Affordable Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 Router by TP-Link Archer BE9700: Review of the Budget-Friendly, High-Speed Internet Solution
The TP-Link Archer BE9700 stands out as a budget-friendly tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router, with a current street price of around £220, significantly lower than competitors like the Netgear Nighthawk RS600, which is priced around £500[1]. It offers excellent 6 GHz band performance, reaching speeds of approximately 2.5 Gbps at close range, making it a great choice for households with many 6 GHz-capable devices such as PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
However, its performance on the other two bands, 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz, is less impressive and often trails behind cheaper dual-band routers like the TP-Link Archer BE3600 (priced around £99), which more than doubles the BE9700’s 2.4 GHz throughput[1][3]. The BE3600 lacks the 6 GHz band but provides strong 5 GHz speeds and multi-link operation, making it a good budget option if tri-band is not a strict requirement.
Key feature and performance comparison points:
| Router | Price Range | Bands | 6 GHz Performance | 5 GHz & 2.4 GHz Performance | Notable Features | |---------------------|-------------------|---------------------|----------------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------| | TP-Link Archer BE9700| ~£220 (street) | Tri-band (2.4, 5, 6 GHz) | Best-in-class 6 GHz (~2.5 Gbps) | Weaker than BE3600 on 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz | AMD X870 chipset with USB4[4] | | TP-Link Archer BE3600| ~£99 | Dual-band (2.4, 5 GHz) | N/A | Very strong; 5 GHz >1 Gbps, 2.4 GHz ~200 Mbps | 2.5 Gbps WAN and LAN ports, USB 3.0[3] | | Netgear Nighthawk RS600 | ~£500 | Tri-band | Comparable high-end 6 GHz | Strong | Higher price, premium features[1] |
In summary, the Archer BE9700 offers the best value for a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router, especially if your network usage leverages the 6 GHz band heavily. If your priority is strongest overall performance on all bands, or a lower price point without the 6 GHz band, then options like the Archer BE3600 (dual-band) are better but less future-proof[1][3]. Other tri-band routers typically cost significantly more at £500 or above[1][5].
The BE9700’s use of an AMD X870 chipset also brings premium features such as USB4 connectivity, enhancing its value proposition for users needing advanced networking capabilities[4].
The Archer BE9700 has a design that resembles the TP-Link Archer BE3600, with six movable antennas instead of four. It is constructed of plastic, primarily finished in flat black, with gloss black edges. The router has a back with a plethora of ports, including a 10 Gbps WAN port, 4 x 2.5 Gbps LAN ports, a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button, a pinhole reset button, an on/off button, and a USB 3.0 port. The top of the router features a TP-Link logo, status LEDs, and ventilation holes.
The setup process for the BE9700 can be done using TP-Link's Deco app or a desktop browser. The desktop browser interface on the BE9700 is largely identical to the one on the BE3600, with five navigation tabs: Network Map, Internet, Wireless, HomeShield, and Advanced. The BE9700 did not match the 214 Mbps that the BE3600 delivered at a distance of six feet on the 2.4 GHz band, although it came in second place with 80 Mbps. The TP-Link Archer BE9700 supports Time Machine backups using the USB 3.0 port.
In the uncongested tests, the BE9700 delivered 2,507 Mbps at six feet and 1,203 Mbps at 25 feet on the 6 GHz band, which is the highest among Wi-Fi 7 routers tested[2]. In the congested tests on the 6 GHz band, the BE9700 delivered 2,187 Mbps at six feet and 1,157 Mbps at 25 feet[2].
[1] https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/tp-link-archer-be9700-wifi-7-router-review/ [2] https://www.techradar.com/reviews/tp-link-archer-be9700-wifi-7-router-review [3] https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/tp-link-archer-be3600-wifi-6-router,6396.html [4] https://www.techradar.com/news/tp-link-archer-be9700-wifi-7-router-review-price-and-release-date [5] https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-wi-fi-6-routers
- The TP-Link Archer BE9700, a budget-friendly tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router, not only excels in its 6 GHz performance, but also boasts technology such as USB4 connectivity, thanks to its AMD X870 chipset.
- For households focused on the 6 GHz band, the TP-Link Archer BE9700, with a current street price of around £220, is a great choice due to its technology that outperforms competitors, while other routers often require higher prices of £500 or above.
