Linksys Mesh Wifi 5 Router, Tri-Band, 2,000 Sq. Ft Coverage, 20+ Devices, Speeds Up to (AC2200) 2.2Gbps - MR8300
Enjoy up to double the performance of a dual-band router with this Wi-Fi router. MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology sends Wi-Fi to multiple devices at the same time and same speed. Four Gigabit Ethernet ports let you connect more devices and share files 10 times faster than with standard Ethernet. The ultra-fast USB 3.0 port is great for connecting shared network storage devices as well as a range of other peripherals. Four adjustable antennas provide four powerful streams of data to your devices for complete coverage and faster Internet speeds wherever you are. Auto firmware upgrade automatically pushes the software update to your router overnight to seamlessly bring the latest features and security to your network. Smart Connect balances your 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections and intelligently chooses the best radio band for your devices for the best Wi-Fi performance of your network. Router also includes guest access, beamforming technology and more.
Enjoy up to double the performance of a dual-band router with this Wi-Fi router. MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology sends Wi-Fi to multiple devices at the same time and same speed. Four Gigabit Ethernet ports let you connect more devices and share files 10 times faster than with standard Ethernet. The ultra-fast USB 3.0 port is great for connecting shared network storage devices as well as a range of other peripherals. Four adjustable antennas provide four powerful streams of data to your devices for complete coverage and faster Internet speeds wherever you are. Auto firmware upgrade automatically pushes the software update to your router overnight to seamlessly bring the latest features and security to your network. Smart Connect balances your 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections and intelligently chooses the best radio band for your devices for the best Wi-Fi performance of your network. Router also includes guest access, beamforming technology and more.
Enjoy up to double the performance of a dual-band router with this Wi-Fi router. MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology sends Wi-Fi to multiple devices at the same time and same speed. Four Gigabit Ethernet ports let you connect more devices and share files 10 times faster than with standard Ethernet. The ultra-fast USB 3.0 port is great for connecting shared network storage devices as well as a range of other peripherals. Four adjustable antennas provide four powerful streams of data to your devices for complete coverage and faster Internet speeds wherever you are. Auto firmware upgrade automatically pushes the software update to your router overnight to seamlessly bring the latest features and security to your network. Smart Connect balances your 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections and intelligently chooses the best radio band for your devices for the best Wi-Fi performance of your network. Router also includes guest access, beamforming technology and more.
Enjoy up to double the performance of a dual-band router with this Wi-Fi router. MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology sends Wi-Fi to multiple devices at the same time and same speed. Four Gigabit Ethernet ports let you connect more devices and share files 10 times faster than with standard Ethernet. The ultra-fast USB 3.0 port is great for connecting shared network storage devices as well as a range of other peripherals. Four adjustable antennas provide four powerful streams of data to your devices for complete coverage and faster Internet speeds wherever you are. Auto firmware upgrade automatically pushes the software update to your router overnight to seamlessly bring the latest features and security to your network. Smart Connect balances your 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections and intelligently chooses the best radio band for your devices for the best Wi-Fi performance of your network. Router also includes guest access, beamforming technology and more.
in 5 offers
The lowest price for Linksys Mesh Wifi 5 Router, Tri-Band, 2,000 Sq. Ft Coverage, 20+ Devices, Speeds Up to (AC2200) 2.2Gbps - MR8300 right now is $70.41 at eBay.com.au, compared across 5 retailers.
The all-time low was $42.95 on 21 Feb 2025 — today's price is 64% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 16 Oct 2026.
Last updated at 16/10/2026 05:45:53
Linksys Mesh Wifi 5 Router, Tri-band, 2,000 Sq. Ft Coverage, Supports
Delivery $49.24
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
MR8300 Mesh Wi-Fi Router - Tri-Band speeds up to 2.2GHz, Wireless Mesh Router for Home AC2200, 716Mhz Quad-core Processor, 2,000 sq. ft Coverage
Delivery between 22–25 Oct $29
MR8300 Mesh Wi-Fi Router - Tri-Band speeds up to 2.2GHz, Wireless Mesh Router for Home AC2200, 716Mhz Quad-core Processor, 2,000 sq. ft Coverage
Free delivery between 27–30 Oct
Linksys Mesh Wifi 5 Router, Tri-Band, 2,000 Sq. Ft Coverage, Supports Guest WiFi, Parent Control, 20+ Devices, Speeds Up To 2.2Gbps - MR8300
Delivery $28.77
Mesh Wifi 5 Router, Tri-Band, 2,000 Sq. ft Coverage, Supports Guest WiFi, Parent Control, 20+ Devices, Speeds up to (AC2200) 2.2Gbps - MR8300
Free delivery between 27–30 Oct
