Linksys EA6350 MU-MIMO AC1200+ Wi-Fi Wirless Dual-Band+ Router, Smart Wi-Fi App Enabled to Control Your Network from Anywhere

Pros: + Great Value - I'll state right off the bat that this isn't as fast as some other routers I've used, namely the TP-Link Onhub and the Linksys WRT1900AC. However, this also runs about half the cost of those models. If you don't care to have the absolute best performance in a router or simply can't afford the more premium models then this one will offer completely reasonable performance for a much more affordable price. + Easy - Just plug it in and follow the few steps in the provided pamphlet. + App Connected - Linksys SMART Wi-Fi really is well designed and intuitive. It not only manages to provide you with extensive control of this device but does it in a way that is easy to navigate and understand. Every router should at least have the option of managing it via a smart device app. + Well Ventilated - The only areas that aren't ventilated are the top and the ports on the back. The entire bottom, sides, and front are basically made of air vents. Unless you're covering it in a blanket then this router should breath very well. + Simple indicator style - This could be a 'Pro' or a 'Con' depending on your needs. This router foregoes having a dedicated LED on the face for each connection and instead opts for just a single power LED. (each Ethernet port also has an indicator with it on the back) All other indications will be through the app. For people who don't want a bunch of blinking lights on their router then this router might be a strong contender for you.

Cons: - Lack of Indicators - As I mentioned above this could be a 'Pro' or a 'Con'. For those who want to see LAN, WAN, 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, etc... indicators then look elsewhere as this router will leave you wondering unless you check the status through the Linksys app. - Slightly awkward power brick - This one isn't too bad actually, it's small enough that it doesn't get in the way as much as some. However, I always prefer a brick that is separate from the power cable that plugs into the power outlet; that way the brick doesn't block surrounding outlets and is much easier to control for clutter. Although this one is pretty small and unobtrusive, it is still a power brick that gets plugged directly into the outlet which will probably be obstructive for at least some people.

Overall Review: The last 3 routers that I've used have been app controlled, the Linksys WRT1900AC, the TP-Link OnHub, and now this model. Personally I don't want to use another router that isn't app controlled. In fact I am perfectly happy foregoing LED indicators on the face of the device in favor of app control. The level of information and control within the app combined with the convenience of a smart device is awesome. It makes troubleshooting, monitoring, and setting up devices so much easier. Overall I'm pleased with this device. It has all of the features and functionality I require in a router and then some and it has been completely stable for the past few weeks that I've used it. Personally I prefer a higher performing router like my Linksys WRT1900AC, but I perform many network intensive tasks that actually benefit from that performance and I'm also willing to pay a lot more for a router. This EA6350 is priced pretty nicely for what it can do. If you you're not performing many wireless network demanding tasks or if you just don't want to spend $100-300 for a router then this should be a strong contender. It offers basically all of the features of premium routers (dual band, wireless AC, USB storage, etc...) and only sacrifices a bit of bandwidth and range to offer a compelling price.

Pros: BOTTOM LINE Sub-$100 AC two-stream dual-band device that is pretty much plug-it-in and it works. If you don’t need any more than that, this will be a fine router if the price is right. HARDWARE Broadcom chip based: Broadcom BCM47081A0 CPU which includes the switch, 128 MB RAM, BCM43217 2.4 GHz radio, BCM4352 5GHz radio. Two antennas. One included blue cable. Software selectable LED. 4 Gigabit LAN and one Gigabit WAN port. One USB 3.0 port for printer/storage. Looks great. Much smaller than my Linksys ea6500 AC1750. Compact power adapter. SETUP No CD required. Checks for new firmware on startup. Has option to use Linksys “SMART” features to manage network from mobile devices if you set up free account. PERFORMANCE I had several other two-stream devices to test it against including a couple Archer C5’s (v1 & v2) and a Netgear. They all are pretty similar in performance even using different chipsets. The USB 3.0 didn’t make much difference in storage speeds vs the USB2 devices. WIRED: WAN->LAN 840 Mbps. LAN->WAN 770 Mbps. WIRELESS: 2.4 Ghz Up/Down 56/75 Mbps, 5 GHz 157/147 Mbps. USB STORAGE: in MBytes/s Fat32 r/w 13/27; NTFS r/w 12/27. FIRMWARE Good looks, appears to be very basic but is designed for easy setup and administration. Has DLNA server, optional FTP server, good storage options, pretty much sets itself up and is wirelessly secure when you turn it on. Don’t have to change any defaults and you can be just fine if you are like most consumers. The default wireless settings are configured for compatibility rather than speed. Setup password is initially admin so need to change if anyone has wired access to it. Gui is responsive. Boot time is fast.

