TP Link AX6000 vs.TP Link C5400X – only one of them is the gaming router to beat
If we are being honest, there are plenty of people who will not need a premium-end router, because they do not spend much time on the internet. However, times are changing, and we continually see an increasing adoption of faster router technology – such as in the TP Link AX6000 and C5400X.
Your existing router may not match your needs, especially if you are a heavy internet user. However, this issue is easily solved through using a good gaming router, most which use the Wi-Fi 6 standard or high-performance versions of 802.11ac.
In this case, the TP Link AX6000 is a Wi-Fi 6 router (also known as 802.11ax), while the TP Link C5400X is an AC router (uses 802.11ac). Between the two, the C5400X uses the older standard of connectivity, but that does not necessarily make the TP Link AX6000 better. There are many factors to consider before buying any of them, even though both are great choices to have for a router upgrade.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between TP Link AX6000 and C5400X?
TP Link AX6000 |
TP Link C5400X (Winner) |
|
Dimensions (in inches) |
10 x 12 x 4 (slightly smaller) |
11.2 x 11.2 x 7.6 (slightly bulkier) |
Wi-Fi connectivity |
802.11ax |
802.11ac |
Ethernet ports |
6 |
5 |
Throughput speeds (close proximity) |
124 Mbps (2.4GHz), 775 Mbps (5GHz) |
859 Mbps (2.4GHz), 586 Mbps (5GHz) |
Upload speeds |
450 Mbps |
200 Mbps |
Download speeds |
600 Mbps |
500 Mbps |
TP Link AX6000 vs. C5400X – How they compare
Appearance
Coming in a square design and flat black color, the C5400X is a tri-band router that is very distinct in its appearance compared to other routers. Its base measures 9.5 by 9.5 inches, while the height is 2.2 inches, which makes it one of the biggest networking devices to have in your home – but that is not all, as the measurements we mention are when the antennas are folded. When you unfold them, the measurements increase to 11.2 by 11.2 by 7.6 inches.
The downside here is the lack of antenna adjustments or removal. You must place it in a flat position at all times, although you also have the option of mounting it on a wall. Its TP Link logo also serves as the LED indicator, glowing red when there is no internet connection, and white when everything is fine. One of its sides has the two USB 3.0 ports to connect a data device and printer, while the other side has buttons for controlling Wi-Fi transmission and turning the LED on or off.
Measuring 10.3 x 10.3 x 2.4 inches, the AX6000 is among the largest routers, though it looks slightly similar to the C5400X because of its black enclosure, square LED indicator at the top, and eight foldable, non-removable antennas. The connectivity ports here are in plenty, and expect a theoretical speed of 1.148 Gbps (2.4GHz) and 4.804 Gbps (5GHz).
The LED has different color indicators – solid orange when internet connection is present but there is no wireless connection, solid blue when everything is fine, pulsing blue when there are firmware upgrades and startups, and solid red when internet connection is absent.
We pick the AX6000 as the better choice, mainly because of the flexibility the antennas offer you. Since you can fold them, it gives you more places to position it from.
Software
The C5400X runs on a Broadcom 1.8GHz quad-core chip (BCM4366), and includes both beamforming (this adjusts the transmission to make the most of the signals) and MU-MIMO (helps it to connect to several devices simultaneously). It also has a storage space of 128 MB and RAM of 1 GB, all with the aim of delivering 1 Gbps (2.4GHz band) and 2.167 Gbps (5GHz band) speeds.
The only issue we have in this department is the lack of geo-filters, as well as the lack of double-width 160MHz data channels, although it makes up for this by including an in-built VPN server to cover up your online tracks. It is not just useful as a gaming router, though – its parental controls make it great for home use, as you can set limits on the sites your kids can visit, as well as a Malicious Content filter that blocks suspicious sites.
The management system of the AX6000 is the same as the C5400X, although the web console has more advanced controls compared to the mobile app. The difference is that you can change between Access Point mode and Router modem as well as enabling Smart Connect, creating access schedules, and disabling/enabling OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) software. This will improve the overall throughput speeds through distributing the Wi-Fi channels into sub-channels and allowing for more clients to connect to the network.
The software aspect is similar in both routers, though we find that the TP Link AX6000 has a better and wider grasp of features compared to the C5400X.
