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

TP-Link Archer AX50 review: 77 specs compared

Avg. price:~£95Wi-Fi version:Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)Wi-Fi speed:3000 MbpsLAN port speeds:1 GbpsMesh Wi-Fi:no

TP-Link Archer AX50 Review: Compare 77 technical specifications and 7 expert and video reviews to see how this product ranks in the Routers category and whether it is worth buying.

TP-Link Archer AX50
7.7/10

Overall score

Score
7.7/ 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–² Better than 67% of models
Score components

40%

7.3

Technical score

25%

8.4

Reviews score

25%

?

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

10%

8.2

Sentiment score

â–²Better than 67% of routers
8.4

Value for money

Value for money
8.4/ 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 74% of models
Score components

70%

7.7

Overall score

30%

10

Price

â–²Better than 74%
7.3

Technical score

Technical score
7.3/ 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–² Better than 59% of models
Score components

26%

7.0

Wireless

20%

6.2

Ports

18%

8.5

Networking

14%

8.2

Security

12%

6.6

Hardware

10%

8.0

Management

â–²Better than 59%
8.4

Reviews score

Reviews score
8.4/ 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–² Better than 68% of models

80%

8.4

Average grade

20%

8.3

Popularity

Grades by review (7)
7 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–²Better than 68%
?

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
  • tp-link-archer-ax50
  • tp-link-archer-ax50
  • tp-link-archer-ax50
  • tp-link-archer-ax50
  • tp-link-archer-ax50
  • tp-link-archer-ax50
  • tp-link-archer-ax50
  • tp-link-archer-ax50
  • tp-link-archer-ax50
tp-link-archer-ax50
tp-link-archer-ax50
tp-link-archer-ax50
tp-link-archer-ax50
tp-link-archer-ax50
tp-link-archer-ax50
tp-link-archer-ax50
tp-link-archer-ax50
tp-link-archer-ax50
Where to buy
    N/A~ £95
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.

What reviewers say about the TP-Link Archer AX50

Based on 0 · 7

Reviewers mostly praise its fast speeds, with only a few voicing doubts about performance.
Praised
Pick a topic to see who said what

What owners say about the TP-Link Archer AX50

Based on 167 owners sharing their experience in online comments

28%positive13%mixed59%negative

Owners value the coverage and speed, but overheating, disappointing real-world speeds, and reliability problems often undermine the experience.

What owners dislike

  • Owners on faster plans report speeds capped around 95 Mbps or well below their contracted rate, often traced to the QoS or app settings and fixed by disabling them.45
  • Owners report the router gets very hot, with the underside reaching around 50 to 65 °C, which causes disconnects, slowdowns, and in some cases shutdowns.36
  • Owners report Wi-Fi connections dropping, freezing, or needing a restart, and some say the problem grows after months of use or when the router overheats.16
  • Owners say Wi-Fi signal and speed fall off quickly in distant rooms or on upper floors, and some needed an extender or a second router to cover the home.11
  • Owners say QoS and the Tether app cap speeds, and the parental and bandwidth settings are hard to change without the app; turning QoS off restores full speed.11
  • Owners report the router stopped working entirely after a power cut or after about one to two years, with Wi-Fi and the Ethernet port failing and reset not working.8
  • Owners say TP-Link support was slow or hard to reach, and warranty replacements took months, with some units returned after repeated failures.8
  • Owners say the router does not support OneMesh or full mesh, so it cannot be extended with TP-Link mesh units.6
  • Owners on Wi-Fi report high and unstable ping, with spikes between 20 and 150 ms, and some say QoS or antivirus settings raise latency above 100 ms.6
  • Owners say the initial setup and router-mode configuration took extra steps, such as a factory reset or wiring changes, before the router worked properly.6

Points mentioned by at least 3 owners, most mentioned first.

Loading category ranking...

