OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Routers Methodology v3.0
Routers Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Routers Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Routers Methodology v3.0

D-Link DGL-5500 review: 77 specs compared

Avg. price:~£160Wi-Fi version:Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)Wi-Fi speed:1300 MbpsLAN port speeds:1 GbpsMesh Wi-Fi:no

D-Link DGL-5500 Review: Compare 77 technical specifications and 2 expert and video reviews to see how this product ranks in the Routers category and whether it is worth buying.

D-Link DGL-5500
6.6/10

Overall score

Score
6.6/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, expert reviews, best-of lists and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 40%, Reviews score 25%, List score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 91% of models
Score components

40%

6.2

Technical score

25%

6.2

Reviews score

25%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 6.9, the mark of a weaker model in this category

â–¼Worse than 91% of routers
7.5

Value for money

Value for money
7.5/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 96% of models
Score components

70%

6.6

Overall score

30%

9.7

Price

â–¼Worse than 96%
6.2

Technical score

Technical score
6.2/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 85% of models
Score components

26%

5.3

Wireless

20%

5.8

Ports

18%

6.4

Networking

14%

8.0

Security

12%

5.9

Hardware

10%

6.2

Management

â–¼Worse than 85%
6.2

Reviews score

Reviews score
6.2/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 90% of models

6.2

Mark 7.6 is below the typical mark 8.1 of this category, so it cannot lift the score above the technical score

80%

8.0

Average grade

20%

6.3

Popularity

Grades by review (2)
2 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
â–¼Worse than 90%
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 25% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
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Where to buy
    N/A~ £160
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
Loading category ranking...

Technical Specifications of router D-Link DGL-5500

Technical score
Technical score
6.2/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 85% of models
Score components:

26%

5.3

Wireless

20%

5.8

Ports

18%

6.4

Networking

14%

8.0

Security

12%

5.9

Hardware

10%

6.2

Management

6.2
Reviews score
6.2
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
7.5/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 96% of models
Score components:

70%

6.6

Overall score

30%

9.7

Price

7.5
Brand name
D-Link
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
This router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is more advanced than 35.2% of routers and equal to 23.1% of routers.
Wi-Fi bands
2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
This router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands, which are more versatile than 24.2% of routers and equal to 65.6% of routers.
Wi-Fi speed
1,300 Mbps
Market range: <0 Mbps – >6k Mbps
This router delivers 1,300 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is lower than 53.9% of routers and equal to 1% of routers.
Channel widths supported
20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
This router supports 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz channel width options, which is more than 36.5% of routers and the same as 29.9% of routers.
Show more
Wi-Fi security protocols
WPA2
This router supports WPA2 Wi-Fi security protocols, which are less advanced than 92% of routers and equal to 3.7% of routers.
DoS protection
yes
This router includes DoS protection. 9.8% of routers include DoS protection.
SPI intrusion protection
yes
This router includes SPI-based intrusion protection. 4.7% of routers include SPI-based intrusion protection.
MAC address filtering
yes
This router supports MAC address filtering. 1.7% of routers include MAC address filtering.
URL filter
yes
This router supports URL filtering. 2.6% of routers include URL filtering.
Show more
IPv6 support
no
This router does not support IPv6. 91.4% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
no
This router does not support dynamic routing. 46.2% of routers support dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
no
This router does not support inter-VLAN routing. 24.5% of routers support inter-VLAN routing.
VLAN tagging
no
This router does not support VLAN tagging. 66.6% of routers include VLAN tagging.
QoS
yes
This router includes QoS controls. 2.4% of routers include QoS controls.
Show more
N. of LAN ports
4
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 4 LAN ports, which is more than 34.2% of routers and the same as 59.3% of routers.
LAN port speeds
1 Gbps
This router offers 1 Gbps on its LAN ports, which is faster than 25.7% of routers and on par with 56.1% of routers.
N. of WAN ports
1
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 WAN ports, which is more than 0.8% of routers and the same as 89.4% of routers.
N. of USB ports
1
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 USB ports, which is more than 40.1% of routers and the same as 41.5% of routers.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
no
This router does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 1.7% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
Show more
Management interface
Web UI
This router uses Web UI for management, which is less advanced than 78.5% of routers and equal to 21.2% of routers.
Firmware upgrade method
Web UI, Automatic
This router supports Web UI, Automatic firmware update methods, which are more convenient than 30.2% of routers and equal to 31.9% of routers.
Traffic monitoring
yes
This router includes traffic monitoring. 13.9% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
no
This router does not offer a guest Wi‑Fi network. 92.9% of routers offer a guest Wi‑Fi network.
Captive portal
no
This router does not offer captive portal features. 22.4% of routers offer captive portal features.
Show more
CPU clock speed
0.72 GHz
This router runs at 0.72 GHz, which is slower than 67.4% of routers and on par with 0.3% of routers.
RAM capacity
128 MB
Market range: <0 MB – >1k MB
This router has 128 MB of RAM, which is less than 54% of routers and the same as 16.3% of routers.
Internal storage
0.007812 GB
Market range: <0.0039 GB – >0.5 GB
This router has 0.007812 GB of internal storage, which is less than 68.4% of routers and the same as 18.6% of routers.
Hardware acceleration
yes
This router offers hardware acceleration. 24.9% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
0
Market range: <0 – >10
This router has 0 external antennas, which is fewer than 62.7% of routers and the same as 37.3% of routers.
Show more

