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Archer AX18 vs Flint 2 (GL-MT6000)

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

both judged against Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems at a similar price

The Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) scores 6.7/10 overall, ahead of the Archer AX18 at 5.7/10.

The Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) leads on software and security, wired ports and value.

They score the same on wi-Fi standard and bands and coverage.

The biggest difference is wired ports, where the Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) scores 8/10 to the Archer AX18's 5/10.

Archer AX18

Archer AX18

5.7/10verdict: skip

The Archer AX18 suits people who want a plain Wi-Fi 6 router for a small to average home on a gigabit connection or slower. It covers the basics: WPA3, guest network, parental controls and automatic firmware updates. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs multi-gig ports, a VPN server, VLANs or a mesh system.

Typically about £50.21 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Flint 2 (GL-MT6000)

Flint 2 (GL-MT6000)

6.7/10verdict: wait for deal

The Flint 2 is for homelabbers and sysadmins who want a configurable single router with fast VPN throughput. It suits people who are comfortable with OpenWrt-style settings and want 2.5G wired ports. Beginners and anyone covering a large or multi-storey home with one unit should read the owner feedback first.

Typically about £152.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightArcher AX18Flint 2 (GL-MT6000)
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%6/106/10
Software and security25%6/107/10
Wired ports20%5/108/10
Coverage15%5/105/10
Value15%6/107/10
Overall5.7/106.7/10

Specifications

SpecArcher AX18Flint 2 (GL-MT6000)
Wi-Fi standard802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), backward compatible with 11a/b/g/n/ac/axIEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6)
Bands and speed classDual-band: 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz (11ax) and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz (11n)Dual-band: 1148Mbps (2.4GHz), 4804Mbps (5GHz)
WAN port1x Gigabit WAN (1 Gbps)1 x WAN (2.5G), 1 x WAN/LAN (2.5G)
LAN ports3x Gigabit LAN4 x LAN (1G), plus one flexible 2.5G WAN/LAN port
Mesh nodes in the box1 router; no extra nodes (not sold as a kit)1 router, 0 mesh nodes

Strengths and weaknesses

Archer AX18

  • + Wi-Fi 6 with WPA3-Personal support
  • + Guest network, parental controls and access control included
  • + Firmware listings run into September 2026
  • − Gigabit-only wired ports, no 2.5GbE
  • − Dual-band only, with no 6 GHz
  • − No VPN server, and VLAN support not published

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want 2.5GbE or 10GbE wired ports
  • Anyone needing a router-hosted VPN server or published VLAN support
  • Households needing mesh nodes or a published coverage rating for a large home
Read the full Archer AX18 review ›

Flint 2 (GL-MT6000)

  • + Two 2.5G ports, one WAN and one flexible WAN/LAN
  • + WireGuard rated up to 900Mbps; can also act as a VPN server
  • + Owners report quiet running and draw of around 13 to 16 watts
  • − Owners describe a steep learning curve for beginners
  • − Runs warm under high WireGuard load, with no passive cooling
  • − Single unit with no mesh nodes; patchy coverage in multi-storey homes

Skip it if:

  • Beginners who want a simple app-led setup
  • Owners of large or multi-storey homes needing several mesh nodes
  • Buyers who want Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 with a 6GHz band
Read the full Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) review ›

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