TP-Link AC1750 Review: Pros & Cons and Verdict

In the modern world that we live in today, it is an absolute necessity to have a connection to the rest of the world. We all need to have an escape from our lives. Seems to be a contradiction; to escape the world by exploring it. That is the very poetic way of saying we all just love cat videos and seeing things get squashed under a hydraulic press.

The need for a stable connection to the internet is part of our current lifestyle. TP-Link has come in to fill that ever essential need. The company was established in 1996, a surprisingly long time ago, it is almost as if they have been around since before the internet even existed.

They have been providing the world with networking devices and accessories. At some stage TP-Link was distributing up to 150,000 of their devices to more than 170 countries, in a day!

These statistics come from the last quarterly IDC Worldwide WLAN Tracker Report of 2017. At this rate it would not be possible for any person to be without an internet connection.

As you can imagine, probably being the only network device manufacturers in the 90’s, they were able to gain a multitude of accolades over the years. The TP-Link Archer A7 AC1750 has kept up the winning spirit by achieving to claim its own awards, the router has received the JD Power Award for Highest in customer satisfaction for wireless routers in the years 2017 and 2019.

So, with a prestigious heritage and an award-winning device, buying this device seems like an easy choice to make. It has certainly become a popular product, but it isn’t without its flaws.

We’ve taken an impartial look at this device to give you all the information you need for make an informed decision. So, let’s get to it. 

Advantages and Disadvantages

This Wi-Fi router does its job when you are nearby and comes at a reasonable price. If you live in a mansion then this might not interest you. That being said, you live in a mansion, so why are you looking at getting a budget router?

Design

The AC1750 is a small device with a weight of 14.9 ounces and dimensions (in inches) of 9.59 length, 6.32 width, and 1.29 height. You can put this thing almost anywhere, including that one shelf where the whole family decides to put every miscellaneous item they find. If that seems to take up space, you can just use its mounting brackets to hang it on the wall.

The device comes in black, so it does look really sophisticated. It has ten green LED indicator lights, which makes it the man’s next best friend, being able to explain all its issues without him having to ask too many questions.

Not only does the router express all its feelings, but it can be set not to express itself at all with its Night Mode setting. When the device’s Night Mode is set to a specific time it will turn off all its indicator lights, so in case the device is set up in your room it will not look like you are at a low budget night club.

The back of the router is nothing different from any other, it still has that same appearance that makes every parent, looking at the different ports, think that their child should become an IT specialist. The device has a power cable port and a power button to complement it.

The device has a 2.0 USB port that allows for connections to hard drives and a few well-known printers. It has an ethernet input port distinguishable by its blue outline, it would not be a router without a way to connect it to the internet.

It also has four Gigabit LAN ports grouped together in an orange outline, these can be used for wired connections and access points. It also has a WPS button (or the Wi-Fi on/off) that comes in handy with the modern “grounding your kid” rule.

It has three antennas, which is nothing to brag about in the times we live in where routers try to compete with the amount of bristles on a toothbrush.

Nothing in its design makes it stand out except the router’s size. The device does have a few features that might come as a surprise, a dynamite in small packages kind of thing.

Features and Performance

Dual Band Router

The most important feature (really one of the only features people really care about) is the dual band router. What does this mean? This feature allows the router to reach a high internet speed of 1750 Mbps, this allows for 4k streaming and online gaming.

That means those who want to binge watch that latest series while their kids (or husband/boyfriend) games in the other room won’t have to fight for internet speed. They can coexist in the same house and not get into an internet war. The downside is that this is all for nothing if you do not have one of those premium internet packages. On the other hand, this router does come at a very fair price so you might be able to afford that premium package.

Coverage

As a result of the three external antennas, the router is claimed to be able provide internet connections in a 2500 square foot area. This is sort of true, it does not provide a strong connection, but with a TP-Link OneMesh compatible range extender the signal can reach even further. We will briefly discuss that later.

The realistic coverage of this router does not exceed further than 35 feet with a speed just under 500 Mbps, that is if it is in a 2-story building with sound board walls. This should not be a deterrent if your house does not exceed ground level or a 2500 square foot area.

In close proximity the device can hit an average high of 600 Mbps or more. On a positive note, you will not have to worry about your neighbors hogging your Wi-Fi.

Power

Unfortunately, the router does not have batteries so power could be an issue, this is just an extra factor to take into consideration. It is estimated to use about 4 watts when in action. This is an economically considerate device when compared to the bigger routers out there.

Parental Controls

While it is impressive that children in today’s modern age have the ability to explain aerodynamics using a Lego set, because they have watched a YouTube clip, it does pose a dangerous threat to what else a child can be exposed to on the internet.

You might not be as impressed when the child has the ability to use that same Lego set to build an explosive device, also as a result of unsupervised exposure to YouTube and the rest of the internet.

TP-Link has added a feature to avoid these embarrassing moments. With the router’s WPA/WPA2 wireless encryption parents can have control over the exposure that the family has to the internet.

Smart Home Integration 

As most electronic device producers move the world further into an automated era, and the PG rated version of Terminator, more of their devices have become voice activated. The AC1750 is no exception as it works with Amazon’s Alexa.

