Linksys X6200

CHEAP AND SIMPLE.

UP UNTIL RECENTLY, Linksys had been a bit of a slacker when it came to VDSL. But with the X6200, it nally has a VDSL-capable router in its repertoire. Linksys went in a totally di erent direction to most of its VDSL-capable competition. Instead of a powerhouse supporting the latest wireless tech, the X6200 is instead a compact, modestly priced device that has minimal speci cations.

e X6200 is a single-antenna solution for 802.11ac, and that antenna is buried inside the router’s compact body. With only a single antenna, its maximum throughput is limited to just 433Mbps, which is a third or a quarter (or less) of what the competition is capable of. Our test results are a re ection of those limitations. But that’s not to say “OMG, this is terrible” — if you’re in a one- or two-person home, this is enough to deliver Net ix comfortably. We streamed 1080p Net ix from the router at 15m with no problem.

e router uses Linksys’ familiar rmware, the same rmware it deploys on all of its consumer routers. For an advanced user, it has its limitations and annoyances (though occasionally surprising depth), but it’s not designed for advanced users. It’s made for people who use setup CDs and mobile apps to con gure their router rather than web interfaces. Linksys, in fact, just released a major overhaul of its Smart Wi-Fi mobile app, and we were really impressed by the new look and feel. All the features are accessible, including things like parental controls, QoS and connection monitoring, and the design and management is straightforward. We still like ASUS’s app better, but Linksys has done a great job here.