D-Link DIR-AX1560
The cheapest Wi-Fi 6 router that we’ve yet seen. However, there are compromises at this price.
In APC 482, TP-Link dazzled us with its boring-looking Archer AX50 Wi-Fi 6 router which offered speedy 802.11ax wireless technology in an uninspiring box that cost under $300. Up to that point, the Wi-Fi 6 market had seen Asus and TP-Link seeking to out-do each other by offering increasingly powerful UFOlookalike devices for nearer $1,000. But the market is maturing and now here’s D-Link (finally) with a Wi-Fi 6 router that can already be found under $200. Should you buy it?
First up, this really is dulllooking. All effort has gone into the function-based value proposition with little attention being paid to form: it’s an unattractive, dual-band, Wi-Fi 6 black box with four spindly antennae.
Set-up is very simple thanks to the D-Link Wi-Fi app and a QR code (in the box) which walks you through the connection. After you choose the network name and password (the 300Mbps 2.4GHz band and 1,200Mbps 5GHz bands are combined into one) you choose a device administrator password and you’re up and running. If you log-into an optional D-Link cloud account you can set up Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice commands which enable you to disable connectivity, check login credentials and reboot the system.
The app is simple to use and allows you to easily see which clients are connected, enable guest Wi-Fi, turn off the four, bright, status LEDs, update the firmware and set parental controls. The latter lets you set-up different profiles which enable different devices to access the internet at different times of the week. We were pleased that it allowed us to make the choice in 30-minute increments as the commonly-used hour-long delimiters frequently aren’t compatible with small-children’s bed time routines.
This is all standard fare for Wi-Fi 6 routers. In fact, this is the first such device we’ve seen without built-in Network security but then there’s got to be some compromise at this price. So, what about performance?
We ran our standard suite of Wi-Fi tests, which involve downloading large video files from a Synology DS1019+ NAS to a Wi-Fi-6-equipped Dell XPS 15 OLED laptop in a three-storey
Sydney Town House. Up close it achieved the second fastest transfer rate we’ve ever registered: 735.3Mbps! However, this isn’t uncommon for the cheaper routers at short-range: the persistent issue is that of signal degradation over distance and this was the case for the D-Link. One floor up, transfer speeds collapsed to 61Mbps and even that took two attempts to achieve (the first effort managed 30Mbps). Two floors up it was scored just 22.5Mbps which is in keeping with mediocre wireless AC-technology devices of a few years ago.
But you can’t have everything. The RRP of the DIR-X1560 is just $250 and it can be found online for just $189 already. If you want no frills, fast Wi-Fi on the cheap, and aren’t too fussed about range, it’s a great buy. However, TP-Link’s slightly dearer, Archer AX50 will appeal to those who need better performance at range while still on a budget.
NICK ROSS
Cheap and relatively cheerful, D-Link’s no-frills Wi-Fi 6 router undercuts the competition on price, but offers limited range.