Name: GL.iNet Flint 3
Brand: GL.iNet

The Flint 3 gives a desk full of equipment something many fast wireless routers leave out: enough 2.5 GbE ports to connect a desktop, storage and another wired device without immediately buying a switch. It also gives newer wireless clients a 6 GHz band. The decision is less clear if the problem you need to fix is a weak signal at the far end of the house.

Wireless Performance

Tri-band Wi-Fi 7
2.4, 5 and 6 GHz
Flint 2 comparison

RTINGS found excellent nearby performance on the Flint 3, while the older Flint 2 did better farther away on 5 GHz. The newer 6 GHz radio is most valuable when a compatible laptop can use it reasonably close to the router. One difficult upstairs room is a placement or additional-node question before it is a Wi-Fi generation question. ¹

Wired Connectivity & VPN

5 × 2.5 GbE
Configurable second WAN
Up to 680 Mbps VPN in GL.iNet tests

One 2.5 GbE port is the dedicated WAN and four serve LAN devices, with LAN1 available as another WAN. Dual WAN does not turn an individual jack into a 5 GbE connection. GL.iNet rates WireGuard and accelerated OpenVPN at up to 680 Mbps in its tests. The VPN provider, remote server and chosen protocol can all lower the actual result.

Wireless Specifications

Up to 320 MHz on 6 GHz
5 GHz: up to 2,882 Mbps
6 GHz: up to 5,765 Mbps

The Flint 3 puts its highest advertised radio rate on 6 GHz. A laptop with a compatible Wi-Fi 7 adapter can use that band and channels up to 320 MHz wide. A 5 GHz client starts from a lower radio ceiling even beside the router. In both cases the number describes a wireless link. A copy from one wired server has the additional limit of the server’s connection to a 2.5 GbE port.

Network Controls

Web administration and LuCI
AdGuard Home
Guest isolation

The web interface lets you keep visiting devices on a guest network and manage filtering centrally through AdGuard Home. That can be useful for a television or console with few controls of its own. LuCI provides more detailed OpenWrt administration for an owner who wants to manage the network locally. For a family relying on work logins or school sites, set up the guest and filtering rules separately and test the sites those devices actually need.

Failover & Mesh Expansion

LAN1 can serve as WAN
EasyMesh from firmware 4.10
Ethernet or wireless backhaul

Reassign LAN1 to a backup internet connection and three of the four original LAN ports remain for local equipment. A wired mesh node can take one more. Count the desktop, NAS and access points before deciding whether the built-in switch is large enough. GL.iNet documents EasyMesh for this model under firmware 4.10, so check both routers’ firmware and supported roles before buying a second unit to extend coverage.

Alternatives

The dual-band Flint 2 remains a sensible comparison for existing 5 GHz devices. Current GL.iNet firmware documentation also lists the Flint 3 for EasyMesh on version 4.10. Check firmware before planning around that feature, particularly if reading an older router test.

Verdict

Buy the Flint 3 for the combination of wired capacity, nearby 6 GHz and VPN control. If you are paying mainly to fix one dead room, address the route between that room and the router first.

GL.iNet Flint 3 review

Pros

Cons