D-Link DIR-878 vs. DIR-882 – what budget router option should I go for?
It is always important to have the best access to the internet, and choosing the best routers will help you to do so. However, you might not be in a position to buy an expensive router, which is why many budget routers exist – such as the D-Link DIR-878 and DIR-882.
Wireless routers like the D-Link DIR-878 and DIR-882 are great, because you get the benefits of internet connectivity without annoying cables everywhere in your space. However, you need to do plenty of homework before choosing a router, because not all of them will meet your needs adequately. Before outlining the attributes of these two routers though, we need to know what they mean and the speeds they offer.
The D-Link DIR-878 is an AC1900 router, which means that it has a theoretical total throughput speed of 1900 Mbps in total – with the 2.4GHz band having a speed of 600 Mbps, and the 5GHz band having a speed of 1300 Mbps. The DIR-882, on the other hand, is an AC2600 router, which gives its theoretical total speed as 2600 Mbps – the 2.4GHz band showing a speed of 800 Mbps and the 5GHz band showing a potential speed of 1733 Mbps.
While you may assume that the higher theoretical throughput indicates better performance, experience shows that this is not always the case – it is important to research into both and see what works best for you.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the D-Link and DIR-878 DIR-882?
D-Link DIR-878 (Winner) |
D-Link DIR-882 |
|
Wireless communication standards |
802.11ac/n/g/b/a |
802.11ac |
Average throughput speeds |
92, 396 |
100, 515 |
Upload speeds |
40 Mbps |
60 Mbps |
Download speeds |
80 Mbps |
90 Mbps |
Dimensions (inches) |
10.2 x 7.1 x 1.8 (slightly smaller) |
10.1 x 7.2 x 1.8 (slightly larger) |
USB ports |
No |
Yes (one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0) |
D-Link DIR-878 vs. DIR-882 – How they compare
Appearance and Firmware
Both the D-Link DIR-878 and DIR-882 look like the usual routers you expect to find in the market, although they have some slight differences. The DIR-878 comes in a matte-black finish, and it is quit compact – measuring 10 x 7 x 1.7 inches. The design allows it to sit on a flat surface, although you can also mount it on a wall.
It features two antennas, both which are adjustable and non-detachable, and the rear holds all the usual ports you would expect (except the USB ports). All the LED indicators are on the top of the router, and it uses a dual-core 880MHz CPU as the power source.
The DIR-882 also comes in a black enclosure, and measures roughly the same as the DIR-878 (also in dimensions of 10 x 1.7 x 7 inches). Rather than having two antennas as with the DIR-878 though, it has four antennas instead – although they are also non-detachable. You will find 6 LED indicators at its top, which include those for both the radio bands, power, USB ports, and internet.
Here is the most noticeable difference between the two routers in terms of design: the DIR-882 has two USB ports (one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0), while the DIR-878 has none. The USB 3.0 port is at the front, while the USB 2.0 port is at the back, in order to reduce signal interference with the other ports on the router that are located at the back.
In this category, the DIR-882 is the winner, mainly due to the inclusion of both the USB 2.0 port and USB 3.0 port. This allows for wired connections, and increasing number of client devices.
Software
Since both the DIR-878 and DIR-882 are from the same company, they will use similar management methods. Both have the web-based console, or you can choose to manage them through the D-Link Quick Router setup app for both Android and iOS platforms.
For the DIR-878, the web console shows you a network map, where you can see the number of connected clients and security features of each connection. This is also where you can change the settings, such as adding parental controls to a specific connection. The menu is split into two tabs: the Management menu, where the security settings are, and the Features tab, where you can access QoS (Quality of Service) settings.
There is not much difference with the DIR-882, as it still uses a web console and the mobile app to manage the system. The only difference we see here is the limitation of parental control settings even in the web console, which makes it lose some points with us compared to the DIR-878.
While the parental controls give you the basics you need, they lack the advanced settings like restriction of gambling sites, social media, and adult content. In the same vein, it also lacks in-built malware and antivirus protection, which is something you need even from a budget router.
The DIR-878 is the winner in this category, because of the greater extent of controls you have in the settings; especially for parental controls.
