TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 has been introduced to the market as an upgraded model of the C5400 The device is available at a price tag lower than any of its predecessors. Further, the router flaunts a collection of the Smart Home Features for regular users. It is especially true for households that have items such as Amazon Echo or Hue Lightbulbs.
As a user, even if you do not use its Alexa command feature, this particular router flaunts the finest design and quality to achieve perfection in terms of performance with smooth Wi-Fi connection. With the TP-Link, you get a good Wi-Fi connection to command your Smart devices such as Amazon Echo Family, Wink Hub 2, Surveillance Cameras, Smart Homes, etc. Even though the design of the TP isn’t as trendy as you might expect, it is definitely sturdy and rigid.
So when we take a look at its practical applications, the TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 router is ideal for a diverse range of users including gamers, small businesses, as well as the casual users. The features packed in the Archer C5400 V2 have been designed to meet the demands of any and all. This TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 review elaborates on the pros and cons associated with the device.
The Good
- Powerful and fast
- Easy to set up
- IFTTT and Alexa Support
- Magnificent 5GHz performance
The Bad
- Expensive
- Not the trendiest in terms of look
For more details and price, click here.
Bottom Line
Talking about the best feature of the TP-Link Archer C5400 V2, this device provides a good Wi-Fi performance making it suitable for use at the office, home, business, etc. Forget about setting up multiple units or having to rely on the Wi-Fi repeater for extended coverage with this router. It has sufficient power for covering all through a large building with the use of its reliable and fast Wi-Fi.
Contents
What does TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 bring to the table?
Specifications
Wireless Connectivity: AC5400 Tri-Band, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Memory: 256MB RAM
Processor: 3*co-processors, 1.4GHz dual-core processor
Dimensions: 9.1*9.1*1.7 inches
Ports: 5*Gigabit Ethernet Ports (1 WAN & 4 LAN), 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0
Price & Availability
Like Synology RT2600AC and Billion BiPAC 8900AX-2400 routers, the TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 router is a little bit expensive, but its price is less than its predecessor, which was priced at $490. However, the advanced version of Archer C5400 is available at a price tag of $299.99.
Though its price tag definitely makes this router a tad bit harder to sell among the casual users who are looking for an upgrade to their IPS router, its features make it one of the most preferred best routers to buy in 2019. The market is packed with several affordable routers and thereby increasing the competition for TP-Link Archer C5400 V2. If you are looking for a cheaper router, then the Asus RT-AC86U is an amazing router as it comes with Google Wi-Fi. However, remember that it doesn’t have the features found in Archer C5400 V2.
Designs & Features
While there are countless numbers of Wi-Fi routers designed to fit the modern home decor, the TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 has a rather old-school look. In simple words, the Archer C5400 V2 is a big black box that houses top vents with 8-antennae, each of which can be adjusted to improve the Wi-Fi coverage.
It is something that one wouldn’t want in any minimalist environment. However, when it comes to being placed next to any gaming PC or home office, this router can be pretty efficient and highly functional. The device only appeals to the ones that prefer function over looks.
At the rear half of the router, there are 4GB LAN Ports that help in maintaining connections with wired devices along with WAN port designed for connecting this router to the modem. It is a fact that the TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 hasn’t been packed with a built-in modem; it can easily be paired with different kinds of internet connection. Additionally, the router also comes with a USB 3.0 and 2.0 port for printer and file sharing.
So, with the Archer as your default router for home or business, you need not look for any other stylish device as the TP-Link has been designed to cater better features. Although it isn’t as stylish as you would want it to be, this feature-packed router comes with top-notch power that properly handles network traffic.
The router further offers a 1.4GHz dual-core Broadcom ARM processor that flaunts three co-processors to ensure that you never face any connectivity issues. Out of them, one handles a band of 2.4GHz while other handles 5GHz band. In simple words, this states that even when one is having issues with busy network and several wireless devices connected with the same network, this particular router keeps up the data flow between the devices in a reliable manner.
The router further has 8-antennae that tend to protrude from this device, making it seem like something similar to any upturned spider. The device handles the 2.4GHz band that comes with 1000Mb/s bandwidth channeled over 4-streams. Additionally, the two channels of 5GHz speed that get 4-streams amid them offer potential speeds as high as 2167Mb/s.
Set-Up
Further, in this review, we talk more about this router and its set-up process. The TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 has introduced its enterprise features and the user-friendliness to its set-up procedure as well. It is done through a simple and quick wizard. It is done through a simple and quick wizard. Additionally, the router comes with an app for smartphone known as the TP-Link Tether that enables you to access the setup and configuration process right from the mobile device.
Now, you might be a pro at router setup, but the graphical explanation and clear instructions make the process way faster. So, whether you are a pro or know nothing about the networking sector, the TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 is an ideal example of easy to go device.
Besides this, there are Alexa commands that enable you to easily turn on the features with the use of voice commands & also the Amazon Echo device. All you need to do is install this TP-Link Router Skill. After you are done, you need to give commands such as “Alexa, tell the TP-Link that I have some friends coming over, and it enables a guest network”.
Performance
Now, talking about Wi-Fi performance, the results were pretty impressive. When your device is connected with the router at the closest possible distance, you get a high speed of around 74.3 MB/s over the bandwidth of 5GHz. Additionally, a 66.8Mb/s speed was seen with the 2.4GHz band. It is in connection with the maximum speed reaching as high as 76.6Mb/s for download and an average 19.1Mb/s for uploads. So, you won’t lose much when going wireless.
Upon testing the speed at the 2nd floor of the apartment, it was amazing to note that even at such distance, the downloading and uploading speed of the router at the 5GHz band was as high as 74.2Mb/s and 17.9Mb/s respectively. On the other hand, the device’s 2.4GHz band provided a 60.3Mb/s download speed with 17.1Mbps upload speed which is pretty good, but the performance difference between the 2.4GHz band in comparison to the 5GHz band is actually significant.
Its excellent reach and performance confirm that the TP-Link is actually a brilliant device designed for people that have large houses. If you possess a fairly compatible device with 802.11ac, you will get a reliable and fast Wi-Fi even with a massive distance gap. It means the gamers and people that stream 4K videos can use this router without having to worry about the performance impact. Now, with the TP-Link Archer C5400 V2, one doesn’t need to worry about the need for Ethernet cables.
Moreover, the device also features an interesting IFTTT integration, allowing the device to set up triggers in relation to important events. Additionally, it has many features for network management as well as monitoring certain aspects. It enables the users to acquire a notification whenever any new device is connected with the system. Not just that, you can also log-in the details over the Google Spreadsheet. It is especially useful for any business environment in need of security maintenance.
Conclusion
Concluding the review, we can say that this router does an amazing job of being appealing to several users variant. It is fairly easy to configure and set-up given its user-friendly interface and app. Not just that, it also houses advanced features & powerful hardware that appeals perfectly to the home users as well as professionals. There is no doubt that TP-Link Archer C5400 V2 is expensive. However, the device is among the highly elegantly designed. It is completely worth your investment regardless of the high price.
