TP-Link Archer BE550 Wi-Fi 7 Router Review

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Unit (50)

Contents (maximize to view)

8.9Expert Score
Good

If you’re looking to future-proof or you already have a Wi-Fi 7 ready device, this should be in your list. A bit pricey though.

Design
9
Performance
9
Software
10
Extra Features
9
Price
7.5
Positive
  • Superior wired connection speeds
  • Excellent range and coverage
  • Strong performance under heavy network load
  • Comprehensive management app
  • Future-proof Wi-Fi 7 technology
  • Advanced IoT network management
  • Reliable multi-device handling
Negatives
  • Premium pricing
  • Limited immediate benefits without Wi-Fi 7 devices
  • Similar real-world performance to Wi-Fi 6 routers in many cases

Introduction

The TP-Link Archer BE550 represents the next generation of wireless networking with Wi-Fi 7 technology. As one of the early Wi-Fi 7 routers in the market, it promises improved latency, advanced modulation, and Multi-Link Operation capabilities. While the technology is promising, the current landscape of compatible devices raises questions about immediate adoption.

What’s in the Box

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Unit (46)

Apart from the unit, the box of the TP-Link Archer BE550 also contains a power brick, a network cable for connecting your router to your ISP’s modem or the router to your PC/laptop for a wired setup, and the usual documentation.

What are the Benefits of Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) brings groundbreaking improvements to wireless networking, including:

  • Improved latency management, making it particularly beneficial for real-time applications like gaming, augmented reality, and video conferencing.
  • Higher data transmission rates per signal.

While these features paint an impressive picture of Wi-Fi 7’s potential, it’s worth noting that the full benefits can only be realized with Wi-Fi 7-compatible devices, which are currently limited in the market.

Design

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Unit (6)

The TP-Link Archer BE550 sports an elegant design reminiscent of a rook chess piece or an hourglass. The glossy surfaces, while aesthetically pleasing, tend to collect fingerprints and smudges.

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Unit (36)
TP Link Archer BE550 Review Device 1

The front panel features intuitive LED indicators and practical buttons for WPS, wireless control, and LED management.

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Unit (11)

The rear houses a comprehensive port selection including a USB 3.0 port, 2.5Gbps WAN port, four LAN ports, power button, and reset button.

Performance

Testing methodology

To test the TP-Link Archer BE550’s performance, we decided to do multiple speed tests using the Ookla Speedtest app on the HONOR Magic6 Pro in various locations around my house. For privacy, I will not reveal the layout, but you should be able to figure out the locations as you read through the results.

We will be doing a speed test on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band of three routers for comparison – One is the ISP-provided modem/router, my current router – A TP-Link Archer AX72, and the TP-Link Archer BE550.

Speed Tests

The TP-Link Archer BE550 had intriguing performance variations across different scenarios.

TP Link Archer BE550 Review First Floor Living Room
First Floor Living Room
TP Link Archer BE550 Review First Floor Bedroom
First Floor Bedroom

Our First-floor testing reveals comparable 5GHz performance with the Archer AX72 in the living room, but superior 2.4GHz performance in the bedroom.

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Second Floor Bedroom
Second Floor Bedroom

Second-floor testing showcases the router’s exceptional range capabilities, particularly in the bathroom, where the other routers, including the ISP-provided device, failed to maintain connectivity.

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Second Floor Office
Second Floor Office

In the second-floor office, surprisingly, the AX72 led in both upload and download speeds on 2.4GHz, with the BE550 showing slightly lower performance.

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Second Floor Bathroom
Second Floor Bathroom

However, the BE550 demonstrated remarkable recovery in challenging environments, outperforming the AX72 significantly in the second-floor bathroom, an area where the ISP-provided router couldn’t even establish a connection.

The most significant improvement appeared in wired connections, where the BE550 delivered speeds that are around 200Mbps faster than the AX72 in download. I figured this could just be the timing, so I tested again, and the results were pretty much the same.

Testing with Wi-Fi 7 compatible devices like the HONOR Magic6 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL revealed interesting variations, with the Pixel 9 Pro XL achieving notably higher speeds on the 5GHz band, though neither device could access the 6GHz band despite it being enabled.

Everyday Use

As important as it is to have benchmarks, we believe that it is also equally important to test the router in an environment that simulates common usage scenarios in a household – multiple users.

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Others (26)

Of course, speed tests aren’t the only thing that determines a router’s performance. That’s just part of it. We also replicated (to the best of our ability), some real-world scenarios, which include playing games and also streaming content, all while multiple devices are also connected to the router, doing the same thing.

The TP-Link Archer BE550 was able to manage connections for six simultaneous devices (a laptop, four smartphones including the one we were using, and a tablet) streaming 1080p to 4K content without noticeable degradation in quality.

TP Link Archer BE550 Review Others (31)

Gaming performance, tested with Honor of Kings under a decent amount of network load, remained stable with no perceptible lag or connection issues. Video calls also maintained excellent clarity in both audio and video, even during peak usage periods.

Software/App

TP-Link’s Tether app offer comprehensive management features through an intuitive interface. Users will be able to easily configure router settings, monitor connected devices, manage firmware updates, and create guest networks with a few taps.

Additional features include IoT device management, external storage access, Time Machine backup support, and robust parental controls. The app’s user-friendly design makes what would have been complex network management tasks accessible to users of varying technical expertise.

Verdict

The TP-Link Archer BE550 stands as a capable but premium-priced router that demonstrates the potential of Wi-Fi 7 technology. At roughly double the cost of Wi-Fi 6 alternatives, whether it will deliver good value heavily depends on your specific needs and future plans.

While the router excels in wired connections and challenging environments, the limited availability of Wi-Fi 7 compatible devices makes it difficult to justify the investment for many users. However, for those seeking future-proof networking or requiring superior wired performance, the BE550 represents a solid, if expensive, choice.

For most users, waiting for the Wi-Fi 7 ecosystem to mature and prices to decrease might be the prudent choice. However, if you’re committed to having the latest networking technology or require the enhanced wired capabilities, the TP-Link Archer BE550 offers a glimpse into the future of home networking, albeit at a premium price point.

Emman Tortoza
Chief Editor and Content Lead at Gadget Pilipinas | Website

Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.

Leave a Reply

Gadget Pilipinas | Tech News, Reviews, Benchmarks and Build Guides
Logo
Compare items
  • Total (0)
Compare
0