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Belkin AC900 Review | 77 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£90
  • Avg. price in US: ~$100
  • Wi-Fi version: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Wi-Fi speed: 900 Mbps
  • LAN port speeds: 1 Gbps
  • Wireless coverage: ?

Belkin AC900 review. Compare 77 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among routers and if it is worth buying.

6.5

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the router's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best routers on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

6.5

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Good
6.5

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the router's technical performance, covering key areas such as Wi-Fi performance, wired connectivity, security, software features, coverage, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare routers based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

26.0%

4.6

Wireless

20.0%

5.8

Ports

18.0%

6.8

Networking

14.0%

8.8

Security

12.0%

8.0

Hardware

10.0%

6.9

Management

Good
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the router.

When it matters: When you want to know how a router performs in daily use and how reliable it is for speed, coverage, and stability according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 5.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    33.0%

    2.3

    Wi-Fi speed

    28.0%

    9.0

    CPU clock speed

    22.0%

    9.0

    RAM capacity

    17.0%

    2.1

    Maximum connected devices

  • 3.9
    Travel

    Score components:

    40.0%

    5.8

    Weight

    30.0%

    2.3

    Wi-Fi speed

    20.0%

    4.0

    Cellular modem type

    10.0%

    1.0

    SIM slot

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £90

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Belkin AC900 (F9K1117) is a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) router providing combined speeds up to 900 Mbps, split between 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 585 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. Key characteristics include four Gigabit Ethernet ports for high-speed wired connections, a USB 2.0 port for printer or DLNA media sharing, and IntelliStream QoS for automatic traffic prioritisation of gaming and video. Main pros include a simple browser-based setup for mobile devices, IPv6 compatibility, and solid security features like a built-in firewall and SPI intrusion protection. However, cons include limited USB functionality as it does not support full NAS/backup capabilities, the absence of third-party firmware support like DD-WRT, and some users reporting reduced range on the 5 GHz band compared to older wireless-N models.

Technical Specifications of router Belkin AC900

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the router's technical performance, covering key areas such as Wi-Fi performance, wired connectivity, security, software features, coverage, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare routers based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

26.0%

?

Wireless

20.0%

?

Ports

18.0%

?

Networking

14.0%

?

Security

12.0%

?

Hardware

10.0%

?

Management

6.5
Belkin AC900 has a technical score of 6.47 points, which is lower than that of 54.7% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the router.

When it matters: When you want to know how a router performs in daily use and how reliable it is for speed, coverage, and stability according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the router.
When it matters: When you prefer to choose a router reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
1.0
Belkin AC900 has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 71.1% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the router's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a router with a good balance between network performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

6.5

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

7.5
Belkin AC900 has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.5 points, which is lower than 52.7% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Belkin
Wi-Fi version
What it is: Identifies the Wi-Fi generation the router supports, such as Wi-Fi 5, 6, 6E, or 7.
When it matters: When newer phones, laptops, and consoles need the latest Wi-Fi efficiency and speed features.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Belkin AC900 uses Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is more advanced than 39.4% of routers and equal to 25.4% of routers.
Wi-Fi bands
What it is: Lists which wireless frequency bands the router can use, such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz.
When it matters: When you need to balance range, speed, and congestion across different types of client devices.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz

2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
Belkin AC900 supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands, which are more versatile than 25% of routers and equal to 67.9% of routers.
Wi-Fi speed
What it is: The advertised maximum wireless throughput rating of the router under supported conditions.
When it matters: When several users stream, download, and game at once and you want more wireless headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >2700 Mbps

900 Mbps
Belkin AC900 delivers 900 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is lower than 60.5% of routers and equal to 2% of routers.
Channel widths supported
What it is: Lists the Wi-Fi channel widths the router can use, such as 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz.
When it matters: When you want the option to trade peak speed against stability in crowded wireless environments.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz

20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
Belkin AC900 supports 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz channel width options, which is more than 40.4% of routers and the same as 32.1% of routers.
Show more
Wi-Fi security protocols
What it is: Lists the wireless security standards the router supports, such as WPA2 or WPA3.
When it matters: When you want stronger wireless protection without locking out older devices that still need compatibility.

