TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router review

The Archer C6 is a single dual-band Wi-Fi 5 router. TP-Link rates it AC1200: 867 Mbps on 5 GHz and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. The same manufacturer page also gives 400 Mbps for 2.4 GHz, so those figures conflict. Treat the 2.4 GHz speed as unconfirmed until you know which revision you are buying.

It includes no second node. It is a router to replace an existing one, not a mesh kit.

TP-Link sells versions V2, V3.20 and V4 under the same name. The specifications and power figures differ between them. The research doesn't say which version a given listing carries, so confirm it before you order. Nothing here establishes a release date either, and no end-of-support or end-of-update date was found. If long-term firmware support matters to you, TP-Link doesn't give you a date to plan around.

With Wi-Fi 5 and a dual-band split, the C6 covers the basics and nothing newer. It supports MU-MIMO according to its name and listing. Owner views on speed are mixed. Some say the 5 GHz band is reliable but not the fastest AC1200 they have seen. Others report near-gigabit results. Given that spread, expect solid everyday performance rather than class-leading throughput.

There is one Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports. No 2.5GbE or faster port was found in any version. A Gigabit WAN port suits a typical broadband line up to that speed, and four LAN ports cover a handful of wired devices. Owners also note that there is no USB port, so you can't plug in storage or a printer for sharing.

No rated Wi-Fi coverage figure was published in the sources read. That makes it hard to say how far the signal will carry, so judge it against the size and layout of your home. The router supports EasyMesh and TP-Link OneMesh. That means it can join a mesh with other compatible units, which gives you a route to extend coverage later. You would need to buy the extra units separately.

The router includes an SPI firewall, access control, and IP and MAC binding. Guest networks come on both bands, one on 5 GHz and one on 2.4 GHz. Security options cover WPA, WPA2 and WPA3. Parental controls are included too.

VPN support is split by role. The built-in VPN server supports OpenVPN and PPTP. The VPN client supports OpenVPN, PPTP and WireGuard. If you want to host a WireGuard server on the router itself, the listing doesn't show that option. For remote access to your home network, OpenVPN is the listed route.

Owners describe setup and configuration as simple. That fits a router aimed at people who want it working quickly rather than tuning every setting.

Owners have measured power at the wall. A V2.0 drew about 2.60 W idle with 5 GHz disabled and about 3.50 W with 5 GHz enabled, peaking at 4.20 W. A V3.20 owner submission shows 4.00 W idle and 6.80 W maximum during transfer. These are owner figures rather than manufacturer ratings, and they show the revisions differ. Either way, the draw is low enough for an always-on device.

Owners mostly call it good performance and value for the money. With four Gigabit LAN ports, WPA3, guest networks and a VPN server, it suits a straightforward home network where Wi-Fi 5 is enough. The missing coverage figure, the unclear revision and the absence of USB are the points to check before buying.