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Customer Ratings & Reviews

Customer reviews

Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars with 499 reviews

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Rating by feature

  • Setup

    Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Range

    Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Signal Strength

    Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Cons mentioned filter

81%would recommend to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers enjoy the Max-Stream AX6000 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router's ease of use, strong range and coverage, and excellent performance. Many appreciate the simple setup and the helpful app. While some find the price high, and occasional connectivity issues were reported, the positive feedback on performance and ease of use outweighs the negative.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 499 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Range, Speed

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Great range but it is Throttling my WiFi speed

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I will start by saying this router is right on par with my Linksys WRT3200ACM as far as range is concerned. That being said, my 3200 currently has 27 devices connected throughout the house and I have never had an issue(years). I found that this MAX STREAM AX6000 is limiting my WiFi speed tests to the mid 100’s Mbps which is still good. I get 480 MBPS directly from the cable modem and can get that exact speed when texting my 3200. I plugged the old router into the Ethernet port of the AX6000 thousand and can still get the 480 out of it on a speed test. I then plugged the new AX6000 into my old one and it Consistently gets mid 100’s in download speeds. It seems as if the AX6000 software limits the speed. Mind you, I only had my phone connected to the new router when testing. Everything in my home was still connected to my 3200ACM. I am returning this modem not because it didn’t perform well. It’s just that my old one works better. If you going from a broken or low performing entry level WiFi router, this will not disappoint. I am including a screen shot of the speed test results. The test from 8/19 at after 11am are with a replacement cable to my cable modem. The 400 plus are my old router and the 100’s are the new one. You decide.

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Linksys Staff
      Posted .

      Hi Mark,

      Thank you for sharing your feedback. This is an unusual behavior for the Linksys MR9600. We'd like to have our Escalation Engineers to get in touch with you so that they can further isolate this behavior and provide troubleshooting to resolve this.

      Just send us your contact details at [email protected] so that we can escalate your case. Don't forget to include the link to this post as a reference.

      We hope to hear from you soon.

      Regards,

      Thaddeus
      Linksys Support linksys

  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Speed

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Linksys is back!

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I have gig speed internet, but with other AC routers I always got about 300mbps on my wireless devices. My phone and laptop have wifi 6 so I thought to upgrade the router. Was not expecting much of a difference, but wow, I am getting 780mbps down on my laptop and 650mbps down on my Samsung S20. The other key feature I liked about this is the companion app, super easy to use and configure your router with. You don't have to login to the router for most configs. The samba file sharing is also the best I've seen. It's really easy to setup and streaming movies to a server (Plex) is very fast. It is expensive, but Linksys products in my experience last a lot longer than other brands.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Speed

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    After 1 month review

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Very good router, I have Spectrum 200 Mbs internet plan, get speed test of 222/10 Mbs. down/upload speed constantly with wired, with the AX6000 in downstairs living room, I got 180/10 speed test on 2,4 Gig.band, and 200/10 on 5 gig band, on my laptop in the upstairs bed room, never experience any issues, I prefer the build-in antenna over the detachable one, which all I have to do was rotate them up right, easy to setup with phone apps or web-browser.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Performance, Speed

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    The WiFi signal I need!!!

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Enjoying mine so far it’s delivering the speed I am looking for, glad I switched from Netgear and no regrets what so ever.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Faster, easier, stronger.

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I’m very glad with the router Linksys AX 6000 - wi-fi is the same from cable 300 , nothing lose. Is faster - stable and the wi-fi printer function more faster. Easy to install. Good product! Recommend!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Fiber Internet Only

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Average wifi signal. Don’t let the reviews persuade you. The router works great only if you have fiber internet. Cable internet like Comcast throttles the router. Buyers be aware. Other than that it’s easy to set up and run. But be sure to have fiber internet.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Speed
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    A must have upgrade for your wireless network