Importance: HIGH

WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS
Belkin AC900 supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS Wi-Fi security protocols, which are less advanced than 67.3% of routers and equal to 11.6% of routers.
DoS protection
What it is: Provides defenses intended to reduce the impact of denial-of-service traffic against the router or network.
When it matters: When exposed services or remote access make resilience against traffic floods more important.

Importance: HIGH

?
SPI intrusion protection
What it is: Uses stateful packet inspection to track sessions and block suspicious unsolicited traffic more accurately.
When it matters: When the router needs a stronger first line of filtering on an internet-facing connection.

Importance: HIGH

yes
Belkin AC900 includes SPI-based intrusion protection. 3.6% of routers include SPI-based intrusion protection.
MAC address filtering
What it is: Lets the router allow or block devices based on their MAC addresses.
When it matters: When you want an extra device-level access rule beyond passwords and network names.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
Belkin AC900 supports MAC address filtering. 1% of routers include MAC address filtering.
URL filter
What it is: Allows the router to block or allow access based on website addresses or domain rules.
When it matters: When you need to restrict specific sites for children, guests, or work-policy reasons.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
Belkin AC900 supports URL filtering. 1.8% of routers include URL filtering.
Show more
IPv6 support
What it is: Support for the newer IPv6 internet addressing standard alongside the older IPv4 system.
When it matters: When your internet provider or network already uses IPv6, or you want the router to stay compatible as IPv6 use becomes more common.

Importance: HIGH

yes
Belkin AC900 supports IPv6. 10.9% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
What it is: Supports routing protocols or dynamic route updates instead of relying only on static route entries.
When it matters: When the router sits in a more complex network with changing paths between multiple subnets.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Belkin AC900 does not support dynamic routing. 53.4% of routers support dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
What it is: Allows the router to pass traffic between separate VLANs under controlled rules.
When it matters: When you need segmented networks to communicate selectively instead of staying fully isolated.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Belkin AC900 does not support inter-VLAN routing. 22.2% of routers support inter-VLAN routing.
VLAN tagging
What it is: Lets the router mark traffic with VLAN tags for segmented or ISP-specific network setups.
When it matters: When you separate guest, office, IoT, or ISP-required traffic into different network segments.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Belkin AC900 does not support VLAN tagging. 63% of routers include VLAN tagging.
QoS
What it is: Provides quality-of-service controls that prioritize some traffic over less important traffic.
When it matters: When calls, gaming, and downloads compete and you want latency-sensitive traffic protected.

Importance: HIGH

yes
Belkin AC900 includes QoS controls. 2.7% of routers include QoS controls.
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N. of LAN ports
What it is: Measures how many LAN ports the router includes. A higher count expands direct connectivity for matching devices.
When it matters: When you run a home office with NAS, TV boxes, and desktops, having more LAN ports avoids extra switches and keeps latency lower on wired links.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 4 ports

4
Belkin AC900 has 4 LAN ports, which is more than 23.4% of routers and the same as 69.5% of routers.
LAN port speeds
What it is: Lists the Ethernet speeds available on the router’s LAN ports, such as Gigabit or multi-gig.
When it matters: When wired transfers to NAS, desktops, or access points need more than basic Ethernet speeds.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 1 Gbps

1 Gbps
Belkin AC900 offers 1 Gbps on its LAN ports, which is faster than 27.2% of routers and on par with 59.8% of routers.
N. of WAN ports
What it is: Shows how many separate WAN uplink ports the router provides for internet connections.
When it matters: When you use dual internet lines, backup WAN, or load balancing between multiple external links.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 1 WAN port

1
Belkin AC900 has 1 WAN ports, which is more than 1% of routers and the same as 90.1% of routers.
N. of USB ports
What it is: Shows how many USB ports the router includes for storage, printers, or modem accessories.
When it matters: When you plan to share storage, attach a printer, or use USB-based network extras.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 1 USB port

1
Belkin AC900 has 1 USB ports, which is more than 39.2% of routers and the same as 39.9% of routers.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
What it is: Power over Ethernet support, meaning the router can receive power, deliver it, or be part of a PoE-based installation.
When it matters: When you want cleaner installation with fewer separate power cables, especially in ceilings, walls, racks, or remote locations.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Belkin AC900 does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 0.5% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
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Management interface
What it is: Shows how the router is configured and monitored, such as web UI, app, or command-line tools.
When it matters: When setup depth and day-to-day admin convenience are part of the buying decision.

