The internet connectivity is a crucial thing in today’s rapidly evolving world. Without the internet, you really cannot get anything done. It is used to pay bills, work, and also for leisure. With so many benefits and productivity, the internet forms a vital part of our lives.
So, how do you ensure that you can get a proper internet connection in your home or office? Perhaps, you are residing in a huge rural property and find that the connectivity is slow or, in some cases, does not work at all.
Today, we are going to discuss about two magnificent wireless routers. They are the stunning TP-Link Wireless Router Archer A7 vs TP-Link Wireless Router Archer C7. These two wireless routers are stupendous in their own ways and come with tremendous potential.
The TP-Link Wireless Router Archer A7 is similar in shape and performance to the Archer C7 model. Nothing is surprising in there, but you would want to know that the unit can come with control features with Amazon Alexa.
A7 also comes with a fewer USB-A 2.0 port present at the rear. The unit has dual-band connectivity infused, having 4 gigabit LAN ports and several options for setting. These can amply manage your network.
It provides you with decent performance, but the range was quite disappointing. You could clearly feel that the internet connectivity was sort of slowing down. We thought that the cause was most likely because of the USB 2.0 technology.
You might consider using the Asus RT-AC66U B1 wireless router if you are keen on experiencing strong signals. However, it is more expensive, and we will read about the Archer A7 router in this review.
On the other hand, the TP-Link Wireless Router Archer C7 is another exceptional router that comes infused with remarkable features. Though it is priced slightly more than the Archer A7, the features are better.
The distinct feature of this unit is that it comes with Amazon Alexa compatibility. To help you learn more about these amazing wireless routers, we have compared their features, design, setup, and performance.
We will be covering all the aspects that make them stand out and why you may want to consider using them for your home or office. Additionally, as we always do, we have offered the pros & cons of them both so that you would get a better idea about them.
Lastly, we have given our winner in our opinion. Without wasting any more time, let us read this post and find out more information about the Archer A7 and Archer C7 wireless routers, shall we.
 |  |
|---|---|
| TP-Link Archer A7 | TP-Link Archer C7 |
| PROS | PROS |
| The unit operates with quick internet up to 300 Mbps. The router works stupendously with Amazon Alexa. It works with OpenWRT. It comes with an exceptional range that works sharply in rural areas too. The maker has provided you with a 2-year warranty and 24/7 customer support. | The router helps you to connect with close to 50 devices within the same range. The unit provides support for OpenWRT. It comes with a stunning range ideal for home & office usage. It has 2 USB-A ports for different and convenient use. There is a 2-year warranty, and it comes with 24/7 customer support. |
| CONS | CONS |
| The model comes with 1 USB-A 2.0 port. | The model does not come with good customizability options. |
TP-Link Archer A7 vs C7: Design and Features
Does the design and features segment play a crucial role in choosing a wireless router? Well, it does, actually. Not many users tend to give importance to this area, but just like when you are going to choose a smartphone, headphones, the design of the product is essential.
The TP-Link Wireless Router Archer A7 has a magnificent design and features capability in them. It is compact and remains hidden anywhere you keep it. This is perhaps the first thing that most of you tend to notice in wireless routers.
Some models are quite large and require a lot of space on the table or where they are kept. They may not be as elegant as the Asus Blue Cave, but they are decent to look at. The measurements are 9.59 x 6.32 x 1.29 inches.
However, it is much smaller than most of the wireless models that you can find in the market. For example, the Netgear Nighthawk XR500 Pro Gaming Router is quite large, and you need space. Unlike most of them, the Archer models are compact in size.
It is black in tone and comes with 3 antennas that are not too long either. You can place them either on the desk or even the bookshelf. This is most ideal for homes and offices where space can be a constraint.
Though you have a large room, isn’t it nice to have a small device that is not very obvious that it is there? Besides, the temperature of the wireless router is not very hot. This is unlike one of its own units, the TP-Link Archer C2300.