D-Link DGL-5500 vs the average router

246810TotalWirelessSecurityNetworkingPortsManagementHardware
  • Suitable for gaming
    This router is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 37.9% of routers are designed for gaming.
  • 5 more internal antennas
    This router has more internal antennas than the average router (5 vs 0). The average router has 0 internal antennas.
    5 vs 0
  • More capable NAS services
    This router includes SMB, FTP, media server, web access NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, media server.
    Requires attached USB storage.
    SMB, FTP, media server, web access vs SMB, media server
  • 74.1 mm narrower width
    This router is narrower than the average router (118.9 mm vs 193 mm). The average router is 193 mm wide.
    118.9 mm vs 193 mm
  • More capable NAS services
    This router includes SMB, FTP, media server, web access NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, media server.
    Requires attached USB storage.
    SMB, FTP, media server, web access vs SMB, media server
  • Suitable for gaming
    This router is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 37.9% of routers are designed for gaming.
  • 5 more internal antennas
    This router has more internal antennas than the average router (5 vs 0). The average router has 0 internal antennas.
    5 vs 0
  • 74.1 mm narrower width
    This router is narrower than the average router (118.9 mm vs 193 mm). The average router is 193 mm wide.
    118.9 mm vs 193 mm
  • No VLAN tagging
    This router does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 66.5% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No IPv6 support
    This router does not support IPv6, while the average router does. 91.2% of routers support IPv6.
  • No VPN server support
    This router cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 68.8% of routers can act as a VPN server.
  • Limited firmware updates
    This router supports the firmware update methods Web UI, Automatic, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
    Web UI, Automatic vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • Weaker management tools
    This router uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.
    Web UI vs Web UI, App
  • 19.5% lower review score
    Reviews score
    6.2/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–¼ Worse than 90% of models

    6.2

    Mark 7.6 is below the typical mark 8.1 of this category, so it cannot lift the score above the technical score

    80%

    8.0

    Average grade

    20%

    6.3

    Popularity

    Grades by review (2)
    2 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    6.2 vs 7.7
  • No MU-MIMO
    This router does not support MU-MIMO, while the average router does. 54% of routers support MU-MIMO.
  • No guest Wi-Fi network
    This router does not offer a guest Wi-Fi network, while the average router does. 92.7% of routers offer a guest Wi-Fi network.
  • 19.5% lower review score
    Reviews score
    6.2/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–¼ Worse than 90% of models

    6.2

    Mark 7.6 is below the typical mark 8.1 of this category, so it cannot lift the score above the technical score