Importance: HIGH

Web UI
Belkin AC900 uses Web UI for management, which is less advanced than 72.2% of routers and equal to 27.3% of routers.
Firmware upgrade method
What it is: Describes how router firmware updates are installed, such as automatic OTA, web UI, or manual upload.
When it matters: When you want security fixes and new features applied with less maintenance friction.

Importance: HIGH

Web UI
Belkin AC900 supports Web UI firmware update methods, which are less convenient than 69.5% of routers and equal to 29.7% of routers.
Traffic monitoring
What it is: Lets the router track bandwidth usage by device, app category, or time period.
When it matters: When you need to find which devices or activities are causing slowdowns or high data use.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
Belkin AC900 includes traffic monitoring. 17.5% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
What it is: Lets the router create a separate wireless network for visitors or less-trusted devices.
When it matters: When guests need internet access without reaching private devices on the main network.

Importance: HIGH

yes
Belkin AC900 offers a guest Wi‑Fi network. 8.6% of routers offer a guest Wi‑Fi network.
Captive portal
What it is: Supports a login or acceptance page that users must pass before getting internet access.
When it matters: When guest networks, rentals, cafes, or managed access points need a sign-in page.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
Belkin AC900 offers captive portal features. 76.4% of routers offer captive portal features.
Browser-based guest login page.
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CPU clock speed
What it is: Shows the operating frequency of the router processor, often listed per core.
When it matters: When routing, encryption, QoS, and many active clients can put heavier load on the CPU.

Importance: HIGH

?
RAM capacity
What it is: The amount of working memory available for sessions, routing tables, and running router services.
When it matters: When many devices, VPN tunnels, or advanced features need the router to stay responsive under load.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=512 MB

?
Internal storage
What it is: The built-in storage available for logs, apps, shared files, or other local router functions.
When it matters: When the router runs extra services and needs space for logs, packages, or shared content.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8 GB

?
Hardware acceleration
What it is: Uses dedicated hardware paths to offload routing, NAT, encryption, or switching tasks from the main CPU.
When it matters: When heavy routing or security features would otherwise reduce throughput on the processor alone.

Importance: HIGH

?
N. of external antennas
What it is: Shows how many antennas are mounted externally on the router.
When it matters: When you want stronger adjustable coverage or plan to aim antennas for difficult room layouts.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 3 antennas

0
Belkin AC900 has 0 external antennas, which is fewer than 59.7% of routers and the same as 40.3% of routers.
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Belkin AC900 vs the average router

  • Supports captive portal
    Belkin AC900 supports captive portal, while the average router does not. 23.8% of routers support captive portal.
    Browser-based guest login page.
    What it is: Supports a login or acceptance page that users must pass before getting internet access.
    When it matters: When guest networks, rentals, cafes, or managed access points need a sign-in page.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Belkin AC900 supports captive portal, while the average router does not. 23.8% of routers support captive portal.
  • Suitable for gaming
    Belkin AC900 is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 37.2% of routers are designed for gaming.
    What it is: Highlights whether the router is aimed at gaming-focused use, such as lower-latency traffic handling or gaming-oriented controls.
    When it matters: When gaming traffic, lower latency, or easier prioritization of consoles and gaming PCs matters in your network setup.

    Importance: LOW

    Belkin AC900 is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 37.2% of routers are designed for gaming.
  • Supports captive portal
    Belkin AC900 supports captive portal, while the average router does not. 23.8% of routers support captive portal.
  • Suitable for gaming
    Belkin AC900 is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 37.2% of routers are designed for gaming.

Total
Management
Hardware
  • No band steering
    Belkin AC900 does not support band steering, while the average router does. 52.6% of routers support band steering.
  • 37.9% slower Wi-Fi speed
    Belkin AC900 has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (900 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.
  • No VLAN tagging
    Belkin AC900 does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 62.8% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No dynamic routing
    Belkin AC900 does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 53.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • Limited firmware updates
    Belkin AC900 supports the firmware update methods Web UI, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
  • Weaker management tools
    Belkin AC900 uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.
  • Less capable NAS services
    Belkin AC900 includes SMB, media server NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access.
    Requires attached USB storage.
  • 2 fewer external antennas
    Belkin AC900 has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
  • Limited firmware updates
    Belkin AC900 supports the firmware update methods Web UI, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
    What it is: Describes how router firmware updates are installed, such as automatic OTA, web UI, or manual upload.
    When it matters: When you want security fixes and new features applied with less maintenance friction.

