The TP-Link Archer AXE75 is an accessible way to add a third wireless band when a home has devices that can use 6 GHz. It keeps the familiar combination of a phone app, browser controls and several Ethernet connections, rather than requiring a complete mesh-system replacement.
The hardware version matters more than the model name suggests. The newer V2 gains a 2.5-gigabit port, while the original V1 has only Gigabit Ethernet. There is also a less welcome change for shared storage: V2 uses USB 2.0 where V1 supplied USB 3.0.
Design and Configuration
- Single router
- Six external antennas
- V1 and V2 hardware
The AXE75 is a conventional desktop router with six antennas and an external power adapter. Give it an open position with room around the antennas. Hiding it behind a television or inside a cabinet works against the reason for adding a useful wireless connection.
V1 and V2 share the AXE75 name, but their rear connections and USB interfaces differ. Check the hardware label when choosing firmware or comparing an older review with a current listing. The current 2.5-gigabit version is the more useful choice for faster broadband; the older model still deserves consideration if it is already meeting your needs.
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz
- Up to 160 MHz channels
The extra 6 GHz band gives compatible devices another place to connect without sharing that band with older Wi-Fi equipment. This can help a busy home with suitable laptops and phones, especially near the router. Devices that only support 2.4 or 5 GHz continue to use those bands and cannot gain a 6 GHz connection through a software setting.
Both hardware versions advertise the same radio-rate ceilings. That does not establish identical measured performance: their hardware differs, and room layout, clients and firmware affect results. The combined AXE5400 label is also not a single-device speed.
In PC Gamer’s June 2024 review, the older all-Gigabit AXE75 delivered a faster nearby connection on 5 GHz than on 6 GHz in the reviewer’s suburban home.1 That is a useful reminder to try the available bands with your own devices. It is not a measurement of the newer V2, and the article does not identify the test client or firmware.
Connectivity
- V2: 1 × 2.5 Gb/s and 4 × Gigabit
- V1: 5 × Gigabit
V2 has one 2.5-gigabit WAN/LAN port, one Gigabit WAN/LAN port and three Gigabit LAN ports. Use the faster connection for an appropriate broadband service, or use the Gigabit WAN connection and reserve the 2.5-gigabit port for a local device.
There is only one faster port. You cannot connect both a multi-gigabit modem and a multi-gigabit NAS at their full wired rates through this router alone. If both are priorities, look for multiple faster ports rather than assuming a switch can remove the router’s bottleneck.
V1 has a dedicated Gigabit Internet connection and four Gigabit LAN ports. That remains suitable for many home networks, but the newer hardware’s faster port is a tangible improvement when your connection or local equipment can use it.
USB Storage
- V2: USB 2.0
- V1: USB 3.0
- File and media sharing
Both versions can share a suitable attached drive, with Samba, FTP, media-server and Time Machine functions documented. This is convenient for an occasional shared folder or a basic backup destination without leaving a separate computer running.
The move to USB 2.0 on V2 reduces the interface bandwidth available to that drive. It does not tell us the exact file-transfer speed of either version, but it is a real tradeoff if USB storage is central to your setup. A dedicated NAS remains a better fit for more demanding storage management.
Software and Mesh Networking
- Tether app and browser
- HomeShield
- EasyMesh
Tether provides phone management, while the browser interface offers detailed settings. HomeShield combines included basic features with paid options for advanced parental controls and security. Check the current service features if a specific family rule is essential.
VPN client and server functions are available, with protocol support tied to the hardware and firmware. Current V2 documentation includes WireGuard alongside OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP; the V1 specifications establish the latter three. Match the documentation to the device rather than assuming every AXE75 has the newest protocol list.
Current support includes EasyMesh and Ethernet backhaul with compatible equipment. V1 gained that capability through firmware in 2024, so older OneMesh-only descriptions are incomplete. A wired connection to an added node can help a hard-to-reach room, while a wireless node still needs a good signal from the main router. Archer EasyMesh and Deco remain separate mesh families.
Alternatives
The Archer AX55 is a reasonable alternative when your devices do not need 6 GHz. It provides dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit ports and USB 3.0 sharing. Choose on the connections you will use and the current price difference, rather than the larger combined wireless number.
For a home already using the original AXE75 successfully, V2 is a selective upgrade. Its faster Ethernet connection can matter, but the wireless specification is familiar and USB takes a step back. If several multi-gigabit wired devices or Wi-Fi 7 features are the goal, a router that supplies those capabilities is a more substantial change.
Verdict
The Archer AXE75 makes sense for someone who can use 6 GHz and wants a conventional router with flexible management. I would favor V2 for its faster Ethernet connection, provided USB storage is a secondary task. Existing V1 owners have a reason to upgrade only when that new connection solves a real limitation.