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Though even Linksys makes some routers that are technically “faster” than the MR8300 because of more cores or cycles in their CPUs etc., the MR8300 is still by today’s standards “fast” (716 MHz, quad-core) but that’s not the reason I have one. Where the MR8300 really shines is its easy hook-up to available Mesh Extenders to make full Wi-Fi coverage of large homes, out-buildings and even outside the house simple. No more walking from one room to another dropping Wi-Fi signals and having to return to the room with the router in it to reestablish a connection. The Linksys MR8300 Tri-Band Mesh Router with active MU-MIMO switching and optional Mesh extenders really has me and everyone in my family Wi-Fi covered and happy. Features: - Easy plug and play setup (no CD ... MoreThough even Linksys makes some routers that are technically “faster” than the MR8300 because of more cores or cycles in their CPUs etc., the MR8300 is still by today’s standards “fast” (716 MHz, quad-core) but that’s not the reason I have one. Where the MR8300 really shines is its easy hook-up to available Mesh Extenders to make full Wi-Fi coverage of large homes, out-buildings and even outside the house simple. No more walking from one room to another dropping Wi-Fi signals and having to return to the room with the router in it to reestablish a connection. The Linksys MR8300 Tri-Band Mesh Router with active MU-MIMO switching and optional Mesh extenders really has me and everyone in my family Wi-Fi covered and happy. Features: - Easy plug and play setup (no CD required) out of the box with easy to follow instructions on your device’s screen or on the paper quick-start guide. - 4 adjustable antennas allow vertical orientation whether the router body is sitting horizontally on a table or is mounted vertically on a wall. - The Tri-band (up to 2.2Gbps) output delivers both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz signals operating independently. - MU-MIMO technology means that Wi-Fi devices designed since 2017 to receive MU-MIMO will switch seamlessly between bands and the main router or Mesh units for the maximum signal available as you move through your house. - Beamforming Technology is used to focus the Wi-Fi signal between the router and your device in a narrow beam (like a lighthouse’s focused light), rather than wasting signal strength sending the signal in all directions at once. - Facilitates LAN and Wireless Network connections - Intelligent Mesh Technology adapts to the particular devices trying to use the network by “talking” directly through the ports connected via Wi-Fi at the moment and not wasting precious milli-seconds switching through ports unused at the moment with every CPU Clock cycle. This reduces Lag and Latency during gameplay. Intelligent Mesh Technology is also “Self-Healing”. This term means that if one Mesh node fails or is unplugged, the rest of the nodes will take over for the missing node. Also, if a new Mesh Node is plugged in, the rest of the Nodes will automatically incorporate it into the total Mesh in the most effective way possible. This intelligent switching can handle between 1 and 15 devices simultaneously in the most effective way possible. - Works with all of the latest security protocols in WPA/WPA2 and SPI Firewall. - The Quad-core CPU operates at 716 MHz for fast data transfer speeds. - 1 Year Limited Warranty on Parts PROS: - A Top Spec, High Performance Modem - Easy set-up with Linksys App - Attractive design - Very compact for its power - Well cooled with efficient quiet convection vents - Handles all of the latest Wi-Fi and Internet connection protocols - VERY easy to increase the range of the main MR8300 Router’s Wi-Fi network at any time by plugging optional (not included) Mess extenders like the Linksys AC1300 unit into any 120v wall outlet. Linksys App helps you locate the extender for maximum effect in the total network. CONS: - After a couple of weeks of use I honestly could not think of a single negative in the great increase in speed and range for my home Wi-Fi network that the MR8300 gave me. If I do find anything negative in the next few months, I will edit my review accordingly.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Caught this on sale the day after Christmas, seems it was Linksys that dropped the price but I grabbed it at my local Best Buy. Initial setup via the Linksys app was tedious but immediately thereafter I replaced the stock firmware with OpenWRT 21.02.1 and moved this in as my main router, which previously was an EA6350B v4. Joins an Linksys EA6350v3, a Linksys 1900ACS, and a TP Link Archer C7v5 access points, all running OpenWRT. I can’t really speak to range etc because my house is both multistory and had steel studs, therefore while-house WiFi requires multiple access points. That said, Linksys has seemingly dropped its WRT lineup, so it was tough finding a quad-core OpenWRT ready router till I read up in this. It’s be overkill for a dumb AP (I’d use more TP Link ... MoreCaught this on sale the day after Christmas, seems it was Linksys that dropped the price but I grabbed it at my local Best Buy. Initial setup via the Linksys app was tedious but immediately thereafter I replaced the stock firmware with OpenWRT 21.02.1 and moved this in as my main router, which previously was an EA6350B v4. Joins an Linksys EA6350v3, a Linksys 1900ACS, and a TP Link Archer C7v5 access points, all running OpenWRT. I can’t really speak to range etc because my house is both multistory and had steel studs, therefore while-house WiFi requires multiple access points. That said, Linksys has seemingly dropped its WRT lineup, so it was tough finding a quad-core OpenWRT ready router till I read up in this. It’s be overkill for a dumb AP (I’d use more TP Link C7s for that, but they’re only single-core) but a great replacement main router. A very nice find!
