The TP-Link Archer BE600 doesn’t just offer high-end Wi-Fi 7 speeds and coverage: It also includes a 10 Gbps port and a slew of updated security features. This could very well be the best offering of price to wireless performance you’re going to get these days.
TP-Link Archer BE600 Router Pros and Cons
TP-Link Archer BE600 Router Design
The TP-Link Archer BE600 looks just like the Archer BE3600. But the Archer BE600 has six detachable antennas, compared with four on the Archer BE3600. And it’s very space-efficient too, tilting just 11.4 x 5.5 x 1.8 inches. The router is made of plastic throughout, with an all-black matte finish. Except the rims, they are shiny black though. Though its design is otherwise understated, the six long antennas on the back of the Archer BE600 are pretty hard to miss.
On the top of Archer BE600, at the center, the minimalistic white coloring holds a modest TP-Link logo, and in the middle there’s a row of status LEDs (power, Wi-Fi, LAN, internet, and so on). Ventilation holes are also present on top, which will ensure that the router runs cool regardless of how long it’s kept in service. What’s under the Archer BE600 Once flipped, we are greeted with more airflow vents and screw holes to mount this unit on a wall. At the back, the Archer BE600 has one 10 Gbps WAN port and four 2.5 Gbps LAN ports — compared to the Archer BE3600’s four 1 Gbps LAN ports. Also on the back panel are a WPS switch, a pinhole reset switch and a power switch. On its side, the Archer BE600 also has a USB 3.0 port for data transfer at up to 5 Gbps.
TP-Link Archer BE600 Router Feature
- Wi-Fi 7 Next-Gen – Enhance performance of the newest Wi-Fi 7 enabled laptops and devices like the iPhone 16 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and PS5 Pro with the latest Wi-Fi 7 advances: Multi-Link Operation, Multi-RUs, 4K-QAM and 320 MHz channels.
- 7-Stream, BE9700 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Speeds – Delivers smooth 4K/8K streaming, immersive AR/VR gaming, and blazing-fast downloads with speeds up to 5,765 Mbps on the 6 GHz band, 2,882 Mbps on the 5 GHz band, and 1,032 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band.
- Maximum coverage – Up to 2,600 sq ft and 120 devices. Beamforming and Scan and Connect for better multi device performance and coverage.outers for wireless internet, comes with all the features the discerning user looks for and a few bonus features like Dynamic QoS, Beamforming+, Smart Connect for all devices.
- 10 Gbps Multi-Gigabit Connection – 1x 10 Gbps WAN/LAN port, 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port and 3x 2.5 Gbps LAN ports. Pair with a multi-gig modem for a fast, wired gig plus internet.
- Our Cybersecurity Commitment – TP-Link is a leading product provider in the networking industry that is committed to improving its products, developing technologies and services, demonstrating a secure-by-design product development process. Security This device is alsobuilt and maintained by committed security enthusiasts.
- Multi-Link Operation (MLO) – Experience stronger, more reliable wireless connections with the MLO which takes all available Wi-Fi bands and distributes them to connected devices – no matter if they are moving or staying.
- TP-Link HomeShield: Malware protection, Intrusion prevention and more, Can be controlled and monitored by way of the Tether app, even when you’re not home. A safer Internet experience makes your living smarter, and adds armour to your network.
- Easy Setup – Configure your Archer BE600 in minutes and manage network settings via the Tether app (Android or iOS) or web interface.
- VPN Clients and Server Supported – Enables home devices to access remote VPN servers without installing VPN software on each device. Supports simultaneous VPN and regular internet connections for enhanced security and flexibility.
