Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands for deals, including promoted items.
Heads up, this deal has expired. Want to create a deal alert for this item?
expired Posted by CosmologicalConstant • Oct 15, 2020
expired Posted by CosmologicalConstant • Oct 15, 2020

Expires 10/31 for 100,000 Times Viewed # 1 Recommended GIGABIT ROUTER; $116 at Target TP-Link Archer AX3000 Dual Band WiFi 6 MU-MIMO Router

$116

Walmart
520 Comments 136,241 Views
Visit Walmart
Good Deal
Save
Share
Deal Details
Update: This post has been viewed approx. 100,000 times on Slickdeals.

Target price of $129 less the 10% coupon is $116. Coupon Expires 10/31

#1 Rated by the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutte...fi-router/

You can get the AX3000 (Archer AX 50) for $116 at TARGET (see below)
https://www.target.com/p/tp-link-...A-79847621

HOW TO GET IT FOR $116 AT TARGET (2 WAYS)
New price is $129 and then apply the 10% off one electronic item (Target circle coupon). Total came to $116 and change. If you are a target Redcard member get additional 5% Redcard discount[/QUOTE]

10% coupon can be found here (Expires October 31):
https://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=14448551&sdop=1&sdpid=141342461&sdfid=30&lno=1&trd=https%20www%20target%20com%20offers%20targ&pv=&au=&sdtrk=SiteSearchV2Algo1&u2=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2Foffers%2Ftarget-circle[/QUOTE]

At Walmart, you can get the $99 AX1800 (Archer AX 20) model. Note that "PeteyTheStriker" who is very knowledgeable on routers has commented extensively on this thread has recommended the upgrade from the AX20 to AX50 if you can afford it. Through Target (see above, you can get the AX 3000 for $116)

WALMART
$99 AX1800 (Archer AX 20)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/TP-Lin.../210201077

FOR ONLY $17 More (Target), you can upgrade from the Archer AX20 (AX1800) to the TP-LINK Archer AX50, i.e., AX 3000,
https://www.target.com/p/tp-link-...A-79847621

COMPARISON OF AX20 ($99) VS AX50 ($129) [ Thanks - zpeedster_m ]; Note that "PeteyTheStriker" who is very knowledgeable on routers has commented extensively on this thread has recommended the upgrade from the AX20 to AX50 if you can afford it.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutte...fi-router/

TP-Link Archer AX50
The best Wi-Fi router
In our tests the TP-Link Archer AX50 created a speedy, responsive network even from across a medium house. You have to spend a lot more on a router—or a mesh kit if you have a very large home—to get anything even a little better. It's our first WI-Fi 6 (802.11ax) router pick.

The TP-Link Archer AX50 is reasonably priced, yet it can handle a growing selection of laptops and smart devices while surpassing the performance of routers that cost twice as much. It's generally speedy and able to reach long range, it has little lag even when the network is busy, and it's a great choice if you have a high-performance internet service plan. It's compatible with Wi-Fi 6, the latest wireless standard, and it comes with built-in security in the form of a lifetime subscription to updates.

TP-Link Archer AX20
If our main pick is unavailable
The Archer AX20 offers fewer features than our pick for a slightly lower price, but in most cases it can keep up in throughput, responsiveness, and ease of setup.

If our pick is out of stock or its price is more than $30 higher, you should consider the TP-Link Archer AX20 instead. The AX20 looks like the AX50 and offers a strong, responsive network that's nearly as good, especially if your house isn't larger than our 2,300-square-foot-test home. But it's not quite as fast at longer ranges, and TP-Link sacrifices a few advanced features and settings in its administration interface to meet the lower price

REVIEWS (Thanks "PeteyTheStriker")
https://play3r.net/reviews/networ...er-review/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXVGRKgaxYo

https://www.blacktubi.com/review/...cher-ax50/

https://techprojournal.com/tp-lin...ink_AX3000

Overall if you want a entry level to medium end router, you cant go wrong.[/QUOTE]

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE:

1. Donknows has a review on the AX3000 (Archer AX 50) this has thoroughly been discredited on this thread.

Quote from PeteyTheStriker :
As was mentioned by me and a few others, that DONGKNOWS review is poorly done. It is not an apples to apples comparison, he used a router with a brand new firmware comparing to an identical router with firmware over 6 months old which had major problems just like any other router around that time. It takes time to work out the bugs and TP-Link, Netgear, Asus to name a few all put out routers with bugged performance with their first set of Wifi 6 routers. So yeah..... Important to make apples to apples instead of reading something without understanding the testing. If he did it the correct way he would have had both side by side on the same firmware.The routers are identical outside USB 3.0 port and Homecare included on one, so you will get identical performance results with the same firmware.