    Importance: HIGH

    Belkin AC900 supports the firmware update methods Web UI, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.Web UI vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • No VLAN tagging
    Belkin AC900 does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 62.8% of routers support VLAN tagging.
    What it is: Lets the router mark traffic with VLAN tags for segmented or ISP-specific network setups.
    When it matters: When you separate guest, office, IoT, or ISP-required traffic into different network segments.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Belkin AC900 does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 62.8% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No dynamic routing
    Belkin AC900 does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 53.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
    What it is: Supports routing protocols or dynamic route updates instead of relying only on static route entries.
    When it matters: When the router sits in a more complex network with changing paths between multiple subnets.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Belkin AC900 does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 53.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • Weaker management tools
    Belkin AC900 uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.
    What it is: Shows how the router is configured and monitored, such as web UI, app, or command-line tools.
    When it matters: When setup depth and day-to-day admin convenience are part of the buying decision.

    Importance: HIGH

    Belkin AC900 uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.Web UI vs Web UI, App
  • Less capable NAS services
    Belkin AC900 includes SMB, media server NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access.
    Requires attached USB storage.
    What it is: Lists the onboard file-sharing services the router can provide, such as SMB, FTP, or media sharing.
    When it matters: When the router is expected to handle light file serving without separate NAS hardware.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Belkin AC900 includes SMB, media server NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access.SMB, media server vs SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access
  • No band steering
    Belkin AC900 does not support band steering, while the average router does. 52.6% of routers support band steering.
    What it is: Can guide dual-band or tri-band clients toward the more suitable frequency band automatically.
    When it matters: When you want devices spread more intelligently across 2.4, 5, or 6 GHz bands.

    Importance: LOW

    Belkin AC900 does not support band steering, while the average router does. 52.6% of routers support band steering.
  • 37.9% slower Wi-Fi speed
    Belkin AC900 has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (900 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.
    What it is: The advertised maximum wireless throughput rating of the router under supported conditions.
    When it matters: When several users stream, download, and game at once and you want more wireless headroom.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >2700 Mbps

    Belkin AC900 has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (900 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.900 Mbps vs 1450 Mbps
  • 5.84x less popular
    Belkin AC900 is less popular than the average router (1.00 vs 5.837).
    What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the router.
    When it matters: When you prefer to choose a router reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
    Belkin AC900 is less popular than the average router (1.00 vs 5.837).1 vs 5.84
Total
Overall
Wireless
Networking
Management
Hardware

Graphic comparison of Belkin AC900 and other routers

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about Belkin AC900?

  • Ease of setup: Many users find the 'Simple Start' browser-based installation quick and straightforward, even for non-technical users.
  • Performance: Positive feedback on its ability to handle multiple devices and provide solid speeds for general browsing and streaming.
  • Design: The compact, upright design with an integrated stand is frequently praised for its aesthetic and small footprint.
  • Value: Often cited as providing good performance and features for its price point.
  • Dual-band flexibility: Users appreciate the 5GHz band for faster media streaming and the 2.4GHz band for standard tasks.

What customers dislike about Belkin AC900?

  • Connection stability: Some users report frequent signal drops or the need to reboot the router weekly to restore connectivity.
  • Range limitations: While advertised as high-power, some reviewers experienced poor signal strength in larger homes or through multiple walls.
  • Durability issues: Reports of a shorter lifespan compared to other routers, with some units failing within 6 months to a year.
  • Software quirks: Issues with the Belkin redirect page appearing unexpectedly and limited NAS functionality when using the USB port.
  • Setup difficulties for specific ISPs: Some users, particularly those on DSL services, reported significant trouble during the initial configuration.

Expert reviews

C
cnet.com
28/03/2012
Belkin Advance N900 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router review

The Belkin Advance N900 DB router delivers top-tier 5GHz performance with 450Mbps clients, featuring a vertical design and six internal antennas for broad coverage. While boasting impressive, chart-topping close-range speeds (189.6Mbps) and excellent 2.4GHz range, the device suffers from mediocre USB 2.0 file transfer speeds and a steep $200 price point. Despite its high-speed...Read more

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