TP-Link Archer BE700 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router that recently launched in the Philippines, along with another lineup of Wi-Fi 7 devices with 6GHz band support. Available at the TP-Link Store at SM North EDSA, partner stores, and online on Shopee and Lazada, it is officially priced at PHP 17,990.00 (PHP 18K segment).
After testing this elegant tower-type Wi-Fi router, I experienced lag-free gaming, wide signal coverage (no more dead zones), fast download speeds, and seamless video streaming.
The TP-Link Archer BE700 router offers a variety of features that may be suitable for your internet requirements if you are considering upgrading your current home router. It is 3 times faster than Wi-Fi 6, has lower latency (ping), has higher capacity for more devices, is EasyMesh compatible, and has TP-Link HomeShield.
Keep reading my review to find out everything you need to know about the new TP-Link Archer BE700 (BE15000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router), which includes the device's specifications, setup guide, and performance.
TP-Link Archer BE700 Specs
- Standard: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be
- Speed: 11528 Mbps (6 GHz) + 2882 Mbps (5 GHz) + 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
- Security: WPA/WPA2/WPA3
- Antennas: 6 x Optimally positioned Antennas
- Features: 4K-QAM, OFDMA, 2x2 MU-MIMO, EHT320, Airtime Fairness, EasyMesh, OneMesh
- Interface: 1 x 10Gbps WAN Port, 1 x 2.5Gbps LAN Port, 3 x 1Gbps LAN Port
- USB Support: FTP Server, Media Server, Samba Server
- Button: Power + Wi-Fi + LED + WPS + Reset
- Management: Tether App, Web UI (tplinkwifi.net)
- AP Mode: Supported
- Protocols: IPv4, IPv6
- VPN: OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, WireGuard VPN
- Voice Control: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Service Kit: HomeShield
- Product Size: 76 x 231.7 x 203 mm
What's Inside The Box?
After unboxing the TP-Link Archer BE700, here are the items inside:
- Wi-Fi 7 Router Archer BE700 x1
- Power Adapter x1
- RJ45 Ethernet Cable (CAT6A) x1
- Quick Installation Guide x1
- Reset tool (pin) x1
TP-Link Archer BE700: Setup Guide
1. Connect the Hardware
- For optimal Wi-Fi performance, keep the Archer BE700 router vertical while working.
- Using the provided Ethernet cable, connect it to your internet modem (on any LAN port) to the router's 10G Internet port.
- Connect the power adapter to the router. Then, press the Power button behind the router to turn it on.
- Wait until the LED is solid ON (LED Exclamation Point or All LEDs).
2. Set Up the Network
- Connect your device to the router wirelessly or with an Ethernet cable. If you choose to connect via Wi-Fi, you can check the default wireless network names (SSIDs) and password on the label printed at the back of the router.
- Launch a web browser and enter http://tplinkwifi.net or http://192.168.0.1 in the address bar. Create an administrator password to log in.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions to set up the internet connection and register for the TP-Link Cloud service. It will also prompt you to update the router's firmware to the latest version.
- To manage your router remotely, download the TP-Link Tether app from your phone's respective app store and install it.
- Open the Tether app and log in with your TP-Link ID.
- Under "My Devices," select your router model. Now, you can check the router's network status (if it's working well), the number of clients connected, security, parental controls, and more (Wi-Fi Settings, Reports, Block List, QoS). You also have the option to reboot the router.
3. LEDs and Buttons
You can check the router's working status by following the LED Light Explanation.
- Cycling: The system is starting up, or the router is being upgraded. Do not disconnect or power off your router.
- Solid All LEDs: The router is working normally.
- Blinking Top 10 LEDs: Establishing a WPS connection.
- Solid LED Exclamation Point: The router is disconnected from the internet.
- Blinking LED Exclamation Point: The router is disconnected from the internet, and the Wi-Fi is off.
- Blinking All LEDs: Wi-Fi is off.
- No Lights: The power is off, or the LED is turned off.
