TP Link Archer C6 vs. Tenda AC10U – may seem similar, but they are fundamentally different
Just because you need a router, it does not mean you need to go for the most expensive one you can find. There are plenty of great options you can get even if you are on a budget – but not all the options you find are great. There are other factors to examine, as we will see when comparing the TP Link Archer C6 and Tenda AC10U.
Buying a Wi-Fi router can seem intimidating because of all the wealth of information out there, all advising you to buy different router models. However, you might see the offerings seem similar, such as the TP Link Archer C6 and Tenda AC10U – both which are AC1200 routers. Both are also budget routers, although they do not perform the same way – and your choice will really depend on what you are looking for.
The Tenda AC10U comes from a Chinese company that specializes in budget-friendly routers, just like the AC10U, while the TP Link Archer C6 is from the more well-known TP Link Company. Since both are AC1200 routers, they will both have a theoretical speed of 1200 Mbps, and also support 802.11ac connectivity. They lack USB connectivity though (although some models of the TP Link Archer C6 will have a USB 2.0 port), so they will work best for you if you do not need to connect USB devices to your wireless router.
In both cases of the TP Link Archer C6 and Tenda AC10U, we are curious to observe whether we will get fast file transfer capabilities, as well as a user experience of high quality.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the TP Link Archer C 6 and Tenda AC10U?
TP Link Archer C6 (Winner) |
Tenda AC10U |
|
Dimensions (inches) |
9.1 x 1.4 x 5.7 (slightly bulkier choice) |
8.6 x 5.5 x 1.9 (more portable option) |
Average throughput speeds (close proximity) |
80 Mbps (2.4GHz), 348 Mbps (5GHz) |
131 Mbps (2.4GHz), 431 Mbps (5GHz) |
Upload speeds |
462 Mbps |
480 Mbps |
Download speeds |
800 Mbps |
863 Mbps |
TP Link Archer A6 vs. Tenda AC10U – How they compare
Design
The Tenda AC10U is in a black and charcoal gray color, and measures8.6 x 5.5 x 1.9 inches. The appearance of the Tenda AC10U, thankfully, is attractive. It is primarily comprised of plastic, with a matte finish, and has a few LEDs. These LEDs indicate whether the Wi-Fi is on or off, sys (whether the router is on or off), LAN (whether there is a PC connected to the router through an Ethernet cable), and WAN (whether the internet connection is working). It runs on a single-core Realtek 1GHz processor, and has a storage space of 16 MB and a RAM of 128 MB.
Note that it has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, with three for use of a local network and one for use of connecting to the internet. The unfortunate aspect here is the lack of a USB port, although it mitigates this by having two holes at its bottom that allow you to mount it on a wall.
The TP Link Archer C6 has a similar design, although it includes four non-detachable external antennas. It uses a smaller-size processor, namely the single-core Qualcomm 775MHz processor, and offers a storage space of 8MB and a RAM of 128MB. Like the Tenda AC10U though, there is no USB port either.
The Archer C6 is slightly larger compared to the Tenda, measuring 9.1 x 1.4 x 5.7 inches, and has two holes to allow for wall mounting as well.
We like the design of the Archer C6, even though the processor is smaller than the Tenda AC10U.
Setup
The setup of both routers is easy, and the process is the same as with most routers. In the case of the Tenda AC10U, you can do it through the web browser method, as this is the most comprehensive and allows you to change many more settings compared to the mobile app. When setting up your network ID and password, note that you should refrain from using the same password in accessing your network and administering the router. That is an option that Tenda offers, and this is considered a security risk – they should stop offering that.
The user interface is quite simple, although it does appear dated – even in the English translation used. There are plenty of typos, which can be quite irritating – although they do not present much of an issue when you are looking for various aspects in the router’s management.
In the case of the TP Link Archer C6, you can use both the web interface and TP Link Tether app – although in many ways, the setup process of the Archer C6 is better than what we find in the Tenda AC10U. There is also better attention to security, although personalization of usernames seems to be absent.