Cons: Two-stream dual-band AC gen1 devices were cutting edge a couple years ago. Now they are probably considered entry level. Checking prices today (5/2016) it seems that this is one of the most expensive two-stream per band routers while performing at about the same level as the other less expensive ones. Within $10 or $15 bucks I can find several three-stream first gen AC devices from various vendors. So, you are probably paying extra for looks, the Linksys name, and the “Smart” features. If you are a tinkerer or have something that’s a bit beyond the needs of a one-router consumer network, the firmware is a bit limiting. It has only two DDNS provider options. Trying to add the router as just a wireless access point has you digging through the options to find “bridge” mode, guest network is not secure, is only on 2.4 GHz, is on by default - protected by a password. Gets a bit warm. No open-source options if you don’t like the firmware limitations.

Overall Review: PROTOCOL VOCABULARY AND PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS If you don’t have 802.11ac, the next best thing is the 802.11n protocol. N protocol can run on either the 2.4GHz or the 5 GHz radio band. N gets you up to about 150 megabits per “spatial stream” which can be thought of as a 20 MHz radio channel. This router can “bond” up to two streams for 300Mbs on a 2.4 GHz band. Each stream needs its own radio antenna on both the access point and the client to get this speed. This assumes the router is set to n-only mode.If you set “mixed mode” and you have non-N devices on the network, the whole band throughput will slow down dramatically. Realistic TCP throughput on pure two stream 2.4 GHz N will max out under 125 Mbs due to TCP/protocol overhead when Windows is showing a 300 Mbs connection. The ac protocol can only happen on the 5 GHz band and provides about 433 Mbit/sec per spatial stream. Newer laptops and handsets since the iPhone 6, HTC M8, and Galaxy S4/S5 support the ac protocol on one band (it’s less battery power per byte). 5 GHz is less crowded, but usually drops off faster than 2.4 GHZ with distance. Even though two-band AC will show almost a 900 Mbs connection, real-life ideal TCP throughput might top out under 200 Mbs. Most people set their routers on the 2.4GHz to the most-compatible mixed mode setting and then use the 5 GHz in ac-only mode for big files/streaming video. The router can only talk to one device at a time on each band so communication with multiple devices happens by round-robbin sharing of each band. Also remember that most clients like cell phones have only one radio per band so the typical max throughput I mentioned above would be lower by half with a one radio client.

Pros: -Dual Band Router --o If you live in or near an apartment complex (or high density area), you might've experienced connectivity dropouts or poor signal. A dual band may help alleviate this issue. -Easy Setup --o I very much appreciate it when a company actually gives you a manual still. Although the manual is on a disc, this is more than what other brands currently do. Not everyone is a technical wiz, and including a manual should be a no-brainer for more companies. -Responsive GUI --o The GUI on this router is very nice and you can even customize it slightly. Options where clearly displayed when accessing the router and I was quite surprised at how snappy the interface was overall. -Parental Controls --o I don't have a need for parental controls, but I know that this is important for parents. The parental controls are very easy to use; you can set access times to a device or computer, and you can even block web addresses manually. -DLNA Media Server --o I am very impressed by the media server included with the router. I tested a range of files types and had no problem playing: .AVI, .MPG, .MKV, .MP3, .MP4. I tested this with my smart tv as well as Xbox One and Playstation.

