ZTE AX3000 Pro Review - PCMag

If you're successful the marketplace for an affordable Wi-Fi 6 router, ZTE's AX3000 Pro ($89) is decidedly worthy a look. This dual-band router doesn't connection immoderate multi-gig WAN/LAN oregon USB ports, nor does it travel with age-based parental controls oregon web information software. But it delivered accelerated throughput scores successful our show tests and supports 160MHz transmission transmissions and WAN aggregation. On the ground of those basal strengths, it earns an Editors' Choice grant among fund Wi-Fi 6 routers.

Design and Features

The AX3000 Pro features a achromatic wedge-shaped enclosure that measures 1.4 by 9.6 by 5.1 inches (HWD) and has 4 nonremovable, adjustable antennas. The beforehand of the router features a tiny LED indicator that blinks reddish astatine startup and coagulated reddish erstwhile net connectivity is lost. It blinks achromatic portion WPS is progressive and is coagulated achromatic erstwhile the router is connected to the internet.

The rear sheet offers 2 1GbE WAN/LAN ports and 2 1GbE LAN ports. As mentioned, determination are nary USB ports nor immoderate multi-gig WAN/LAN ports, but you tin aggregate the 2 1GbE ports to make a azygous high-speed WAN connection. Joining the WAN/LAN ports are a powerfulness larboard and a WPS button, and the reset fastener is connected the bottommost of the router.

Equipped with a dual-core Qualcomm CPU, the AX3000 Pro supports each Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technologies including Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) transmissions, WPA3 encryption, 160MHz transmission transmissions, MU-MIMO information streaming, and direct-to-client awesome beamforming. It besides supports Easy Mesh, which lets you make a mesh web utilizing different compatible devices.

As an AX3000 router, the ZTE tin deed maximum theoretical speeds of up to 574Mbps connected the 2.4GHz vigor set and 2,402Mbps connected the 5GHz vigor band. The AX3000 Pro lacks the age-based parental controls and web information bundle that you get with the TP-Link Archer AX50, but it does connection precise basal parental controls that fto you acceptable access-time limits.

(Credit: ZTE)

You tin power the router utilizing a web-based absorption console oregon the ZTE Link mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Both are casual to use, but you'll person to usage the mobile app to delegate clip limits and the web console to configure precocious settings specified arsenic larboard forwarding, larboard mapping, and domain filtering.

The mobile app opens to a Routers surface that tells you the router's presumption (connected oregon not) and however galore devices are presently connected. Two tiles successful the mediate of the surface are utilized for mounting up a mesh web and optimizing the web respectively. (The router scans for and switches to the champion disposable Wi-Fi channels.) Here you tin besides spot however the router is connected to the net (cable oregon satellite) and its tested uplink and downlink speeds.

(Credit: ZTE)

At the bottommost of the surface are buttons labeled Routers, Connected, Toolkit, and Me. The archetypal takes you backmost to the opening surface from wherever you are successful the app, portion the Connected fastener opens a surface wherever you tin presumption which clients are presently connected, however agelong they've been connected, and whether they're wired oregon wireless. Tap immoderate lawsuit to presumption details including the MAC and IP code and to acceptable access-time limits.

The Toolkit fastener opens a surface wherever you tin configure Wi-Fi and impermanent Wi-Fi settings, tally web diagnostics, execute a web sped test, docket automatic restarts, automatically crook disconnected Wi-Fi astatine a specified time, disable the LED indicator, and trial awesome spot to assistance with router placement. The Me fastener offers links to the web console, arsenic good arsenic assistance and feedback links.

Installation and Performance

I had the ZTE AX3000 Pro up and moving successful nary time. I switched disconnected my modem, connected the router to it, and powered up some devices. I opened a web browser connected a desktop PC connected to the router and entered 192.168.18.1 successful the code barroom to unfastened the ZTE login page. I entered the password from a sticker connected the basal of the router, selected Dynamic IP, disabled Single SSID successful bid to trial some vigor bands, and entered a password. After a speedy firmware update, the installation was complete.

The AX3000 Pro turns successful awesome scores successful our throughput show tests. Its 127Mbps successful the 2.4GHz adjacent proximity trial practically ties the Rock Space AX1800 RSD0619 and handily beats the TP-Link Archer AX50 (109Mbps) and D-Link AX1500 R15 (78Mbps). In the 30-foot test, the ZTE manages 44Mbps, topping the TP-Link (42Mbps) and the D-Link (24Mbps) but trailing the Rock Space (53Mbps).

The AX3000 Pro's 5GHz show is outstanding. The router's 925Mbps successful the close-proximity trial is importantly faster than the Rock Space AX1800 RSD0619 (614Mbps), the TP-Link Archer AX50 (689Mbps), and the D-Link AX1500 R15 (614Mbps). Similarly, the AX3000 Pro's people of 334Mbps successful the 30-foot trial leads the battalion by a wide margin.

We usage an Ekahau Sidekick(Opens successful a caller window) Wi-Fi diagnostic instrumentality and Ekahau's Survey mobile app to make vigor maps that exemplify the router's 2.4GHz and 5GHz awesome spot successful our trial home. (Ekahau is owned by PCMag's genitor company, Ziff Davis.) The ellipse connected the vigor representation represents the determination of the router, and the colors correspond awesome strength. Dark greenish indicates the strongest awesome and acheronian yellowish a weaker signal. Both maps (the 5GHz representation is below) amusement the AX3000 Pro does a comparatively bully occupation of delivering acceptable Wi-Fi passim astir of our trial home, though the 2.4GHz awesome becomes a spot weaker successful the acold country of the chamber and successful the den, portion the 5GHz awesome falters successful the garage.

(Credit: PCMag)

Verdict: Basic Wi-Fi 6 connected a Budget

Looking for multi-gig ports, USB connectivity, web information software, oregon robust parental controls? The ZTE AX3000 Pro is not for you. Want to upgrade your web with speedy Wi-Fi 6 connected the cheap? Look nary further. This ZTE router delivered immoderate of the fastest 5GHz throughput we've seen from an under-$100 device, and its 2.4GHz show was solid, too. It's not often that you get this level of show arsenic good arsenic 160MHz channels and WAN aggregation successful a fund router. That's capable to gain the AX3000 Pro an Editors' Choice grant arsenic an affordable, no-nonsense Wi-Fi 6 router.