You can operate the A7 router, but it does not go beyond 90degrees Fahrenheit. The appearance is quite similar to that of the Archer C7 wireless router because of the same-coloured enclosure used in here.
The antennas cannot be detached, which is a good thing because you do not want to miss out on the signals. As it is, the signals may not work as you want when in rural areas or large apartments where there are thick walls.
We liked the LED indicators that offer you with radio bands, the front edge for power, USB, internet, LAN ports, and WPS. You will also find 4 gigabit LAN ports that come with the WPS button, power button, WAN port, a reset button, and USB port.
You will want to know that the USB 2.0 is slower than most others. We cannot think why they wanted to go in with this feature in 2021. It can reach speeds of close to 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.
It can also go to 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band with the 750MHz processor. There is the 802.11ac technology being used in here. There is no support for MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming.
Now, some of you might be thinking should you go with it or not? For the price range of less than $60, we believe that it is a good choice. Users have lauded the fact that the setting of the wireless router is second to none.
The TP-Link Wireless Router Archer C7 to looks like the Archer A7 wireless router. In fact, we could not tell the difference we saw them both. That is bound to happen because they are from the same maker.
Not to mention, most wireless routers are designed and built the same. The color options are also limited because users look at the functionality rather than the sleek design and look. Fair enough, we would say.
The Archer C7 wireless router has a measurement of 9.57 x 6.32 x 1.28 inches. It comes with decent touches that are quite sublime for a router. We sort of preferred the C7 design. They are more subtle and elegant, but just most.
You do not have any aggressive looks or take me in your hands, kind of an appeal to it. As we said, it is about the operation. If you are looking for the functions and working, then it is fine. You can find 3 non-removable antennas.
They are screwed onto the rear of the wireless router. You can also notice that it comes with RP-SMA connectors. There is also the 5-GHz band letting it to change for the higher featured antennas.
You can move the wireless router around when the signals are poor in your building or rural property. You should not face any issues in the city home or apartment unless you live in a very compact urban area.
There are 3 2.4-GHz patch antennas placed to decrease the inter-channel interference. You cannot change them, and the model comes without the OnHub unit that otherwise can quickly garner data hindrance.
The model has 10 LEDs that offer you with spectacular lighting. It appears green in color, and you can know that the router is operational. If you activate the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), you can see activity on 4 wired LAN ports and 2.4 and 5-GHz wireless bands.
It means that an active Archer C7 wireless router can easily light up a dark room. There is also a switch for turning off the transmissions, which is a good thing. Few wireless routers enable you to make use of software, but this unit allows you to do it manually.
A distinct feature of the wireless router would be the WPS switch. You can make use of it to reset to the factory setting software by holding it for 8 seconds. There are 4 Gigabit LAN connections and USB 2.0 ports.
The processor is 720-MHz and has a RAM of 128MB that is quite slow when looking at the market units. Users tend to work on gigahertz-speed processors, which are much quicker. But they tend to cost more than in the $150 price. If you have lower budget then router under $100 can be better option for you.
TP-Link Archer A7 vs C7: Setup and Performance
The TP-Link Wireless Router Archer A7 setup is good. This model is quite popular in the market because of its ability to set up quickly. It hardly takes a few minutes. You can make use of some methods to boost the speed.
The model provided a top speed of 647.4Mbps from a few feet away. It was able to give users 347.5Mbps and, as we said, quick to install. Now, you can do it in two ways. The first method would be to use a web browser, and the second method would be with the company’s Tether app.
It comes with a few tools that make the wireless router second to none. Consumers might consider that it has a 2-year warranty on it. Not to mention, they have 24-hour support. Additionally, you can make use of firmware updates and installation setup videos.
The TP-Link Wireless Router Archer C7 performance is simply amazing. You are done very quickly. Our tester was able to connect to the modem and devices within a few minutes. The process is also quite simple, as you can make use of the quick setup, then create passwords and SSID names, and once the firmware is confirmed, it is ready.
