TP-link Archer BE230: Wi-Fi 7 at Half-Speed Still Worth the Money

Wi-Fi 7 is often associated with extremely high speeds, thanks to the third frequency band at 6 GHz and the extra-wide channel width of 320 MHz. However, that’s not the whole secret. More efficient signal modulation also increases speed, and intelligent channel optimization technology contributes to stability, range, and additional performance tuning.

Wi-Fi 7 technology upgrades all frequencies, including 2.4 and 5 GHz, and you can combine all frequency bands to connect a single client to really maximize bandwidth to a single client, using a technology called MLO (multi-link operation). That is, if you have a computer, mobile, or tablet with Wi-Fi 7 support.

Wi-Fi 7 routers are also large, bulky, and expensive. Therefore, a few manufacturers have released “dual-band Wi-Fi 7” routers, which skip the 6 GHz but retain all other benefits of Wi-Fi 7. One such router is the Archer BE230 from TP-link. It costs just under 2,000 SEK and is suitable for a medium-sized apartment or single-story house. Since it supports Easymesh, it’s easy to expand the network if needed.

Higher Minimum Speed

The Archer BE230 only has 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands, with a maximum channel width of 180 MHz on 5 GHz. So, you won’t get the real top speeds and bandwidth capacity typically associated with Wi-Fi 7. But you can still get up to almost one gigabit per second to a single Wi-Fi 7 receiver if you utilize all the new technologies in the router, and a total of approximately 3.6 Gbit/s in bandwidth.

This means that the Archer BE230 is not built for homes with many users but is best suited for a smaller household. But there, you can get several advantages compared to a Wi-Fi 6 router, such as higher speed on the 2.4 GHz band and shorter response times overall. This makes it easier to take a video call on the balcony or play online games without worrying about signal strength.

Practical Design

The router is the most modestly designed Wi-Fi 7 router I’ve seen. It looks more like a budget router with Wi-Fi 6 or even Wi-Fi 5, with its traditional design featuring foldable antennas and a row of network ports on the back. There are five ports in total, one of which is a 2.5 Gbit WAN port, one is 2.5 Gbit for LAN, and the other three are 1 Gbit ports for LAN. Modest for a Wi-Fi 7 router but quite okay considering the low price.

Lots of Functionality

You also get a USB 3 port to connect external storage and turn the router into a file server. It can then become a UPnP media server, SMB file server on the network, or run Time Machine for Mac backups. On the back, there is also a WPS button and direct control to turn off Wi-Fi and LEDs on the top. But the LEDs are so small and discreet that I don’t feel the need to do so.

Installation is easy, and if you don’t want to configure anything at all, you can just plug in and go. The router has preconfigured Wi-Fi and a unique password. Both I and TP-link recommend that you change it. It’s just a series of numbers, one of the easier types of passwords to crack. The easiest way to install and manage the router is with the TP-link Tether app. You don’t get access to all functions that way, but most of the important ones for everyday use.

Additional functionality like VPN (both client and server), file server, advanced network settings, QoS, and system maintenance are done via a solid web interface. Here, you can also get help setting up voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

Included Features, Not Everything

You can set up guest networks and separate IoT networks on both 2.4 and 5 GHz, get simple parental controls with access control and URL blocking, and quickly block access for individual clients via the app.

Two functions require an additional subscription called Homeshield Pro. Extended security, including virus protection for IoT devices, and enhanced parental controls with more content filters, activity reports, and more. I doubt whether they are worth investing in, but if you have many unprotected devices on the network or a large family to keep track of, you can activate a free trial period and see if it’s for you. My only impression of it is intrusive nagging to sign up in the app interface.

Is this “real” Wi-Fi 7? That’s debatable. Without 6 GHz and maxed channel width, you miss out on the Wi-Fi 7 advantages that get the most attention. But optimized wireless communication improves the overall network quality. Higher speed on 2.4 GHz makes it viable for better streaming even when the signal is weak, and smarter packet handling reduces the risk of congestion in the wireless network.

Should you upgrade from old Wi-Fi 5 and have a limited budget, the Archer BE260 is not a bad choice. Otherwise, you can also wait a bit. More similar dual-band Wi-Fi 7 routers are on the way from other manufacturers, and maybe the price for them can be further reduced.

Specifications

Product Name: TP-link Archer BE230
Tested: June 2024
Manufacturer: TP-link
Wireless Protocol: Wi-Fi 7
Frequency Bands: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
Bandwidth: 688 + 2,882 Mbit/s
Connections: 1 x 2.5 gigabit WAN, 1 x 2.5 gigabit LAN, 3 x gigabit LAN, USB 3.0
Wireless Security: WPA, WPA2, WPA3, WPS
File Server/Printer Server: Yes/No
Other: VPN server/client, QoS, Easymesh support, guest network, parental control, Time Machine, support for Alexa, Google Assistant. Virus protection and extended parental control as options.
User Interface: Web, app
Remote Administration: Yes, via app