Linksys recently announced the addition of new models to its Smart Wi-Fi Router portfolio and they promise to be a great way to get, and stay, online. The $169.99 AC 1200 Advanced Multimedia, EA6300, is already available and the $189.99 Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1600 Video Enthusiast, EA6400, is coming by the end of May. The AC1600 is a dual-band router that allows for five to seven connected devices at a time and offers Wi-Fi speeds up to 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. The dual-band AC1200 offers up to 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. That makes it a good fit for a small home in which you are looking to connect three to five different devices.
Both new Smart Wi-Fi routers feature:
Easy, CD-less installation, and the ability to install your router from virtually any device through browser-based set-up
Gigabit Ethernet
USB 3.0 ports
Linksys SimpleTap, so consumers can easily connect new devices to their home networks, such as through scanning a QR code or using a NFC tag
Linksys Beamforming technology, which provides faster router speeds, a larger wireless range throughout the home, and improved overall network performance
Support for IPv6 to future-proof home networks
I’ve been using AirPort routers for the past few years and love the ease of setup and control that now exists across Apple’s many iOS and OS X devices. The new Smart Wi-Fi routers take the same sort of approach but expand them further since the router can be installed from any device with a browser. Moreover, Linksys’ SimpleTap means you can easily connect new devices to the home network by scanning a QR code or tapping an NFC tag. Moreover, the line of routers feature beamforming technology that significantly helps improve router speed, overall performance and wireless range. Perhaps most importantly, the Smarter Routers are equipped with 802.11ac technology with fast wireless speeds—up to three times the speed of Wireless-N, excellent range and backward compatibility with existing wireless devices.
We’ve got one on the way for review and look forward to seeing what it can do for connectivity in my house. You can learn more here.