We purchased the TP-Link Archer C50 so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.
When many people go out to buy a wireless router, they likely to be looking for something to replace the built-in router that most broadband and DSL modems feature. And, while inexpensive routers like the TP-Link Archer C50 can get the job done, they typically don’t boost performance in a significant way, begging the question: who are they for?
We tested the TP-Link Archer C50 for a week, and while its an affordable router, it might not be worth the investment, especially if you live with several people that need access to the internet together.
Where To Buy TP Link Archer C50 Router:
TP-Link Archer C50 Reviews: Design
The Archer C50’s small, lightweight plastic build makes it feel kind of flimsy in the hand. Luckily, it’s not an eyesore– the router is all black, with the body having a sectioned design and glossy finish.
That said, it’s decent looking and you won’t feel compelled to obscure it. That’s a good thing because this is one router you don’t need to hold it back. Overall, we can’t really ask more out of a cheap router like the TP-Link Archer C50.
TP-Link Archer C50 Reviews: Setup
Realizing that most of the people buying the Archer C50 likely haven’t bought routers too many times in the past, TP-Link made setup extremely simple. The instructions are printed on the side of the box, rather than in an easily-lost pamphlet.
There’s a QR code printed on the side of the box, and all you’ll have to do is scan it with your smartphone, download the app it links to, and follow the on-screen instructions. We set it up in our home with Xfinity 250Mbps service, and the entire process was done within two minutes. We were then able to log into the control portal and change our SSID and password.
TP-Link Archer C50 Reviews: Software
The TP-Link Archer C50 management portal is, as you may want, pretty barren. This router isn’t exactly bursting with features, so there’s no real need for a bunch of flashy pages. When you first log in, you’ll be able to view a network map, and you’ll have access to all the quick settings you’ll need. Clicking over to the advanced tab lets you change some more in-depth settings, though most users will never have to touch this.
You can also fiddle around with parental controls and change settings for any USB devices you have attached, like a printer or external storage. There’s also support for guest networks, which we thought was surprising in such an inexpensive router– this will let you set up a secondary network for guests, so you don’t need to give out your network password or compromise your network security.
You can download Tether, TP-Link’s mobile app, but it’s pretty limited. You can view you your network map, change your Wi-Fi password and enable your guest network. There is an option to troubleshoot your network, too, but you can’t test speeds, like some other routers’ mobile apps.
TP-Link Archer C50 Reviews: Connectivity
When it comes to physical ports, the TP-Link Archer C50 features 4 LAN ports and a USB 2.0 port, for external devices like hard drives or printers. That’s a pretty limited list of ports, but with such a small router, there’s not really any room for more, so it’s hard to complain.
TP-Link Archer C50 router also features two dual-band antennas, which are rated at a speed of AC1200. This is a notably low-end spec, but it is still enough to get the job done, provided you’re not trying to push too much data through it.
On paper, this is all fine for a router in this price range, but the real test is to see if it can actually live up to the 867Mbps over 5.0 GHz speed TP-Link claims on its website.
TP-Link Archer C50 Reviews: Network Performance
In our testing, the TP-Link Archer C50 just couldn’t reach its rated speeds. We already mentioned that we tested this router over a 250Mbps connection, but we couldn’t get more than 85Mbps over a wired connection.
While streaming some music through our HomePod, the internet speed fell to 47Mbps. No matter what we did, we weren’t able to get even half of our advertised internet speeds, even with just one device connected.
That sounds bad, and it’s definitely not great, but there’s a bright spot– the range. The home we tested the router in is about 2,000 square feet, with three levels, and the router located on the central level. From the moment we pulled the router out of the box, we were expecting the signal strength and range to be the weak point. We were wrong.
We were able to get the same speeds through our entire home. Even in the upstairs or the basement bathroom, we didn’t notice any slowdowns, aside from the already slow signal. Frankly, we were surprised at how great the Archer C50’s range was.
TP-Link Archer C50 router likely isn’t worth the upgrade if you have broadband internet greater than 50 Mbps. But, if you’re on DSL, and especially if you don’t have a router built into your modem, you can get some pretty great range out of this router, provided you don’t have too many devices that need simultaneous access to the web.
TP-Link Archer C50 Reviews: Price
The TP-Link Archer C50’s main saving grace is the price. You can pick it up for $59.99 MSRP, however at the time of this writing it’s sitting at $39 on Amazon. That’s an extraordinarily low price for a wireless router, but you get what you pay for. Spending just an extra $10-$ 20 will drastically improve your experience, specifically if you’re using broadband. However, again, for DSL users that need to supply their own router, the range alone is really worth the 40 bucks.
Final Verdict
When you’re going for a router in this price range, you shouldn’t expect to get high-end performance, but when it can’t even deliver the advertised speeds on a broadband connection it’s a problem. But, if you don’t have a broadband connection, and you won’t be bottlenecked by the router’s limitations, the long range is enough to warrant a recommendation. Just don’t expect to do much in the way of multi-device streaming, it’s just not built for that.
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