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 TL-WR1502X review: 77 specs compared

Avg. price:~£35Wi-Fi version:Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)Wi-Fi speed:1500 MbpsLAN port speeds:1 GbpsMesh Wi-Fi:no

TP-Link TL-WR1502X Review: Compare 77 technical specifications and 11 expert and video reviews to see how this product ranks in the Routers category and whether it is worth buying.

TP-Link TL-WR1502X
7.5/10

Overall score

Score
7.5/ 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 57% of models
Score components

40%

7.1

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%

7.1

Sentiment score

â–²Better than 57% of routers
8.3

Value for money

Value for money
8.3/ 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 65% of models
Score components

70%

7.5

Overall score

30%

10

Price

â–²Better than 65%
7.1

Technical score

Technical score
7.1/ 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 51% of models
Score components

26%

6.6

Wireless

20%

4.2

Ports

18%

9.1

Networking

14%

9.9

Security

12%

6.5

Hardware

10%

7.5

Management

â–¼Worse than 51%
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%

8.7

Popularity

Grades by review (11)
11 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
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Where to buy
    N/A~ £35
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 TL-WR1502X

Based on 0 · 11

Reviewers like its compact size, good value and easy app with versatile modes, but setup and firmware updates frustrate some.
Praised
Mixed views
Criticised
Pick a topic to see who said what
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Technical Specifications of router TP-Link TL-WR1502X

Technical score
Technical score
7.1/ 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 51% of models
Score components:

26%

6.6

Wireless

20%

4.2

Ports

18%

9.1

Networking

14%

9.9

Security

12%

6.5

Hardware

10%

7.5

Management

7.1
Reviews score
8.4
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
8.3/ 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 65% of models
Score components:

70%

7.5

Overall score

30%

10

Price

8.3
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
1,500 Mbps
Market range: <0 Mbps – >6k Mbps
This router delivers 1,500 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is lower than 52.3% 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
WPA3, WPA2, WPA/WPA2
This router supports WPA3, WPA2, WPA/WPA2 Wi-Fi security protocols, which are more advanced than 78.5% of routers and equal to 0.2% 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
What reviewers say
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
1
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 LAN ports, which is fewer than 89.6% of routers and the same as 8.5% 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
What reviewers say
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.
Traffic monitoring
no
This router does not include traffic monitoring. 86.3% 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
yes
This router offers captive portal features. 77.8% of routers offer captive portal features.
Show more
What reviewers say
CPU clock speed
?
RAM capacity
512 MB
Market range: <0 MB – >1k MB
This router has 512 MB of RAM, which is more than 61.4% of routers and the same as 21.4% of routers.
Internal storage
0 GB
Market range: <0.0039 GB – >0.5 GB
This router has 0 GB of internal storage, which is less than 87.3% of routers and the same as 12.7% 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
What reviewers say

TP-Link TL-WR1502X vs the average router

246810TotalWirelessSecurityNetworkingPortsManagementHardware
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA3, WPA2, WPA/WPA2, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA3, WPA2, WPA/WPA2 vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Supports automatic failover
    This router offers automatic failover, while the average router does not. 31.2% of routers offer automatic failover.
  • 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)
  • Supports captive portal
    This router supports captive portal, while the average router does not. 22.3% of routers support captive portal.
  • 135,000 more NAT sessions
    This router has more concurrent NAT sessions than the average router (150,000 vs 15,000). The average router supports 15,000 concurrent NAT sessions.
    150,000 vs 15,000
  • More power options
    This router uses DC barrel, USB-C power input, while the average router uses DC barrel.
    DC barrel, USB-C vs DC barrel
  • 2x more RAM
    This router has more RAM than the average router (512 MB vs 256 MB). The average router has 256 MB of RAM.
    512 MB vs 256 MB
  • 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%

    8.7

    Popularity

    Grades by review (11)
    11 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
  • 2.71x cheaper
    TP-Link TL-WR1502X is cheaper than the average router (£35 vs £95).
    £35 vs £95
  • 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)
  • 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
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA3, WPA2, WPA/WPA2, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA3, WPA2, WPA/WPA2 vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Supports automatic failover
    This router offers automatic failover, while the average router does not. 31.2% of routers offer automatic failover.
  • 135,000 more NAT sessions
    This router has more concurrent NAT sessions than the average router (150,000 vs 15,000). The average router supports 15,000 concurrent NAT sessions.
    150,000 vs 15,000
  • Supports captive portal
    This router supports captive portal, while the average router does not. 22.3% of routers support captive portal.
  • More capable NAS services
    This router includes SMB, FTP, media server NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, media server.
    Requires attached USB storage.
    SMB, FTP, media server vs SMB, media server
  • 2x more RAM
    This router has more RAM than the average router (512 MB vs 256 MB). The average router has 256 MB of RAM.
    512 MB vs 256 MB
  • More power options
    This router uses DC barrel, USB-C power input, while the average router uses DC barrel.
    DC barrel, USB-C vs DC barrel
  • 5 years newer release date
    This router was released more recently than the average router (2024 vs 2019). The average router release year is 2019.
    May 2024
    2024 vs 2019
  • 2 more internal antennas
    This router has more internal antennas than the average router (2 vs 0). The average router has 0 internal antennas.
    2 vs 0
  • 66% lighter weight
    This router is lighter than the average router (153 g vs 450 g). The average router weighs 450 g.
    153 g vs 450 g
  • 26 mm thinner design
    This router is thinner than the average router (28 mm vs 54 mm). The average router is 54 mm thick.
    28 mm vs 54 mm
  • 89 mm narrower width
    This router is narrower than the average router (104 mm vs 193 mm). The average router is 193 mm wide.
    104 mm vs 193 mm
  • 23.4 mm lower height
    This router is shorter than the average router (28 mm vs 51.4 mm). The average router is 51.4 mm tall.
    28 mm vs 51.4 mm
  • 3 fewer LAN ports
    This router has fewer LAN ports than the average router (1 vs 4). The average router has 4 LAN ports.
    1 vs 4
  • No traffic monitoring
    This router does not offer traffic monitoring, while the average router does. 86.1% of routers offer traffic monitoring.
  • 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
  • 9.0% lower sentiment score
    7.1 vs 7.8
  • 14.3% slower Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (1,500 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    1,500 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • 9.0% lower sentiment score
    7.1 vs 7.8
  • 14.3% slower Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (1,500 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    1,500 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • 3 fewer LAN ports
    This router has fewer LAN ports than the average router (1 vs 4). The average router has 4 LAN ports.
    1 vs 4
  • No traffic monitoring
    This router does not offer traffic monitoring, while the average router does. 86.1% of routers offer traffic monitoring.
  • 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