    80%

    8.0

    Average grade

    20%

    6.3

    Popularity

    Grades by review (2)
    2 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    6.2 vs 7.7
  • 7.7% worse value for money
    D-Link DGL-5500 has worse value for money than the average router (7.5 vs 8.1).
    7.5 vs 8.08
  • 68.4% more expensive
    D-Link DGL-5500 is more expensive than the average router (£160 vs £95).
    £160 vs £95
  • No MU-MIMO
    This router does not support MU-MIMO, while the average router does. 54% of routers support MU-MIMO.
  • 1 fewer spatial streams
    This router has fewer spatial streams than the average router (2 vs 3). The average router has 3 spatial streams.
    2 vs 3
  • No band steering
    This router does not support band steering, while the average router does. 57.6% of routers support band steering.
  • No beamforming
    This router does not support beamforming, while the average router does. 62.1% of routers support beamforming.
  • 49 fewer connected devices
    This router supports fewer connected devices than the average router (15 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
    15 vs 64
  • 25.7% slower Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (1,300 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    1,300 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • No VPN server support
    This router cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 68.8% of routers can act as a VPN server.
  • No PPTP server
    This router cannot act as a PPTP server, while the average router can. 66.2% of routers can act as a PPTP server.
  • No VLAN tagging
    This router does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 66.5% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No IPv6 support
    This router does not support IPv6, while the average router does. 91.2% of routers support IPv6.
  • Limited firmware updates
    This router supports the firmware update methods Web UI, Automatic, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
    Web UI, Automatic vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • Weaker management tools
    This router uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.
    Web UI vs Web UI, App
  • No guest Wi-Fi network
    This router does not offer a guest Wi-Fi network, while the average router does. 92.7% of routers offer a guest Wi-Fi network.
  • 93.8% less internal storage
    This router has less internal storage than the average router (0 GB vs 0.1 GB). The average router offers 0.125 GB of internal storage.
    0.007812 GB vs 0.125 GB
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    This router has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (0.72 GHz vs 2x1 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x1 GHz.
    0.72 GHz vs 2x1 GHz
  • 2 fewer external antennas
    This router has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
    0 vs 2
  • 50% less RAM
    This router has less RAM than the average router (128 MB vs 256 MB). The average router has 256 MB of RAM.
    128 MB vs 256 MB
  • 139.6 mm higher height
    This router is taller than the average router (191 mm vs 51.4 mm). The average router is 51.4 mm tall.
    191 mm vs 51.4 mm
  • 6 years older release date
    This router is an older model than the average router (2013 vs 2019). The average router release year is 2019.
    August 2013
    2013 vs 2019
  • 45 mm thicker design
    This router is thicker than the average router (99 mm vs 54 mm). The average router is 54 mm thick.
    99 mm vs 54 mm

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

9.0
HiTechLegion
≈ estimated
03/01/2014
Hands-on review · 30 days of use and benchmarks
Verdict
D-Link DGL 5500 performed very well over 30 days, especially for gaming and streaming households.
5.0
CNET
≈ estimated
13/08/2013
First look · Stream Boost and setup impressions
Verdict
D-Link DGL 5500 works well with a useful traffic prioritisation feature, but missing features make it hard to justify the price.
Brand video

Third-party reviews

What customers like about D-Link DGL-5500

  • StreamBoost technology effectively prioritizes bandwidth for gaming and real-time apps
  • Solid throughput on the 2.4GHz band compared to competitors
  • Sleek, compact cylindrical design that takes up minimal desk space
  • Gigabit LAN and WAN ports for high-speed wired connections
  • Includes a USB port for basic printer and storage sharing via SharePort

What customers don't like about D-Link DGL-5500

  • Disappointing 5GHz wireless performance and range compared to other AC1300 routers
  • Confusing and lethargic web user interface that is not mobile-friendly
  • Lacks support for common features like Dynamic DNS (DynDNS) and bridging/repeating
  • High initial price point was often cited as not matching the performance delivered
  • USB 2.0 port results in slow data transfer speeds for network-attached storage
  • No support for D-Link's own 'mydlink' cloud services

Verdict

The D-Link DGL-5500 is a dual-band AC1300 gaming router that features Qualcomm’s StreamBoost technology to intelligently prioritize bandwidth for lag-free gaming and HD streaming. It supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi with speeds up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz band and 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, complemented by four Gigabit LAN ports and one Gigabit WAN port for high-speed wired connections. Key pros include its effective traffic-shaping engine, easy-to-use setup wizard, and a unique cylindrical 'coffee grinder' design that saves desk space. However, it suffers from several cons, such as disappointing Wi-Fi range, a clunky web interface that requires StreamBoost to be enabled for most statistics, the use of older USB 2.0 technology, and a lack of advanced features like Dynamic DNS (DynDNS) support.

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