TP-Link Archer AX55 vs AX55 Pro: Uncovering the Hidden Differences for Your Home Network
What To Know
- The TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro are two of the company’s latest offerings in the Wi-Fi 6 category, promising blazing-fast speeds and enhanced coverage.
- The TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro share a similar design aesthetic, featuring a sleek black chassis with a subtle angular pattern.
- With its four high-gain antennas and beamforming technology, the AX55 Pro offers wider coverage and improved signal stability, ensuring a strong and reliable connection throughout your home.
In the realm of home networking, TP-Link has carved a niche for itself with its reliable and feature-rich routers. The TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro are two of the company’s latest offerings in the Wi-Fi 6 category, promising blazing-fast speeds and enhanced coverage. This comprehensive comparison will delve into the key differences between these two routers, helping you make an informed decision that best suits your needs.
Design and Features
The TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro share a similar design aesthetic, featuring a sleek black chassis with a subtle angular pattern. Both routers come equipped with four adjustable antennas that can be rotated and tilted to optimize signal strength.
The AX55 Pro, however, boasts a more advanced feature set. It incorporates a dedicated 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, providing enhanced processing power for handling demanding network traffic. Additionally, the AX55 Pro supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, which offers higher speeds and lower latency compared to its predecessor, Wi-Fi 5.
Wi-Fi Performance
Both the TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro deliver exceptional Wi-Fi performance, thanks to their support for the Wi-Fi 6 standard. However, the AX55 Pro takes the lead with its superior hardware and advanced features.
Speed: The AX55 Pro boasts a maximum theoretical speed of 1.8Gbps on the 5GHz band and 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, significantly faster than the AX55’s 1.2Gbps and 300Mbps, respectively.
Coverage: With its four high-gain antennas and beamforming technology, the AX55 Pro offers wider coverage and improved signal stability, ensuring a strong and reliable connection throughout your home.
Wired Connectivity
For wired connections, both the TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro provide a range of options. They each feature four Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing you to connect multiple devices directly to the router at blazing-fast speeds. The AX55 Pro also includes a dedicated WAN port for connecting to your modem.
Security and Parental Controls
Both routers offer robust security features to protect your network from unauthorized access and malicious attacks. They support WPA3 encryption, the latest and most secure Wi-Fi security protocol. Additionally, they feature a built-in firewall, intrusion detection, and denial-of-service protection.
The AX55 Pro goes a step further with advanced parental controls, enabling you to set up time limits, filter content, and monitor your children’s online activities.
Setup and Management
Setting up and managing the TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro is a breeze. Both routers come with a user-friendly web interface that allows you to configure various settings, including network name, password, and parental controls.
The AX55 Pro also offers a mobile app, the TP-Link Tether, which provides remote access and management of your router from anywhere.
Which One is Right for You?
The TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro are both excellent Wi-Fi 6 routers, but they cater to different needs.
TP-Link Archer AX55:
- Suitable for small to medium-sized homes
- Ideal for basic internet usage, streaming, and gaming
- Budget-friendly option
TP-Link Archer AX55 Pro:
- Recommended for larger homes with multiple devices
- Ideal for demanding applications, such as 4K streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing
- Enhanced features and advanced parental controls
Final Verdict
The TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro are both worthy contenders in the Wi-Fi 6 router market. The AX55 represents an excellent value for money, while the AX55 Pro offers superior performance and advanced features for more demanding users. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs and budget.
Frequently Discussed Topics
Q: What is the difference between Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6?
A: Wi-Fi 6 offers higher speeds, lower latency, and improved efficiency compared to Wi-Fi 5.
Q: Do the TP-Link Archer AX55 and AX55 Pro support mesh networking?
A: No, these routers do not support mesh networking.
Q: Can I use the TP-Link Archer AX55 Pro with a cable modem?
A: Yes, the AX55 Pro includes a dedicated WAN port for connecting to a cable modem.
Q: What is beamforming technology?
A: Beamforming technology focuses Wi-Fi signals towards connected devices, improving signal strength and stability.
Q: Can I set up parental controls on the TP-Link Archer AX55?
A: Yes, the AX55 offers basic parental controls, such as setting time limits and filtering content. The AX55 Pro provides more advanced parental controls.
