TP-Link Archer AX73V Review: Sleek Design, Outstanding Value & Easy Setup with Mesh-Ready Wi-Fi 6 Performance

Hello, I’m Itsuki (@saigalog), and I would literally die without home Wi-Fi (pretty much seriously).

At home, we use Rakuten Hikari connected via DS-Lite (Cross Pass).

My go-to router has been TP-Link’s Deco series, but since it is not officially supported, I started noticing occasional instability in everyday use.

As I plan to continue using Rakuten Hikari, I had been thinking of switching to a router that is officially supported at some point.

The TP-Link “Archer AX73V” reviewed this time is a stylish Wi-Fi 6 router that’s easy to install and offers excellent cost performance.

It of course supports the aforementioned DS-Lite (Cross Pass), enabling high-speed connections up to 5.4Gbps with no complaints.

It features four Gigabit LAN ports for excellent expandability, and four built-in dual-band high-gain antennas that extend the signal far throughout your home.

In this article, I’ll take a detailed look at the user-friendly and powerful Wi-Fi router “TP-Link Archer AX73V”!

This article was created with a product provided by the manufacturer.

What’s Included with the TP-Link Archer AX73V

The outer box of the “TP-Link Archer AX73V” features a simple blue-themed design.

The back side includes descriptions of the features, making it very easy to understand.

The following items are included in the box.

The included LAN cable is approximately 120 cm long.

The power adapter cable is approximately 150 cm long.

The power adapter has specifications printed on it.

The stand is attached to the bottom of the “TP-Link Archer AX73V” for use.

TP-Link Archer AX73V Specifications

TP-Link’s “Archer AX73V” is one of the slimmest models in the Archer series and a 6-stream Wi-Fi 6 router equipped with a wide range of ports.

Main features are the following nine.

The main unit specifications are as follows.

Product Name	TP-Link Archer AX73V
Dimensions	59 × 189 × 200 (mm)
Weight	581 g
Standards	Wi-Fi 6 IEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/a (5GHz) IEEE 802.11ax/n/b/g (2.4GHz)
Wi-Fi Speed	AX5400 5GHz: 4804Mbps (802.11ax, HE160) 2.4 GHz: 574Mbps (802.11ax)
Wi-Fi Range	4× Dual-Band High-Performance Antennas Multiple antennas boost signals to cover more directions and wider areas Beamforming Concentrates wireless signals toward clients to expand Wi-Fi range High-Performance FEM Improves transmission power and strengthens signal coverage
Wi-Fi Performance	Dual-Band Assigns devices to different bands for optimal performance OFDMA Communicates with multiple Wi-Fi 6 compatible clients simultaneously Airtime Fairness Improves network efficiency by limiting excessive bandwidth usage DFS Utilizes DFS bands with less radio interference 6 Streams Connects devices to more bandwidth 4×4 MU-MIMO Communicates with multiple MU-MIMO compatible clients simultaneously
Operating Modes	Router Mode Bridge Mode (Access Point Mode)
Wired Ports	Gigabit WAN Port × 1 Gigabit LAN Ports × 4
Buttons	LED On/Off Button WPS Button Wi-Fi On/Off Button Power On/Off Button Reset (Initialization) Button
Power	12 V/2 A
Wi-Fi Encryption	WPA3 WPA2 WPA WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x)
Network Security	SPI Firewall Access Control IP & MAC Binding Application Layer Gateway HomeShield Security Real-Time IoT Protection Malicious Site Blocking Intrusion Prevention System DDoS Attack Prevention Home Network Scanner
Guest Network	5GHz Guest Network × 1 2.4GHz Guest Network × 1
VPN Server	OpenVPN PPTP L2TP
VPN Client	OpenVPN PPTP L2TP
Service Kit	HomeShield
EasyMesh	Compatible
Parental Controls	HomeShield Parental Controls Profile Creation Professional Content Filter Library Family Time Bedtime Off Time Time Limits Family Online Time Ranking Pause the Internet Weekly & Monthly Reports
WAN Type	Dynamic IP Static IP PPPoE PPTP L2TP v6 Plus DS-Lite MAP-E (OCN)
QoS	Per-Device QoS
Cloud Services	Automatic Firmware Upgrade OTA Firmware Upgrade TP-Link ID DDNS
NAT Forwarding	Port Forwarding Port Triggering DMZ UPnP
IPTV	IGMP Proxy IGMP Snooping Bridge Tag VLAN
DHCP	Address Reservation DHCP Client List Server
DDNS	TP-Link NO-IP DynDNS
Management	Tether App Web Management Interface (GUI)

Design

The “TP-Link Archer AX73V” features an all-black, slim, compact, and stylish design.