Performance
In terms of throughput speeds, the DIR-878 is decent, although it is not the best thing we have seen so far. In the close-proximity test, the score was 92 Mbps for the 2.4GHz band and 396 Mbps for the 5GHz band, while the 30-foot test results in a score of 55.2 Mbps for the 2.4GHz band, and 268 Mbps for the 5GHz band.
In the case of the MU-MIMO throughput, the results were average at best. In close proximity, it scores 188 Mbps, while the 30-foot test leads to a score of only 80 Mbps, landing it among the slowest routers of its class.
The throughput speeds from the DIR-882 are respectable in most cases, but not in all instances. The close proximity tests was where it shines; the 2.4GHz band scoring 100 Mbps and the 5GHHz band scoring 515 Mbps. On the other hand, the 30-foot test results were average; the 2.4GHz band scores 57 Mbps, while the 5GHz band scores 155 Mbps.
The MU-MIMO speed score is not that impressive either, only coming in at a low-to-average score. In close proximity, it scores 167 Mbps, while the 30-foot score is 85 Mbps, which makes it slightly faster than the DIR-878 in an overall sense.
The DIR-878 is the better pick here due to the consistency of speeds, even though it has its struggles in the MU-MIMO speed output.
D-Link DIR-878 vs. DIR-882 – A comparison review
D-Link DIR-878 – Overview
- Stream, game, and more: Enjoy 4K/HD video and online gaming simultaneously with 3x3 data streams and 4...
- Dual Core Processor: The dual Core Processor gives you powerful wired and wireless network speeds
This router brings you a dual-band Wi-Fi connection, but at an affordable price. It aims to offer you the latest technology in the 802.11ac connection method, which includes MU-MIMO streaming (Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output) as well as beamforming to ensure better efficiency of connection to client devices. It is both easy to manage and install, and comes with four LAN ports for extra connectivity – but there are plenty of routers that also come at the same price range, yet perform much better.
With this said, it does have some things going for it, such as the use of the latest Wi-Fi technology, as well as a user-friendly console that is easy to navigate. The other disadvantage is the lack of USB ports, which reduce its capacity to act as a connection point for external devices.
Pros
- Easy installation and use
- Affordable in pricing
- Includes four LAN ports
- Supports MU-MIMO streaming
Cons
- Middling throughput in MU-MIMO mode
- Lacks USB ports
D-Link DIR-882 – Overview
- AC2600 Dual band router: Wi-Fi speeds of up to 2600 Mbps (800 Mbps in 2.4 gigahertz plus 1733 Mbps in 5...
- Stream, game, and more: Enjoy 4K/HD video and online gaming simultaneously with 4 x 4 data streams and 4...
When you check out the DIR-882, you find that it shares many similarities with the DIR-878, as they are both moderately priced and aim to provide the latest wireless connectivity technology. This includes Smart Connect band steering, beamforming, and MU-MIMO data streaming.
It does have solid performance when you use it at close range, regardless of whether you use the 5GHz or 2.4GHz band, and its management interface is user-friendly. However, it drops in our preference for a budget router because of its lack of parental controls and in-built malware protection, which you will find in most routers in the market.
Pros
- Easy to install and use
- Very good QoS engine and features
- Solid performance in close-range throughput
Cons
- Has limited parental controls
- Middling long-range throughput speeds; especially in the 5GHz band
- Lacks in-built malware protection
Verdict: so what is better? The D-Link DIR-878 or D-Link DIR-882?
While the answer to this question depends on what you want, our preferences after comparing these two budget choices leads us to pick the D-Link DIR-878as our winner. It may not seem like a top pick, but the availability of management settings and antivirus protection makes it a better choice overall, even though it lacks USB connectivity.
FAQs
How many devices can I expect my D-Link router to handle?
Generally, the higher the number of simultaneous users on your router, the slower the transfer speed becomes. The company recommends that you connect a maximum of 15 users on the network.
How can I check the firmware version of D-Link routers?
Go to your browser, and type https://192.168.0.1, or https://dlinkrouter.local in the address bar. The resulting page will show the firmware version of the D-Link router at the top right section.