Cons: Guest Access enabled by default. I didn't personally care for this as a default option. If people needed to setup guest access, it's simple enough to enable. No docking for external hdd. I really think there should be an easy way to secure a hdd to the router. Sitting it on top would be acceptable if the top of the router was flat. You can only dismount a connected hard drive while logged in to the router. I'd had another router where dismounting was possible via a button on the rear and I was disappointed to not find this as a feature. 1x USB port. I would've expected at least a second USB 2.0 port just to connect a printer. All said, the cons aren't a deal breaker by any means for this router.

Overall Review: Seagate Slim 500GB USB 3.0 HDD was used in testing this product when needed. Linksys EA6350 includes a Speed Test by Ookla (speedtest.net) option. There didn't appear to be a way to select a server and it is instead selected for you. The built in speedtest clocked me in at 109mbps which is still pretty good compared to when I manually select the speedtest server. During setup you may or may not be brought to the setup wizard when opening your browser. You can manually start this process by entering LinksysSmartWiFi.com This seems like a solid router if you want one with all the bells and whistles to go along with it. There are other routers with features I would prefer like dual usb ports or being able to dismount the storage via a button on the router and this will likely be the ultimate deciding factor when going to purchase one along with the price. I hope this review is helpful.

Pros: GUI seems to be the same as other recent Linksys routers in layout: Features guest mode, parental controls, monitoring. Also has a built-in speedtest which is a nice bonus, links to "Ookla" a popular web speedtest. Linksys has perfected their control panels over the years and of course the EA6350 is no exception. Setup was a breeze with no discs or other hassles required, plug-and-play. Included documentation is comprehensive, which is always a strong point for Linksys. A good basic home network solution, especially for those who want dual band.

Cons: Would like to see more data streams especially in this tier. For most people looking at this type of router, it's probably all they will need but the way the EA6350 is positioned in the market it seems to be a little uncompetitive in that regard. I completed setup using a wired desktop PC with no issues, however I see complaints here and elsewhere that mobile setup (Android) is not working with this router, which would be disappointing as it's always a nice feature I've had with others. I didn't have any problems interacting with the router on any of my tablets or phones post-setup. My biggest disappointment with the EA6350 was the comparatively weak Wi-Fi range especially for a dual band router of its quality. Seemed to suffer much more through walls and over long (unobstructed) distances compared to my other routers -- even some which are made by Linksys.

Overall Review: Supports 2.4 GHz @ N300 300mbps and 5 GHz @ 867mbps. I didn't notice any abnormal temperature issues compared to my other routers. It does get warm, but not any warmer than expected. Overall a decent router from Linksys, unfortunately at this time I don't think it's priced competitively enough given the specs and performance I saw. I should note, Linksys is easily the best router manufacturer in the world and I've come to expect the best from them, which isn't the EA6350 unfortunately. It still did a good job throughout my testing and should suit most home networks without hassle.

Pros: Failsafe firmware restores unit to original shipped firmware Very fast Broadcom chipset supports 3rd party firmware Setup gui is excellent for novices Beamforming works excellently AC900 is very fast and stable, thanks to beamforming Because I got my wireless internet teeth cut on Broadcom chipset routers (WRT54G), I am extremely partial to Broadcom chipsets. I have over 50 still-working WRT54 units still in service among friends and customers. When people do want me to upgrade their router, it is ALWAYS because they want faster wireless and ethernet, never because the old Linksys and Buffalo models have failed. When I do replace them, it is always with a Broadcom based AC/Gigabit model. This unit is stellar when flashed to DD-WRT. It is a fantastic piece of hardware at its given price. Beamforming has to be the best innovation to 5GHZ that I've experienced. This unit is an excellent implementation. In 19 days' steady use, this unit did not require a reboot; it is stable. Unit is preconfigured with security turned on, so this unit is very novice-friendly. I am able make very few changes to be able to just hand it to a customer or friend and have them take it home and plug it in. If you've ever explained to anyone the steps they need to take to make it a drop-in replacement for their current router, then you are familiar with the blank-stare-head-nodding look of most people who aren't tech-savvy. This unit will save them (and you) valuable time.

