TP-Link Archer BE3600 vs TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router

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

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

The TP-Link Archer BE3600 scores 6.5/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router at 5.9/10.

The TP-Link Archer BE3600 leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, wired ports and value.

The TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router leads on software and security.

They score the same on coverage.

TP-Link Archer BE3600

6.5/10verdict: wait for deal

The TP-Link Archer BE3600 is for people who want a Wi-Fi 7 router on a tight budget. It suits a small home or flat where a 2.5GbE WAN link and a few wired devices matter more than 6 GHz. It is a poor fit for large or multi-storey homes that need confirmed range.

Typically about £74.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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

5.9/10verdict: skip

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

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

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	TP-Link Archer BE3600	TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	7/10	5/10
Software and security	25%	6/10	7/10
Wired ports	20%	7/10	6/10
Coverage	15%	4/10	4/10
Value	15%	8/10	7/10
Overall		6.5/10	5.9/10

Specifications

Spec	TP-Link Archer BE3600	TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router
Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); 5 GHz rated 2882 Mbps, 2.4 GHz rated 688 Mbps	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a on 5 GHz; 802.11n/b/g on 2.4 GHz)
Bands and speed class	Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, no 6 GHz; BE3600 class	Dual-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 port	1x 2.5 Gbps	1x Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps)
LAN ports	1x 2.5 Gbps and 3x 1 Gbps (4 total), plus one USB 3.0 port	4x Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps)
Mesh nodes in the box	0 extra nodes (single router, EasyMesh compatible)	0 (one router in the box)
Security and VPN features	TP-Link HomeShield security, parental controls, VPN client and VPN server, QoS, port forwarding, DMZ, DDNS, Tag VLAN, Guest Mode	SPI 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

TP-Link Archer BE3600

+ Wi-Fi 7 support at a low price
+ 2.5GbE WAN plus one 2.5GbE LAN port
+ VPN server, Tag VLAN and Guest Mode included
− No 6 GHz band
− Range reported weak at 25 feet
− Firmware lacks several optimisation settings

Skip it if:

Buyers who want a 6 GHz band or a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router
Anyone covering a large or multi-storey home with a single unit
Users who want detailed radio and optimisation controls in the firmware

Read the full TP-Link Archer BE3600 review ›

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

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