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D-Link DIR 868L Review | 77 Data compared

Avg. price:~£110Wi-Fi version:Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)Wi-Fi speed:1750 MbpsLAN port speeds:1 GbpsMesh Wi-Fi:no

D-Link DIR 868L Review: Compare 77 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Routers category and whether it is worth buying.

7.0

Overall score

Score
7.0/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 52% of models
Score components

90%

6.9

Technical Score

10%

7.7

User score

â–²Better than 52% of routers
6.9

Technical Score

Technical score
6.9/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 52% of models
Score components

26%

5.8

Wireless

20%

5.8

Ports

18%

8.2

Networking

14%

9.1

Security

12%

6.2

Hardware

10%

7.6

Management

â–²Better than 52% of routers
7.7

User score

User score
7.7/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
Score components

70%

8.2

User reviews

30%

6.4

Popularity

User score:
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(245)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

â–¼Worse than 78% of routers
  • d-link-dir-868l
d-link-dir-868l

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £110

Best rankings

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

The D-Link DIR-868L is an AC1750 dual-band gigabit cloud router featuring a distinctive cylindrical design with six internal antennas and AC SmartBeam technology for targeted signal strength. It delivers concurrent speeds of up to 1,300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band, supported by four Gigabit LAN ports, one Gigabit WAN port, and a USB 3.0 port for media sharing via SharePort. Key pros include high-speed 802.11ac performance, robust IPv6 support, and remote management through the mydlink cloud platform. However, notable cons include the lack of a dedicated bridge mode or standalone access point functionality, a dated and sometimes cluttered web interface, and only two basic status LEDs on the front panel.

Technical Specifications of router D-Link DIR 868L

Technical Score
Technical score
6.9/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 52% of models
Score components:

26%

5.8

Wireless

20%

5.8

Ports

18%

8.2

Networking

14%

9.1

Security

12%

6.2

Hardware

10%

7.6

Management

6.9
D-Link DIR 868L has a technical score of 6.9 points, which is higher than that of 52% of products in this category.
User score
User score
7.7/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
Score components

70%

8.2

User reviews

30%

6.4

Popularity

User score:
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(245)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

7.7
D-Link DIR 868L has a user score of 7.67 points, which is lower than that of 77.7% of products in this category.
Popularity
Popularity
6.4/ 10
✕
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.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
Popularity:
D-Link DIR 868L has a popularity score of 6.4 points, which is lower than that of 51% of products in this category.
6.4
D-Link DIR 868L has a popularity score of 6.4 points, which is lower than that of 51% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price
Value for money
7.9/ 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–² Better than 54% of models
Score components:

60%

7.0

Overall score

40%

9.9

Price

7.9
D-Link DIR 868L has a value-for-money score of 7.9 points, which is higher than that of 53.7% of products in this category.
Brand name
D-Link
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
â–² Better than 39% of models
This router uses Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is more advanced than 39.5% of routers and equal to 25.3% of routers.
Wi-Fi bands
2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
Wi-Fi bands
2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
â–² Better than 25% of models
This router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands, which are more versatile than 24.8% of routers and equal to 68.1% of routers.
Wi-Fi speed
1,750 Mbps
Wi-Fi speed
1,750 Mbps
â–² Better than 53% of models
Market range: <0 Mbps – >6k Mbps
This router delivers 1,750 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is higher than 53.1% of routers and equal to 5% of routers.
Channel widths supported
20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
Channel widths supported
20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
â–² Better than 41% of models
This router supports 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz channel width options, which is more than 40.9% of routers and the same as 31.6% of routers.
Show more
Wi-Fi security protocols
WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS
Wi-Fi security protocols
WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS
â–¼ Worse than 67% of models
This router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS Wi-Fi security protocols, which are less advanced than 67.5% of routers and equal to 11.6% of routers.
DoS protection
yes
DoS protection
yes
â–² Better than 13% of models
This router includes DoS protection. 12.8% of routers include DoS protection.
SPI intrusion protection
yes
SPI intrusion protection
yes
â–² Better than 6% of models
This router includes SPI-based intrusion protection. 6.1% of routers include SPI-based intrusion protection.
MAC address filtering
yes
MAC address filtering
yes
â–² Better than 2% of models
This router supports MAC address filtering. 2.2% of routers include MAC address filtering.
URL filter
yes
URL filter
yes
â–² Better than 3% of models
This router supports URL filtering. 3.4% of routers include URL filtering.
Show more
IPv6 support
yes
IPv6 support
yes
â–² Better than 12% of models
This router supports IPv6. 11.5% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
no
Dynamic routing
no
â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
This router does not support dynamic routing. 52.5% of routers support dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
no
Inter-VLAN routing
no
â–¼ Worse than 24% of models
This router does not support inter-VLAN routing. 23.5% of routers support inter-VLAN routing.
VLAN tagging
yes
VLAN tagging
yes
â–² Better than 38% of models
This router supports VLAN tagging. 38.2% of routers include VLAN tagging.
QoS
yes
QoS
yes
â–² Better than 3% of models
This router includes QoS controls. 3.2% of routers include QoS controls.
Show more
N. of LAN ports
4
N. of LAN ports
4
â–² Better than 24% of models
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 4 LAN ports, which is more than 23.7% of routers and the same as 69.2% of routers.
LAN port speeds
1 Gbps
LAN port speeds
1 Gbps
â–² Better than 27% of models
This router offers 1 Gbps on its LAN ports, which is faster than 27.1% of routers and on par with 59.9% of routers.
N. of WAN ports
1
N. of WAN ports
1
â–¼ Worse than 9% of models
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 WAN ports, which is more than 1% of routers and the same as 90.1% of routers.
N. of USB ports
1
N. of USB ports
1
â–² Better than 39% of models
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 USB ports, which is more than 39.5% of routers and the same as 39.5% of routers.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
no
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
no
Category Benchmark
This router does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 0.5% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
Show more
Management interface
Web UI, App
Management interface
Web UI, App
â–² Better than 33% of models
This router uses Web UI, App for management, which is more advanced than 33.4% of routers and equal to 57% of routers.
mydlink app
Firmware upgrade method
Web UI, Automatic
Firmware upgrade method
Web UI, Automatic
â–² Better than 35% of models
This router supports Web UI, Automatic firmware update methods, which are more convenient than 35.4% of routers and equal to 37.8% of routers.
Traffic monitoring
yes
Traffic monitoring
yes
â–² Better than 18% of models
This router includes traffic monitoring. 18.1% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
yes
Guest Wi-Fi network
yes
â–² Better than 9% of models
This router offers a guest Wi‑Fi network. 8.6% of routers offer a guest Wi‑Fi network.
Captive portal
no
Captive portal
no
â–¼ Worse than 24% of models
This router does not offer captive portal features. 23.5% of routers offer captive portal features.
Show more
CPU clock speed
2x 0.8 GHz
CPU clock speed
2x 0.8 GHz
â–² Better than 51% of models
This router runs at 2x0.8 GHz, which is faster than 50.7% of routers and on par with 2.3% of routers.
RAM capacity
128 MB
RAM capacity
128 MB
â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
Market range: <0 MB – >1k MB
This router has 128 MB of RAM, which is less than 51.6% of routers and the same as 17.1% of routers.
Internal storage
0.125 GB
Internal storage
0.125 GB
â–² Better than 45% of models
Market range: <0 GB – >0.5 GB
This router has 0.125 GB of internal storage, which is more than 45.1% of routers and the same as 22.8% of routers.
Hardware acceleration
yes
Hardware acceleration
yes
â–² Better than 31% of models
This router offers hardware acceleration. 31.4% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
0
N. of external antennas
0
â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
Market range: <0 – >10
This router has 0 external antennas, which is fewer than 59.6% of routers and the same as 40.4% of routers.
Show more