TP-LinkArcher BE600 Router Specifications
Brand | TP-Link |
Model Name | Archer BE600 |
Special Feature | Access Point Mode, Alexa Compatible, Parental Control, Private IOT Network, Support New 320Mhz channel in the 6GhzAccess Point Mode, Alexa Compatible, Parental Control, Private IOT Network, Support New 320Mhz channel in the 6Ghz |
Frequency Band Class | Tri-Band |
WiFi Speeds | BE9700 • 6 GHz: 5765 Mbps (802.11be) • 5 GHz: 2882 Mbps (802.11be) • 2.4 GHz: 1032 Mbps (802.11be) |
WiFi Range | 3 Bedroom Houses |
Ethernet Ports | • 1× 10 Gbps WAN/LAN • 1× 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN • 3× 2.5 Gbps LAN |
Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11.be, 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11g, 802.11n |
Compatible Devices | Gaming Console, Personal Computer, Smart Television, Smartphone, Tablet |
Recommended Uses For Product | Gaming, Home |
Included Components | 1 x Power Adapter, 1 x Quick Installation Guide, 1 x RJ45 Ethernet Cable, 1 x Wi-Fi 7 Router Archer BE6001 x Power Adapter, 1 x Quick Installation Guide, 1 x RJ45 Ethernet Cable, 1 x Wi-Fi 7 Router Archer BE600 |
Connectivity Technology | Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi |
TP-Link Archer BE600 Performance Test
The TP-Link Archer BE600’s performance really checked out in my testing: I ran a number of rounds of competitive benchmarking with Keysight IxChariot (which simulated 10 high-performance wireless users) and an HP Envy 2-in-1 test laptop yielded initial wireless throughput of 2.449 Gbps directly beside the router. This falls only slightly short of the RT-BE96U’s 2.685 Gbps at a higher price point.Subsequently, it boosted throughput to 2.403 Gbps via an Ethernet port using a 15-foot cable.
At an actual range of 15 feet from the Archer BE600 router, the system on the test laptop was also very impressive, pumping out a speed of 2.201 Gbps. This is more than ample for just about anyone’s data requirements, even those who felt they needed a multi-gig data plan. This is more than 10% faster than the 1.948Gbps delivered by the RT-BE96U and 1.773Gbps of the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S, both of which are more expensive. It is now without a doubt first choice for those who are speed-obsessed.
TP-Link Archer BE600 | Asus RT-BE96U | Netgear Nighthawk RS700S | TP-Link Archer BE800 | |
15 feet | 2.201 Gbps | 1.948 Gbps | 1.773 Gbps | 1.967 Gbps |
50 feet | 700.7 Mbps | 392.7 Mbps | 691.8 Mbps | 335.6 Mbps |
75 feet | 146.9 Mbps | 402.1 Mbps | 187.6 Mbps | 91.5 Mbps |
90 feet | 191.1 Mbps | 31.4 Mbps | 40.6 Mbps | 19.8 Mbps |
At 50 feet, the Archer BE600 once again came in first, posting a system bandwidth of 700.7 Mbps. This was just a step ahead of the Nighthawk RS700S (691.8Mbps) but over twice as fast as the TP-Link Archer GE800 router (335.6Mbps). At 75 feet (around 23 meters), the Archer BE600’s speed deresased some to 146.9 Mbps, falling between the Nighthawk RS700S’s 187.6 Mbps and the Archer GE800’s 91.5 Mbps. The ASUS RT-BE96U had the best performance of all three devices at 402.1 Mbps. From 90 feet (about 27m), the Archer BE600 rose from the dead, delivering a throughput of 191.1Mbps (nearly six times higher than its competitors). The Archer BE600’s leading 120-foot (about 36-meter) section covers 15 feet (about 4.5 meters) more than the RT-BE96U does. It passes along data at up to 1.432 Gbps along, skimming neatly through my 25-foot office, walls and all, all the way to the next room (appealing for multi-room homes). That’s 20% slower than the incredibly impressive 1.810 Gbps of the RT-BE96U, however this is still impressive.
The Archer BE600 also offers powerful signal coverage up to 2,600 square feet (about 247 square metres) and support for more than 120 devices – perfect for multi-gigabit homes.