One thing we found surprising is that the setup wizard does not seem to automatically detect the connection type the router is using, unlike other TP Link routers. Instead, you will have to enter this data manually. The good thing is the easy configuration of settings, although the support system only has information in English.
The advantage here goes to the Archer C6, mainly because of the user-friendly web interface and better setup process generally.
Performance
There is something good with the Tenda AC10U – the 2.4GHz band delivers relatively good performance when compared to other AC1200 routers, with an average throughput speed of 131 Mbps (close proximity) and 77 Mbps (30-foot distance). The 5GHz band is a mixed bag of results – in close proximity, it performs quite well, giving an average speed of 431 Mbps. However, the 30-foot distance gives a speed of 168 Mbps, making it among the slowest in its class.
When it comes to the TP Link Archer C6, the speeds are good in both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands. The 2.4GHz band gives speeds of 80 Mbps (close proximity) and 71 Mbps (30-feet distance), while the 5GHz band gives speeds of 348 Mbps (close proximity) and 234 Mbps (30-foot distance).
For the issue of performance, we look at the consistency of performance for both bands – and in this case, the Archer C6 is the better choice because the difference of speeds between the 2.4 and 5GHz bands is not much.
TP Link Archer C6 vs. Tenda AC10U – A comparison review
TP Link Archer C6 – Overview
- AC1200 wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router
- Connectivity technology: USB
The TP Link Archer C6 is made for users that are on a budget – but that does not mean it lacks usefulness. In fact, it does have a number of features you expect in a more high-end router, such as four gigabit LAN ports and support for MU-MIMO streaming.
With that in mind, it suffers from lackluster performance in the 2.4GHz band, even though the 5GHz band performance is great. It also lacks USB ports, and there is a glaring omission of antivirus protection that you find on more expensive routers.
Pros
- Easy installation and use
- Comes at an affordable price
- Solid performance in the 5GHz band
- Supports MU-MIMO streaming
Cons
- Antennas are non-detachable
- Lacks USB ports
- Middling performance in the 2.4GHz band
Tenda AC10U – Overview
- Stream in 4K on multiple devices and get lightning-quick connections by upgrading to Tenda's enhanced...
- Link up to 30 wireless devices like the Google assistant, Alexa and various steaming devices,...
If you have never heard of the Tenda AC10U, we do not blame you – it is a relatively new entry in the market, but originates from China, where it has been for about two decades. We consider it as an entry-level wireless router, and it is great for people who are on a budget – just like the TP Link Archer C6.
In fact, this is among the best routers for people who are looking for an easy router to set up and manage, because it is compatible with any connection to the internet – as long as you can plug it into its WAN port. The main problem it has is its security – especially the lack of customization for the 5GHz wireless network. In fact, Tenda will only add a ‘_5G’ to the name that you set for the 2.4GHz band, and the password is also the same – another security risk.
Pros
- Very easy to set up and manage
- Its mobile app is responsive and easy to use
- Easy to mount on walls
- Very affordable
- Has a better performance of the 2.4GHz band than what you normally find in AC1200 routers
Cons
- Lacks a USB port
- Very large size
- The mobile app and firmware do not meet stringent security expectations
- The support system has weak capacity for multi-lingual help, only offering it in Chinese and English
- The user interface of the management system is rough
Verdict: So what is better? The TP Link Archer C6 or Tenda AC10U?
It is a tough choice between these two brands, since they have their own advantages and disadvantages. As our conclusion though, our winner is the TP Link Archer C6, as it offers you better levels of security, as well as better support and firmware versions.
FAQs
How can I change or find my TP Link Archer C6 router password?
In order to do so, you will need a computer that is connected to the LAN port of the router through wiring. Access the system’s wireless security pace, change it, and then reboot the router.
How many clients can I connect to the Tenda AC10U simultaneously?
In optimal conditions of a stable internet connection, you can connect up to 30 devices. This will ultimately depend on data traffic, network bandwidth, and so on.
