When do you think Xiaomi was founded? Looking at the range of products of this manufacturer from the Middle Kingdom, where there are phones, and laptops, and TVs, and even cutting boards with toilet paper, we can assume that it is already decades old. But no, there is no Xiaomi yet. 10. At the same time, the manufacturer manages to create extremely attractive and functional devices at a reasonable price, bypassing in almost everything its main competitors. This also applies to manufactured routers under the Chinese brand. And if you want to choose a router from Xiaomi, then our detailed review, which includes the best devices of the company, will help you with this.
TOP 7 best Xiaomi Wi-Fi routers
We are not sure that it makes sense to talk at length about the criteria for selecting routers for the rating. Most users are well acquainted with the corporate identity of Xiaomi, so it will be difficult to surprise someone either in terms of design or in terms of price-quality ratio. And, of course, not because they are bad, but because of their consistently high level. However, in terms of variety, the manufacturer is not impressive, to put it mildly. Sometimes you have to look for differences between models with a magnifying glass. However, we managed to find seven fairly diverse devices, each of which deserved its own place in the rating.
1.Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4C
There are many budget routers available in the assortment of Xiaomi. One of the best in this class is the Router 4C model, which can be found in Russia for modest 15–21 $... The device is made in the corporate white color for the manufacturer and has 4 antennas, which is unusual for such affordable solutions.
But if you want to buy a router from Xiaomi for dual band or high speed, then take a closer look at another model. This router only supports 2.4 GHz and only under the 802.11n standard. The maximum connection speed "over the air" here is only 300 Mbps. But it is stable and does not cut.
Advantages:
- attractive cost;
- stable signal;
- range of action;
- official app;
- Beautiful design.
Disadvantages:
- cannot be wall-mounted;
- non-standard plug.
2.Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 3A
If the capabilities of the 4C model are not enough for you, then you can choose a router from Xiaomi called Mi Wi-Fi Router 3A. It costs quite a bit more, but it has much more opportunities. There are 4 external antennas with a gain of 6 dBi each. For a wired connection, the device has a pair of LAN ports (plus one WAN).
Router 3A has a maximum wireless speed of 300 Mbps for 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps for 5 GHz.
The speed of each port is 100 Mbps, which is still sufficient for most of the tariff plans offered by providers. The "insides" of the router are represented by a 2-core MT7628A processor, as well as 64 MB of RAM and 16 MB of internal memory, which is quite enough for fast and stable operation of the device.
Advantages:
- work in two ranges;
- fast and stable work;
- support for phone control;
- four powerful antennas;
- high throughput;
- reasonable cost.
Disadvantages:
- lack of support for the Russian language;
- no alternative firmwares.
3. Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4
The rating of the best Wi-Fi routers from Xiaomi continues the Router 4. Despite its name, it is functionally closer to 3A, not 4C. Visually, routers differ, but not so much as to draw attention to this.The hardware platform in Router 4 has become better: a more powerful processor, more RAM (128 MB) and a larger flash drive (also 128 MB). The device supports all current wireless standards, including 802.11ac, and can operate wirelessly at speeds up to 1167 Mbps, of which 300 Mbps is 2.4 GHz.
In reviews, the router is praised for its ability to work in two bands at once, a large range and no speed cutoff. An important advantage of the "four", for which it is worth paying more money, are gigabit ports. There are only two of them. In addition to the LAN pair, there is a WAN port on the back, a charging connector, a Reset button and antenna mounts. On the front there is a single indicator that can be turned off.
Advantages:
- two Wi-Fi bands;
- gigabit ports;
- excellent hardware;
- powerful antennas;
- a good combination of price and functionality;
- excellent range;
- signal stability.
Disadvantages:
- Chinese.
4. Xiaomi ZMI 4G
So we got to the middle of the rating, where the model is located without the usual "Mi Wi-Fi" in the name. This is because the ZMI 4G is radically different from its counterparts. It is mobile and can be used absolutely anywhere, not just at home next to a power outlet. As the name implies, we have before us a Xiaomi router with a SIM card. Thanks to this, the user can use the router with any cellular operator.
Outwardly, ZMI 4G is as similar as possible to the manufacturer's modern power banks. And this is not in vain, because the device has a 7800 mAh battery, which not only powers the router, but also allows you to recharge compatible devices via the USB port.