D-Link DIR 868L vs the average router

246810TotalWirelessSecurityNetworkingPortsManagementHardware
  • 61.3% wider wireless coverage
    Wireless coverage
    300 m²
    â–² Better than 85% of models
    Market range: <100 m² – >400 m²
    This router has wider wireless coverage than the average router (300 m² vs 186 m²). The average router offers wireless coverage of 186 m².
    300 m² vs 186 m²
  • 6 more internal antennas
    N. of internal antennas
    6
    â–² Better than 87% of models
    Market range: <0 – >10
    This router has more internal antennas than the average router (6 vs 0). The average router has 0 internal antennas.
    6 vs 0
  • 78.7 mm narrower width
    Width
    123.3 mm
    â–² Better than 85% of models
    Market range: <100 mm – >300 mm
    This router is narrower than the average router (123.3 mm vs 202 mm). The average router is 202 mm wide.
    123.3 mm vs 202 mm
  • 61.3% wider wireless coverage
    Wireless coverage
    300 m²
    â–² Better than 85% of models
    Market range: <100 m² – >400 m²
    This router has wider wireless coverage than the average router (300 m² vs 186 m²). The average router offers wireless coverage of 186 m².
    300 m² vs 186 m²
  • 6 more internal antennas
    N. of internal antennas
    6
    â–² Better than 87% of models
    Market range: <0 – >10
    This router has more internal antennas than the average router (6 vs 0). The average router has 0 internal antennas.
    6 vs 0
  • 78.7 mm narrower width
    Width
    123.3 mm
    â–² Better than 85% of models
    Market range: <100 mm – >300 mm
    This router is narrower than the average router (123.3 mm vs 202 mm). The average router is 202 mm wide.
    123.3 mm vs 202 mm
  • Limited firmware updates
    Firmware upgrade method
    Web UI, Automatic
    â–² Better than 35% of models
    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
  • No dynamic routing
    Dynamic routing
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    This router does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 52.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • 50% less RAM
    RAM capacity
    128 MB
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    Market range: <0 MB – >1k MB
    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
  • No band steering
    Band steering
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    This router does not support band steering, while the average router does. 51.8% of routers support band steering.
  • 2 fewer external antennas
    N. of external antennas
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
    Market range: <0 – >10
    This router has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
    0 vs 2
  • 49 fewer connected devices
    Maximum connected devices
    15
    â–¼ Worse than 84% of models
    Market range: <0 – >250
    This router supports fewer connected devices than the average router (15 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
    15 vs 64
  • 169.5 mm higher height
    Height
    217 mm
    â–¼ Worse than 94% of models
    Market range: <30 mm – >180 mm
    This router is taller than the average router (217 mm vs 47.5 mm). The average router is 47.5 mm tall.
    217 mm vs 47.5 mm
  • Less capable NAS services
    Built-in NAS services
    SMB, FTP, media server, web access
    â–² Better than 74% of models
    This router includes SMB, FTP, media server, web access NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access.
    SMB, FTP, media server, web access vs SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access
  • 4.3% lower user score
    User score
    7.7/ 10
    ✕
    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 distribution
    ▼▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    D-Link DIR 868L
    the average router
    â–² Better than 79% of models
    D-Link DIR 868L has a lower user score than the average router (7.67 vs 8.000).
    7.67 vs 8
  • No band steering
    Band steering
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    This router does not support band steering, while the average router does. 51.8% of routers support band steering.
  • 49 fewer connected devices
    Maximum connected devices
    15
    â–¼ Worse than 84% of models
    Market range: <0 – >250
    This router supports fewer connected devices than the average router (15 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
    15 vs 64
  • No dynamic routing
    Dynamic routing
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    This router does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 52.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • Limited firmware updates
    Firmware upgrade method
    Web UI, Automatic
    â–² Better than 35% of models
    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
  • Less capable NAS services
    Built-in NAS services
    SMB, FTP, media server, web access
    â–² Better than 74% of models
    This router includes SMB, FTP, media server, web access NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access.
    SMB, FTP, media server, web access vs SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access
  • 50% less RAM
    RAM capacity
    128 MB
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    Market range: <0 MB – >1k MB
    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
  • 2 fewer external antennas
    N. of external antennas
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
    Market range: <0 – >10
    This router has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
    0 vs 2
  • 169.5 mm higher height
    Height
    217 mm
    â–¼ Worse than 94% of models
    Market range: <30 mm – >180 mm
    This router is taller than the average router (217 mm vs 47.5 mm). The average router is 47.5 mm tall.
    217 mm vs 47.5 mm
  • 58 mm thicker design
    Thickness
    103 mm
    â–¼ Worse than 91% of models
    Market range: <28 mm – >98 mm
    This router is thicker than the average router (103 mm vs 45 mm). The average router is 45 mm thick.
    103 mm vs 45 mm

Graphic comparison of D-Link DIR 868L and other routers

No results found

Third-party reviews

United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
245 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about D-Link DIR 868L?

  • Fast data speeds and performance across both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands
  • Solid Wi-Fi coverage with stable signals for home environments
  • Supports modern standards including 802.11ac and robust native IPv6
  • Features a USB 3.0 port for drive and printer sharing
  • Easy to set up and includes cloud-enabled features for remote management
  • Attractive and unique cylindrical design without external antennas
  • Competitive pricing compared to other AC1750 class routers

What customers dislike about D-Link DIR 868L?

  • Mobile apps are often described as limited in functionality and 'underwhelming'
  • Dated and cluttered management interface that is not very user-friendly
  • Cannot work as a standalone media bridge or access point
  • Limited to only one USB port and lacks physical Ethernet activity lights
  • Performance in 802.11ac mode can lag behind top-tier competitors
  • Some users reported inconsistent 2.4 GHz performance at longer ranges
  • Potential stability issues when used as a gigabit switch for heavy file transfers

Video reviews

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

Compare D-Link DIR 868L with other routers

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