2. CAT7, a CAT 6 or CAT5e cable is needed for gigabit Ethernet. Most cables made for the last 10 years are already 5e, so just saying that cables are usually never a bottleneck.
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Update: This post has been viewed approx. 100,000 times on Slickdeals.

Target price of $129 less the 10% coupon is $116. Coupon Expires 10/31

#1 Rated by the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutte...fi-router/

You can get the AX3000 (Archer AX 50) for $116 at TARGET (see below)
https://www.target.com/p/tp-link-...A-79847621

HOW TO GET IT FOR $116 AT TARGET (2 WAYS)
New price is $129 and then apply the 10% off one electronic item (Target circle coupon). Total came to $116 and change. If you are a target Redcard member get additional 5% Redcard discount[/QUOTE]

10% coupon can be found here (Expires October 31):
https://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=14448551&sdop=1&sdpid=141342461&sdfid=30&lno=1&trd=https%20www%20target%20com%20offers%20targ&pv=&au=&sdtrk=SiteSearchV2Algo1&u2=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2Foffers%2Ftarget-circle[/QUOTE]

At Walmart, you can get the $99 AX1800 (Archer AX 20) model. Note that "PeteyTheStriker" who is very knowledgeable on routers has commented extensively on this thread has recommended the upgrade from the AX20 to AX50 if you can afford it. Through Target (see above, you can get the AX 3000 for $116)

WALMART
$99 AX1800 (Archer AX 20)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/TP-Lin.../210201077

FOR ONLY $17 More (Target), you can upgrade from the Archer AX20 (AX1800) to the TP-LINK Archer AX50, i.e., AX 3000,
https://www.target.com/p/tp-link-...A-79847621

COMPARISON OF AX20 ($99) VS AX50 ($129) [ Thanks - zpeedster_m ]; Note that "PeteyTheStriker" who is very knowledgeable on routers has commented extensively on this thread has recommended the upgrade from the AX20 to AX50 if you can afford it.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutte...fi-router/

TP-Link Archer AX50
The best Wi-Fi router
In our tests the TP-Link Archer AX50 created a speedy, responsive network even from across a medium house. You have to spend a lot more on a router—or a mesh kit if you have a very large home—to get anything even a little better. It's our first WI-Fi 6 (802.11ax) router pick.

The TP-Link Archer AX50 is reasonably priced, yet it can handle a growing selection of laptops and smart devices while surpassing the performance of routers that cost twice as much. It's generally speedy and able to reach long range, it has little lag even when the network is busy, and it's a great choice if you have a high-performance internet service plan. It's compatible with Wi-Fi 6, the latest wireless standard, and it comes with built-in security in the form of a lifetime subscription to updates.

TP-Link Archer AX20
If our main pick is unavailable
The Archer AX20 offers fewer features than our pick for a slightly lower price, but in most cases it can keep up in throughput, responsiveness, and ease of setup.

If our pick is out of stock or its price is more than $30 higher, you should consider the TP-Link Archer AX20 instead. The AX20 looks like the AX50 and offers a strong, responsive network that's nearly as good, especially if your house isn't larger than our 2,300-square-foot-test home. But it's not quite as fast at longer ranges, and TP-Link sacrifices a few advanced features and settings in its administration interface to meet the lower price

REVIEWS (Thanks "PeteyTheStriker")
https://play3r.net/reviews/networ...er-review/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXVGRKgaxYo

https://www.blacktubi.com/review/...cher-ax50/

https://techprojournal.com/tp-lin...ink_AX3000

Overall if you want a entry level to medium end router, you cant go wrong.[/QUOTE]

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE:

1. Donknows has a review on the AX3000 (Archer AX 50) this has thoroughly been discredited on this thread.

Quote from PeteyTheStriker :
As was mentioned by me and a few others, that DONGKNOWS review is poorly done. It is not an apples to apples comparison, he used a router with a brand new firmware comparing to an identical router with firmware over 6 months old which had major problems just like any other router around that time. It takes time to work out the bugs and TP-Link, Netgear, Asus to name a few all put out routers with bugged performance with their first set of Wifi 6 routers. So yeah..... Important to make apples to apples instead of reading something without understanding the testing. If he did it the correct way he would have had both side by side on the same firmware.The routers are identical outside USB 3.0 port and Homecare included on one, so you will get identical performance results with the same firmware.