Of course, it was not as quick as the Asus RT-AC66U B1 but quicker than most of the wireless routers that we have seen in the market. The unit is able to provide you with 526Mbps on the 5GH.
It was able to perform better than the C7 V2. The file transfer was quick, but if you reside in an apartment or compact house with thick walls, then it might slow down often. If you want to transfer files like videos, music, and photos, things can get slower.
The best in the market for the moment would be the Netgear X10 R9000 NightHawk. But the price point is high too, compared to the $65 of this model. If you look at the Asus RT-AC66U B1 performance, the C7 was quite slow.
TP-Link Archer A7 vs C7: Price
The TP-Link Wireless Router Archer A7 is priced under $60. The wireless router can perform a wide range of activities at your home & office. You will be glad to know that this model has received the JD Power Award in customer satisfaction for wireless routers in 2017 and 2019.
That itself goes to show that it is a force to reckon with. It can work effortlessly with the wireless internet, Alexa and is mostly compatible with Wi-Fi devices, 802.11ac, and older. The dual-band router upgrades to 1750 Mbps high-speed internet connecting at 450mbps for 2.4GHz, decreasing the buffering and is suitable for the 4K streaming.
The TP-Link Wireless Router Archer C7 is priced under $65. Users can now be able to stream the 4K on several devices. Additionally, you can now also decrease the buffering if you want with the help of the upgraded to 1750 Mbps AC Wi-Fi (N450+AC1300).
Besides, you can also use the Gigabit Ethernet ports suitable for working on several internet plans. You can connect the wired devices. Yes, you can share the USB drive content seamlessly using the router, and it works on most AC, older, and Wi-Fi devices.
TP-Link Archer A7 vs C7: Verdict
We have concluded our review on the TP-Link Archer A7 vs C7 routers. We hope that you enjoyed reading the post and were able to make up your mind. The TP-Link Wireless Router Archer A7 is a stunning device for both office and home usage.
Now, it may not be the largest or fastest wireless router in the market. However, the pricing of the wireless router is something that is very hard to ignore. If you look at some routers like the Netgear R6220 model, then it makes this unit as cheaper for your requirements.
It comes infused with standard features like parental controls and is suitable for a medium home in America. There is also the Quality of Service (QoS) software for getting rid of the online attacks that can be frequent.
A notable feature of this model is that you can set it up quickly. There is no hassle with that. This feature was pretty good, and the file transfer during long-range was not really up to the mark.
We felt that the Asus RT-AC66U B1 wireless router performed better in this aspect for only $30 more. The range was slightly disappointing, but they provide you with a 2-year warranty. That is something not common among most manufacturers in wireless routers.
If you have a large office or home, you might consider top-end models like the TP-Link Archer C2300. When living in an apartment or compact office, then the A7 can definitely meet your needs.
The TP-Link Wireless Router Archer C7 is a magnificent model. It comes with features that bring a smile to any user. The versatility of the product is admirable. You can use it at homes, offices, large buildings, and it should work just fine.
The unit has a pair of USB ports that you can operate on drivers and printers. Additionally, the model also has parental controls enabling you to make use of settings according to your needs. The software is open-source, providing you with a splendid choice for the said price of under $65.
Before we declare the winner, we would point out that they are wireless routers and will not work without the help of a modem to connect to the internet. When you know how to make use of them completely, you are bound to benefit immensely.
Our winner in this review between the TP-Link Wireless Router Archer A7 vs TP-Link Wireless Router Archer C7 is C7 model. Though the A7 model is much cheaper than the C7 router, the former does not have features that can be used on the C7 model.
James Smith has always been intrigued by electronic products since his childhood. After his post graduation in electronics from a popular university, he decided to pursue a career in the electronics sector. But his calling for writing about these marvellous pieces of work got the better of him. That is how UBG was started. With a writing career spanning more than 12 years, James has worked on several hundred product reviews. During his free time, he like to spend time with his pet dog and relax in the swimming pool.