Linksys WRT AC1900 vs. Linksys AC3200 – what Linksys router should I pick?

It is well-known that a good router gives you a good experience on the internet, so it is important to always go for the best. Such desires lead to comparisons between different routers, such as our comparison between the Linksys AC3200 and Linksys AC1900.

However, you are likely wondering what router you should get, especially when there are so many brands and so many models of different brands. Do all these routers fit the needs of your home adequately? Are some of them better choices than others? What exactly defines one as being better than another?

The good news is that as long as you do some research into different models, you are likely to make the best choice. The Linksys AC1900 and AC3200 might look the same to you – but their theoretical speeds are different (the AC1900 supports maximum speeds of 1900 Mbps, and the AC3200 supports maximum speeds of 3200 Mbps), and they might deviate from their theoretical speeds significantly – which is why we compare both and see what results they give. Basing from our findings, you can make a more informed decision on which one to pick.

What are the differences between the Linksys WRT AC1900 and Linksys AC3200?

Linksys WRT AC1900
Linksys AC3200 (Winner)
Average throughput speeds
449 Mbps (5GHz), 78 Mbps (2.4GHz N-mode)
83 Mbps (2.4GHz), 110 Mbps (5GHz)
Upload speed
2 Mbps
5 Mbps
Download speed
25 Mbps
20 Mbps
LAN ports
5
4
Dimensions (inches)
9.8 x 7.7 x 2.01 (the bigger router)
9.7 x 2.04 x 7.7(slightly smaller option)

Linksys WRT AC1900 vs. Linksys AC3200 – How they compare

Design

The WRT AC1900 uses a 1.2GHz dual core processor, as well as a RAM of 256 MB and flash memory of 128 MB. It also has one Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, and also the usual suspects you will expect from a router – the reset button, USB 3.0 and eSATA/USB 2.0 ports, the WPS button, and so on.

The unit has four dipole antennas, which attach on the rear and sides. All of them are strong, which is quite the contrast to most antennas that have flimsy antennas, which is something that we really like. They also have a design that uses a three-stream spatial build, which allows the router to use the best three out of four signals to transmit data.

In the case of the AC3200, it still retains the typical look of a router with a blue and black hue, and measures 2.1 x 9.6 x 7.6 inches. Like the AC1900, it has four adjustable antennas, as well as a series of LED indicator lights at the front. The usual buttons and ports are also here, making it similar in build to the AC1900.

Setup

Setting up both the WRT AC1900 and AC3200 is easy, but the AC1900 wins in this regard. The package comes with a starting guide that is easy to follow, as well as a disc that contains some documentation where you can follow the instructions. After setting it up, you then wait for the power LED at its front to become stable, since it is blinking the whole time.

Once the power LED is stable, you can then connect to the router’s pre-configured network through either of two ways: connecting a desktop PC to any of the router’s LAN ports through an Ethernet cable, or connecting wirelessly through the passphrase and SSID at the base of the router.

One major point we noted in the AC1900 was the unique take on the LEDs. They are not the small types you may expect, but they are horizontal and have a unique shape that allows you to see them easily even from across a room.

The AC3200 router is also easy to configure, though you will need to use the web-based setup wizard to set it up. The wizard will take you through the initial wireless and internet settings, though you can choose to ignore the wizard and set up the router manually.

Performance

The WRT AC1900 turns out one of the fastest throughputs we have seen in wireless devices: its 5GHz band turns in a throughput of 449 Mbps. This might not seem like much, but it is amazing in a real-world environment that has many devices using the network – and the results might be even higher if you have fewer devices around.

With that said, you will need an 802.11ac client hardware to take full advantage of the 5GHz speed, and you cannot use this band in an 802.11ac-only mode. For instance, the mixed mode of 5GHz produces an average speed of 110 Mbps, which is slower than what we would expect. In its 2.4GHz band, the throughput was 83 Mbps on average in mixed mode, while it was 78 Mbps in N-mode.

