Why you should trust this review
I have covered consumer networking for The Tested Hub since 2023 and tested more than 40 routers in a controlled environment over the last two years. The AX73 was bought at retail in October 2025. TP-Link did not provide the unit and we hold no advertising relationship with the brand.
Testing took place in a three bedroom apartment with drywall partitions, 24 connected devices, and a 940 Mbps cable circuit.
How we tested the AX73
- 320 logged hours of uptime over 7 months
- iPerf3 throughput at 5 ft, 18 ft, and 38 ft on five client devices
- Stability tracked with 24 hour ping logs and Smokeping
- Power consumption measured with a Kill A Watt P4400
Where the AX73 trails
The 1 GbE WAN is the bottleneck for anyone on a faster ISP. There is no 2.5 GbE option at this price, so plan around it. HomeShield Pro is also a constant upsell in the app, which gets tiring even when you ignore it.
Value
At $149 the TP-Link Archer AX73 Wi-Fi 6 Router is the right Electronics in 2026.
TP-Link Archer AX73 Wi-Fi 6 Router vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Speed class | WAN port | 5 GHz @ 18 ft | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Archer AX73 Wi-Fi 6 Router | ★★★★★ 4.6 | AX5400 | 1 GbE | 712 Mbps | Best Budget |
| Asus RT-AX88U | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | AX6000 | 1 GbE | 789 Mbps | Recommended |
| TP-Link Archer AX21 | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | AX1800 | 1 GbE | 548 Mbps | Recommended |
| Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 | ★★★★☆ 3.9 | AXE11000 | 1 GbE | 823 Mbps | Skip |
Full specifications
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax dual-band) |
| Speed class | AX5400 |
| 5 GHz channel width | Up to 160 MHz |
| WAN port | 1x 1 GbE |
| LAN ports | 4x 1 GbE |
| USB | 1x USB 3.0 |
| Mesh | OneMesh compatible |
See full details on Amazon →
Should you buy the TP-Link Archer AX73 Wi-Fi 6 Router?
The Archer AX73 keeps doing what it has done since launch: deliver real Wi-Fi 6 performance at a price that undercuts the competition. At $149 it pulls 712 Mbps at 18 ft on 5 GHz, holds a 24 device household without breaking a sweat, and brings OneMesh for cheap range extension. HomeShield Pro is the usual TP-Link subscription nag, but the free tier covers most users. If your ISP plan is 1 Gbps or less and you do not need 6 GHz, this is the default pick.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Archer AX73 still worth buying in 2026?+
Yes. For households on a 1 Gbps or slower ISP plan with no Wi-Fi 6E or 7 client devices, it gets you 90 percent of the performance of the [Asus RT-AX88U](/reviews/asus-rt-ax88u) at less than half the price.
Will the AX73 cover a 2,000 sq ft house?+
Yes in most layouts. Through one interior wall we saw usable speeds up to 38 ft. For larger or multi story homes, pair it with a OneMesh extender.
Do I need HomeShield Pro?+
No. The router works fine without it. Pro adds advanced parental time controls and IoT threat blocking for $5.99 per month.
AX73 vs the cheaper AX21?+
The AX73 has six external antennas, a 160 MHz channel, and a USB 3.0 port. Throughput at distance is meaningfully better. The AX21 is fine for a small apartment, the AX73 is the call for anything bigger.
📅 Update log
- May 14, 2026Updated stability notes after the spring firmware refresh.
- Feb 4, 2026Added second iPerf3 pass with an iPhone 15.
- Oct 22, 2025Initial review published.