Installation

The daunting task of setting up your own Wi-Fi because you do not have a tech-savvy prodigy living at the house will not pose as too much of a problem. The guys at TP-Link have made setting up a breeze with the Tether app! The app can be used to set up and manage Wi-Fi at home or remotely through the cloud.

Connectivity

As touched on earlier, the router’s 2.0 USB port can connect your printer for easy access. That being said, we are rapidly shifting into a time where most devices are 3.0 USB compatible. It would be nice if this port were also part of the router but because it has a 750 megahertz central processing unit, it might stand as a good move from TP-Link to just have the USB port that it has.

Extenders

Just as a side note, with the limited range of this device kept in mind, for about $10 less than the router you can get the TP-link RE300 Wi-Fi range extender. This device is quite bulky and will probably require you to sacrifice an entire wall socket. As both these devices are TP-Link products, and they are both OneMesh compatible, you are able to use the Tether app to link them up without the headache of googling anything.

OneMesh is a practical feature if you are planning on being a devoted TP-Link customer. The OneMesh software can intelligently connect TP-Link routers and extenders on one Wi-Fi name, this allows for constant connection to a single network. This is a great feature if you are one of those people that live on their mobile device, even when you decide to go to the bathroom.

With all these features you might feel scared to get to the set-up part of the router, but this is actually a really simple procedure. Remember, almost everything is automatic these days.

Setting Up

TP-Link has really come through for their customers in this regard. The set up can save your Advil stash from being depleted. Managing and setting up can be done through a web browser and on the Tether app across varying operating systems, such as Android and iOS, for the initial set up. It is strongly suggested that you follow the set-up guide found in the box, even though it is a bit confusing to look at. Using the app should take no longer than 10 minutes.

Hardware Connection

If you have an existing Ethernet cable coming straight out of your wall, then setting up the router is as simple as plugging it into a power supply and sticking the Ethernet cable into the router’s internet port.

If you have a DSL/Cable/Satellite modem, then it is a matter connecting the router to it with the Ethernet cable

In both cases make sure the devices are off before setting up.

Cloud Configuration via App or Browser

The app gets your rigged up well, having set up default configuration settings and simply asking you what type of network you want, and to create a network name and password. So even though you are nothing like Mr Robot, you can proudly get a safe internet connection going.

The interfaces on both the Tether app and the browser are simple to navigate with clearly demarcated setting categories. With the app you can change the password, set up a guest network, and as mentioned before set the LED lights’ brightness.

If you are convinced that the government is watching you, you can set up a VPN by changing your internet connection to an L2TP connection. Also you have parental control so you are able to set a block on any undesirable website. You are also able to add and remove devices to your internet connection.

The app allows for easy and quick access to issues you want dealt with immediately for example, with one tap you can run a diagnostics test on any issues you might face with your network.

With regards to the browser, however, you have more options and settings available to make use of. With the browser you get a more detailed scope on VPN options, options on printer and data sharing through the USB port, and extra security measures can be put into place. You can also control and manage the data traffic and set priority on what kind of data you want to give more priority to with the QoS (Quality of Service) settings. This is a nifty setting when it comes to using your connection for a sole purpose such as online gaming or video streaming.

So when comparing the Tether app and the browser interface for setting your router up, the browser would be the better platform to use when tailoring your online preferences. Although if you are not into all that technical jazz, the app will do just fine with the general settings. Much of the initial setting up work is recommended to be done on the browser, but once it is complete you should never have to worry about it again.

If you get lost at any stage there is always going to be an aerodynamic engineer child to help you out, or some guy on YouTube.

Who Should Get the AC1750?

The router is a great way for those on a budget to enjoy the wonders of the internet. If you are not one to shell out an excessively large amount of money on a router then this is for you. If you do not plan on signing up for a premium internet service package and want a pleasant online experience, then try this router out.

This router is best suited to help caring parents make their children’s online experience safe with its struggle free and easy to navigate parental controls.

The router is convenient for those who live in a small house or apartment with more than 3 people (who are not concerned with personal space) that are dependent on the internet whether it be for work, binge watching, or trying to dominate the online gaming world. If all of these people are connected at the same time, there will not be that great of an issue. With this router you can enjoy the internet without breaking the bank.

The Bottom Line

When the day comes to an end and the boardgames aren’t entertaining anymore, you might as well go along with the rest of the world into the digital universe.

There is a wide range of wireless routers out there and they are varied in what they are capable of, that being said if you are not planning on trying to take over the world, a budget router like the AC1750 will do just fine. Its midrange coverage and its lack to push strong connections through not-so-thick walls does come at a disadvantage.

There are cheaper routers out there, but many are not as pain free to set up as this one. Even fewer routers on the market come with an easy to access app like Tether, and even fewer network device and accessory producers are as well recognized and established as TP-Link.

This router could be considered to be a bit much for those who do not have a high speed or high-volume internet service package. Then the TP-Link Archer C6 router will do just fine and at almost half the price of the AC1750. Be warned, you might not have the benefit of carrying as big a load as you would with the AC1750.

The TP-Link AC1750 sets a great example of the balance between price and power. The device’s small build makes it easy to place anywhere. The customer friendly set up and app makes hooking up to the internet simple.

Are you looking for a new router? Why not choose the TP-Link AC1750? You’re not likely to be disappointed.