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    There comes a time when one needs more available usable bandwidth, and that time is now. With everyone living and working from home, the amount of internet and intranet bandwidth use over wifi has gone up. If you are stuck using a Wifi-Gen4 (802.11n) router, or it’s been more than seven years since you got a new wifi router, perhaps it is time to upgrade to the faster, more capable (802.11ax) routers to future proof yourself. The Linksys MR9600 is an AX6000 router that was announced in January at CES. It supports the new Wifi-Gen6 (802.11ax) specifications, which include improved bandwidth over the previous Gen5 (802.11ac) routers. Specifically, the amount of bandwidth available is at least twice what the older 802.11ac routers provided. By providing eight simultaneous streams (vs. 4 for 802.11ac), the amount of devices that can simultaneously use the bandwidth available is significantly more. While 802.11ac only operates on the 5 GHz, the 802.11 ax operates on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz ranges, thus creating more channels and supporting up to 12 channels (8 in the 5GHz and 4 in the 2.4 GHz) of data. By default, the Router provides a coupled wifi access, which means both 2.4 and 5 GHz have the same SSID and password. Should your 2.4 GHz units be unable to connect to the wifi, you may need to decouple them, and the Router does allow this feature (unlike some other mesh routers). It is true, not all devices support the new 802.11ax format, but because it is backwardly compatible, the new ax routers are the best path forward for someone looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest in wired / wireless routers. Currently, the Samsung Note 10 Series, Apple iPhone 11 series, Samsung S20 series, and computers with the Intel 10th generation Ice Lake CPU’s (i3, i5, i7), support the new standard. The Router has a 1.8ghz quad-core processor, 4x4 MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple inputs, multiple outputs), with a total bandwidth of 6000 Mbps (1200 Mbps on 2.4ghz, 4800 Mbps or 5 GHz) and supports up to 8 wifi streams. The Router does support WPA2, but the newer WPA3 encryption is also supported. So what does this mean for your internet? Well, for gamers, this is ideal, as your device can prioritize and get higher bandwidth for gaming, for lower latency. The Router allows for three dedicated device prioritization channels (in the app setup), that allows those devices to have the best access to bandwidth, and other devices will share the leftover bandwidth. If you already have an existing Linksys VELOP mesh network or an MR series router, the app will connect to your existing wifi, and create or extend your mesh. It does require the MR9600 to be the primary host, with the VELOP units as ‘mesh points.’ Design. The design is somewhat unique. I like the flat and yet curved on the top surface of the Router. It got four antennae extended out on each corner. The top and bottom of the Router are made up of a perforated plastic, where you can see the circuitry below, which includes three massive heat sinks that cover various components, not just the CPU. I can see this being a dust magnet, and hopefully, it wouldn’t be too hard to blast some air into the perforations to clear off the dust. The Router supports gigabit ethernet and has 5-gigabit ethernet ports, of which one is your WAN port that connects to your modem, the others are for your internal network. The device supports 2 USB 3.0 ports around the back, allowing you to plug-in USB hard drives and flash drives to share network access to storage via SMB. On one of the sides, there is a WPS button, should you use that feature to set up extenders or printers. Setup: Connection to the existing modem is easy; the box comes with an ethernet cable, should you need one. One end of the ethernet cable plugs into your WAN port on the back of the Router, while the other end plugs into a modem. Once plugged in and powered on (and hopefully you’ve also unplugged - waited 30 seconds and replugged your modem back in by this point), there are a bunch of lights. The blue blinking light tells you it is booting up. When you reach a ‘purple’ steady light, you are ready to set up the Router using the app. The bottom of the Router has your Router’s default information. I would suggest copying it down, or taking a photograph, as you will need it. Yes, You can change these, and there is a recovery password that can reset your unit. You will need to download the Linksys app from your Android or iOS app store. Once downloaded, the setup is quite simple; it does walk you through it. However, it seems to use ‘Bluetooth’ to detect the presence of the Router, and I had to disconnect the Bluetooth speaker I was using before setup. During setup, you need to create a Linksys account, if you don’t have one already. Once that is done, the on-screen prompts are rather simple to follow. Provide a network SSID name (if you don’t like the default) and a wifi password, and you are all set up. App features: The app is the center point of the Linksys router. While one can use a desktop interface via a web browser, the app isn’t that bad. At first glance, the user interface can be a bit clunky, but after a few minutes of looking around, the app allows advanced features to be accessed. I love the fact that the app works remotely and you do not have to be tied to your network wifi to manage the control of your wifi remotely. The app is linked to the Linksys account set up during the initial process. Pretty much all the primary functions can be conducted via the app. I did not find any limitations that required me to log into the web interface via a browser. Parental Controls: - the device supports parental control, but it is limited in its ability. You can set up a time and per device based blocking, or via websites. I wish Linksys had provided standard blacklist profiles for quicker addition to blocking websites that go along with the devices, for example, block the teenager’s devices by time, but also block all adult content in one swoop, rather than preventing it for every device on the network. Desktop setup: For power users, one could technically set it up via a computer browser, but I followed the setup via the app route. However, once setup, and you are connected to the wired / wireless connection, Go to http://LinksysSmartWiFi.com or device IP and follow the prompts to access the control panel. You will need the password located below the unit or one setup during setup via the app. Most features are available in the app, however, there are a few settings that are only accessible in the desktop browser control panel, which includes firewall settings, DMZ, DDNS, RIP and NAT settings, as well to set it as a bridge network. However, for the vast majority of the users, these advanced settings would make no difference to their experience. Overall View: I started with the question should you need a new router? The answer is if it has been more than 5 years since your Router was last bought, it might be time to upgrade to a newer generation router. That said, this Linksys MR9600 is not a bad router and a right way to future proof your network. My only gripe would be at the asking price, the mesh router competition in this space is stiff. So why would one pick this over the competition? Well, perhaps because Linksys has been a solid performer in the home networking space for over two decades. They make quality, innovative products that work. In my use, this Router is stable, fast, and more than capable of meeting my needs. Overall the Router is worth every penny for its speed and stability. Pros: Fast, reliable connections, stable with a good range App features that work remotely and allow control of internet settings Cons: No blacklists for parental control No per-device usage log of applications (Gaming / Netflix / websites) No way to track real-time bandwidth usage of devices and aggregate device bandwidth use No built-in VPN server - no OpenVPN or Wireguard VPN service.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Speed

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Works just ok with some annoyance.