2. CAT7, a CAT 6 or CAT5e cable is needed for gigabit Ethernet. Most cables made for the last 10 years are already 5e, so just saying that cables are usually never a bottleneck.

Community Voting

Deal Score
+53
Good Deal
Visit Walmart

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

520 Comments

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Original Poster
Pro
Oct 17, 2020
10,951 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 17, 2020
CosmologicalConstant
Oct 17, 2020
Original Poster
Pro
10,951 Posts
Quote from AndroidBR :

1. Unless more than half of my personal devices happen to be fully compatible with Wi-Fi 6 AX, I'm not upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router. Especially when they're not tri band or fully compatible with all previous bands.

2. The vast majority of these devices only operate in the 2.4GHz band so they will not benefit from Wi-Fi 6 AX.
1. Point well taken.

2. But isn't the Archer AX20 (AX1800) backward compatible? So, only IF a scenario presents itself such that it is not costing you more to go from AC to AX, why not get the AX instead?

3. Given a choice of one of the two specified, at the current time, would you select the Archer A7 (for $50) or the Archer AX 20 (for $100)?
Original Poster
Pro
Oct 17, 2020
10,951 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 17, 2020
CosmologicalConstant
Oct 17, 2020
Original Poster
Pro
10,951 Posts
Quote from PeteyTheStriker :
The newer modems are more sensitive to issues in wiring and problems in the area. Try it out for 24 hours and see if you see any improvement, if it does not stabilize it might mean that there are issues with your home wiring which are not allowing it to work at optimal speeds. You should not expect over 200Mbps anything over 200Mbps is bonus. If your old modem is not deactivated off your account you can always switch back to if you dont want to deal with the hassle of having someone come out and inspect everything.
General question: Why does speedof.me indicate speeds of 125 to 150 mbps whereas 10 other speed test programs ALL indicate speeds of approx. 230mbps?
Original Poster
Pro
Oct 17, 2020
10,951 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 17, 2020
CosmologicalConstant
Oct 17, 2020
Original Poster
Pro
10,951 Posts
Quote from AndroidBR :
.
Quote from zpeedster_m :
.
Quote from PeteyTheStriker :
.
Quote from Jsz0301 :
.
https://www.spectrum.net/support/...s-adapters
Spectrum offers 6 choices for a router for about $5 a month. Are any of these a better option that just buying the TP-Link Archer AX20 for $100? Thanks.

• Sagemcom Wave 2 Router Model RAC2V1S 802.11ac
• Askey Wave 2 Router Model Number RAC2V1K 802.11ac
• Arris Commscope Wave 2 Router Model Number RAC2V1A 802.11ac
• Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Premium Edition WNDR3800
• Netgear R6300v2 Smart WiFi Router
• Sagecom F@st 5260
Original Poster
Pro
Oct 17, 2020
10,951 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 17, 2020
CosmologicalConstant
Oct 17, 2020
Original Poster
Pro
10,951 Posts
Quote from PeteyTheStriker :
Enjoy the new router!
It arrives on Sunday, but thanks!