Cons: Antennae are somewhat fixed. In typical practice, I place most routers upside down. The ventilation holes are on the bottom of of this unit, so I don't want to trap that heat. In this case, I can't because the antennae have about 90 degrees movement side-to-side, and do not allow the unit to be placed upside down and still have positional antennae. This unit must be propped up vertically to get good ventilation. There are only 2 antennae. I would prefer to have the 3 antennae required to run full duplex on both 5ghz and 2.4ghz. The unit is very easy to accidentally reset when handling. In addition to that, the failsafe feature could wipe your custom firmware by restoring the rom-based original firmware. What an acutely painful experience it is to send this home with a client and have them find that the wireless passwords don't work, and nothing is configured to match their network!

Overall Review: This is a router that I can recommend to people who want something pre-configured securely has a decent setup tool that does not require any in-depth knowledge of networking don't want to spend more than $80. It is not for someone who wants AC1750 and up someone needing VPN capability.

Pros: Most people will love this router, with this router you can easily watch video wirelessly on several devices without problem. Along with the WiFi you also get 4 GIGABYTE Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port to allow even more fast communication across your private network. A couple of nice features many parents will like is parental controls and protected guest access. Control your kids internet access and allow friends or your kids friends internet access without giving them access to your private part of the network, better safe then sorry. Easily block websites or people. The app also allows of control of your router from anywhere in the world. the use of USB devices is super simple and most will love this feature to share files and video.

Cons: Cons As far as cons go you must set-up on a pc not an Android device. The company says you can but it failed several times for me. After setup on a pc and logging on with the android app all was working as designed. While the app is a nice bonus most people will never use it. Facts are most will only use it for internet and never use all the other features. The unit runs a little hot for me so don't block air movement around it. The antennas are not removable, a drawback for some.

Pros: AC1200 (300mbps on 2.45ghz and 867mbps on 5.0ghz) Can be wall mounted 4 x Gigabit ports USC 3.0 port Beamforming 2 external antennas Easy Setup Mobile apps for Android and iOS

Cons: 1 year warranty Slow and buggy Android App

Overall Review: I run a home office and having a speedy network that I can connect to wirelessly and via Ethernet is vital. The last Linksys router I owned was the WRT54G, so I was keen to see how this AC1200 router performed. AC1200 routers are 2x2 devices with a maximum theoretical throughput of 300mbps on the 2.45ghz band and 867mbps on the 5ghz band. While not as impressive as AC1750 or AC1900 routers for overall theoretical speed, most end users will not be able to take full advantage of maximum speeds anyhow, as the wireless clients that are connected to the router need to be able to hit these speeds too. On top of this most end users have internet speeds of well below 100mbps, so even this router with its relatively pedestrian 300mbps on 2.45ghz should be able to provide most end users with their full internet speeds. Having said this, if you want to stream 4K movies or have large files that you regularly transfer, then I’d generally recommend an Ethernet connection or modern powerline instead of wifi. This router comes with 4x gigabit ports so it has you covered. Setup was simple; power down router and modem, swap out router, power up modem then power up router, once done final setup was completed via browser on a networked connected PC. I liked the simple GUI that Linksys is using, it is definitely is user friendly and as complete as necessary for an entry level router. As far as speeds are concerned, I only test network speeds rather than internet speeds and do this using a laptop that has an Atheros AC wifi chipset that is actually good for 300mbps on 2.45ghz and 867mbps on 5.0ghz. The laptop is placed around 20ft away from the router with 2 drywalls in between and I use the default settings adding WPA2 AES security. I then use Totusofts Lan Speed software to send packets of data to and from my laptop wirelessly on both 2.45ghz and 5.0ghz to another PC on my network and record an average upload (write) and download (read) speed. 2.45ghz upload was 42.04mbps and download was 76.87mbps and 5.0ghz upload was 126.03mbps and download 148.91mbps. This is actually quite exceptional for an entry level 2x2 AC1200 router. To put these figures in to perspective, I have a 4x4 AC2600 router usually running at home and this pushes through around 10-18% additional mbps at the same laptop location. The AC2600 router is 3 times the cost of this router. Granted the more sophisticated AC2600 chipset and 4x4 antenna array will give better range, but for small houses or apartments I see no real reason to spend more on a router. The router has been consistent and reliable with no downtime so far, it was simple to setup and the interface is clean and user friendly. Leagues ahead of any old N class router still available to buy. In theory, not as fast wirelessly as AC1750/1900/2600 etc, but in practice few people will be able to realize the extra speed afforded by the more expensive routers. As with all routers, make sure that the firmware is up to date. I like this router, it's not going to replace my AC2600 router, but I have plans for it none the less. 1 star off for slow and buggy Android Mobile App, however I doubt many users will actually be using this application often and I am sure that it will be fixed at some stage.

