An affordable router done right

Entry-level network devices can be puzzling, to say the least. While network buffs know exactly which mesh router to buy, the vast majority of users who want to upgrade from their ISP-provided router do not. First-time buyers are usually just looking for a device that gives them an easy-to-use upgrade in terms of network speed and range. Xiaomi’s recent entry into the expanded ecosystem space, the Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition, is a classic example of how the company is using its stellar brand recall to disrupt a segment of the market that previously lacked a clear leader.

By doing Android authority Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition Test we see if the Wi-Fi router from Xiaomi can offer a first-class network experience and underpins it with the value for which the brand is known.

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• Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition: Rs. 2,199 / ~ £ 30 / ~ € 40 (~ $ 30)

The Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition is the second router launched by Xiaomi in India. While the Mi Router 4C reached a speed of 300 Mbit / s over the 2.4 GHz network, the 4A gigabit is a much faster beast. The router supports the 802.11ac standard and has a 5 GHz radio, which gives it a theoretical maximum speed of 867 Mbit / s. There are also three Gigabit Ethernet ports on the back.

The Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition competes against devices like the TP-Link Archer C6 (Rs. 2,599), which offers a total of five Ethernet ports. The D-Link DIR-825 (Rs. 2,099) is another similarly priced alternative that offers a total of five Ethernet ports but adds a USB 2.0 port that can be accessed via FTP or SMB. In addition, the D-Link DIR-825 can be paired with a 4G dongle for Internet access.

The affordable router is available direct from Mi.com as well as Flipkart and offline retail. The router can also be purchased through Amazon in the UK and the rest of Europe, with prices varying.

In Europe, Xiaomi also sells a cheaper Mi Router 4A without Gigabit Ethernet support. With a maximum performance of 100 Mbit / s, the router is best suited for users with Internet speeds below 100 Mbit / s. In addition, the smaller amount of RAM can cause problems for users with a large number of devices or smart home peripherals connected at the same time. We recommend sticking to the gigabit version.

The Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition is a slim router that is characterized by its exceptionally flat design. In fact, I was surprised by the minimal height of the polycarbonate-clad router. A Mi logo and two LEDs are the only visual elements on the otherwise pristine white surface. On the back you will find four high-gain antennas that can be adjusted for optimal positioning and range. You will also find three Ethernet ports, one of which will be used as a WAN port for your internet connection, as well as an electrical outlet and a reset button.

The guided setup process is simple and can be done using both the Mi Wi-Fi app and the browser. It’s far from being the first router to offer a streamlined onboarding process, but Xiaomi’s easy-to-use interface and the integration of an app to set up essentials like DHCP or SSIDs and passwords should be a welcome step for the first-time buyer targeting audience. or not-so-tech-savvy users.

It’s not just the initial onboarding, I really like Xiaomi’s general take on the router’s software. All the essentials are covered including bandwidth usage monitoring and block lists, as well as whitelists to choose the exact devices that can connect. More importantly, they are easy to find and accessible, with informative descriptors telling users exactly what the setting does.

Advanced settings such as the assignment of fixed IP addresses, port forwarding and VPN support at the router level are also available and work as expected.

My 2,300-square-foot apartment is a bit of a Faraday cage when it comes to Wi-Fi signals. Even my mesh network can occasionally freeze, so it was nice to see the Mi Router 4A manage edge-to-edge coverage. However, good coverage doesn’t necessarily mean good speed, as we’ll discuss below.

What’s not so good?

The Mi Router 4A delivers constant speeds as long as you are in a relative line of sight. However, having multiple walls seriously affects the speed of the transfer. Compared to my Ubiquiti router, which completely saturates the bandwidth of my 300 Mbit / s line, the Mi Router 4A rarely managed more than 180 Mbit / s. However, these internet speeds were measured in the same room as the router. WAN speeds quickly deteriorated to the low single digits when I was two walls away. In order to achieve a usable Internet speed, it is best to set up the router in a central location.

The same goes for LAN speeds. To test the local transfer speeds, I measured how long it took to write and then read 3GB of randomized data, ranging from a few kilobytes to a single 1.5GB file. To get a further idea of ​​real world speeds, I ran the test in the same room as the router and also 10 feet away with a wall between my Macbook Pro and the router. The files were transferred to a fast SSD in a NAS housing that was connected to the Mi Router 4A’s Gigabit Ethernet port via a Cat 6 Ethernet cable.

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While in the same room and connected to the 5 GHz network, I measured write speeds of 216 Mbps and read speeds of 292.81 Mbps. Not bad. However, when moving to another room, the WiFi network is automatically switched from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz in order to achieve a better range. Then the speeds also dropped drastically and the read and write speeds clocked at 10.43 Mbit / s and 13.81 Mbit / s, respectively. The rapid drop in speed is definitely not ideal and underscores the fact that this is a router designed for smaller homes and simpler use cases.

I was also disappointed with the limited number of Ethernet ports. I know, I know, it’s a prosumer feature. As a proponent of cabling in as many devices as possible, I would have liked at least one additional Ethernet port on the back.

After all, a USB port that enables the router to be used as a file server or perhaps with a 4G dongle would have been a useful addition.

Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition Review: Should I Buy It?

The Xiaomi Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition does a lot right for the price on offer. Priced at Rs. 2,199 (~ $ 29), the Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition is an entry-level product. While the product’s feature set doesn’t exactly set the category on fire, Xiaomi did well by focusing on things that matter, like a user-friendly interface, good range, and sleek design. As it turns out, this is exactly where the differentiation of the product lies. The Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition is a simple recommendation for anyone upgrading from an ISP provided router or anyone with minimal requirements who are looking for a simple router.