I recently had the pleasure of reviewing the Archer GX90 TP-Link Gaming Router paired with the highly capable RE605X extender. Here are my thoughts on this impressive (and expensive) WiFi experience.

Having just moved house the arrival of this piece of hardware could not have been better timed. As a passionate PC gamer with a beefy new internet connection and a fresh environment to kit out for my gaming needs, I couldn’t have been more excited to try TP-Links WiFi bundles to end all bundles. A OneMesh WiFi 6 system featuring two of the companies flagship products.

As the title reveals though, this kit ain’t cheap. In fact, this bad boy falls into the exact opposite category of tech we covered in our sick gear that’ll up your game at a fair price article. Can a WiFi setup – even ones as powerful as this – really beat a wired connection? Read on for my thoughts as to whether this ultra-high-end gaming product bundle could be what you need to take your gaming to the next level, and whether that price is really worth it.

The Techy Jargon

I am not a tech-head, so let me get this part out of the way first. What are you getting yourself in for when you plug in the GX90 Router?

Stunning Design Right from the Box

I know looks are not everything, but the GX90 gaming router looks cool. That said, it is not a small piece of kit, so make sure you have enough space for it.

Right out of the box, which itself was very nicely designed, the router had the look and feel of a quality product. It had a solid feel to it. No flimsy parts of fancy extensions that sacrificed quality simply for the name of aesthetic.

The 8 antennas slot together in a study fashion and never felt as if they were a weakness to the unit. They gave the unit a vaguely spider-like quality. The red and black colour combination is always a winner.

Simple and Easy Setup

It only took about five minutes to get the unit set up. Assembly is merely a matter of connecting the eight antennas and inserting the power cable. I tried two different setups for the unit as part of my review. First, I connected solely the Archer GX90 router as my sole router, but also connected it into my provider’s router, allowing me to check both connections against one another.

I was pleasantly surprised that the connection speeds I got remained steady regardless of the set-up I had in place.

In order to fully connect with the device, you need to either connect to it online or via the TP-Link Tether App. This was a very simple process that was no more complex than tapping the screen and entering the router’s credentials.

Improved Performance Immediately

When we moved, I made sure that we got a solid internet connection. I work from home, I game a lot, and as a family, Netflix movie nights are common. So it was a no-brain decision to get good fibre broadband.

Using the standard router that came from our provider, I was getting a solid 140Mb/s download speed. However, once I fired up the Archer GX90 this jumped to anywhere between 155-159Mb/s.

At the same time, my ping improved from anywhere between 17 and 22ms to a consistent 16ms. The level of jitter also seemed to drop, lowering around 5.6ms to just 1.1 across several different tests.

After swapping over to the Archer GX90 connection, I instantly noticed an improvement in things. This was further heightened when I activated the Gaming Accelerator.

When I connected other devices around the home, including phones, tablets, and televisions, I did not notice a drop in the unit’s performance. Even before I activated the router’s gaming optimization mode.

The Archer GX90 also gives you the ability to prioritize individual clients connected to it, as well as offering port forwarding capabilities.

The Archer GX90 TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Router Offers a Great Gaming Experience

In order to test the capabilities of this router, I decided to use a game I have always had performance issues with. Dead by Daylight.

I have played DBD on and off through the years and the one issue I have always faced is that my connection made for a very choppy gaming experience. Playing a couple of rounds before I plugged in the router, even my new decent connection had some issues.

After swapping over to the Archer GX90 connection, I instantly noticed an improvement in things. This was further heightened when I activated the Gaming Accelerator. I then prioritized my gaming device and was amazed at how smooth my experience was. Playing the game at different times of day to cover different server loads, I was over the moon when I suffered close to no issues.

But wait, there’s more!

If a big old beast of a router with tons of antennas isn’t enough for you, why not pair it with the RE605X AX1800 Wi-Fi Range Extender?

It’s not just a bog-standard extender either, it creates a mesh network so you don’t have to switch to a different network ID every time you decide to take your laptop outside or into that cramped attic room that’s just too far from the main unit.

It supports WiFi 6, AC1800 speeds, has a gigabit ethernet port and can be customised using the TP Link Tether App. All the latest and greatest standards.

All this meant that I got perfect coverage through the entire house and even out into the garden. It’s an excellent addition to anyone who lives in a large house or has particularly thick walls. After all, there’s only so much a single router can do from any one location, regardless of how beefy the antennas are. Not that I took my gaming outside, but had I been that extravagant, it’s good to know this device had me covered. It was easy to set up and did exactly as you’d expect.

Worth the Price of Admission?

The Archer GX90 AX6600 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router is a great piece of kit, and unless you are really into your gaming then you’re unlikely to make such an investment. However, for those willing and able to do so, is it worth the price?

I certainly believe it is. The improvements I noticed in overall connection quality definitely made for an increased all-around online experience.