Technical Specifications of router TP-Link Archer AX50

Technical score
Technical score
7.3/ 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–² Better than 59% of models
Score components:

26%

7.0

Wireless

20%

6.2

Ports

18%

8.5

Networking

14%

8.2

Security

12%

6.6

Hardware

10%

8.0

Management

7.3
Reviews score
8.4
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
8.4/ 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 74% of models
Score components:

70%

7.7

Overall score

30%

10

Price

8.4
Brand name
TP-Link
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
This router uses Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which is more advanced than 58.5% of routers and equal to 25.9% 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
3,000 Mbps
Market range: <0 Mbps – >6k Mbps
This router delivers 3,000 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is higher than 65.9% of routers and equal to 6.6% of routers.
Channel widths supported
20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz
This router supports 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz channel width options, which is more than 66.5% of routers and the same as 27.4% of routers.
Show more
What reviewers say
Wi-Fi security protocols
WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X
This router supports WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X Wi-Fi security protocols, which are less advanced than 95.9% of routers and equal to 0.4% of routers.
DoS protection
no
This router does not include DoS protection. 90.4% 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
yes
This router supports IPv6. 8.8% 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
yes
This router supports VLAN tagging. 33.6% 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, App
This router uses Web UI, App for management, which is more advanced than 29.7% of routers and equal to 60.9% of routers.
Firmware upgrade method
Web UI, App, Automatic
This router supports Web UI, App, Automatic firmware update methods, which are more convenient than 71.9% of routers and equal to 27.2% of routers.
Tether app
Traffic monitoring
yes
This router includes traffic monitoring. 13.9% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
yes
This router offers a guest Wi‑Fi network. 7.3% 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
2x 0.35 GHz
This router runs at 2x0.35 GHz, which is slower than 67.9% of routers and on par with 0.3% of routers.
RAM capacity
256 MB
Market range: <0 MB – >1k MB
This router has 256 MB of RAM, which is more than 46.3% of routers and the same as 14.9% of routers.
Internal storage
0.125 GB
Market range: <0.0039 GB – >0.5 GB
This router has 0.125 GB of internal storage, which is more than 47.9% of routers and the same as 23.8% of routers.
Hardware acceleration
yes
This router offers hardware acceleration. 24.9% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
4
Market range: <0 – >10
This router has 4 external antennas, which is more than 69.9% of routers and the same as 19.4% of routers.
Show more

TP-Link Archer AX50 vs the average router

246810TotalWirelessSecurityNetworkingPortsManagementHardware
  • Supports OFDMA
    This router supports OFDMA, while the average router does not. 41.5% of routers support OFDMA.
  • Supports link aggregation (LACP)
    This router supports link aggregation (LACP), while the average router does not. 14.1% of routers support link aggregation (LACP).
  • Newer Wi-Fi version
    This router supports a newer Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • 71.4% faster Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (3,000 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    3,000 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • 3.3 W lower power consumption
    This router uses less power than the average router (4.8 W vs 8.1 W). The average router uses 8.1 W power.
    4.8 W vs 8.1 W
  • Wider channel widths
    This router has a higher supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz). The average router supports channel width of 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz.
    20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
  • 192 more connected devices
    This router supports more connected devices than the average router (256 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
    256 vs 64
  • More capable NAS services
    This router includes SMB, FTP, media server, time machine NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, media server.
    SMB, FTP, media server, time machine vs SMB, media server
  • 9.1% higher review score
    Reviews score
    8.4/ 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–² Better than 68% of models

    80%

    8.4

    Average grade

    20%

    8.3

    Popularity

    Grades by review (7)
    7 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.
    8.4 vs 7.7
  • Supports OFDMA
    This router supports OFDMA, while the average router does not. 41.5% of routers support OFDMA.
  • Newer Wi-Fi version
    This router supports a newer Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • 71.4% faster Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (3,000 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    3,000 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • Wider channel widths
    This router has a higher supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz). The average router supports channel width of 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz.
    20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
  • 192 more connected devices
    This router supports more connected devices than the average router (256 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
    256 vs 64
  • Supports TWT
    This router supports Target Wake Time (TWT), while the average router does not. 42.6% of routers support Target Wake Time (TWT).
  • 1 more spatial streams
    This router has more spatial streams than the average router (4 vs 3). The average router has 3 spatial streams.
    4 vs 3
  • Supports link aggregation (LACP)
    This router supports link aggregation (LACP), while the average router does not. 14.1% of routers support link aggregation (LACP).
  • More capable NAS services
    This router includes SMB, FTP, media server, time machine NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, media server.
    SMB, FTP, media server, time machine vs SMB, media server
  • 3.3 W lower power consumption
    This router uses less power than the average router (4.8 W vs 8.1 W). The average router uses 8.1 W power.
    4.8 W vs 8.1 W
  • 2 more external antennas
    This router has more external antennas than the average router (4 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
    4 vs 2
  • No DoS protection
    This router does not support DoS protection, while the average router does. 90.2% of routers support DoS protection.
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    This router has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (2x0.35 GHz vs 2x1 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x1 GHz.
    2x0.35 GHz vs 2x1 GHz
  • Narrower DFS range
    This router has fewer supported DFS channels than the average router (52-64 vs 52-64 + 100-144). The average router supports 52-64 + 100-144 DFS channels.
    52-64 vs 52-64 + 100-144
  • 67.2 mm wider width
    This router is wider than the average router (260.2 mm vs 193 mm). The average router is 193 mm wide.
    260.2 mm vs 193 mm
  • Weaker Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Narrower DFS range
    This router has fewer supported DFS channels than the average router (52-64 vs 52-64 + 100-144). The average router supports 52-64 + 100-144 DFS channels.
    52-64 vs 52-64 + 100-144
  • No DoS protection
    This router does not support DoS protection, while the average router does. 90.2% of routers support DoS protection.
  • Weaker Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    This router has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (2x0.35 GHz vs 2x1 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x1 GHz.
    2x0.35 GHz vs 2x1 GHz
  • 67.2 mm wider width
    This router is wider than the average router (260.2 mm vs 193 mm). The average router is 193 mm wide.
    260.2 mm vs 193 mm