originally posted on linksys.com
Setup: 5/5 I just got through replacing my old Linksys EA7500 router with my new MR8300 mesh router with two Velop tri-band nodes. I used the desktop Smart WiFi app (on Chrome) to configure and administer the router, and I used (no choice) the Smart WiFi mobile app on an iPhone 7 Plus to install the nodes. It's an easy setup if you are building a brand new WiFi network. But if you are upgrading an existing non-mesh WiFi network, and want to use the same network name, passwords, and connected devices, you WILL have to reconnect the devices to the new mesh network, as otherwise, your devices will be looking for the router for a signal as opposed to looking for the best signal provided by the additional nodes installed in your mesh network. Also, some devices wouldn't ... MoreSetup: 5/5 I just got through replacing my old Linksys EA7500 router with my new MR8300 mesh router with two Velop tri-band nodes. I used the desktop Smart WiFi app (on Chrome) to configure and administer the router, and I used (no choice) the Smart WiFi mobile app on an iPhone 7 Plus to install the nodes. It's an easy setup if you are building a brand new WiFi network. But if you are upgrading an existing non-mesh WiFi network, and want to use the same network name, passwords, and connected devices, you WILL have to reconnect the devices to the new mesh network, as otherwise, your devices will be looking for the router for a signal as opposed to looking for the best signal provided by the additional nodes installed in your mesh network. Also, some devices wouldn't connect at all unless I manually reconnected them to the new mesh network. Not that big of a deal, but it takes a little extra time to reconnect all of your devices...about an hour or so spanning 31 devices. Range: 5/5 The range of the MR8300 is definitely better than the EA7500. And using Velop tri-band nodes with the MR8300 is definitely better than using an RE7000 range extender with my old EA7500 router. My goal was not only to blanket high-speed WiFi signal inside of my small ranch home and basement, but to also have high-speed WiFi access in my detached garage, which I accomplished with my new setup. Bear in mind that my detached garage sits to the west of my home, and where my new mesh router is situated just inside the northeast outer corner walls of my home. I placed one Velop tri-band node in my living room (center of the house), and the other node inside of my garage...no problems whatsoever throughout the house and basement, and I have great WiFi speed in the garage. Reliability: Unknown (5/5?) While I cannot provide a proper reliability review since the unit is still brand new for me, if it's as reliable as the EA7500 was, I will also give the new MR8300 a 5-star reliability review as well. In the short time I have used it however, it has functioned extremely well. Administration Tools: 3/5 My biggest beef with Linksys has to do with their admin tools. I am not a fan of mobile WiFi administration, and prefer the old school desktop administration tools personally. Luckily with the MR8300, while Linksys encourages you to setup your router with the mobile app, you CAN still accomplish this with the desktop app. Where you will have NO choice but to use the mobile app however, is connecting a Velop node to the router. It's easy to do no doubt, but all WiFi administration should be accessible via a desktop browser. Moreover, after many years, Linksys has STILL not updated their connected device icon list, nor can you upload your own to the admin tool. In the year 2020, device icons for blu-ray/4K players, smart watches, remote control hubs, streaming devices, audio/video receivers, and much more, should be available to choose from in my connected device list. Out of my 31 WiFi connected devices, about half of them have "generic device" icons associated with them...that's ugly. Overall 4.5/5 On the whole, I am very satisfied with my new MR8300 mesh router. If you are looking to upgrade to a new mesh WiFi network, you won't be disappointed with this unit. *Note* My MR8300 did NOT come with a plug-in Velop, dual-band node. Previous reviewers of this device reported that their routers DID come with one of these plug-in Velop nodes. Not that it matters to me, as my separately purchased Velop tri-band nodes provide better speed for my WiFi network, but someone else may need to save the up front cost initially.
| Connectivity | Wireless |
| Gigabit Ethernet | Yes |
| Brand | Linksys |
| Wireless Standard | Wireless-AC, Wireless-N |
| Wireless Band Count | Tri-band |
Linksys Mesh Wifi 5 Router, Tri-band, 2,000 Sq. Ft Coverage, Supports
Delivery $49.24
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
MR8300 Mesh Wi-Fi Router - Tri-Band speeds up to 2.2GHz, Wireless Mesh Router for Home AC2200, 716Mhz Quad-core Processor, 2,000 sq. ft Coverage
Delivery between 22–25 Oct $29
MR8300 Mesh Wi-Fi Router - Tri-Band speeds up to 2.2GHz, Wireless Mesh Router for Home AC2200, 716Mhz Quad-core Processor, 2,000 sq. ft Coverage
Free delivery between 27–30 Oct
Linksys Mesh Wifi 5 Router, Tri-Band, 2,000 Sq. Ft Coverage, Supports Guest WiFi, Parent Control, 20+ Devices, Speeds Up To 2.2Gbps - MR8300
Delivery $28.77
Mesh Wifi 5 Router, Tri-Band, 2,000 Sq. ft Coverage, Supports Guest WiFi, Parent Control, 20+ Devices, Speeds up to (AC2200) 2.2Gbps - MR8300
Free delivery between 27–30 Oct