Performance
The C5400X has a theoretical data transmission rate of 5,300 Mbps under optimal condition, as the tri-band design allows for a 1 Gbps speed on the 2.4GHz band and 2.167 Gbps one each of the two 5GHz bands.
The actual speeds are not that different– in fact, the C5400X is among the highest speed routers we have used so far. The 2.4GHz band has a speed of 859 Mbps in close proximity and a score of 447 Mbps at 100 feet – a margin of only 15%. Its speeds are great if you live in a home that has plenty of obstructions; for instance, the speed through metal walls was 853 Mbps. The 5GHz speed was an impressive 586 Mbps in close proximity, while the 30-foot performance drops to a mid-range 306 Mbps.
We did a test on the AX6000 using an 802.11ac client alongside a Wi-Fi adapter, as there are few 802.11ax clients currently in the market. The 2.4GHz score was 124 Mbps in close proximity and drops to 55 Mbps at 30 feet, while the 5GHz score is much stronger – 775 Mbps in close proximity, and 315 Mbps at 30 feet.
The C5400X struggles in the area of file transfer though, as the write speed is 35 Mbps and the read speed is 40 Mbps. The AX6000 beats it here by a large margin, with a read speed of 76 Mbps and a read speed of 73 Mbps.
We see that the C5400X has a better consistency of performance in both radio bands, regardless of the distance you use it from. The drop in speed with distance is also not as drastic.
TP Link AX6000 vs. C5400X – A comparison review
TP Link AX6000 – Overview
- High Speed WiFi 6 Interent Router: AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi speed boosted by 1024QAM deliver wireless speed...
- Highly efficient: OFDMA increases average throughput by 4x in high density scenarios, compared with an...
This router is among a handful of the Wi-Fi 6 devices that are hitting the market today. It comes at a high price tag, but the advantage is its assurance of the latest technology and presence of numerous connectivity options.
Installation is easy, and you can even use the smartphone app to manage it from your smartphone – although keep in mind that the web system has greatersophistication. At the end of the day, it will give you solid throughput as our test results show, although it is not as fast as some models, and it also lacks Wi-Fi 6 certification (due to the lack of WPA3 encryption).
Pros
- Easy installation and use
- Very fast performance in file transfers
- Good throughput speeds during testing
- Solid malware protection and parental controls
- Plenty of I/O ports
Cons
- Limited control through the smartphone app
- Large footprint
- Expensive
- Lacks WPA3 encryption support
TP Link C5400X – Overview
- JD Power Award- Highest in customer satisfaction for wireless routers 2017 and 2019
- Wi-Fi Router Made for Gamers: Leading edge 1.8 GHz 64 bit Quad-core CPU and 1G RAM accelerates loading
If you are searching primarily for high performance in gaming activities, then you can consider getting the TP Link C5400X. It is among the best Wi-Fi routers you can obtain, as it combines very good range with exceptional levels of speed, and will give you the peace of surfing without the risk of malware infections due to its strong security software.
The only drawback we notice about it is the lack of antenna adjustment for better signal reception, and also the high price tag that comes with it. If these are not deal-breakers for you, then this router will definitely be a great choice for your activities.
Pros
- Includes plenty of security software
- Excellent levels of performance
- Has plenty of potential of customization
- Tri-band design to increase efficiency
Cons
- Expensive
- Large footprint
- Cannot aim antennas
Verdict: So what is better? The TP Link AX6000 or C5400X?
These two routers are great choices if you are a high-bandwidth user or gamer, although we see that the overall better performance goes to the TP Link C5400X. Even if it struggles in file transfer speeds, it does a good job for each of its bands, and has better adaptability to devices that use 802.11ac connectivity technology.
FAQs
Is the TP Link C5400X compatible with Wi-Fi 6?
No, the Wi-Fi 6 compatibility only applies to routers that use 802.11ax, and they will have backward compatibility. The C5400X is not forward compatible with the Wi-Fi 6.
Can I set one device to priority status in the AX6000?
Yes you can. It will not affect the overall speeds, and other devices might not notice a slowdown either way. Other than this, it can aggregate the Ethernet connections by amplifying the signal, and boosting it to reach a larger space. It also uses Airtime Fairness software to allow every device to get the best speeds.
