Assessing the Flint 3 Router: Is the Wi-Fi 7 Powerhouse a Wise Investment?
The Flint 3 router, equipped with Wi-Fi 7 technology, is set to revolutionise home networks in 2025. This innovative device delivers significantly higher speeds and advanced features compared to many other routers on the market, particularly those using Wi-Fi 6 or earlier standards.
Performance Highlights
The Flint 3 router supports tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with theoretical speeds up to 9,300 Mbps, real-world maximum throughput tests reaching about 2,070 Mbps. Its tri-band setup (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) enables ultra-fast wireless transfers suitable for 4K/8K streaming, gaming, and heavy file transfers.
The router's Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology allows devices to connect to multiple bands simultaneously, lowering congestion and improving network stability during heavy use. It also offers five 2.5GbE LAN ports and supports link aggregation up to 10Gbps, beneficial for NAS systems or large local networks.
Advanced VPN support is integrated with OpenWRT firmware, providing robust VPN options (WireGuard, OpenVPN-DCO) but with some throughput limitation compared to its predecessor. The customizability and mesh networking enabled by OpenWRT base enable over 5,000 plugins and mesh network scalability for broader coverage.
Potential Drawbacks
While the Flint 3 router offers exceptional value compared to competing Wi-Fi 7 models, it's important to note some potential limitations. Real-world reverse speed tests showed some retransmission problems, which might affect certain workloads and indicate room for firmware/network stack optimization.
Despite a powerful SoC, VPN speeds max out lower than some Wi-Fi 6 devices, potentially making it less optimal for VPN-heavy users with mostly Wi-Fi 6 clients. The price, while competitive, might still be high for average users without multi-gigabit internet or advanced network demands.
The feature set is rich but not entirely comprehensive; some users might find it lacking in certain enterprise-grade or niche networking functionalities.
Comparison to Other Routers
Compared to high-end Wi-Fi 6 routers like the DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G with AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 reaching around 2,400 Mbps peak on 5GHz, Flint 3 delivers a clear speed advantage and next-gen Wi-Fi 7 features but at a somewhat experimental stage regarding firmware maturity.
The Flint 3’s strength lies in offering bleeding-edge Wi-Fi 7 speeds and open-source flexibility at a relatively low price, while many other routers remain at Wi-Fi 6 with fewer customization options or slower throughput.
Conclusion
The Flint 3 Wi-Fi 7 router provides cutting-edge speed, multi-band flexibility, and robust customization that benefit power users and small offices needing advanced performance and control. However, users focused on VPN throughput or requiring ultra-stable reverse channel performance might encounter some limitations currently, and for casual users or those without next-gen internet access, the price and complexity might outweigh the benefits.
[1] TechRadar - Flint 3 Wi-Fi 7 Router Review [2] CNET - Flint 3 Wi-Fi 7 Router vs DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G [3] Tom’s Hardware - Flint 3 Wi-Fi 7 Router Deep Dive [4] PCMag - Flint 3 Wi-Fi 7 Router Performance Testing [5] AnandTech - Flint 3 Wi-Fi 7 Router Analysis and Comparison
Technology advances in the form of the Flint 3 router, boasting Wi-Fi 7 technology, are likely to transform home networks in 2025. The device's gadgetry features, such as tri-band Wi-Fi 7 and Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology, promise ultra-fast wireless transfers and reduced congestion for tasks like 4K/8K streaming, gaming, and heavy file transfers.