Here’s how it looks from directly above.

The “TP-Link” logo is printed on the upper right of the front.

There is an LED indicator on the upper left.

This is what the side with the LED indicators looks like.

At the top, there is an explanation of the LED indicators, and at the bottom, the “TP-Link” logo is printed.

In the center of the back, there is a groove for horizontal placement or wall mounting, and at the bottom, a label with the SSID and other information is attached.

If this information becomes known to others in the initial setup state, there is a risk that they may connect to your router, so handle it with care.

By the way, when the stand for horizontal placement is attached, it looks like this.

On the opposite side of the LED indicators, various ports and buttons are arranged.

From left to right, there are 4 Gigabit LAN ports and a Gigabit WAN port.

Further to the right are the LED/Wi-Fi button, Reset button, Power port, and Power button.

The bottom of the unit has numerous elongated ventilation holes.

Size & Weight

The size of the “TP-Link Archer AX73V” is 59 × 189 mm.

The height of the unit is 200 mm.

When compared with a smartphone (iPhone 13 Pro), this is the size impression.

Its slim design makes it easy to install anywhere without taking up much space.

The weight was 581 g.

Features

The “TP-Link Archer AX73V” is a Wi-Fi 6 wireless router that supports dual-band and 6 streams.

It is 2.8 times faster than Wi-Fi 5, achieving high-speed connections up to 5.4Gbps and efficient, congestion-free communication.

Equipped with Gigabit-supported LAN ports on all ports, it maximizes the speed of your internet connection.

It supports vertical placement to save space, and can also be wall-mounted or placed horizontally.

Four built-in dual-band high-gain antennas transmit Wi-Fi signals over long distances.

With four times the capacity of conventional models, the “TP-Link Archer AX73V” allows connection of numerous devices.

By combining the “TP-Link Archer AX73V” with an EasyMesh-compatible extender, you can build a seamless mesh Wi-Fi network.

The advanced security features of TP-Link HomeShield protect your network data and privacy.

Devices within the network can establish a VPN connection without VPN software.

By using the dedicated smartphone app “Tether”, you can easily manage setup and various settings.

The Dedicated App “Tether” for TP-Link Archer AX73V

A convenient app called “Tether” is available for using the “TP-Link Archer AX73V”.

The router “TP-Link Archer AX73V” is displayed as My Device.

You can check information such as the name and firmware of the “TP-Link Archer AX73V”.

You can check the internet connection status and the number of connected clients (devices).

You can see in detail which devices are connected to each of the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

You can change the network name and password for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

You can check whether it is properly connected to the internet.

Under “Tools,” you can use various other settings and tools.

TP-Link Archer AX73V Speed Test

When choosing a router, the most important concern is communication speed, right?

I measured how much speed you can actually get with the “TP-Link Archer AX73V”.

The illustration above is borrowed, so it is different from the layout of my home, but I am using it as a reference image.

First, the “Router (TP-Link Archer AX73V)” was placed roughly midway between the dining room and the living room.

And there were two measurement points.

The measurement points are the “1st-floor dining room” near the router and the “2nd-floor office” that I mainly use as a workspace.

The house layout is a two-story wooden structure, 4LDK.

This is just one test conducted in a typical private home, so results may vary greatly depending on the environment and other conditions.

For this test, the “TP-Link Archer AX73V” is compared with its previous model, the “Archer AX73“.

1st-floor Dining Room – PC Measurement

1st-floor Dining Room – Smartphone (iPhone 13 Pro) Measurement

2nd-floor Office – PC Measurement

2nd-floor Office – Smartphone (iPhone 13 Pro) Measurement

Summary of Measurements under Each Condition

Here are the measurement results under each condition.

TP-Link Archer AX73V Review Summary

This article covered the “TP-Link Archer AX73V Review: Stylish, Good Value, Easy Setup, and Wi-Fi 6 Router Supporting Mesh Wi-Fi”.

The price is around ¥12,000, making it affordable compared to other routers with similar specs.

If you are looking for a stylish, easy-to-set-up Wi-Fi 6 router that can be managed via an app, consider checking out the TP-Link Archer AX73V.