Though even Linksys makes some routers that are technically “faster” than the MR8300 because of more cores or cycles in their CPUs etc., the MR8300 is still by today’s standards “fast” (716 MHz, quad-core) but that’s not the reason I have one. Where the MR8300 really shines is its easy hook-up to available Mesh Extenders to make full Wi-Fi coverage of large homes, out-buildings and even outside the house simple. No more walking from one room to another dropping Wi-Fi signals and having to return to the room with the router in it to reestablish a connection. The Linksys MR8300 Tri-Band Mesh Router with active MU-MIMO switching and optional Mesh extenders really has me and everyone in my family Wi-Fi covered and happy. Features: - Easy plug and play setup (no CD ... MoreThough even Linksys makes some routers that are technically “faster” than the MR8300 because of more cores or cycles in their CPUs etc., the MR8300 is still by today’s standards “fast” (716 MHz, quad-core) but that’s not the reason I have one. Where the MR8300 really shines is its easy hook-up to available Mesh Extenders to make full Wi-Fi coverage of large homes, out-buildings and even outside the house simple. No more walking from one room to another dropping Wi-Fi signals and having to return to the room with the router in it to reestablish a connection. The Linksys MR8300 Tri-Band Mesh Router with active MU-MIMO switching and optional Mesh extenders really has me and everyone in my family Wi-Fi covered and happy. Features: - Easy plug and play setup (no CD required) out of the box with easy to follow instructions on your device’s screen or on the paper quick-start guide. - 4 adjustable antennas allow vertical orientation whether the router body is sitting horizontally on a table or is mounted vertically on a wall. - The Tri-band (up to 2.2Gbps) output delivers both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz signals operating independently. - MU-MIMO technology means that Wi-Fi devices designed since 2017 to receive MU-MIMO will switch seamlessly between bands and the main router or Mesh units for the maximum signal available as you move through your house. - Beamforming Technology is used to focus the Wi-Fi signal between the router and your device in a narrow beam (like a lighthouse’s focused light), rather than wasting signal strength sending the signal in all directions at once. - Facilitates LAN and Wireless Network connections - Intelligent Mesh Technology adapts to the particular devices trying to use the network by “talking” directly through the ports connected via Wi-Fi at the moment and not wasting precious milli-seconds switching through ports unused at the moment with every CPU Clock cycle. This reduces Lag and Latency during gameplay. Intelligent Mesh Technology is also “Self-Healing”. This term means that if one Mesh node fails or is unplugged, the rest of the nodes will take over for the missing node. Also, if a new Mesh Node is plugged in, the rest of the Nodes will automatically incorporate it into the total Mesh in the most effective way possible. This intelligent switching can handle between 1 and 15 devices simultaneously in the most effective way possible. - Works with all of the latest security protocols in WPA/WPA2 and SPI Firewall. - The Quad-core CPU operates at 716 MHz for fast data transfer speeds. - 1 Year Limited Warranty on Parts PROS: - A Top Spec, High Performance Modem - Easy set-up with Linksys App - Attractive design - Very compact for its power - Well cooled with efficient quiet convection vents - Handles all of the latest Wi-Fi and Internet connection protocols - VERY easy to increase the range of the main MR8300 Router’s Wi-Fi network at any time by plugging optional (not included) Mess extenders like the Linksys AC1300 unit into any 120v wall outlet. Linksys App helps you locate the extender for maximum effect in the total network. CONS: - After a couple of weeks of use I honestly could not think of a single negative in the great increase in speed and range for my home Wi-Fi network that the MR8300 gave me. If I do find anything negative in the next few months, I will edit my review accordingly.
Caught this on sale the day after Christmas, seems it was Linksys that dropped the price but I grabbed it at my local Best Buy. Initial setup via the Linksys app was tedious but immediately thereafter I replaced the stock firmware with OpenWRT 21.02.1 and moved this in as my main router, which previously was an EA6350B v4. Joins an Linksys EA6350v3, a Linksys 1900ACS, and a TP Link Archer C7v5 access points, all running OpenWRT. I can’t really speak to range etc because my house is both multistory and had steel studs, therefore while-house WiFi requires multiple access points. That said, Linksys has seemingly dropped its WRT lineup, so it was tough finding a quad-core OpenWRT ready router till I read up in this. It’s be overkill for a dumb AP (I’d use more TP Link ... MoreCaught this on sale the day after Christmas, seems it was Linksys that dropped the price but I grabbed it at my local Best Buy. Initial setup via the Linksys app was tedious but immediately thereafter I replaced the stock firmware with OpenWRT 21.02.1 and moved this in as my main router, which previously was an EA6350B v4. Joins an Linksys EA6350v3, a Linksys 1900ACS, and a TP Link Archer C7v5 access points, all running OpenWRT. I can’t really speak to range etc because my house is both multistory and had steel studs, therefore while-house WiFi requires multiple access points. That said, Linksys has seemingly dropped its WRT lineup, so it was tough finding a quad-core OpenWRT ready router till I read up in this. It’s be overkill for a dumb AP (I’d use more TP Link C7s for that, but they’re only single-core) but a great replacement main router. A very nice find!
