Linksys RE7310 Wi-Fi extender
PROS
- Good performance
- Dual-band operations
- Spot Finder technology
CONS
- Big and expensive
- Lacks ports for networking or attaching a storage drive
- No app
Features:
The RE7310 can connect up to 20 clients simultaneously, effectively extending your Wi-Fi network to previously unserved areas. It uses the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology with MU-MIMO, beamforming, and 1024 QAM modulation to pick up, amplify, and retransmit weak signals from the host network. However, it is not compatible with the 6GHz band provided by Wi-Fi 6e.
As a dual-band extender, RE7310 extends your network with 2×2 streams on each band. It can transmit up to 600 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band and 1.2 Gbps in the 5 GHz band and has throughput ratings of AX1800. On the other hand, there are no dynamic AI adjustments or load balancing features that power the D-Link E15 extender.
Linksys RE7310 review: Design
The Linksys RE7310 extender is a large device that connects directly to a power outlet with a 2-pin plug. At 5.2 x 3.9 x 1.8 inches, it’s about twice the size of the smaller D-Link E15.
The all-white RE7310 has two antennas hidden inside its housing. In other words, there is nothing to increase the length or adjust the antenna minimally.
There is one LED bar on the top of the extender that indicates device activity. It will turn blue if everything is fine. Unlike many other WiFi extenders, there is no way to turn off this light.
Linksys RE7310 review: Performance
The RE7310 turned out to be a great way to expand the network in my 100 year old home. The blue LED turned on, indicating a good connection to the Asus GT-AXE-11000 router and the ability to move email, play 4K video, and stream music on the iPad Pro.
When it comes to performance, the RE7310 was great. When the extender was 40 feet away from the router and our Samsung Galaxy Book Pro test system was an additional 10 feet from the extender, we were able to achieve speeds of over 322.4 Mbps. This is 6x the throughput of his E15 and close to the best-in-class 358.0 Mbps of the Nighthawk EAX80. Nevertheless, at 528.0 Mbit/s, it was significantly below the peak performance of TP-Link RE705X.
When the Galaxy Book Pro was 40 feet away from the extender, throughput dropped to 120.9 Mbps. While this is plenty for most tasks, it’s less than half the RE705X’s 248.1 Mbps. With the receiving system installed in an upstairs bedroom, 145.1 Mbit/s was delivered, giving the RE7310 mid-range performance. Range is 100 feet.
In contrast to the E15, the RE7310 does not have a power-saving sleep mode when not in use. With a power consumption of 6.0 watts, it’s one of the most powerful devices out there, but it doesn’t compare to the Netgear Nighthawk EAX80’s 8.3 watts. So if you pay the national average of 15 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity, your estimated annual electricity bill will be about $7.90.
During two weeks of testing, it felt warm, but didn’t reach the E15’s surface temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit. It was about 104 degrees.
Linksys RE7310 review: Warranty and support
Linksys provides a 1-year warranty and lifetime support for the RE7310. This is better than Netgear and D-Link’s very limited support and Tenda’s 3-year warranty.
The Linskys support page has a fairly complete manual for the RE7310, in addition to a detailed FAQ section. However, a beginner’s video on how to set up the extender is not included in the offer.
Linksys RE7310 review: Verdict
Linksys RE7310 is one of the best ways to fill Wi-Fi dead zones with data. It may not be the smallest, fastest, or cheapest extender, but it impresses with its good overall performance and great ability to get critical placements right. The downside is that there is no setup app or connectivity. However, the RE7310 is a great plug-in extender.
Brian Nadel is a freelance writer and editor specializing in technology reports and reviews. He works out of New York City and has covered a variety of topics, from nuclear power plants to his Wi-Fi router to cars and tablets. A former editor-in-chief of Mobile Computing and Communication, Nadel is a recipient of the TransPacific Writing Award.