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The claim for distance doesn't seem to be as far as claimed for reaching the edge of my property. I've also had some issues with channel interference, even when using the search feature for the best channel. Speed seems great...getting over 900Mbs both ways.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Linksys Staff
      Posted .

      Hi, cannonuser,

      We hear you. There are a lot of factors that can affect the performance the Linksys MR9600 such as the building materials and construction of your house, volume of network traffic, mix of wireless products used, interference and other adverse conditions. So, we highly advised to place the router as high off the ground as possible and equip the device with the latest firmware to overcome the interference on your network.

      Please send us an email at [email protected] with your contact details and the link to this post, so we can look into this further


      Regards,

      MJ
      Linksys Support linksys

  • Pros mentioned:
    Range, Speed
    Cons mentioned:
    Price
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Exceptional top of the line router

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Verdict: Exceptional! The router looks good. Setup was ultra-smooth. Speeds are blazing fast, and range is nothing short of remarkable. Initial impressions. The router looks very sleek, and the four antennas look impressive. The contents of the package are basic: the router, the power cable, a cat 5 cable, a manual, and quick start guide. The quick-start guide basically just referred you to the app. Setup. It’s hard to imagine a better setup experience. I found the app right away in the app store (very highly rated by the way) and began the setup. The instructions were incredibly simple and the setup was done in literally less than 5 minutes, without any hiccup or confusion. Well done! App. The app is very impressive. You can see all connected devices by name, set custom parental controls for each device, setup a guest network on the fly, share wifi info (name and password) at the touch of a button, and easily access advanced settings (the kind you use to have to do from your computer browser using the a ip address). This is a significant selling feature, I think. We certainly plan to use some of these features for our two teen kids. The app features significantly increase the usability and capability of the router. Speed & range. Speed has been particularly impressive at close range. For some reason, I am getting DOUBLE the wifi speed with this router compared to the mesh system (4 mesh devices) I currently use when connecting within a few rooms from the router. My wired speed is also faster by 200Mbps, to a whopping 851Mbps down and 949Mbps up (we have a Gigabyte fiber line). I tested the range with a signal strength app at various locations in the house and outside. Overall signal strength was lower with the Linksys router than with my current 4-device mesh network at 5 of the 6 locations I tested. Not surprising, given that the Linksys is one unit, while my mesh system has four devices spread around the house. However… speeds were consistently faster with the Linksys, sometimes drastically (one exception, to that was in the garage, which is far from the Linksys router, and separated by several walls and appliances; in this instance, the mesh router provided better signal and speed). Lastly, at a range of about 120 feet from the router, standing outside of the house with a pretty clear view of the living room where all the Linksys router is installed, my current mesh system had spotty connection, while the Linksys remained connected with two bars and 90Mbps on one side of the house, and 171Mpbs on the other side of the house. I am so impressed with the performance of this router that I think I will build a new mesh network with a few more of these Linksys wifi 6 routers. Things I like: - It looks great; nice enough to sit next to my super star destroyer model (see picture!) - It’s fast and has great range - Setup up was incredibly easy - You can add additional devices to create a home mesh system - The app is a game changer… I still can’t believe all the things I can control with the app - It provides amazing coverage for just one device; comparable to my 4-device mesh network, sometimes even much better; sufficient for most homes Things I don’t like: - It’s pretty pricey, especially for only one device. However, it is a wifi 6, state of the art, device. I think the cost is worth the investment to future proof your home network - The one-device setup starts to suffer when too many obstacles are in the way. However, adding a few of these devices to create a mesh network would deliver the ultimate home network Overall, this router is fantastic. I think it is well worth the cost to future-proof your network with wifi 6 technology, and to be able to expand by adding other Lynkys mesh devices.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Awesome range and speed, satisfied with purchase

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I was not getting wifi signal in some parts of my home and some part only get part of the speed I subscribed. I tried few other router brands but was not satisfied. Finally I tried Linksys AX6000, It has awesome wifi range and speed, has Mesh wifi possibility, I got it on sale. It actually give me better than the subscribed speed. really worth trying. Very satisfied with my purchase

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Ease of use, Speed
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Simple Setup. Excellent Coverage. Expandable.

