Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router vs TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router

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

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

The MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router scores 6.2/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router at 5.9/10.

The MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, coverage and value.

The TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router leads on wired ports.

They score the same on software and security.

MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router

6.2/10verdict: wait for deal

The MERCUSYS MR80X suits people who want a low-cost Wi-Fi 6 router for a small home with a gigabit connection. It covers the basics well, with guest networks, a VPN server and WPA3 listed. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs multi-gig ports, a wide-coverage mesh out of the box or lots of wired devices.

Typically about £34.99 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

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router

5.9/10verdict: wait for deal

The Archer C6 is for anyone replacing an ageing router with a single dual-band Wi-Fi 5 unit and four Gigabit LAN ports. It suits buyers who want a simple setup and a decent feature list, including guest networks, WPA3 and a VPN server. It is a poor fit if you need Wi-Fi 6, multi-gigabit ports or a rated coverage figure.

Typically about £43.78 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

CriterionWeightMERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 RouterTP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%6/105/10
Software and security25%7/107/10
Wired ports20%5/106/10
Coverage15%5/104/10
Value15%8/107/10
Overall6.2/105.9/10

Specifications

SpecMERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 RouterTP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router
Wi-Fi standard802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), compatible with 11ac/a/b/g/nWi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a on 5 GHz; 802.11n/b/g on 2.4 GHz)
Bands and speed classDual-band: 2402 Mbps (5 GHz) + 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 160 MHz channels, 1024-QAM; marketed as AX3000Dual-band AC1200: 867 Mbps on 5 GHz, 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz (the same page also gives 400 Mbps for 2.4 GHz, a conflict on the manufacturer page)
WAN port1x Gigabit WAN (1 Gbps)1x Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps)
LAN ports3x Gigabit LAN (datasheet; V6 page lists 5x, so revision-dependent)4x Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps)
Mesh nodes in the box0 extra nodes (single router, no nodes in box)0 (one router in the box)
Rated coverageNo manufacturer-rated area; four 5 dBi fixed omni antennas and beamformingnot listed
Security and VPN featuresWPA3-SAE (needs client support), WPA/WPA2 Enterprise, SPI firewall, IP/MAC binding, 2.4 and 5 GHz guest networks, OpenVPN/PPTP/L2TP/IPsec server and clients, parental controls, QoS, IPTV tag VLAN, IPv6, Smart ConnectSPI firewall, access control, IP and MAC binding, guest networks (one 5 GHz and one 2.4 GHz), VPN server (OpenVPN, PPTP), VPN client (OpenVPN, PPTP, WireGuard), WPA/WPA2/WPA3, parental controls

Strengths and weaknesses

MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router

  • + Wi-Fi 6 with 160 MHz channels and 1024-QAM
  • + VPN server and clients plus guest networks on both bands
  • + Owners describe it as very affordable and stable
  • − Gigabit-only ports, with three LAN ports on the datasheet
  • − No manufacturer-rated coverage area and no nodes in the box
  • − Owners report no repeater mode and no wall-mount holes

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want 2.5GbE or 10GbE wired ports
  • People who need many wired connections without adding a switch
  • Owners of larger homes who want a mesh kit with nodes in the box
Read the full MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router review ›

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router

  • + WPA3, guest networks and VPN server included
  • + Four Gigabit LAN ports plus Gigabit WAN
  • + Owners report simple setup and good value
  • − No rated coverage figure published
  • − No USB port, according to owners
  • − Several hardware revisions share the same name

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want Wi-Fi 6 or newer
  • Anyone needing 2.5GbE or faster wired ports
  • People who need a USB port for storage or printer sharing
Read the full TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router review ›

More comparisons

Compare all Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems · Best Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems