Why this product
:::dropcap The TP-Link Archer AX73 is the standalone router we recommend on a budget. At $169 it costs about half what a comparable ASUS or Netgear router costs, and for most households on gigabit or slower internet, the practical difference is small. After a year of daily use as the primary router for a 2,500 sq ft single-story home, we measured a steady 1.4 Gbps on the 5 GHz band at 10 feet, 920 Mbps end to end on a 1 Gbps fiber plan, and zero unplanned reboots. The platform is mature, the firmware is stable, and the price has been steady at $169 since mid-2024. :::
What you give up at this price is multi-gig WAN, 6 GHz support, and configuration depth. The AX73 is a 1 GbE WAN device with 4 x 1 GbE LAN ports, which is fine for most homes but a hard ceiling for anyone on 1.5 Gbps or 2 Gbps fiber. The HomeShield security suite covers basic threats out of the box and asks for $5.99/month if you want advanced scanning, which we found optional.
What TP-Link claims
TP-Link rates the AX73 at “AX5400,” meaning theoretical aggregate throughput around 5.4 Gbps split between 4,804 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. The 5 GHz radio supports 160 MHz channel width and 4x4 MU-MIMO.
For coverage, TP-Link claims 2,500 sq ft. That figure was accurate in our single-story test home and would be slightly optimistic in a 2-story layout with thick interior walls.
Who should buy the Archer AX73
Buy this if:
- You have a 1 Gbps or slower internet plan.
- Your home is 1,500 to 2,500 sq ft.
- You want WiFi 6 without paying $300+.
- You prefer a wall-pluggable single router rather than a mesh.
Skip this if:
- You have multi-gig internet, the 1 GbE WAN port is a hard cap.
- You want WiFi 6E or 7, the eero Pro 6E is the closest 6E pick at this price.
- You need eight wired LAN ports, the ASUS RT-AX88U Pro is the right product instead.
Performance and coverage
We measured 1.4 Gbps on the 5 GHz band at 10 feet line of sight to a WiFi 6 laptop. At 30 feet through one interior wall the figure dropped to 720 Mbps. At our worst-case point (35 feet through two interior walls, in a back bedroom), we measured 240 Mbps with a -73 dBm signal. For most homes that bedroom would be the dead spot that justifies adding an extender.
End to end on a 1 Gbps fiber plan we measured 920 Mbps via wired Ethernet and 880 Mbps over wireless within 15 feet of the router.
Setup and software
The Tether app is one of the cleaner mid-tier router apps. Setup completed in 6 minutes. WPA3 is supported and on by default after firmware version 1.1.0 and later. Parental controls, guest networks, and per-device bandwidth limits all work without subscription paywalls.
Long-term reliability
Three years on the market means three years of firmware refinement. We have run the AX73 for 12 months continuously and observed zero unscheduled reboots, no observable memory leaks, and smooth roaming when paired with a OneMesh extender. For a budget router, that stability matters.
For our full router testing approach, see /methodology. If your budget allows another $30, the eero Pro 6E single router adds WiFi 6E and a 2.5 GbE WAN, which we consider worth the upgrade for new buyers in 2026.
TP-Link Archer AX73 WiFi 6 Router AX5400 vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Standard | Bands | LAN ports | WAN | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Archer AX73 | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | WiFi 6 | Dual-band | 4 x 1 GbE | 1 GbE | $169 | Best Value |
| ASUS RT-AX88U Pro | ★★★★★ 4.6 | WiFi 6 | Dual-band | 8 x 1 GbE + 1 x 2.5 GbE | 2.5 GbE | $349 | Editor's Choice |
| Amazon eero Pro 6E (single) | ★★★★★ 4.5 | WiFi 6E | Tri-band | 1 x 2.5 GbE | 2.5 GbE | $199 | Editor's Choice Single |
| TP-Link Archer AX21 | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | WiFi 6 | Dual-band | 4 x 1 GbE | 1 GbE | $79 | Best Budget |
Full specifications
| WiFi standard | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Bands | Dual-band (2.4 / 5 GHz) |
| Max throughput (claimed) | AX5400, up to 4,804 Mbps on 5 GHz |
| Coverage | Up to 2,500 sq ft |
| WAN port | 1 x 1 GbE |
| LAN ports | 4 x 1 GbE |
| USB | 1 x USB 3.0 |
| Processor | Triple-core 1.5 GHz |
| Memory | 512 MB RAM, 128 MB flash |
| MU-MIMO | Yes, 4x4 on 5 GHz |
| Security | WPA3, HomeShield basic |
Should you buy the TP-Link Archer AX73 WiFi 6 Router AX5400?
The TP-Link Archer AX73 is the standalone router we recommend if your budget is closer to $150 than $300. AX5400 dual-band WiFi 6 with four 1 GbE LAN ports, a stable firmware track record, and HomeShield basic security included free. We measured 1.4 Gbps on the 5 GHz band at 10 feet and 920 Mbps end to end on a 1 Gbps internet plan in a 2,500 sq ft single-story home.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Archer AX73 worth $169 in 2026?+
Yes. For typical homes on gigabit or slower internet that do not need WiFi 6E or 7, the AX73 is the strongest value in this category. The price-to-performance ratio is hard to beat at $169.
Archer AX73 vs Archer AX21: which to buy?+
The AX73 has stronger 4x4 MU-MIMO on 5 GHz and better range. The AX21 is half the price and adequate for apartments. For homes over 1,500 sq ft, spend the extra $90 for the AX73.
Can the Archer AX73 cover a 3,000 sq ft house?+
Borderline. We had usable signal in our 2,500 sq ft home but a far bedroom 35 feet away through two walls dropped to -73 dBm and 240 Mbps. For 3,000+ sq ft homes, plan to add a range extender or move to mesh.
Does the Archer AX73 support OneMesh expansion?+
Yes, you can add TP-Link OneMesh-compatible extenders to expand coverage. The Deco platform is not compatible. If you may grow into mesh, the Deco X55 3-pack is a better starting point.
Is the HomeShield basic security worth it?+
It is fine for malicious site blocking and basic parental controls. HomeShield Pro at $5.99/month adds advanced threat scanning, which we did not find essential in our test.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Refreshed pricing to $169 floor and added long-term firmware stability notes after 12 months.
Taylor Quinn
Taylor Quinn writes for The Tested Hub.
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