely when connected to public Wi-Fi. Your internet traffic goes directly to the router first and then to the destination on the internet, hiding your current IP address and location. You don’t need a subscription to use this feature.

Other goodies under the hood include Amazon Alexa support (found under Smart Game Assistant), mesh networking with compatible TP-Link range extenders and powerline adapters, and QoS settings tailored for gaming.

What we wish the Archer AX11000 did better

• Printer sharing
• Real gaming tools

You can share files, share media, and create a Time Machine backup using a USB stick connected to the router, but you can’t share a printer, which is unfortunate. Then again, you can share most new printers using Wi-Fi, but a shareable USB tether is a good backup.

Also, the Archer AX11000 doesn’t have real gaming tools. The Game Center portion merely relabels common tools like security, parental controls, and QoS settings you can access elsewhere on the interface. The only real game-centric tools are the router’s ping and traceroute utilities.

If you need loads of wired connections, you can’t go wrong with the Archer AX11000. There are eight Gigabit Ethernet ports on the back, two of which you can pair together for a 2,000Mbps (2Gbps) wired connection. The 2.5Gbps WAN port is ideal for cable and fiber internet plans faster than a gigabit.

What’s amusing here is that for nearly a decade now, security experts have warned that WPS isn’t a secure way to connect devices to routers.¹ Yet manufacturers like TP-Link continue to add WPS to their routers and gateways because gadgets like printers and digital cameras still use it. Always disable WPS if you don’t need it.

Finally, the antennas plug into the main unit—you don’t screw them in like with other routers. And while popping them on is a lot quicker, you can’t adjust them, so if you need better Wi-Fi on a second floor, you may need to invest in a TP-Link range extender or powerline adapter with OneMesh support.

TP-Link employs one of the longest setups of all router manufacturers.

The problem is TP-Link doesn’t separate the basic and advanced options, so you may find yourself stumped over the MAC address aspect when all you want to do is get this thing up and running.

In contrast, competing routers determine your best settings automatically, like your time zone, making the process smoother and faster. Still, at least TP-Link doesn’t bombard you with subscription nags like those seen with NETGEAR routers.

The Archer AX11000 has one of the sleekest web interfaces we’ve seen yet. It caters to gamers, sure, but it’s easy on the eyes and, quite frankly, a little exciting. It’s a far better design than the humdrum blue and white ones loaded on other TP-Link routers.

And yet, the Game Center portion is a little confusing. It simply relabels and relists settings you can find in other sections. For example, you may think the Game Protector parental controls are separate from the HomeCare ones, but they’re not—it’s the same function listed in two different places.

But is the router easy to use? It’s extremely easy, and the Tether app is even easier once you learn the layout.