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Setup Seriously, this setup take all of 5 minutes to do: After unboxing the Linksys AX6000 router, plugging it into a power outlet, and connecting the ethernet cable for the internet into the easily market "Internet" port on the back of the unit, then plugging a computer into the LAN 1 port, the hard part was over. Next, I downloaded the "Linksys app" from the app store and once launched, the app immediatly found my new device and walked me through the setup. It helped me configure the Linksys account (which I already had and used to sign in), adding the device and setting a wireless name and password. That was it, I was up and running. Functionality: The Linsys app is extremely easy to use and can be accessed either via mobile phone app, or, web browser from any computer. The app tells you how many devices you have connected, which ones are online or offline, what your current internet speed is. It alerts you on your overall network health and helps you enable advanced features such as parental controls or change areas of your network. I have a 4200 sq foot house with a sizable back yard. This single router, with its 4 antennas covered the entire area. I was able to access the internet from the far corners of my yard from both my mobile phone and laptop. Signal degraded a bit from the far corners (about 300-400 feet away) but I was able to get 150/150mbps out of my 200/200 connection. Local wireless network speeds were also impressive. I was getting nearly 1gbps, practically as fast as being hard wired into the device. Playing games over XBOX Live or Playstation network were also great. I experienced no lag, and if I didn't know any better, would have assumed the consoles were hard wired. My previous wireless setup was using an AC mesh system. This AX 6000 not only matched the coverage with a single device (previous was 3 separate devices on each floor) but the speeds I've gotten are at least double what I had before, if not better. This unit also allows for integration with other Linksys products if you need to expand the reach even further than this single unit allows. This allows for plenty of expand ability and future proofing. I happened to have some Linksys Velop devices laying around and was able to connect them and add them to the setup without an issue. However, they were not needed and due to the vast expansive reach of this device, I didn't notice any improvement over the single device for my space. Final thoughts For a super quick and painless setup to phenomenal coverage and performance, all packed inside a super easy to use app, there really isn't any reason to NOT consider this unit.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Performance

    Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    Expensive traSH

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    My WRT3200AC handles 25+ devices noticeably better. after a few weeks it just automatically reset it self and all devices showed offline making it unable to get IP of devices. Changing settings started giving me errors. At 1st it was ok and then BANG... just did not work. I cant believe I PAYED $400 FOR THIS CRAP. I WENT BACK TO MY WRT3200AC which out performs this

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great coverage, fast speeds, easy setup

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This Linksys MR9600 router is replacing my current Wi-Fi setup at home which consists of a mesh network using a dual-band 802.11ac primary router on the 3rd floor and an access point, two floors down. With the Linksys MR9600 installed in the exact same location as my old router (parent node), the higher bandwidth was pretty noticeable no matter where we were in the house. When running speed tests, the max Wi-Fi download speed on the MR9600 was consistently 20-25% faster than my old router (~250Mbps vs ~300Mbps) although upload speeds were similar at around 16-17Mbps; the speed advantage dropped off at long distances from the router, but keep in mind my original setup had an additional node to work with. I was equally impressed with the range of the Wi-Fi signal, as I could still pick up a signal at the end of my yard, about 75 feet from the house, without another node/repeater, though, as mentioned the up/down speeds were much less. Setup took only a few minutes, but I was a bit surprised to find that you needed to download and install a smartphone app to set the router up, as users without a smartphone, tablet, or internet access would be unable to set up the router. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to set it up simply by connecting a computer to it via an Ethernet connection. You’ll also need to create or login to a Linksys account to use the app and complete the setup. After this is done though, the app is easy to use and fairly user-friendly. The app lets you enable guest access, implement parental controls like URL blocking and scheduling or pausing internet access to specific devices. You can also select up to 3 devices to prioritize traffic to, for the best connection speeds -- for work, streaming, or gaming (any other connected devices will share the remainder of the bandwidth). You can even customize a few advanced setup options like enabling Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), port forwarding, activate WPS, and enable MAC address filtering. While you cannot manually select the channels for each network frequency, you can use the “channel finder” feature in the app to switch to a different channel to reduce interference and improve performance. Once the router is up and running, you can enter the router’s default IP address into a browser on a connected device, to access its settings remotely using the recovery key printed on the bottom of the unit instead of logging in. Here is where you can also set up your 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks with different names if you want them split up. I didn’t have any troubling switching my devices over to the new router; I just named it the same as my old router with the same password and all my devices, around 25 total, were able to connect to it. Those that could only handle 2.4 GHz automatically selected that network while those capable of 5 GHz defaulted to that signal when in range. If you enable Linksys Smart Home in your Alexa skills, you can perform some actions using voice commands too, like pausing internet access on a specific device, area of the house, or custom routines, like during meal times (and you can designate only specific voice profiles to issue these commands). The router also has two USB 3.0 ports to connect Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices to stream files and media from which allows me to access files on a backup drive across the network from any device. Since the coverage for my house (~1800 sq ft) using just this router is so good, I haven’t yet set up any child nodes to create a mesh network, but I’m glad that option is available if I want to do this in the future. Overall, I think this router performs well, is quick and easy to setup out-of-the-box, and provides plenty of bandwidth for most users with multiple devices in our current data hungry era of smart gadgets and streaming data.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Speed
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent WIFI 6 Router

