MikroTik - hAP ax3 Access Point with 4-Core 1.8GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, 4X GLAN, 1x2.5G LAN, US Version

This is the best router you can buy! Of course, it's not plug and play, and you have to figure out the settings, but you can only get this kind of reliability, hardware power, and flexibility in industrial routers that cost thousands of dollars. This is a router from the "set it and forget it" series, unless you need to change any of the million settings. You can do literally anything with it. The best hardware purchase!

i've been in IT for basically my entire life, so i'm no stranger to configuring routers and switches and putting together a network, using iptables/nftables, working with vlans, making ethernet cables by hand etc. i've done it all and i do it all every day for a living. at home i've used various netgear switches flashed with dd-wrt (which is AWFUL) or openwrt (which is pretty decent with good hardware support) but this upgrade cycle i decided that i didn't want to have to flash whatever i got to make it good and something with super good, bleeding edge software so i got something with a good operating system preinstalled for me and from a brand that i heard lots of good things about from friends and colleagues. that was a GOOD CHOICE, HOLY HECK. this thing is unreal in how fast and configurable it is. it's SO EASY to configure this thing, even over ssh! winbox too, while looking pretty dated, gets the job DONE. this router is jam-packed with features that are all presented in a dense but highly functional manner and once you get the hang of how things work, it flat performs. definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you've got any kind of networking experience it's a dream to work with. i was able to configure this router and have it swapped with my old one in like 30 minutes with no hiccups, even with swapping the internet port from 1 to 5 so i could use the poe and 2.5gbe for stuff inside my network. in short: home router with good hardware coupled to a powerful operating system out of the box, no flashing required. gobs of documentation online. definitely going to get more mikrotik stuff for my network in the future.

Mikrotik is so incredibly underrated - it's a shame. I've used Ubiquiti, TP Link, and several other brands, but always find a way back to Mikrotik. Disclaimer, it is NOT for everyone and those looking for a simple plug-and-play should probably look elsewhere. That said, if you are a power user, someone who enjoys the networking rabbit hole, or a SMB, this is a great device. Mikrotik gives you access to the same powerful software at different hardware entry points and I've probably learned more from the Mikrotik devices than any other networking book or course. There's definitely a learning curve, but it's an incredibly reliable device that is rich with features and functionality. Finally, referring to this specific product, the WiFi coverage is great, provides strong signal, and can easily handle a large number of both active, high-bandwidth clients + passive/IoT devices

This is a great unit, especially upgrading from a Archer C7 unit. WiFi is fast enough, as I don't have gigabit internet so it's more than sufficient, and I'd use Ethernet for anything demanding gigabit speeds anyways. You should know ahead of time that MicroTik products do require a little more knowledge than typical consumer routers, but it gives you a lot more flexibility and control than others do. There's a lot of content online that you can read. I will say my only complaint is that the quick start guide included is NOT correct at all. You need to connect a PC hardware directly to the first Ethernet port and connect to it using the gateway address of the modem as your static IP on the PC. From reading forums, this apparently wasn't always the case, so this part may vary depending on installed firmware. Still, the quick start guide should have mentioned this. Once I got that finally figured out, it was a breeze to get everything else set up.

MikroTik X3: A Disappointment in 5GHz Connectivity and WiFi 6 After testing the MikroTik X3, my experience was quite frustrating—especially if you're expecting to benefit from its advertised WiFi 6 support. Here are the main issues I encountered: • Weak or nonexistent 5GHz signal: On multiple devices, the 5GHz network simply wouldn’t show up. And when it did, it was impossible to connect. The only stable connection was on 2.4GHz, which seriously limits performance. • WiFi 6 that doesn’t deliver: Although the device claims support for 802.11ax, I couldn’t establish a functional connection using that standard. The experience felt more like a basic router than a next-gen one. • No solution despite multiple attempts: I tried different channels, security settings, firmware updates, and power adjustments—none of it worked. The issue seems rooted in hardware or poor software implementation. 📉 Verdict: If you're looking for a reliable router to take advantage of WiFi 6 or a strong 5GHz signal, the MikroTik X3 is not the one. There are more stable and functional alternatives in the same price range.

Hands down the most bang for the buck in terms of network solutions at an affordable price.

As an overall router this is a powerhouse. Once you learn the mikrotik configuration and understand how it works, it provides a lot of flexibility and professional grade features. My only complaint is that it has very poor 5Ghz coverage. I had an inexpensive wifi router that had much better 5Ghz coverage in the same location. I continue to work on configuration and antenna placements but I am not seeing improvements in the 5Ghz coverage. The other features I love: hotspot configuration for guest hot spots (captive portals), ability to create isolated networks based on how they're accessed and wireguard VPN support.

It’s a Mikrotik, so if you don’t know the rocket surgery version of router configuration, you’re in for a world of hurt. But if you’re familiar with the pain, this is a very fast and reliable router. I use it with a 500Mbps internet connection, and alongside an Pi-Hole and a Netgear RAX200 in AP mode, that enables very fast streaming and file transfer speeds inside my network between NAS, iPhones, media server and computers connected to it, while all messy devices like cheap smart lightbulbs, printers, robo vaccum and wifi-enabled gizmos that don’t need much speed, connect directly to the Mikrotik’s 2.4 radio. The 5Ghz radio is off on it. I don’t remember last time I had to reset anything or having a device lose connection.