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TP-Link Archer A9 Review | 77 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£90
  • Avg. price in US: ~$90
  • Wi-Fi version: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Wi-Fi speed: 1900 Mbps
  • LAN port speeds: 1 Gbps
  • Wireless coverage: 186 m²

TP-Link Archer A9 review. Compare 77 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among routers and if it is worth buying.

7.1

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%

6.9

Technical Score

10.0%

9.1

User score

Very good
6.9

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%

5.0

Wireless

20.0%

5.8

Ports

18.0%

8.9

Networking

14.0%

9.3

Security

12.0%

6.1

Hardware

10.0%

7.6

Management

Good
9.1

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%

8.8

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(8154)
amazon
4.2
(768)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(768)
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(391)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Exceptional
  • 5.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    33.0%

    4.0

    Wi-Fi speed

    28.0%

    9.0

    CPU clock speed

    22.0%

    3.0

    RAM capacity

    17.0%

    3.5

    Maximum connected devices

  • 5.7
    Travel

    Score components:

    40.0%

    9.0

    Weight

    30.0%

    4.0

    Wi-Fi speed

    20.0%

    4.0

    Cellular modem type

    10.0%

    1.0

    SIM slot

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

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

Verdict

The TP-Link Archer A9 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 router offering combined AC1900 speeds of up to 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. It features a Qualcomm quad-core CPU, 128MB of RAM, and is equipped with three external antennas and one internal antenna to support 3x3 MU-MIMO and Beamforming for efficient data streaming and expanded coverage. Main pros include its support for WPA3 security, Smart Connect for automated band steering, and full Gigabit connectivity with one WAN and four LAN ports alongside a USB 2.0 port for media sharing. However, cons include the use of non-removable antennas, an older USB 2.0 standard rather than USB 3.0, and reported performance inconsistencies on the 2.4 GHz band for some users.

Technical Specifications of router TP-Link Archer A9

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%

5.0

Wireless

20.0%

5.8

Ports

18.0%

8.9

Networking

14.0%

9.3

Security

12.0%

6.1

Hardware

10.0%

7.6

Management

6.9
TP-Link Archer A9 has a technical score of 6.88 points, which is higher than that of 58.8% 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%

8.8

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(8154)
amazon
4.2
(768)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(768)
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(391)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

9.1
TP-Link Archer A9 has a user score of 9.14 points, which is higher than that of 90.2% of products in this category.
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.
10
TP-Link Archer A9 has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 63.5% 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%

7.1

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

8.0
TP-Link Archer A9 has a quality-to-price ratio of 8 points, which is higher than 67.9% 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

TP
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)
TP-Link Archer A9 uses Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). 39.4% of routers use this Wi-Fi standard.
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
TP-Link Archer A9 supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands. 25% of routers use the same band setup.
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

1900 Mbps
TP-Link Archer A9 delivers 1,900 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is higher than 63.3% 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
TP-Link Archer A9 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

WPA3, WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X
TP-Link Archer A9 supports WPA3, WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X Wi-Fi security protocols. 70.5% of routers use this security setup.
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

?
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
TP-Link Archer A9 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
TP-Link Archer A9 supports URL filter. 1.9% 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
TP-Link Archer A9 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

yes
TP-Link Archer A9 supports dynamic routing. 46.8% of routers include 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

yes
TP-Link Archer A9 supports inter-vlan routing. 78% of routers include 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

yes
TP-Link Archer A9 supports VLAN tagging. 37.2% 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
TP-Link Archer A9 supports QoS. 2.7% of routers include QoS controls.
Show more
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
TP-Link Archer A9 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
TP-Link Archer A9 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
TP-Link Archer A9 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
TP-Link Archer A9 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
TP-Link Archer A9 does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 0.5% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
Show more
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, App
TP-Link Archer A9 is managed via Web UI, App. 33.4% of routers use this management method.
Tether app
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, App, Automatic
TP-Link Archer A9 uses Web UI, App, Automatic firmware updates. 78.9% of routers use this update method.
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
TP-Link Archer A9 supports 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
TP-Link Archer A9 supports 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

no
TP-Link Archer A9 does not support captive portal. 23.9% of routers include captive portal features.
Show more
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

128 MB
TP-Link Archer A9 has 128 MB of RAM, which is less than 50.7% of routers and the same as 17.1% of routers.
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