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I do lots of downloading of games, playing games, streaming of 4K content, streaming of music & YouTube, automated backups to the cloud, etc. I already had the Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 but wanted to give Linksys a try after walking away from their EA9500 due to the 5Ghz band having issues & the 2.4Ghz band going out completely within a week of purchase. I have had a chance to try out this router for a week now & I am absolutely in love. Setup was easy, adding a static IP for my gaming PC & server was straightforward with no issues. I am happy to be back to owning a top of the line Linksys router & don’t plan to look elsewhere for a while. The only con I have is the lack of VPN support. I use a VPN service that I would love to be able to sign with on the router or load the config & then have ALL devices route through that VPN. My Netgear didn’t have this but I bought the Netgear R9000 for my parents back 1-2 years ago that DOES support this. How are we losing features as we get upgrades? Makes no sense to me. In conclusion, would I recommend this router? Yes! This router is good for 4-5+ years, allows for super fast downloads, is easy to use, ease to set up & looks amazing. You can’t go wrong!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Linksys MR9600 Super Mesh Router for Most Users

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Extending its reach in the home networking arena Linksys introduces Max-Stream AX6000, a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh router, model MR9600 currently retailing for $400 at Best Buy. I have relied on Linksys routers for several years and confidently recommend the brand. Until evaluating this new Max-Stream, my current setup has included Linksys Velop tri-band mesh routers. With five “nodes” successfully deployed providing strong Wi-Fi throughout a two story home over 3,000 square feet and a two-node setup in an apartment under 1,000 square feet, I’m a happy Linksys tri-band mesh fan. The system has proven reliable, with Wi-Fi speeds close to the maximum provided by the ISP, strong signal from inside corner to corner without any dead zones and usable Wi-Fi outside well beyond the walls. Linksys pushes firmware updates to keep their routers humming along happily and up to date. Isn’t that a foundation for success? Linksys routers are matched to a management app for iOS and Android mobile devices. Management is also available by logging on to the user’s Linksys account from a computer browser. Sweeeeeet! After creating a Linksys account, installation is as easy as following along through the smartphone app. Upon completion of the main, or “parent” router installation, the software prompts the user for additional hardware “children” that will operate transparently and seamlessly. Additional compatible Linksys routers are optional. A variety of settings may be selected and created through the Linksys account dashboard. The administrator has the opportunity to choose a unique router SSID, the name shown for this wireless network, and a unique password, both of which I advise. The administrator dashboard, whether through a smartphone app or computer browser, shows all connected devices. I like the ease with which up to three devices may be selected for prioritized connectivity. In this way, signal goes to these devices first to assure optimal network performance. Unlike conventional routers, mesh routers mask individual 2.4Ghz and 5.0 GHz bands. There are no consumer choices needed. The router locks onto the best performing network based on signal strength present at the device. Connecting to the router’s unique Wi-Fi network is easy, made easier by not having to choose anything but a single network name and password. The same is true if the admin sets up a guest network. This can also include a custom guest network name if the user decides to set up a guest network. Why do this? A guest network can give authorized “guests” basic Wi-Fi access while preventing access to other resources such as shared printers, folders and network-connected drives, often referred to as NAS, or Network Attached Storage. Note from the product photo of the rear panel, MR6900 has two USB ports as well as four Ethernet ports for hard-wired connectivity to nearby Internet-enabled devices. The Ethernet ports can prove handy for connection to a nearby TV, DVR, Blu-ray player, security camera, game system, streaming device, such as Roku, and more. More than four devices can be Ethernet-connected by adding a multi-port unmanaged Gigabit Ethernet switch. Think of an Ethernet switch as an extension cord. Find unmanaged gigabit Ethernet switches with the number of added ports required at Best Buy. While these and other devices might have the capability to connect using Wi-Fi, don’t do it. The industry-accepted and recommended rule is to use Ethernet (hard wiring) where available and Wi-Fi ONLY where wired connectivity is not available. In other words, if it’s mobile, use Wi-Fi. For every other device where it is possible, use Ethernet. Pre-made Ethernet cables are also available at Best Buy. What a coincidence! How will this new dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router perform by comparison? In order to give it a fair evaluation, I unplugged and deleted all the individual Velop tri-band router nodes from the app and installed this new MR6900 as a single router, as if nothing else had ever been installed. MESH TECHNOLOGY Mesh is the way to go! Think of a blanket. Think of a bullet. Bullets target a single point. Blankets cover a wide area. It’s not quite this simple, but it’s