TP-Link, a significant player in the SOHO networking device market, recently unveiled its new portfolio of Wi-Fi 7 standard-based wireless routers still in development.
TP-Link’s newly released Wi-Fi 7-based routers can help with seemingly impossible tasks; the top-of-the-line model, the four-band BE900, theoretically allows for an aggregate Wi-Fi bandwidth of up to 24 Gbps.
Next-Gen Wireless
The Wi-Fi 7, according to IEEE’s 802.11be standard, aims to outbid its predecessors (Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, both running under the 802.11ax standard) by providing lower latency and higher bandwidth.
A multi-carrier operation (carrier aggregation), which is already familiar in mobile networks, is mainly used by the system to achieve the new standards. Devices that comply with the new standards can aggregate the 5GHz and 6GHz channels for increased maximum throughput.
Modern Design
The TP-Link’s new, high-end SOHO router, Archer BE900, retailing at 700$, also supports this mode. However, its design has shifted away from the design language that once characterized network devices for home or business environments, following the trends of recent years.
The BE900 front panel, which most closely resembles the housing of an Xbox and an external hard drive, has the added feature of a status indicator, a touch indicator, and an additional point-matrix display designed solely for aesthetic purposes.
The rear of the device provides seamless integration of wired connections with its robust wireless capabilities. The BE900 has two 10 GbE WAN/LAN ports, four 2.5 GbE ports, and one 1 GbE port for connecting “slower” devices via cable.
2.5Gbe Ports
TP-Link has introduced two additional Wi-Fi 7 models, which show only minor differences in design compared to the flagship model, setting a lower benchmark.
The BE800 model does not come with a touchscreen display, but its aggregated Wi-Fi bandwidth is 19 Gbps across three channels. In addition, the 10 GbE wired ports have also been retained on this unit, while its counterpart, the BE550, can only theoretically output 9.3 Gbps of aggregated Wi-Fi bandwidth and only 2.5 GbE ports.
Gaming
TP-Link presents gamers with a special treat with the launch of the Archer GE800 gaming router. It offers a 19 Gbps aggregated Wi-Fi bandwidth, two 10 GbE, and two 2.5 GbE ports, as well as four additional 1 GbE ports, all housed in a striking LED-illuminated chassis.
TP-Link has developed its traffic management app for routers, allowing dedicated priority to be assigned to different games.
Mesh and Omada
TP-Link is expanding its Wi-Fi 7 device lineup with three new Deco systems designed for home mesh networks and two new Omada access points. These new products are expected to be released in the first half of the upcoming year.