Right now, I only have the swapped modem and old router. Without the old router, and with the PC directly connected to the modem, I get speeds of 230mbps on 10 different on-line speed tests, excepts for speedof.me which indicates a different speed of 125 - 150 gbps.
Oct 17, 2020
12,171 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
Oct 17, 2020
PeteyTheStriker
Oct 17, 2020
12,171 Posts
Quote from AndroidBR :
Yes. I have a Linksys WRT32XB ($40 Walmart clearance deal). It's not the best router by any means but it blows this $100 TP-Link router out of the water. I read a lot of reviews of this TP-Link and it's a joke because people are so clueless. By looking at their bragging screenshots on their reviews, they assume that after hooking up this Wi-Fi 6 router all their old AC devices will be magically compatible with Wi-Fi 6 and they're going to be getting 400mbps when they only pay for 300mbps with their internet provider. Sighs... Of course, if you're coming from a 2005 $20 2.4GHz only N router you're going to see a major improvement on your 5GHz AC capable devices. Over 90% of the devices sold today will not allow you to benefit from the Wi-Fi 6 AX tech. If you are are using your modems' built in router any AC router will be a significant upgrade. But this will not magically give you faster download / upload speeds than you would get connected to an Ethernet cable directly into your router. It doesn't work this way. Unless more than half of my personal devices happen to be fully compatible with Wi-Fi 6 AX, I'm not upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router. Especially when they're not tri band or fully compatible with all previous bands. All of my recent modern devices, like my gaming laptop and gaming desktop are AC compatible and are capable of downloading and uploading at around 600Mbps on a 1Gbps fiber connection. The other night I downloaded a game on my Xbox One X at close to 350Mbps which is plenty fast over Wi-Fi, well over 1GB download per minute. I have 44 smart light bulbs, 2 smart wall plugs, 3 Google Chromecast, 3 Google Home speakers, 3 smart sound bars with Google Assistant, 5 laptops, 1 gaming desktop, 3 smart TVs, Wi-Fi Android powered car stereo, 4 smart phones, 2 iPads. All of these devices (well over 60 total) can be connected simultaneously with my Linksys router. The vast majority of these devices only operate in the 2.4GHz band so they will not benefit from Wi-Fi 6 AX.
Hi genius, your comparing a router thats over $200 to a $100 one, lol. Just cause you got lucky to get it for $40 makes it YMMV and its impossible to replicate. I am not even going to read the rest cause your clueless at this point.
1
Oct 17, 2020
12,171 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
Oct 17, 2020
PeteyTheStriker
Oct 17, 2020
12,171 Posts
Quote from JoyTan :
It arrives on Sunday, but thanks!

Right now, I only have the swapped modem and old router. Without the old router, and with the PC directly connected to the modem, I get speeds of 230mbps on 10 different on-line speed tests, excepts for speedof.me which indicates a different speed of 125 - 150 gbps.

I find speedof.me to be the more accurate of all the websites, which is why I use it over others. As for why your speeds are different could be that the server that its connecting to is way further away from whatever server your other sites are connecting too. I see differences in speed between them usually but never that huge of a gap, so something else is wrong.
Oct 17, 2020
12,171 Posts
Joined Nov 2010
Oct 17, 2020
PeteyTheStriker
Oct 17, 2020
12,171 Posts
Quote from JoyTan :
https://www.spectrum.net/support/...s-adapters
Spectrum offers 6 choices for a router for about $5 a month. Are any of these a better option that just buying the TP-Link Archer AX20 for $100? Thanks.

• Sagemcom Wave 2 Router Model RAC2V1S 802.11ac
• Askey Wave 2 Router Model Number RAC2V1K 802.11ac
• Arris Commscope Wave 2 Router Model Number RAC2V1A 802.11ac
• Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Premium Edition WNDR3800
• Netgear R6300v2 Smart WiFi Router
• Sagecom F@st 5260

None of those from quick glance look better.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Original Poster
Pro
Oct 17, 2020
10,951 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 17, 2020
CosmologicalConstant
Oct 17, 2020
Original Poster
Pro
10,951 Posts
Quote from PeteyTheStriker :
None of those from quick glance look better.
Thanks.
Original Poster
Pro
Oct 17, 2020
10,951 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 17, 2020
CosmologicalConstant
Oct 17, 2020
Original Poster
Pro
10,951 Posts
Quote from PeteyTheStriker :
I find speedof.me to be the more accurate of all the websites, which is why I use it over others. As for why your speeds are different could be that the server that its connecting to is way further away from whatever server your other sites are connecting too. I see differences in speed between them usually but never that huge of a gap, so something else is wrong.
Well, I tried the test today, and lo and behold, speedof.me now matches the others at approx. 230 mbps. So I am relieved!
Oct 17, 2020
227 Posts
Joined Nov 2005
Oct 17, 2020
timts
Oct 17, 2020
227 Posts
my AC1750 died suddenly and I bought this from walmart a few weeks ago at this price. some old devices seem to have problem connecting to it otherwise it seems good for wifi6 so far. oculus quest 2 streaming is mostly stable
Oct 17, 2020
822 Posts
Joined Jan 2017
Oct 17, 2020
AndroidBR
Oct 17, 2020
822 Posts
Quote from JoyTan :
1. Point well taken.

2. But isn't the Archer AX20 (AX1800) backward compatible? So, only IF a scenario presents itself such that it is not costing you more to go from AC to AX, why not get the AX instead?