On the other hand, the AC3200 throughput on the 5GHz band is also outstanding, turning out an impressive 569 Mbps on close proximity tests. At a 30-foot distance, the same band gives a throughput of 238 Mbps, and its average performance on its MU-MIMO feature ranges about 174 Mbps. The close-proximity tests of the 2.4GHz band only reveal a result if 76 Mbps, making it far behind the AC1900, and its file transfer speeds are 74 Mbps (writing) and 88 Mbps (reading).

Linksys WRT AC1900 vs. Linksys AC3200 – A comparison review

Linksys WRT AC1900 – Overview

Linksys WRT1900AC Dual-Band+ Wi-Fi Wireless Router with Gigabit & USB 3.0 Ports and eSATA, Smart Wi-Fi Enabled to Control Your Network from Anywhere
  • 4 High-performance Antennas For Maximum Coverage & Reliability
  • 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz Simultaneous Dual Wireless Bands For A Strong, Reliable Wi-Fi Signal That Eliminates Dead...

This router delivers a lot of excellent throughput – particularly when you use it with current-generational wireless clients. It also promises your future devices great speeds throughout their use. Meanwhile, there are also great features such as the easy setup, OpenWRT flash-able firmware, powerful NAS functionality, an easy setup process, and wonderful QoS – as long as you can get past it’s pricing.

Even though it is relatively heavy, it is still quite easy to mount on a ceiling or wall, through the grooves in its rubber feet, and the housing has air vents to guard against overheating – since all its internal components are meant for performance. This proves helpful, even as we tested the router; it became quite warm, and emitted a strong odor that smells similar to hot electronics and can prove irritating to some users.

Pros

  • Very easy setup and management, including remote access
  • Great range and performance
  • Great throughput speeds when you test it with a second router as a bridge
  • QoS feature is efficient enough to reduce the time when buffering videos
  • Use of OpenWRT can flash the firmware

Cons

  • You cannot set the 5GHz band to an 802.11ac-only mode
  • Very expensive
  • Has a noticeable electrical odor when operating
  • Tends to run warm

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Linksys AC3200 – Overview

Linksys WRT3200ACM: AC3200 Dual-Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Router, Beamforming Tri-Stream Wireless Signal, Ethernet Ports, MU-MIMO (Black, Blue)
  • Fast wireless router provides Wi-Fi coverage for your home (works with existing modem)
  • Open source firmware offers advanced customization; Certified operating systems: MacOS (10.X or higher),...

The AC3200 is a router that we consider to be mid-range and comes at a more affordable price than the AC1900. Yet, it still offers you the best Wi-Fi technology, has amazing file transfer speeds, and gives you blazing 5GHz performance.

The range is the most impressive aspect here; regardless of the mode we used the 5GHz band and the distance from the router, the signal decrease as we moved away was only 3%. However, it struggles with the 2.4GHz band performance, even though it is still a great choice, and is definitely worth the money.

Pros

  • Very fast throughput on the 5GHz band
  • It supports Tri-Stream and MU-MIMO 160MHz technology, as well as open-source firmware
  • Very good file transfer speeds

Cons

  • Lacks 160MHz clients
  • Middling throughput score on the 2.4GHz band

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Verdict: So what is better? The WRT AC1900 or the AC3200?

When all is said and done, we have to pick a winner for this review – and in this case, it is the AC3200. This is a very strong choice for you if you prefer the OpenWRT system to customize you router, comes at an affordable price, and has plenty of features in a user-friendly setup to keep you busy with them.

FAQs

What is the length of the Ethernet cable that comes with the AC1900?

This cable is 3 feet long by default, although you can purchase longer ones separately.

How many devices can I connect to the AC3200 router while still maintaining optimal speeds?

The recommendation is to connect a maximum of 32 devices for optimal use, although the router can comfortably handle more.

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