In terms of hardware, great value for money: Qualcomm QCA9980 chip is the only one that really MU-MIMO delivers, 2 USB 3.0 ports etc. Also very well tested on smallbuilders.net. Now there is a OpenWRT firmware is available: see this thread: https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=54973.
Pros
- Wi-fi range
- Speed
- Stability
Cons
- TP-Link firmware
Final conclusion
Score: 4Per criterion
Reliability
Score: 4
In terms of hardware, great value for money: Qualcomm QCA9980 chip is the only one that really MU-MIMO delivers, 2 USB 3.0 ports etc. Also very well tested on smallbuilders.net. Now there is a OpenWRT firmware is available: see this thread: https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=54973.
The TP-Link firmware is moderate: I had been suffering from a losing WAN IP address (Ziggo) and mal-functioning DLNA (for my Synology NAS, about the USB ports I can say nothing). The only and last TP-Link firmware is 24-09-2015.
The router is quite large, much larger than an Asus AC-66U. The wifi range is very good and it is a beautiful and well thought out design. As you can the leds with a button on the router itself (can also through the interface). TP-Link supplies a simple app where you have not very much to have can.
Since I OpenWRT turn, I have no problem encountered. If you are using OpenWRT familiar (it is not the default firmware) this router excellent value for money; with the TP-Link firmware, this is a lot less.
I have “Performance”, “Reliability and stability” and “Controllability” 4 stars: this must ge lwa nterpreteerd to be as 5 stars in the case of OpenWRT, and 3 stars in the case of the standard TP-Link firmware.