Video reviews

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

9.0
Gogi Tech
≈ estimated
04/09/2026
Hands-on setup · hotspot mode for hotel and airport Wi-Fi
Verdict
TP-Link TL WR1502X is a good pick for travellers who want a private network on hotel or airport Wi-Fi.
9.0
Nev's Tech Bits
≈ estimated
02/11/2025
Unboxing and review · range tests and teardown
Verdict
TP-Link TL WR1502X has good range for its size and is a solid pick for use as a travel modem or range extender.
9.0
Everyday Tech
≈ estimated
02/08/2024
Hands-on review · comparison with GL.iNet Beryl AX
Verdict
TP-Link TL WR1502X offers travel essentials at a good price, roughly half the cost of the GL.iNet Beryl AX.
8.0
AppMyHome
≈ estimated
19/07/2024
Hands-on review · hotspot, range extender and speed tests
Verdict
TP-Link TL WR1502X works well as a hotspot and extender, though setup took a while to learn.
9.5
Mike Faucher
≈ estimated
12/07/2024
Hands-on review · app, settings and speed tests
Verdict
TP-Link TL WR1502X is hard to beat at this price, with only minor complaints about its default settings.
8.0
Budget Nerd
≈ estimated
05/07/2024
Hands-on review · speed, coverage and VR tests
Verdict
TP-Link TL WR1502X is slow as a main router, but a solid pick for travel and extra Wi-Fi control.
8.0
Geeky Twins
≈ estimated
14/06/2026
Unboxing · first impressions of the box and design
Verdict
TP-Link TL WR1502X made a strong first impression and is recommended for anyone who needs a pocket router.
8.0
HAVOK | Tech & AI Automation
≈ estimated
29/12/2025
Unboxing · first look at build and features
Verdict
TP-Link TL WR1502X makes a positive first impression, with a handy QR-code feature for sharing its hotspot.
9.0
RBM
≈ estimated
23/12/2024
Short hands-on review · everyday use with streaming and NAS
Verdict
TP-Link TL WR1502X is easy to use and worth buying again, especially if you travel often.
Hands-on video, no verdict
Shop video

Third-party reviews

What customers like about TP-Link TL-WR1502X

  • Ultra-portable and durable pocket-sized design
  • Very easy to set up using the intuitive TP-Link Tether app
  • Excellent value for a Wi-Fi 6 travel router
  • Supports multiple modes including Hotspot, AP, and Range Extender
  • Built-in support for secure VPN protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN
  • Includes full Gigabit WAN and LAN ports for high-speed wired connections
  • Easy captive portal authentication for connecting multiple devices to hotel Wi-Fi

What customers don't like about TP-Link TL-WR1502X

  • Slow USB 2.0 port speeds, often capping cellular tethering below 70Mbps
  • Lengthy boot-up time compared to some competitors
  • USB port may not provide enough power to charge high-demand phones while tethering
  • No physical button to quickly deactivate Wi-Fi
  • Lacks a built-in SIM card slot for direct cellular data (requires tethering or a modem)
  • Heavier CPU load can lead to occasional interface sluggishness during configuration
  • Limited support for WPA2-Enterprise on the 'host' (uplink) network side

Verdict

The TP-Link TL-WR1502X is a pocket-sized AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 travel router delivering dual-band speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps (1201 Mbps on 5 GHz and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). It features a 7-in-1 design with versatile operation modes including Router, Hotspot (WISP), Access Point, and Range Extender, alongside dedicated support for USB tethering and 3G/4G modems. Main pros include its advanced VPN support (OpenVPN and WireGuard), one-step captive portal authentication for easy hotel logins, and a flexible USB-C power port compatible with power banks. However, it is limited by a legacy USB 2.0 port that can bottleneck file sharing speeds and relies on older Wi-Fi 4 standards for the 2.4 GHz band.

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