a good way to grasp the concept. Multiple products under the blanket get the signal better than multiple products in the bullet scenario. Adding “nodes” to a mesh network allows the mesh umbrella’s coverage area to be extended at full capacity and speed. Mesh is best. DUAL-BAND With both dual- and tri-band mesh routers available, here is what you need to know in order to make an informed decision. Generally speaking, tri-band mesh offers the most options and best possibility to get full speed with more connected devices. An individual dual-band mesh router, as you will read in this Linksy article (https://www.linksys.com/us/r/resource-center/basics/multiple-wifi-bands-difference/) offer a good middle-ground for most consumers. In my experience, this applies to those in a home under about 1200 square feet. The good news is that additional nodes, or “children,” along with the main, or parent node, are easily added as part of the robust blanketed “mesh” with overlapping signals. Confused? Don’t overthink it. If Wi-Fi signal is needed where it is not, add a node. Each node provides connectivity as if hard wired to the parent. The best example I can think of is this. Let us say the “parent” unit is in the living room nearby to the entry point for the cable company’s coaxial cable run enters the premises. The coax connects to a modem, whether the modem belongs to the ISP or to the user. I own my modem, currently an Arris SURFboard SB8200 (also available at Best Buy). It has all the latest technology assuring that it is future-proof for the foreseeable future. The modem provides Internet signal to the router. Here’s the signal flow in this and most setups with a separate modem and router - Coax to modem, then Ethernet from modem to router, and wired and Wi-Fi from the router. In this example, wired Internet is needed at equipment in the living room AND in another room set up as an office, where there are a couple of computers, a printer, scanner and hardware for a couple of VoIP (Internet-based) phone lines. Adding a node in that room with an Ethernet switch provides all the ports required to hard-wire these devices, with ports to spare. Your needs may less extensive, so a single Linksys MR9600 might work well. I know what you’re thinking – why Ethernet-connect the printer when it must be also be capable of Wi-Fi connectivity? Refer to the rule above– wired when possible, wireless only in the absence of Ethernet capability. I can send printing jobs to that printer from the screen on virtually any of my devices whether at home or from anywhere in the world. Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6 is newer than WI-FI 5, right? Here’s the scoop. The full benefit of Wi-Fi 6 technology requires devices with built-in Wi-Fi 6. Backwards compatible with older Wi-Fi standards, though there are few Wi-Fi 6-enabled products, Wi-Fi 6 allows more simultaneous connections than Wi-Fi 5. Wi-Fi 6 allows speed that is much faster than Wi-Fi 5. Finally, the newer the router, the farther into the future the manufacturer will push updates for performance and security. Most of us have added more devices to our Internet network than even two years ago. Today’s consumers can enjoy internet-connected “SMART” light bulbs, door cameras and security systems, door locks, thermostats, smart watches, medical equipment, multiple mobile phones, tablets, computers, more than one TV, DVR, gaming systems, Blu-ray player, multiple smart speakers, smart kitchen appliances including a smart refrigerator, washer and dryer. And who wants audio and video dropouts during Zoom or similar get-togethers? Or dropouts while streaming different content across different devices? Add them all up. Surprise! You’ve got more Internet-connected “SMART” devices than you thought. What have I forgotten? All of these, with more surely to follow, will gobble up more bandwidth across more devices. Who among us would have thought about reliance on greater bandwidth even six months ago, before the COVID-19-pandemic? How quickly we have adapted to being in our home more than ever imagined! Wi-Fi 6 is one way to be technology future-forward. USB PORTS Linksys MR9600 includes two USB ports. These ports can accept hard drives or USB thumb drives that may be used for content sharing and backup across the network. I have installed a Solid State Drive (SSD) with music and videos accessible on any compatible device on the network. Two ports, no waiting! How would you use them? SPEED Testing Wi-Fi 6 through an iPhone 11 proves the point, connecting at nearly full speed from the ISP, without performance hits from simultaneous downloads on two computers and streaming a movie without breakup or buffering on a TV. Running the Speedtest app for iPhone just now, speed was measured at 223mbps down and 30mbps up. The Cox service package is “up to” 300mbps down and 30mbps up. All is well here. COVERAGE There is Internet throughout a small apartment installation, but not full strength and at full speed at the farthest distances from the router, which is to be expected. Outside there is still good coverage past 50 feet from the walls, but not at full speed. Still, it’s proof positive that the signal carries well with this individual Linksys MR9600. CONCLUSION The combination of future-forward Wi-Fi 6, proven mesh technology, Linksys reliability and strong signal makes this Linksys Max-Stream AX6000 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router Model MR9600 an easy Mr. Gadget-recommended choice.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use
    Cons mentioned:
    Price
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best router on the market