Setup: 5/5 I just got through replacing my old Linksys EA7500 router with my new MR8300 mesh router with two Velop tri-band nodes. I used the desktop Smart WiFi app (on Chrome) to configure and administer the router, and I used (no choice) the Smart WiFi mobile app on an iPhone 7 Plus to install the nodes. It's an easy setup if you are building a brand new WiFi network. But if you are upgrading an existing non-mesh WiFi network, and want to use the same network name, passwords, and connected devices, you WILL have to reconnect the devices to the new mesh network, as otherwise, your devices will be looking for the router for a signal as opposed to looking for the best signal provided by the additional nodes installed in your mesh network. Also, some devices wouldn't ... MoreSetup: 5/5 I just got through replacing my old Linksys EA7500 router with my new MR8300 mesh router with two Velop tri-band nodes. I used the desktop Smart WiFi app (on Chrome) to configure and administer the router, and I used (no choice) the Smart WiFi mobile app on an iPhone 7 Plus to install the nodes. It's an easy setup if you are building a brand new WiFi network. But if you are upgrading an existing non-mesh WiFi network, and want to use the same network name, passwords, and connected devices, you WILL have to reconnect the devices to the new mesh network, as otherwise, your devices will be looking for the router for a signal as opposed to looking for the best signal provided by the additional nodes installed in your mesh network. Also, some devices wouldn't connect at all unless I manually reconnected them to the new mesh network. Not that big of a deal, but it takes a little extra time to reconnect all of your devices...about an hour or so spanning 31 devices. Range: 5/5 The range of the MR8300 is definitely better than the EA7500. And using Velop tri-band nodes with the MR8300 is definitely better than using an RE7000 range extender with my old EA7500 router. My goal was not only to blanket high-speed WiFi signal inside of my small ranch home and basement, but to also have high-speed WiFi access in my detached garage, which I accomplished with my new setup. Bear in mind that my detached garage sits to the west of my home, and where my new mesh router is situated just inside the northeast outer corner walls of my home. I placed one Velop tri-band node in my living room (center of the house), and the other node inside of my garage...no problems whatsoever throughout the house and basement, and I have great WiFi speed in the garage. Reliability: Unknown (5/5?) While I cannot provide a proper reliability review since the unit is still brand new for me, if it's as reliable as the EA7500 was, I will also give the new MR8300 a 5-star reliability review as well. In the short time I have used it however, it has functioned extremely well. Administration Tools: 3/5 My biggest beef with Linksys has to do with their admin tools. I am not a fan of mobile WiFi administration, and prefer the old school desktop administration tools personally. Luckily with the MR8300, while Linksys encourages you to setup your router with the mobile app, you CAN still accomplish this with the desktop app. Where you will have NO choice but to use the mobile app however, is connecting a Velop node to the router. It's easy to do no doubt, but all WiFi administration should be accessible via a desktop browser. Moreover, after many years, Linksys has STILL not updated their connected device icon list, nor can you upload your own to the admin tool. In the year 2020, device icons for blu-ray/4K players, smart watches, remote control hubs, streaming devices, audio/video receivers, and much more, should be available to choose from in my connected device list. Out of my 31 WiFi connected devices, about half of them have "generic device" icons associated with them...that's ugly. Overall 4.5/5 On the whole, I am very satisfied with my new MR8300 mesh router. If you are looking to upgrade to a new mesh WiFi network, you won't be disappointed with this unit. *Note* My MR8300 did NOT come with a plug-in Velop, dual-band node. Previous reviewers of this device reported that their routers DID come with one of these plug-in Velop nodes. Not that it matters to me, as my separately purchased Velop tri-band nodes provide better speed for my WiFi network, but someone else may need to save the up front cost initially.
When I cut the cord on cable and went with fiber internet, I knew I would need to upgrade my wi-fi modem. On the techie scale, with 10 being super-duper techie, I’m probably a 4. I know just enough to do a lot of research and get very confused. I settled on the Linksys AC2200 Tri-band Mesh Wi-Fi 5 with one of the Linksys Velop Plug-In AC 1300 Dual Band Wi-Fi- Mesh Extender for additional areas in the back of the house. I’ve had it a month and I’ve had great reception throughout the house in every corner. And really, isn’t that what we all want, plug it in, all your devices work great and forget about it? I have no regrets and would absolutely purchase this modem and extender again.