Pros: Easy to set up using the IP address of 192.168.1.1. Setting up router through the IP is always the best way. I do not recommend setting up any router using a smart phone/tablet app Has four Gigabit ports Has one USB 3.0 port (and only one USB port) Has the Ookla speed tester built in Has industry standard Broadcom processor, and Broadcom chipsets Dual band concurrent Can set up guest accounts

Cons: Antennas are not detachable or replaceable with higher gain units Router is not wall mountable (which is a must for me) 2.4 Ghz is limited to N300 and not N450 like most other AC compatible routers in this price range Not DD-WRT compatible Single LED on front that is not very informative Sub par range on both bands compared to similarly priced competitors units This unit gets hotter to the touch than any other AC router I have tested or currently own

Overall Review: I currently own, or have tested several AC routers, and for the most part I am greatly underwhelmed by the hype that is given to them. The real proof is in the use and testing them out, and for the most part most of them are no better than a standard N600 dual band router. Having four gigabit ports should not be an advertising ploy, this should be a given on any wireless router. This particular offering from Linksys is pretty run of the mill, and is pretty much a rebadged Belkin. Though it is easy to set up, range is so-so and the QOS settings I don't think worked very well. As others have said, you have to set this router (and really any wireless router) to a definite channel and not rely on anything set to auto settings. I tend to use channel 5 on the 2.4Ghz band, and 149 on the 5Ghz band just to get away from everyone that uses 1,6, and 11 and all the other normal channels. The router that I currently use is a TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 model so this is the router that this Linksys is compared to. 2.4Ghz transmission signal dropped off 35% at a distance of 50 feet compared to the TP-Link Archer. 5 Ghz transmission signal dropped off 60% compared to the TP-Link Archer. This is quite a dramatic dropoff. The TP-Link is wall mountable, has three external removeable antennas (as well as three internal antennas), and remains cool to the touch. The Linksys has to reside on a desk, does not have removable antennas, and is hot to the touch, hot enough I put it back in the box immediately after running my tests. In conclusion, you as an end consumer have to read the reviews on the router you are looking at and go from there. Don't be taken in by the hype of advertising. Look for what you want, take into consideration how many devices you own that are 5 Ghz capable, and judge if want the added expense. Realize that you are only going to get close to the advertised AC connection speeds (867 in reality max) if the device you are connecting to your network has an AC compatible adapter. So yeah, you have an AC router, but you are not going to connect your laptop at AC speeds unless your laptop has an AC adapter to make use of it, and most good dual band adapters are not cheap. The Linksys EA6350 is pretty much middle of the pack of the AC routers out there, and would work for most people, but there are better choices in the same price range if you really must have an AC compatible router. I give the Linksys a three egg rating, simply because it's average and not the least bit outstanding. I am neither paid by NewEgg nor Linksys in reviewing this router. I am given a sample to evaluate to the best of my ability and post my opinion.