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Linksys - Max Stream AX6000 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router is the best router on the market, especially for households with multiple devices. Pros: * Wi-Fi 6 technology - This is one of the most important features of the router. It is the next generation of Wi-Fi (802.11ax). It is more a future proof concept at this point since there are only a handful of devices that have the hardware to support it; however, we will see more and more companies make the switch to the hardware required moving forward in 2020. All older hardware devices will still work with this router. The top speeds are theoretical and so fast the consumer internet market doesn't even offer them; but, it is more than just top speed with Wi-Fi 6. It has OFDMA technology which is game changing. Instead of each device connected to the router "waiting in line" to transmit data, OFDMA dedicates a part of a channel to each device. The other important feature of Wi-Fi 6 is the Multi-user MIMO. It allows multiple devices to take advantage of higher speeds on the network. Trust me, you want this technology! * Easy set-up/functional app - It took me about 5 minutes to get the network up and running. I used the Linksys app on my iPhone and went through the steps. You can also access the network settings the traditional way online. The app is user friendly and easy to navigate. * Large coverage area - I live in a 3 story condo and the router is on the first level. I have no issues with connectivity on any devices in the house and also get Wi-Fi in the garage/outside the house. The lowest signal strength measured was -37 dBm on the third floor which is very impressive. I have been able to get the full advertised speed of my internet. It has the ability to mesh with additional compatible routers to increase coverage if needed. * Great for multi-device households - I have anywhere from 20-30 devices connected to the network at any given time (Hue, Tesla, Nest, Smart TV, etc) which puts a big demand on the network. Since switching to this router, I have noticed a significant improvement in network reliability and speed. Indeterminate: * The price is high - This is to be expected for the absolute best/newest technology. It is competitively priced with other routers with similar technology. In the end, the price is worth the network stability and performance. Cons: * None Overall, this router is outstanding and I cannot recommend it enough. Say goodbye to the days of a slow and congested network with devices constantly losing connectivity. With the Linksys - Max Stream AX6000 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router expect blistering speeds, network stability, and top tier performance.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    Garbage Router !

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Heads up : Don’t fall for the raving reviews of some oblivious reviewers who saw magical speed jumps...you can get that with any new non-WiFi 6 router. Your max speed is always determined by your ISP provider like xfinity(Comcast) or any local name ISP. If you have a gigabit from Xfinity then with your own router it will never go above 943Mbps...it’s capped and even declared on their website and also in their seldom read terms and conditions. Linksys WiFi 6 is a waste of money. I tested this one at home against my existing Linksys EA9500, which knocked this WiFi 6 baloney out the park in WiFi speed test(not Ethernet or wired). Wired speed will always be max 943mbps for Xfinity clients with your own router. See attached image...red circles are for WiFi (over the air) speed tests with my iPhone 11pro, right next to the router and then about 40 feet away from another room. Against the non circled ones from my EA9500 on 5Ghz WiFi. I had twice the speed!! On EA9500. Also this router doesn’t allow frequency selections and is default to mixed frequency unlike my EA9500 which can broadcast 2.4Ghz and 5.0Ghz WiFi frequency’s. I have retuned the product.i discourage you from this product until manufacturers come up with better products on wifi6

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Linksys Staff
      Posted .

      Hi, Sunny,

      The Linksys MR9600 is a Mesh Router that delivers true Gigabit speeds of up to 6 Gbps with eight-stream capacity throughout the entire home, and as it also supports the latest WiFi® 6 (802.11ax) standard, and it is backwards compatible. Also, it can cover up to 3000 Sq ft, and can handles 40+ Devices. Please know that the Linksys MR9600 has a Dynamic Frequency Selection feature which means it automatically selects a frequency that does not interfere with certain radar systems while operating in the 5 GHz band to avoid Wi-Fi interference and better Wi-Fi performance. However, we understand your thoughts, and if in case you have future concern with any of our products, we can always have our Escalation Engineers assist you and you can communicate with us over email at [email protected] and you may send along with your contact info and the link of this review, as we will use it as our reference. We’ll be glad to help you.

      Regards,

      Elyza
      Linksys Support linksys

  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Ease of use
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Fast with plenty of coverage