Let me get this out of the way: I've had heartache with Linksys before. Had an issue with their app (THEIR OWN APP) and the "help center" wanted $29.99 to troubleshoot and resolve. To me, that's not how business should be done. But, like Apple, though I may despise their business practices I can't deny the quality of their product. I upgraded from the AC1750 to this after reading the CNET and PCMag reviews - and it was half off, to boot. For my first foray into mesh networking, this was a pretty good intro. Install the app, follow the directions, should be a piece of cake. It's pretty thoroughly dumbed down as well, so that's helpful. However, ran into an issue where it couldn't connect to the cloud to finish doing something related to my account, and it went into a ... MoreLet me get this out of the way: I've had heartache with Linksys before. Had an issue with their app (THEIR OWN APP) and the "help center" wanted $29.99 to troubleshoot and resolve. To me, that's not how business should be done. But, like Apple, though I may despise their business practices I can't deny the quality of their product. I upgraded from the AC1750 to this after reading the CNET and PCMag reviews - and it was half off, to boot. For my first foray into mesh networking, this was a pretty good intro. Install the app, follow the directions, should be a piece of cake. It's pretty thoroughly dumbed down as well, so that's helpful. However, ran into an issue where it couldn't connect to the cloud to finish doing something related to my account, and it went into a cyclic reboot/retry process that never got resolved. Went online for troubleshooting assistance, found that my issue was far from unique, but the Linksys support folks were less than helpful across numerous boards. Figured it out myself by connecting my phone to the temporary Wifi source provided by the router setup using the password under the router itself, but this is not part of the official troubleshooting procedure and is far removed from someone who has little to understanding of network functionality. My wife, for instance, would've straight up returned this and called it defective. Once that hiccup was resolved, the (much improved but still meh) app allowed me to name/tweak the icons of my various Wifi receptacles (tons of icons to choose from, even one that matched my Roomba). It allows you to prioritize devices (up to three) that will demand the very best of the available bandwidth, but for someone like me that has roughly 10-12 devices spread out across four family members at any given time, I hesitate to put a stranglehold on any one set of devices. The parental controls section hides the ability to turn off the Wifi for a given device (planned or otherwise) - mighty helpful to get the kids to do what they need to do. Range is good thus far; I have the router in the master bedroom and my smart TV/Xbox One downstairs roughly as far as they can get from the router seem to have no issue connecting and streaming video on playing online. Not having to manually select a frequency band is a plus, as trying to monitor what devices were riding which band was always somewhat tedious and limited their capabilities - this router chooses the best based on signal strength and available load-shared bandwidth across both the 2.4 and two separate 5 GHz channels - much more hands off. Overall satisfied, may add a relay to the mesh if I find that too many devices downstairs are causing sluggishness in the future, but everything seems to be perfectly fine thus far -- nice to have that as an option though.
Linksys MR8300 What’s in the box ————————— * Linksys MR8300 Max Stream™ AC2200 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi Router * Ethernet cable * Power adapter * Owner's manual Pros —— * Easy App based setup, yet functions as a regular router (you can access the controls through web browser) * Works with Velop Mesh Routers * Excellent range even without Velop mesh * 4 Gigabit ports onboard of this router * MU-MIMO support for multi-device speedy access of internet * Guest access - so that you don’t have to share the wifi password with your friends when they are home and waiting to use the internet * Parental controls. - Monitor your kids activities & set schedule * 1 USB 3 interface for connecting hard drive if needed Cons —— * There is no way to get around the app based setup first ... MoreLinksys MR8300 What’s in the box ————————— * Linksys MR8300 Max Stream™ AC2200 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi Router * Ethernet cable * Power adapter * Owner's manual Pros —— * Easy App based setup, yet functions as a regular router (you can access the controls through web browser) * Works with Velop Mesh Routers * Excellent range even without Velop mesh * 4 Gigabit ports onboard of this router * MU-MIMO support for multi-device speedy access of internet * Guest access - so that you don’t have to share the wifi password with your friends when they are home and waiting to use the internet * Parental controls. - Monitor your kids activities & set schedule * 1 USB 3 interface for connecting hard drive if needed Cons —— * There is no way to get around the app based setup first time around. But once you are setup, you can login into the router * Cannot setup different SSID for 2.4 and 5GHZ while setup The Review —————— I am coming off a ASUS RT68U AC-1900 which is a pretty good router and it actually covers my 3000 soft pretty well. Now, I can say that this workhorse can beat the ASUS router by a wide margin and when paired with one Velop node, it can really sing! I also got a velop node to pair alongside with this router and I can get a full 100Mbps download speed at every point in my house (my internet speed is 100/100) The setup was pretty straight forward. Download the Android app(you also have an IOS App) and then connect to the router through the default password and it has step by step on how to configure the router. Once the router is setup, the app also helps in setting up the velop nodes. Once the setup is fully complete, you can actually login into the router for complex configurations through the web Browser. Although , most of the fictionality is available on the app itself like parental controls, device prioritization, guest wifi setup etc. One thing I noted is that, if you want to setup different password for 2.4 and 5Ghz lines you will need to actually login through the router via a web browser. Once the setup is actually complete, I was able to connect 1 five tv, 1 roku, 1 smart things, a few smart devices, 4 tablets , 3 phones. The router was able to handle peak load during the time wherein a lot of devices were using the internet. I tested the prior dead spots which i had with my ASUS router and this link sys router was abler to fill in the gaps. I am very impressed. i was even able to connect a hard drive to read movies off the drive and the read/write speed was acceptable. My gripe with the prior router was that for upgrade , I had to actually login into the router, upload a file to be able to update the firmware on the router. With constant cyber crimes happening, its important to make sure the firmware on the router is always upto date. With my prior router, I might have upgraded the firmware probably one. With the link sys router, I do not have to worry about upgrading firmware as it takes care of the upgrades automatically. love the feature. Overall, I like the router, it functional, its modern and works with velop!!