Using the router is as simple as possible. It has only one button, a pair of ports (USB and Micro-USB), as well as three indicators that indicate the network signal, Wi-Fi signal and the charge of the built-in battery. To install a SIM card, the user needs to remove the back cover, under which, in addition to the slot, there are detailed specifications (in Chinese), a reboot hole and six screws holding the case together.
Advantages:
- support for 3G and LTE networks;
- maximum mobility;
- there is a powerbank function;
- multifunctional software;
- ease of use.
Disadvantages:
- signal stability depends on the quality of the network;
- software is not translated into Russian.
5. Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 3G
Router 3G opens the top three. And it hardly makes sense to describe it in detail, because we have in front of us an almost complete copy of the Router 4. It uses exactly the same MT7621A processor from MediaTek, clocked at 880 MHz, and also has 128 MB of flash storage. But the RAM is a little more - 256 MB. Both LAN ports available on Router 3G boast 1 Gbps bandwidth.
If we highlight the shortcomings of the router according to reviews, then they all relate to the same Chinese language. In general, this applies to most Xiaomi products, since they are not officially shipped outside of China. However, the user can more or less understand the web interface using the translator built into the browser. But the application for smartphones will have to be studied using user manuals on the Internet.
Advantages:
- USB 3.0 port with modem support;
- can be used as a file server;
- high-quality assembly and minimalistic design;
- excellent combination of cost and features;
- low average cost in 36 $;
- the ability to work with external 4G modems
- simultaneous work in two ranges.
Disadvantages:
- proprietary firmware, which is difficult to replace with another.
6. Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router Pro
Against the background of the inexpensive Xiaomi Wi-Fi routers discussed above, the Router Pro model can be called a rather large device. Its depth is an impressive 146 mm, and its thickness is 66 mm, which is unusual for this class of devices. The router is capable of operating simultaneously in two frequency bands (2.4 and 5 GHz), and its maximum speed with a wireless connection reaches 2533 Mbps.
Router Pro is equipped with all the necessary ports, including WAN, three LAN and USB.The Internet station is controlled through a proprietary application available for both Android and iOS device owners. True, the language in it is exclusively Chinese.
One of the best Xiaomi Wi-Fi routers offers users many useful features like Firewall, media backup function, guest network, file, UPnP AV and FTP server, as well as QoS and more. As well as similar models of the manufacturer, the Router Pro model has a Xunlei download manager. This means that you can connect an external HDD to the router and configure it to download files.
Advantages:
- excellent build quality;
- the highest range of action;
- premium appearance;
- perfect call quality;
- high speed and stability over Wi-Fi;
- flexibility of customization.
Disadvantages:
- software exclusively in Chinese;
- custom firmwares are not supported.
7. Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router HD
The leader in the review was the Router HD model. And if we compare it with the previous one in the TOP, then the only thing that visually indicates their difference is the color - here it is completely black. The rest of the routers are similar in terms of a set of ports, antennas and even dimensions. So why does Router HD cost twice as much?
Firstly, this excellent Wi-Fi router from Xiaomi has received more powerful hardware. ROM and RAM do not differ here (256 and 512 MB, respectively), but the only USB port has improved, getting version 3.0 instead of 2.0.
Secondly, there is built-in storage here. The 1 TB inscription meets the user right on the box made of high-quality black cardboard and the specifications of the device. True, without knowledge of Chinese, you will not find anything useful there. The hard drive, by the way, has increased the weight of Router HD by 65% compared to the Pro version.
Advantages:
- well-organized cooling;
- colorful design in completely black;
- HDD from Seagate with rotation speed of 5900 rpm;
- thoughtful web interface (but, alas, only in Chinese);
- two fast processors guaranteeing fast work;
- long-range and does not cut speed.
Disadvantages:
- no IPTV support;
- high (but justified) cost of about 13 thousand.
Which Wi-Fi router from Xiaomi is better to buy
As a result, we can say that the Router Pro and Router HD routers are the ideal choice for any task, with the exception of, perhaps, highly specialized professional needs. As practice shows, the first one is usually enough for users a little more than completely, especially if they have an external HDD or there is no need for it at all. ZMI 4G was able to noticeably dilute the review of the best Wi-Fi routers Xiaomi. And even if competitors offer worthy analogs, we could not immediately recall them. The remaining four are more or less similar to each other, but the more expensive the router, the more features it offers, including speed, support for standards and bands, and installed hardware. Here, the choice should be made based on your financial capabilities and needs in real work.
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