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Like a lot of people right now, I'm working from home, so having a good home network is essential. Being a software engineer makes it even more so. Add in a child and spouse at home at the same time wanting to stream and play online games, it can put a strain on a network. This Linksys router handles the pressure with ease. My network at times will have 2 computers, 2 mobile phones, a tablet, 2 smart tvs, gaming console, home sensors, smart speaker, smart home appliances, and a video doorbell and I've never had a problem, any problems I did have was with my ISP. It easily reaches every corner of my home as well, which is a single story ranch home that's just under 1600 square feet. Seems the TV and gaming console have taken the #1 priority in my home and so the router is placed next to those in my living room near one corner of my house and BEHIND the TV. Whereas my office, which should have the #1 priority, is in the exact opposite corner of my house, not exactly that close and no clear line of sight, yet my 2 computers stay connected without issue. I can take video conference calls, connect to a VPN, work with remote servers, all without issue. Even though I'm in software, networking is an entirely different discipline and not my area of expertise. But the setup of this router couldn't be any easier. The Linksys app recognizes the router instantly and walks you through the setup. The app provides additional features also that make it very worthwhile. One of which is being able to see all the devices on your network. Besides coverage, security is just as important, if not more so, and being a somewhat paranoid person, I love being able to go into the app and see all the devices connected and trying to connect to my network. But this router also has other security features, but since I'm not that kind of hacker, I don't really know how to test it, but from what I read about it, seems legit. Best of all, this has the latest WiFi technology, and if you happen to be in a large multi-story house, you can mesh the network together with other nodes. In fact, I already had last years Linksys router, and now that I have this one pulling the main duties, I plan on using my old one as a node to make my network even better. This router may be pricey, but it'll probably be the last router I get for a long time. And being that it allows me to do my job while my family stays entertained, make this router more than worth it.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Speed
    Cons mentioned:
    Lag
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Future Proof Router PERFECT for Gaming

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Let me start out by saying this has to be the best router on the market right now. It's completely future proof with the features, speeds, and technology it offers. Setup using the Linksys app was a absolute breeze. It walks you thru everything so it's even great for people that aren't too tech savvy. My wife and I are true gamers and a router can make or break a good gaming experience. We pay for the gig plan thru our ISP (1000mbps) With our old router when my wife and I were both playing multiplayer games on our Xbox consoles at the same time we would notice a lot of lag issues and at times even losing connection all together. We no longer have ANY of those issues. Absolutely no lag when gaming, I have full wifi signal in every room, both floors of my home, and even outside when walking the dog. Large game downloads and updates are super quick. I currently have 33 devices connected to the network between phones, smart TVs, computers, consoles, and smart home devices such as Amazon echos, light bulbs, and security cameras. It hasn't slowed down one bit even when streaming in 4K. I have no complaints, 100% recommend.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    A Superb Wi-Fi 6 Router

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Linksys MR9600 MAX-STREAM Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 Router is a superb router that is oriented at streaming, Gaming, and Mesh Wi-Fi Integration. It has a straightforward setup, speed and excellent coverage. This review will be done in 3 parts – features, usage impressions, and pros/cons: Features: The Linksys MR9600 MAX-STREAM Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 Router has several features. First of all this is a Wi-Fi 6 router that enables a coverage area of up to 3000 square feet (just above my home size), allows for over 40 devices to connect to is and it can connect at up to 6.0 Gbps. This is an 802.11ax router that enables 4x the performance of an AC router with eight Wi-Fi streams. This router also supports Velop Mesh Wi-Fi capabilities via additional Velop nodes. The router is powered by a 1.9 GHz Quad-Core processor, a 4x4 MU-MIMO radios, and advanced security to keep your network safe. All these features combine to minimize Wi-Fi Congestion, eliminate dead zones, deliver more speed to multiple devices all while maintaining 100% backwards compatibility for your older devices. Usage Impressions: This device is very easy to set up and get running right out of the box. Setup and management of the router is conducted via the use of a mobile app installed to your phone or tablet and uses Bluetooth technology to initially configure the router. In this setup mode you get a 2.5 GHz and a 5 GHz network of each with the same network name for use with your devices. As part of this setup you also configure an account with Linksys should you not already have one with them. You can see screen shots of the mobile app accompanying this review below to see that is allows one to monitor the devices connected, Guest Access, Parental Controls, Device Prioritization, and external storage. Via the menu there are even more options for managing this router, with a Speed test function, more Wi-Fi Settings, Notifications, Network Administration, Advanced Settings, and account Management features. I have been using this router for about 10 days so far and I am pleased with its performance from both a coverage and speed perspective. Consistently on the lower floor of my home this router is providing the best signal strength typically around -38 db and is the best of the 3 routers I currently have active in the home (one is part of the network gateway from my internet provider). While I was initially surprised to only have 2 networks, in reality the lack of a second high-speed network on this router is a nice to have that I had gotten used to with my other router. I do like the quick ability to run a speed test from the mobile app to make sure that my service provider is working at its typical speeds. The router supports 2 USB external storage devices. I have tested this capability with an 8 GB USB drive and found no issues connecting to the storage from a laptop. Overall if find this router to be a superb addition to my home network and I love the performance and coverage it provides. It has me now rethinking the placement of the routers within my home to ensure the best coverage possible. If there are any cons to this device as of this writing it may be the $399.99 MSRP but the jury is still out on that front. Pros: Ease of Setup, Coverage, built-in speed test, Mobile App, automatic updates Cons: Maybe the price

    I would recommend this to a friend
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