Video reviews

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

9.0
TECH REACTION
≈ estimated
25/03/2021
Hands-on review · unboxing, app, web interface and range tests
Verdict
The TP-Link Archer AX50 offers good value and a solid Wi-Fi 6 upgrade, with only minor drawbacks.
9.5
Nev's Tech Bits
≈ estimated
08/01/2021
Benchmark review · speed, USB and heat tests
Verdict
TP-Link Archer AX50 is the fastest AX router reviewed so far and earns a recommendation after continued testing.
7.0
GT CREATIONZZ
≈ estimated
29/08/2020
Long-term review · 4 months of use, speed and range tests
Verdict
TP-Link Archer AX50 offers good value for the price, but speed problems and a replacement unit cloud the long-term experience.
9.0
BonTech Labs
≈ estimated
02/08/2020
Hands-on review · range, transfer speed and heat tests
Verdict
TP-Link Archer AX50 is a very capable router with excellent performance and is ideal for upgrading from an ISP router.
9.0
Fenix Tech
≈ estimated
02/05/2020
First look · unboxing and setup
Verdict
TP-Link Archer AX50 is an early but clear upgrade over the old ISP router in speed and stability, with easy app setup.
Hands-on video, no verdict
Overview video
Not graded
Shop video
Hands-on video, no verdict
Hands-on video, no verdict
Not graded

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

Third-party reviews

What customers like about TP-Link Archer AX50

  • Affordable Wi-Fi 6 performance and fast wireless speeds for its price range.
  • Easy to set up and manage, particularly through the TP-Link Tether mobile app.
  • Includes free lifetime parental controls and anti-malware software via HomeCare.
  • Supports 160MHz channel bandwidth, providing high-speed connections for compatible devices.
  • Compact, wall-mountable design with a useful physical USB 3.0 port.
  • Supports link aggregation, which is rare for a midrange router.

What customers don't like about TP-Link Archer AX50

  • Frequent reports of overheating, which can lead to connection instability or hardware failure.
  • Does not support WPA3, the latest Wi-Fi security standard.
  • Lacks TP-Link OneMesh support, making it difficult to expand into a mesh system.
  • USB file-transfer and NAS performance are often described as slow or mediocre.
  • Mobile app and TP-Link account login are required to access key features like HomeCare.
  • Wi-Fi range may be limited in larger homes or between floors in newer buildings.

Verdict

The TP-Link Archer AX50 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router featuring an Intel Home Wi-Fi chipset that delivers AX3000 speeds up to 2402 Mbps on the 5 GHz band (with 160 MHz channel support) and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. It is equipped with four high-gain external antennas, one Gigabit WAN port, four Gigabit LAN ports with link aggregation, and a USB 3.0 port for local storage sharing. Main pros include its relatively affordable entry into Wi-Fi 6, low latency for gaming via OFDMA technology, and advanced security through TP-Link HomeCare; however, notable cons include its tendency to run quite warm during operation, lack of WPA3 support in earlier versions, and no multi-gigabit ports.

Compare TP-Link Archer AX50 with other routers

1Product to compare no. 1
VS
2Product to compare no. 2
VS
3Product to compare no. 3 (optional)

Graphic comparison of TP-Link Archer AX50 and other routers

No results found