PROs: - If you're surfing with anything less than AC2200 already, the MR8300 can deliver a seat-of-your pants speed boost you can see and feel without breaking the bank - Not quite as large as some of Linksys's faster offerings (man, that AC5400 unit is simply MASSIVE!), this router sports a reasonably small footprint that takes up probably about as much room as you've already got on the shelf for your existing router - Finally, a companion app that's more than just a website wrapper--this one actually has some great wizards and illustrated guides to help get you started and configured without needing a PC or even admin login credentials copied from a tiny sticker on the bottom of the unit - In a brilliant bit of usability/usefulness, the app (and therefore the ... MorePROs: - If you're surfing with anything less than AC2200 already, the MR8300 can deliver a seat-of-your pants speed boost you can see and feel without breaking the bank - Not quite as large as some of Linksys's faster offerings (man, that AC5400 unit is simply MASSIVE!), this router sports a reasonably small footprint that takes up probably about as much room as you've already got on the shelf for your existing router - Finally, a companion app that's more than just a website wrapper--this one actually has some great wizards and illustrated guides to help get you started and configured without needing a PC or even admin login credentials copied from a tiny sticker on the bottom of the unit - In a brilliant bit of usability/usefulness, the app (and therefore the router) can run a routine to examine RF spectrum congestion around both the router and mesh nodes to automatically change the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz channel assignments for optimal performance and speed--I've wanted something like this in a router for ages! - Network map/audit feature has some great customization options to make network monitoring easy (well, easier than just looking at a huge list of MAC addresses and obscure device names/codes)--you can edit the names of wireless and wired clients and the interface even has a built-in library of helpful icons to characterize your devices including product-accurate icons for many Amazon, Google, and other smart devices - Normally I resent companion apps that demand yet another e-mail and login account be created just to use it, but in this case, the Linksys app is actually pretty useful without being too intimidating and you can easily check on your network or make changes even when you're not at home - Blends seamlessly with Linksys Velop nodes (that's sort of the idea!) for virtually unattended configuration and optimization to extend and enhance the quality of your WiFi network around your entire house - 4 onboard gigabit ethernet ports allows for some serious speed at/near the router - Provides enough features an enthusiast/advanced user might want (parental controls, guest networks, device prioritization, various and sundry firewall, DMZ, and port forwarding adjustments, etc.) but does so in a plug-and-play enough fashion that even a beginner could set up a reasonably secure and functional network with minimal trips to Google for answers/explanations CONs: - Out of the box, this router is designed to reduce owner (and user) overhead and administration--which is going to be fine for many users--but as someone who has his reasons for things like maintaining separate SSIDs for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz networks, I was frustrated that the companion app not only won't allow me to administer each band separately, I can't even select one band over the other in the app, nor could I initially set up separate SSIDs without logging into the router itself - Speaking of the companion app, it's thorough, user-friendly, and offers some deep customization options and detailed information when you want to drill down for it--why the same level of detail and control is not available in the browser interface when you log directly into the router is beyond me; parity between the app and actually logging into the router would be nice (unless I've missed some magic "advanced user sauce" sprinkled somewhere in the web interface--you can't even update the firmware without going through the app) - For all its advanced capability, at least as of this writing, the USB 3.0 port is only there for "future use"...though powered, it cannot be configured/administered for things like network-attached storage or sharing a USB printer (I would imagine some Linksys firmware update or community custom firmware will eventually take care of that shortcoming) - Okay, it hasn't happened often during the past few weeks of ownership, but at least for me, I noticed a few 5Ghz clients would sometimes lose connectivity to the router momentarily (even in the middle of using the app); not lose connectivity to the Internet mind you, but to the router itself...the problem seemed to subside after I used the channel optimizer ("Channel Finder" under the app's Advanced Wi-Fi Settings Menu) and adjusted orientation of a few of the antennas but it happened often enough during my early use that I chalked it up to more than just random interference Summary review: We have a reasonably large 3 story house with close to 4500 sq feet to cover. I have a burgeoning smart home network with a host of smart bulbs, smart plugs, smart monitors & cameras, smart speakers, smart TVs, media streamers, and an appetite for online entertainment in chunks both big and small. Thanks to a few generations of hand-me-downs and a full house of students/professionals, everyone also has their own iPhone, iPad or tablet, separate PC, as well as gaming consoles, laptops and handhelds thrown in for good measure...many of which are online, co-op gaming, or streaming Netflix or Amazon at the same time. A quick audit of my router's client list yielded data on more than 60 separate wireless clients with an average of 35-40 online at any given time. We live in a reasonably dense suburban neighborhood and while our lots aren't zero-footprint, I can easily pull up a dozen or more SSIDs from the nearby houses at any given time. Suffice it to say, we have a lot of RF traffic in and around our house carrying a lot of ones and zeroes back and forth to a lot of different devices, many of which are carving out reasonably large chunks of our bandwidth at one time or another. Speaking of which, I pay for 200 mbps class cable service and until now had been serving up that pipe using the venerable RT-AC68U AC1900 router with a 1.2 Gbps Powerline adapter feeding a separate Wireless N router to cover a small portion of the basement. The cable modem and 68U are fortunately in just about the center of the house so a single router has been