TP-Link Archer BE600 vs Archer BE800
Archer BE600 | Archer BE800 | |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Tri-Band (2.4, 5, & 6 GHz) with MU-MIMO Support | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Tri-Band (2.4, 5, & 6 GHz) with MU-MIMO Support (4 x 4) |
Number of Antennas | 6x External | 8 |
Antenna Placement | External (Integrated) | Internal |
Throughput | 9679 Mb/s Total 2.4 GHz: 1032 Mb/s 5 GHz: 2882 Mb/s 6 GHz: 5765 Mb/s | 18,656 Mb/s Total 6 GHz: 11520 Mb/s 5 GHz: 5760 Mb/s 2.4 GHz: 1376 Mb/s |
Inputs/Outputs | 1x RJ45 10 GbE WAN/LAN 1x RJ45 2.5 GbE WAN/LAN 3x RJ45 2.5 GbE LAN 1x USB-A 3.0 / 3.1/3.2 Gen 1 | 1x RJ45/SFP Combo 10 GbE 1x RJ45 10 GbE WAN 4x RJ45 2.5 GbE 1x USB-A 3.0 / 3.1/3.2 Gen 1 |
Supported File Systems | – | FAT32, HFS+, NTFS, exFAT |
Dimensions | 10.6 x 6 x 1.9″ / 269 x 152 x 48 mm | 11.9 x 10.3 x 3.8″ / 302 x 262.5 x 96 mm |
TP-Link Archer BE600 Router Setup
Setting up the Archer BE600 through TP-Link’s excellent Deco app is easy, but I chose the manual desktop browser route. The setup process was straightforward. I was able to connect to the 6 GHz SSID with the password written on the bottom. After I had plugged in with my router, it connects me with http://tplinkwifi.net and I can configure it. I was required to enter my time zone and indicate which WAN port I would like to use for internet access. I have a max 700Mbps network so I went with the 2.5 Gbps WAN port. I clicked on the connection type configurations (Auto-detect, Dynamic IP), and the Wireless Smart Connect (default enabled) option showed up.
The 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are combined in the Smart Connect feature and handed out under one SSID; TP-Link_7DAD in this case. Another device you must know its SSID: It is the 6 GHz band: TP-Link_7DAD_6G. But in testing wireless I decided to disable Smart Connect and assign separate SSIDs three bands, instead: TP-Link_7DAD (2.4 GHz), TP-Link_7DAD_5G (5 GHz), and TP-Link_7DAD_6G (6 GHz). The installer then conducted a network speed connection test, and I was able to opt into firmware auto-updates and set a schedule for updates. The last step was signing in (or signing up) for a TP-Link ID, which I ignored. The whole thing was about five minutes long.
TP-Link Archer BE600 Router Software
It’s more of the same in the TP-Link Archer BE600’s desktop browser interface, which lists modules to navigate across the top of the screen, including the same five tabs: Network Map, Internet, Wireless, HomeShield and Advanced. Network Map shows you a fast overview of your internet/lan connection details and who is connected to your network/lan. Internet gives you the option of labeling the WAN port as 10 GBps or 2.5 GBps for your ISP, select your type of connection and set up the router’s MAC address.
The Wireless options allow you to turn Smart Connect on or off and change the SSID and password for all three bands. You can also enable MLO, IoT and Guest Network in this tab as well. HomeShield gives you a limited set of parental controls and automatically checks your network for vulnerabilities, but HomeShield also allows VPN server setting. You can also turn on EasyMesh support if you have EasyMesh routers and want the Archer BE600 to act as a wireless node in a Mesh network. Last but not least, Time Machine backups are supported through the USB 3.0 port. Here you can connect a USB hard drive to the USB 3.0 port and Mac OS desktops and laptops will instantly locate and see it as a compatible Time Machine backup location.
The Archer BE600 incorporates HomeShield security software, effectively defending against malware, intruders, and privacy thieves.Unlike some competitors, the Archer BE600 includes all updates for its core services. In contrast, the $36 Security+ package adds IoT device protection, intrusion prevention, and malicious website defence. The Total Home Security package costs $65 for the first year (then $130 annually), incorporating device-level malware scanning, VPN access, and a password manager.