3. Given a choice of one of the two specified, at the current time, would you select the Archer A7 (for $50) or the Archer AX 20 (for $100)?
There are numerous articles explaining that if you already have an AC router that works for you to just stick with it. The best router of the two is definitely the AX 20. It seems great router for the $100 price but it doesn't seem like an awesome deal. What I was referring to on my last post was that most people have no idea what they're talking about and think that by swapping routers will give them better speeds than what they have been paying for with their providers. It doesn't work like that. There were several deals on decent routers at Walmart for $60 several months ago. If you missed that one and need something better than what you have, go for the $100 one. I remember trying to use the built in Google Fiber router here at the house was a bit of a nightmare, not because of the slightly slower speeds at the 5GHz band, but because the 2.4GHz band was overwhelmed by the high number of smart devices I was attempting to tether with it. My light bulbs would literally get dropped by the router and would not sync again for anything. My current Linksys is not perfect but it was a better deal than most of these entry level AX ones. I'm not bragging or anything, all I'm saying is unless you own an AX device that will for certain take advantage of a new AX router, there's no need to get rid of your current AC router if that works for you. By all means, buy this and see if it's better than what you have. If it isn't, just take it back. But in my opinion, if you're spending $100, might as well get a AX50 / AX3000. It seems like a much more capable router for slightly more.
Last edited by AndroidBR October 17, 2020 at 11:41 AM.
Original Poster
Pro
Oct 17, 2020
10,951 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 17, 2020
CosmologicalConstant
Oct 17, 2020
Original Poster
Pro
10,951 Posts
Quote from AndroidBR :
There are numerous articles explaining that if you already have an AC router that works for you to just stick with it. The best router of the two is definitely the AX 20. It seems great router for the $100 price but it doesn't seem like an awesome deal. What I was referring to on my last post was that most people have no idea what they're talking about and think that by swapping routers will give them better speeds than what they have been paying for with their providers. It doesn't work like that. There were several deals on decent routers at Walmart for $60 several months ago. If you missed that one and need something better than what you have, go for the $100 one. I remember trying to use the built in Google Fiber router here at the house was a bit of a nightmare, not because of the slightly slower speeds at the 5GHz band, but because the 2.4GHz band was overwhelmed by the high number of smart devices I was attempting to tether with it. My light bulbs would literally get dropped by the router and would not sync again for anything. My current Linksys is not perfect but it was a better deal than most of these entry level AX ones. I'm not bragging or anything, all I'm saying is unless you own an AX device that will for certain take advantage of a new AX router, there's no need to get rid of your current AC router if that works for you. By all means, buy this and see if it's better than what you have. If it doesn't, just take it back.
I am going from a "N" router...so yeah, the AX will be a 2 generations jump. I didn't change my router all these years on the mistaken notion that because the TL-WR841N router was rated 300 mbps, I was actually getting that kind of speed. In reality it was nothing close. in fact that router seriously downgraded the speed even though I had quite a capable modem. As you can tell, I hate the marketing of these N routers.
1
Original Poster
Pro
Oct 17, 2020
10,951 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 17, 2020
CosmologicalConstant
Oct 17, 2020
Original Poster
Pro
10,951 Posts
Quote from timts :
my AC1750 died suddenly and I bought this from walmart a few weeks ago at this price. some old devices seem to have problem connecting to it otherwise it seems good for wifi6 so far. oculus quest 2 streaming is mostly stable
what old devices have trouble connecting. Will a 2015 Macbook have problems connecting to the AX20?
Oct 17, 2020
213 Posts
Joined Sep 2011
Oct 17, 2020
TheNachoCheese
Oct 17, 2020
213 Posts
Quote from sovandara_chea :
It drops devices and sometime reboot the whole 2.4 GHz band. Frankly, my next upgrade will be a mesh wifi-6 . I am waiting for the black friday deal for them. Another thing to note for the wifi-home-automators, if you don't want your love ones to pull their hair from wifi dropping, make sure they are using the 5 GHz Smilie.
A cheap and easy solution is to utilize an older router for smart devices. I deployed a couple WRT54G units I had laying around to lighten the load on my main router and it's really helped.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Oct 17, 2020
227 Posts
Joined Nov 2005
Oct 17, 2020
timts
Oct 17, 2020
227 Posts
Quote from JoyTan :
what old devices have trouble connecting. Will a 2015 Macbook have problems connecting to the AX20?
It's an old phone. I don't have a macbook to test

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

Popular Deals

View All

Trending Deals

View All