Meanwhile, three physical buttons are located on the front of the router.
- Press the WPS button, and immediately press the WPS button on your client device to start the WPS process.
- Press and hold the Wi-Fi button for about 2 seconds to turn on or off the wireless function of your router.
- Press the LED button to turn on or off the LED of your router.
Design and Performance
With its futuristic bookshelf-like appearance, the TP-Link Archer BE700 boasts a tower-type design. This modern, space-saving design appealed to me more than the traditional routers.
Further, the BE700 router measures 2.99 x 9.12 x 7.99 inches in size; thus, it may be mistaken for a mini-PC or tiny desktop computer.
The router's status is indicated by concealed LED lighting on the front side, which features a perforated surface.
The router's rear side boasts a multitude of ports, a feature I particularly value as I frequently play LAN games with friends. It comes with one 10 Gbps WAN/LAN port, one 2.5 Gbps LAN port, three 1 Gbps LAN ports, and one USB 3.0 port. In the lower part, there are the power plug, Reset button, and On/Off button.
When it comes to performance, I'm in awe of the TP-Link Archer BE700 router. It achieved faster downloads, lower ping, and smoother streaming compared to when I'm connected solely to my internet service provider's default modem. By the way, my ISP is Globe, and I'm currently subscribed to its prepaid fiber service, GFiber Prepaid (with up to 80 Mbps speeds).
To test Archer BE700's 6GHz band, I used TP-Link Archer TBE400UH (BE6500 Wi-Fi 7 High Gain Wireless USB Adapter) on my PC.
When I performed an internet speed test, it recorded a super-fast 88 Mbps download speed, given that my ISP's max speed is only 80 Mbps. For the latency (ping), it logged 10 ms, which is comparable to when I'm connected via LAN. To further test it, I played League of Legends (LoL) and registered an impressive 9 ms ping, clearly no lags at all. With this speed and latency, you'll surely have a seamless experience with streaming movies, playing online games, video calls, and internet browsing. Further, even if many users in a room are connected to the network, they'll still experience a fast internet connection.
Using my OPPO Reno10 5G, I connected to the Archer BE700 router's 2.4Ghz/5GHz Wi-Fi band, and it achieved 83 Mbps download speed, slightly lower compared to the 6GHz band.
TP-Link Archer BE700 is so easy to install. In setting it up, I used the provided Ethernet cable and connected it to my broadband modem's LAN #2 and BE700's 10G internet port.
Then, I turned on the router and waited until its LEDs were all solid.
Upon checking the list of networks on my PC, it listed three SSIDs. I chose TP-Link_A97E_6G to test the 6GHz band.
To access its admin dashboard, I opened tplinkwifi.net on the Chrome browser and followed the step-by-step instructions to finish the setup process. Steps include creating an admin password, selecting the time zone and connection type, changing the Wi-Fi name and password, testing the connection, and updating the firmware (in my case, I'm connected to the internet, so I chose to update it).
Following the firmware update, I logged in using the local password. Next, I bind the router to my TP-Link ID so that I can use the Tether app to manage it remotely.
The admin dashboard of TP-Link Archer BE700 is so simple. On the homepage (Network Map tab), you can see the Internet Status, Router Information, Mesh Devices, and Connected Clients. The other tabs of the interface are Internet, Wireless, HomeShield, and Advanced.
Meanwhile, the TP-Link Tether app is extremely helpful. You can manage your router from anywhere. You can see vital details like the network status and the number of connected clients. You can also reboot the router.
Verdict
Priced at PHP 17,990 (we can say it's 18K Pesos), the TP-Link Archer BE700 is an ideal tri-band WiFi-7 router featuring 15Gbps bandwidth, perfect for smart TVs streaming 4K videos, gaming PCs, a NAS (network-attached storage), IoT devices, and smartphones connected all at once. With features like lower latency, 3x faster than Wi-Fi 6, higher capacity for more devices, and a 6GHz band, it is sure to future-proof your home network and will definitely stay ahead of your router needs for more years to come.
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