enough to cover most of our home for most of our needs. I've been reasonably happy with my network performance, often hitting 160-170 mbps WiFi on the ground floor near the router. I give you this background simply to help you appreciate the marked improvement in performance (not to mention network streamlining/simplification) I observed moving up to the MR8300, and again to a simple Velop mesh network using a single AC1300 node. For what they are worth, the following readings were all conducted within roughly 2 hours of each other (so the possibility of changing network conditions must obviously be taken into consideration) on a Friday afternoon starting at about 2:00 pm using the fastest of 3 sequential trials on the 5Ghz network--all tests hit the same local server via the Speedtest app: Prior to installation (baseline): - Main floor, same room as router: 175 mbps down/28.5 up - Main floor, 1 room away: 164 mbps down/28.7 up - Main floor, 3 rooms away: 138 mbps down/28.4 up - Top floor bedroom: 159 mbp down/28.7 up - Basement rec room (directly below 1st floor router): 169 mbps down/28.6 up - Back of unfinished basement: 71.6 mbps down/5.71 up - Basement bathroom: no service Post installation (MR8300 only): - Main floor, same room as router: 276 mbps down/28.2 up - Main floor, 1 room away: 194 mbps down/28.6 up - Main floor, 3 rooms away: 143 mbps down/28.4 up - Top floor bedroom: 211 mbp down/28.9 up - Basement rec room (directly below 1st floor router): 213 mbps down/28.8 up - Back of unfinished basement: 88.5 mbps down/21.5 up - Basement bathroom: no service Although the router alone didn't seem to reach any further around corners or hallways than my previous router did (note the basement bathroom was still absent a 5Ghz signal), every other reading I took in every location was faster on the MR8300, some quite substantially so (even a 100+ mbps gain). For the first time ever, I was clocking [theoretical] download speeds that surpassed the limits I am supposedly paying for--way cool! In practice, of course, I'm not going to notice much difference streaming a Netflix movie when I was already pulling down over 100 mbps, but it's nice to know there's some headroom available should I decide to spring for a faster class of service down the road. But what made me a believer in the mesh concept were these numbers I obtained after adding one Velop node in the basement at the foot of the stairs: Post-post installation (MR8300 plus 1 Velop mesh node): - Basement rec room (directly below 1st floor router): 240 mbps down/29.1 up - Back of unfinished basement: 107 mbps down/21.8 up - Basement bathroom: 74.3 mbps down/28.9 up Not only were all my basement speeds faster (and yes, the app does let you see which AP your clients are connected to), but that pesky black hole in the basement bathroom was filled with 5Ghz-fueled Internet goodness--now our guests will never emerge from there! At last I can throw out that old N router and powerline adapter as the MR8300's mesh network neatly covers my entire house, even on 5Ghz channels with only a few tiny annoyances for my troubles. Bottom line, unless you're already surfing with a faster router (in which case, why are you even here?), the MR8300 was (at least for me) a plug-and-playish experience that will undoubtedly deliver you faster Internet speeds whether you choose to spring for one of the accompanying Velop mesh nodes or not. But if you've got a challenging bit of real estate you need to blanket with some speedy WiFi a la this newfangled mesh network stuff that's all the rage, this router makes one heck of a great place to start--DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED!
This replaced an older Linksys router (AC1200) and I am well pleased. Easy set up and a straight replacement using the same network names. Love the fact it can be used as part of a mesh network which will be the next step to renovate my network. Working currently with an extender this new router has stabilized my home network. Love the additional two antennas as I have an L-shaped house that is partially brick. With the extender I am able to "bend" the signal and get it down the hall to the bedrooms. A Velop node will improve the signal even more. One piece at a time, one piece at a time.
Best Buy was very good through this purchase and return. Ordered it Tuesday and received it Wednesday. Returned in on Friday. Reason: If you want a router with USB capabilities this is not the one. After the initial set up I could not get it to work at all. I checked and it did have the latest firmware. I reset the router and went through the whole setup process again. I finally was able to use the USB drive only to have it disappear while copying files. It just vanished or lost connection. I reset it again and was able to use it for about 10 minutes before it disappeared again. Tried rebooting and turning the router on and off and then called Linkysys support and confirmed that I had tried everything that they would have done and that it was most likely a machine ... MoreBest Buy was very good through this purchase and return. Ordered it Tuesday and received it Wednesday. Returned in on Friday. Reason: If you want a router with USB capabilities this is not the one. After the initial set up I could not get it to work at all. I checked and it did have the latest firmware. I reset the router and went through the whole setup process again. I finally was able to use the USB drive only to have it disappear while copying files. It just vanished or lost connection. I reset it again and was able to use it for about 10 minutes before it disappeared again. Tried rebooting and turning the router on and off and then called Linkysys support and confirmed that I had tried everything that they would have done and that it was most likely a machine problem. The WiFi set up is average. The coverage and range are very good. I gave it a 3 because the WiFi portion is good but the USB is a problem with this model.
Before purchase I was stressed, with all the new wifi type routers. This one connects just like a regular router, easier with the app. With options to add nodes to expand using mesh wifi. It's expensive, but perfect for someone with limited experience. I bought used at 1/4th the cost. It works just fine. It covers my 3bd 2 bath home. I went from a 1200ac router to this, it's perfect for me. Delivery, and packaging was great. 2 days I waited, that's fast. It took 10 minutes max to switch over. If you get nodes, be sure to get tri band. It automatically places each device logged on. Home devices have became easier to connect.
| Connectivity | Wireless |
| Gigabit Ethernet | Yes |
| Brand | Linksys |
| Wireless Standard | Wireless-AC, Wireless-N |
| Wireless Band Count | Tri-band |