0.015625 GB
TP-Link Archer A9 has 0.015625 GB of internal storage, which is less than 77.5% of routers and the same as 8.7% of routers.
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

yes
TP-Link Archer A9 supports hardware acceleration. 18.6% of routers include hardware acceleration.
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

3
TP-Link Archer A9 has 3 external antennas, which is more than 58.4% of routers and the same as 13.3% of routers.
Show more

TP-Link Archer A9 vs the average router

  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    TP-Link Archer A9 supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA3, WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS. 0.00% of routers support WPA3, WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X.
    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

    TP-Link Archer A9 supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA3, WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS. 0.00% of routers support WPA3, WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X.WPA3, WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X vs WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS
  • Supports Inter-VLAN routing
    TP-Link Archer A9 supports inter-VLAN routing, while the average router does not. 22.2% of routers support 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

    TP-Link Archer A9 supports inter-VLAN routing, while the average router does not. 22.2% of routers support inter-VLAN routing.
  • Supports MU-MIMO
    TP-Link Archer A9 supports MU-MIMO, while the average router does not. 47.8% of routers support MU-MIMO.
    What it is: Supports multi-user MIMO so the router can serve more than one client stream at the same time.
    When it matters: When many active devices share the network and you want wireless capacity used more efficiently.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    TP-Link Archer A9 supports MU-MIMO, while the average router does not. 47.8% of routers support MU-MIMO.
  • 31% faster Wi-Fi speed
    TP-Link Archer A9 has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (1,900 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

    TP-Link Archer A9 has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (1,900 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.1,900 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps
  • 1 more spatial streams
    TP-Link Archer A9 has more spatial streams than the average router (3 vs 2). The average router has 2 spatial streams.
    What it is: Shows how many parallel Wi-Fi spatial streams the router can use for wireless data transmission.
    When it matters: When modern clients need higher throughput from wider multi-stream Wi-Fi connections.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: 4 spatial streams

    TP-Link Archer A9 has more spatial streams than the average router (3 vs 2). The average router has 2 spatial streams.3 vs 2
  • 14.2% higher user score
    TP-Link Archer A9 has a higher user score than the average router (9.14 vs 8,000).
    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.
    TP-Link Archer A9 has a higher user score than the average router (9.14 vs 8,000).9.14 vs 8
  • Supports MU-MIMO
    TP-Link Archer A9 supports MU-MIMO, while the average router does not. 47.8% of routers support MU-MIMO.
  • 31% faster Wi-Fi speed
    TP-Link Archer A9 has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (1,900 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.
  • 1 more spatial streams
    TP-Link Archer A9 has more spatial streams than the average router (3 vs 2). The average router has 2 spatial streams.
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    TP-Link Archer A9 supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA3, WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS. 0.00% of routers support WPA3, WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X.
  • Supports Inter-VLAN routing
    TP-Link Archer A9 supports inter-VLAN routing, while the average router does not. 22.2% of routers support inter-VLAN routing.

Total
Overall
Wireless
Security
Networking
  • 128 MB GB less RAM
    TP-Link Archer A9 has less RAM than the average router (128 MB vs 256 MB). The average router has 256 MB of RAM.
  • 128 MB GB less RAM
    TP-Link Archer A9 has less RAM than the average router (128 MB vs 256 MB). The average router has 256 MB of RAM.
    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

    TP-Link Archer A9 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
Total
Hardware

Graphic comparison of TP-Link Archer A9 and other routers

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
8154 Reviews
amazon
4.2
768 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
768 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
391 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about TP-Link Archer A9?

  • Excellent 5GHz band performance with speeds often exceeding 600Mbps in close range.
  • Very affordable price point, often cited as one of the best budget or mid-range routers.
  • Easy setup process using either the web interface or the TP-Link Tether mobile app.
  • Includes advanced features like MU-MIMO and Beamforming for improved device stability and coverage.
  • Reliable for online gaming with low latency and minimal lag reported by many users.
  • Supports modern security standards like WPA3 (via firmware updates in many regions).

What customers dislike about TP-Link Archer A9?

  • Mixed feedback on overall range; some users found it insufficient for larger multi-story homes.
  • USB 2.0 port is considered slow for modern file-sharing needs, with speeds described as 'potato standard'.
  • Technical support and forum assistance have been criticized as slow or unhelpful by some users.
  • Poor 2.4GHz performance in congested areas or at longer distances, with significant speed drops.
  • Reports of occasional connection drops that require manual troubleshooting or reboots.
  • IFTTT integration is noted by some users to be inconsistent or non-functional.

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