TP-Link Archer C6 vs Archer C7 | Which Should You Buy?

If you have decided on the TP-Link Archer 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless router but cannot decide between the TP-Link Archer C6 or the TP-Link Archer C7, then I hope this comparison review will help you make the decision.

As different readers have different levels of technical expertise, I would like to make this article as simple as possible, as with all my other articles on technical subjects like home networking.

Where it is not possible to remove jargon for contextual purposes, I will explain or provide links that will open up another tab so that you can continue reading from where you left off.

Before we go into our comparison, let me highlight the features of each router. That will make it easy for you to see the differences and similarities when I put both side-by-side.

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Dual-Band WiFi  Gigabit Router 

TP-Link has launched another affordable wireless router: TP-Link Archer C6. It is the second hardware revision of this model, with support for the 802.11ac Wave 2 WiFi networking standard, and 2x2 MU-MIMO transfers.

It also has surprisingly good hardware inside, which should be able to offer a solid wireless networking experience, at a low price. We are the first team in the world to test the new TP-Link Archer C6 v2. If you want to know what it has to offer.

Archer C6 Pros

• Very affordable price
• It is a fast router for its price
• It packs most of the basics people need
• The Help documentation is easily accessible
• It can be administered from a mobile app on your smartphone
• It can be mounted on walls

Archer C6 Cons

• The firmware is available only in English, while the mobile app has good multi-lingual support
• It does not automatically check for new firmware versions like other TP-Link routers do
• It does not have a USB port

Archer C6 Best Use

The market for AC1200 wireless routers is very crowded. All the manufacturers offer routers that promise to deliver excellent performance at a low price. However, only a few manufacturers can keep this promise and TP-Link is one of them.

 If you are looking for a low-price router, that is dual-band, with support for the latest wireless standards, and that offers a user experience above the average of other AC1200 wireless routers, you should consider buying the new TP-Link Archer C6 v2.

TP-Link Archer C7 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router 

The Archer C7 happens to be the cheapest of the three wireless routers in the Archer series, but its performance cannot really be termed as cheap. For about $80, TP-Link gives you the C7 which has a maximum throughput speed of 1.75Gbps and has a single core processor (720MHz) that helps in handling your network requests more efficiently. We won’t deny that the C8 and C9 have better specifications, but for a router that costs so little, such specifications are impressive.

Archer C7 Performance

With 1.75Gbps, you can bet that the C7 can be pushed to handle 4K streaming, but only to a certain level. While it is a great entry-level router for a gamer who is just starting off, its single-core processor can only take so much. It was also interesting that TP-Link decided to make all the four ethernet ports to accept a gigabit connection. This means that you will find this router quite ideal in case your ISP only managed to give you a cable modem without a wireless router. The C7 would complement any cable modem without any fuss.

Archer C7 Pros

• It is quite affordable and gives you more value than you would expect from routers from other brands
• It is easy to setup and even allows you to use the TP-Link Tether app that lets you easily manage your network remotely
• You can setup guest networks easily and even manage the internet speed of the guest network
• It has a high throughput speed which enables it to handle 4K content easily

Archer C7 Cons

• It lacks a USB 3.0 port
• Its single-core processor might not be powerful enough to handle a lot of tasks at a go
• With the C8 and the C9 being priced in the range of the C7, it becomes obsolete and unnecessary since the C8 and C9 are clearly more advanced

Archer C7 Best Use

This is the ideal router for a home that is not too intensive on internet usage. As such, you can use it for light duties such as HD streaming, but you could use it for 4K content as well if you won’t be sharing the network with too many people. Typically, about 10-20 people can use the Archer C7 without noticing any performance issues. This router might also be great for small businesses such as coffee shops where there aren’t too many people connected to it at the same time.

What's Not So Great About the TP-Link Archer C7

When the TP-Link Archer C7 V1 was first released, there were many problems, especially for those using Apple devices. It also had problems on the 5Mhz band. However, these problems have been resolved with the release of the TP-Link Archer C7 V2.

It should not happen, but if you do happen to pick up the earlier V1 model, you can contact TP-Link and request for a replacement, or you can upgrade the firmware yourself. That should solve most of the problems.

Both USB ports on the C7 are USB 2.0 version ports. It would be nice to have a mix USB version 2.0 and 3.0 USB ports so that you can utilize the faster USB 3.0 device.

You will also have to manually enter the MAC addresses into the MAC filtering page instead of just making a selection from a list of addresses that have been disallowed. However, this is really no big deal as you typically only do it once when you set up the router and make the occasional changes.

Archer C6 vs Archer C7:  Which Should You Buy?

Once more, the situation is ideally the same. The C7 should come first before the C6because it has a better performance than the C6. While all three routers are great especially if you are an average internet user, it is only the C6 that gives you enough room for expansion.

Read - AC1750 vs AC1900 Router Comparison