AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable vs TP-Link Archer AX50 - Where are the differences?

Let's take a closer look at the differences between the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable* and TP-Link Archer AX50* routers in comparison.

For which connections are the routers suitable?

Basically, you can put any router behind any modem, but some routers also have an integrated modem. Does the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable have a modem installed? Does the TP-Link Archer AX50 have an integrated modem? At this point the routers differ. Only the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable* has a built-in modem.

Most routers with built-in modems are only suitable for one type of Internet connection. With an external modem, the routers can of course still be attached to any connection. Basically, it is not possible to make a general statement about whether a device is better or worse. Rather, it depends on your connection. However, there are better and worse connections. However, we do not evaluate that directly in this comparison. Of course, the maximum data rate depends on your Internet connection.

Which router has the better WLAN?

WiFi 6, also called AX, is currently the newest standard in WLAN. The higher the standard, the better. The AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable* and TP-Link Archer AX50* both support AX.

AC is the name for WiFi 5. Most often it comes in combination with WiFi 4 and is advertised as AC+N. If a device offers AX, it usually supports the older standards as well. Both the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable* and the TP-Link Archer AX50* can support WiFi 5.

The WiFi 4 standard is also referred to as "N". If a device can do AX or AC, then it can usually do WiFi 4 (N). Here both models can do WiFi 4.

To offer more performance, some routers offer so-called dual band. In this case the router transmits on two frequencies. You get this option with the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable and TP-Link Archer AX50.

Triband is an optimization of the dual band. Here it is sent on three channels to achieve more power. However, you have to do without the triband for both routers from the comparison.

Let's have a look at the maximum data rate. This is higher in total for the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable* with 4800 + 1200 Mbit/s. With the TP-Link Archer AX50 you get 2402 + 574 Mbit/s.

Which router has more antennas?

There are routers with internal antennas and routers with external antennas. However, more antennas do not necessarily mean more performance. In this context, the maximum data rate and WiFi standards must be considered.

Internal antennas have a fixed position. The direction of the radiation can thus not be changed easily.

You get external antennas only with the TP-Link Archer AX50. Thereby there are 4 pieces. The advantage of external antennas is that they can be rotated. Thus, the direction of the radiation can be determined.

Comparison of connections

Let's take a look at the connectors from the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable and TP-Link Archer AX50. Neither router has a 100 Mbit LAN port.

Gigabit LAN you get with both routers.

Bei dem AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable bekommst du sogar 2,5 Gigabit LAN (1 Stück).

In addition to the LAN, some routers also have a WAN interface. If this is not available, a LAN port must be used to connect the modem. In this comparison, only the TP-Link Archer AX50 has Gigabit WAN.

Let's move on to the ISDN connection. In the meantime, this is hardly necessary and therefore also available in few devices. Both devices in the comparison do not have ISDN installed.

Functions of the routers in comparison

Let's take a look at the function from the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable and TP-Link Archer AX50 in comparison.

media server (NAS): Both routers have a media server, also called NAS. With this NAS feature, you can store media on the device itself or on the network and manage it through the router.

WLAN Repeater: Some routers can also be used simply as repeaters. So you can amplify the signal of another router. Especially if you have several floors, this is interesting, because strong ceilings can interfere with the signal. Both models trump with a repeater function in this comparison.

WPS: With WPS, we stay on the topic of WLAN. WPS stands for "Wi-Fi Protected Setup". Here it concerns the simpler connection of devices to the WLAN. As a rule, this is done without the password. Both the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable and the TP-Link Archer AX50 offer you the possibility to use WPS.

DECT: With the help of DECT, DECT phones can be connected directly to the router. Thus, the router provides a convenient phone solution. You can only connect DECT devices via the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable*. There are up to 6.

FAX: Even though FAX seems to be extinct for many, it is still actively used in some areas. Here the routers differ, because only the AVM FRITZ!Box 6690 Cable has a FAX function.

IPv6: In case you're not aware - IP addresses with four blocks are running out, which is why the IPv6 standard was developed. Private households usually get only public IPv6 address. These must be supported by the router of course. There are some positive news for the models in this comparison. Both routers can work with IPv6.