TP-Link RE450 AC1750 Review

TP-Link RE450 AC1750
Source: TP-Link.com

Our Verdict

4.7
4.7/5

The TP-Link RE450 AC1750 is a pretty good Wi-Fi extender. It has a good range, decent speeds for its price, and an Ethernet connection for local hard-wired devices. It's a good option for homes on low to medium-tier Internet plans.

It also has a few disadvantages. It generates a second network (unless you connect it to your router with Ethernet), and it's dual-band (not tri-band) - we'll look at these factors in more depth later.

Pros

Cons

Performance

4.1
4.1/5

Range

4.7
4.7/5

Design

4.6
4.6/5

Setup

4.9
4.9/5

Value

4.9
4.9/5

We tested 12 Wi-Fi extenders, including the TP-Link RE450 AC1750, to determine which had the best range and speed.

We also factored in several essential features and benefits across all of the extenders. The TP-Link RE450 performed well throughout most of our testing. It has a lot of useful features, but it certainly doesn’t have everything.

I’m a home networking specialist and familiar with all aspects of Wi-Fi extenders and how to assess them.

So, let’s get to the TP-Link RE450’s review.

TP-Link RE450 AC1750 Overview

TP-Link RE450 AC1750 Overview

Hello, and thanks for reading this TP-Link RE450 AC1750 Wi-Fi extender review. In this guide, we’ll go over who should purchase this Wi-Fi booster and what it offers.

The TP-Link RE450 is an excellent Wi-Fi booster for homes with slow to medium speed Internet plans (less than 500 Mbps). It also works with faster plans, but you may not be able to utilize the full speed your Internet plan offers in that case.

In our tests, the TP-Link RE450 AC1750 Wi-Fi extender had a Wi-Fi speed of 291.56 Mbps and a speed on Ethernet of 458.02 Mbps (both at a distance of five feet). These aren’t the best speeds for an extender, but they’re fast enough for many Internet plans. 

Besides the TP-Link RE450’s performance, its ease of use stood out to us. It only takes a minute to get it up and running, and it is pretty simple to use. However, unless you connect it to your router using Ethernet, it will create a secondary network

There are, however, no major drawbacks to the RE450 Wi-Fi extender. It has a long range and is reasonably priced for the speed and features it offers.

Is the TP-Link RE450 the best extender for you? For most Internet plans at or below 500 Mbps, it is.

Keep reading to see if the TP-Link RE450 AC1750 is the best Wi-Fi booster for you.

Specs

BrandTP-Link
ModelRE450 AC1750
Max Tested SpeedWi-Fi: 291.56 MbpsEthernet: 458.02 Mbps
Approximate RangeWi-Fi: 60 feetEthernet: 70 feet 
Wireless StandardWi-Fi 5
BandsDual-band
LAN Port1 (one) Gigabit Ethernet port
Dimensions3 x 6.4 x 2.6 inches
Weight0.75 pounds
Warranty2 years

Performance 4.1

The Wi-Fi speed of the TP-Link RE450 AC1750 in our tests was as follows:

  • 291.56 Mbps at 5 feet
  • 270.13 Mbps at 15 feet
  • 252.10 Mbps at 25 feet

The RE450’s download speed improved when connected to the router via Ethernet at a distance of five feet. The download speeds reached:

  • 458.02 Mbps at 5 feet
  • 227.81 Mbps at 15 feet
  • 149.38 Mbps at 25 feet

Having slower speeds at 15 and 25 feet on Ethernet certainly surprised us. Most extenders we tested had much better speed on Ethernet at every distance.

Are these download speeds quick? Well, they aren’t the fastest of the Wi-Fi extenders we tested. In fact, they are in the bottom half of the units we evaluated. 

But, not everyone needs a fast Wi-Fi extender. For example, getting the fastest extender would be a waste of money if you have a slower internet plan. You’d never utilize it to its full potential. 

For households with slow to medium Internet plans, the RE450’s download speeds pair nicely. 

Alas, with its performance, the TP-Link RE450 can still stream multiple 4K videos without any issues.

When we tested these extenders, we used a fantastic router— the ASUS RT-AX88U – with great speed, bandwidth, etc. Your speeds will vary depending on whether you utilize a slower or older router.

Connect your gaming console or laptop to the RE450’s Gigabit Ethernet port for greater speed – it reached a whopping 703.35 Mbps for us.

The TP-Link RE450 is a dual-band extender, making connecting multiple wireless devices more difficult. 

It has less bandwidth than a tri-band device, which has one 2.4 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands. With dual-band, you won’t be able to connect as many wireless gadgets.

But, the RE450 provides adequate speed, bandwidth, and range as a dual-band Wi-Fi booster. It supports Internet plans of 500 Mbps and slower speeds.

Range 4.8

In our testing, the TP-Link RE450 AC1750 offered a great range, near the top of all the extenders we tested. It reached a distance of:

  • 60 feet on Wi-Fi 
  • 70 feet on Ethernet 

60 to 70 feet should be more than enough range to cover your entire home, including every floor. Plus, it might reach a good portion of your backyard and garage.

Wi-Fi Extender Testing RE450 AC1750 Wireless
Testing the coverage of the RE450 AC1750 Wireless

For the most coverage and elimination of all Wi-Fi dead zones, install the RE450 extender halfway between your Wi-Fi dead zone and your router.

With the RE450 Wi-Fi booster, you can now access Wi-Fi with your laptop, smartphone, or any other Internet-connected device from anywhere in your house. You truly are unrestricted, thanks to its vast coverage.

Design 4.6

The TP-Link RE450 is a mid-range Wi-Fi extender that comes in at just 0.75 pounds in a tiny form factor.

TP Link RE450 AC1750 Overview

It just connects to the wall outlet and attaches itself to it rather than cluttering up your desk or shelf. This is a good option if you want more room in your workspace.

But connecting straight to the outlet has some downsides too. For example, it could block other plugs and prevent you from plugging in other items in your home. This is especially true if you’re using a power strip. 

TP Link RE450 AC1750 Side

In terms of size, the TP-Link RE450 is about ‎3 x 6.4 x 2.6 inches– about the size of a smartphone.

It has a single gigabit Ethernet connection that you may use as an access point by connecting to your router to achieve a combined network.

TP Link RE450 AC1750 Ethernet Port

Another option is connecting your extender to your router using Wi-Fi and using the Ethernet port to connect nearby devices (printers, gaming consoles, desktop PCs, laptop docks) for a quicker connection speed and reduced latency.

Setup 4.9

Setting up the TP-Link RE450 was simple; it took less than a minute. We simply downloaded the TP-Link app to a smartphone and followed the instructions.

While the RE450’s installation is easy, it has a drawback: It creates a secondary network. You’ll have to switch back and forth between the two networks whenever you travel with wireless gadgets (such as your smartphone, tablet, or laptop).

If you connect it to the router using Ethernet, there will be a single network. And for those familiar with TP-Link products, the RE450 does not have OneMesh (a feature that allows TP-Link routers and boosters to create a single network). 

Note- depending on the country and version, your unit may have OneMesh. From our research, it appears version 4 has OneMesh- but it isn’t sold in the U.S. 

As a result, if you connect the RE450 wirelessly with any router (including a TP-Link unit), your home will have two Wi-Fi networks.

Value 4.9

In our honest opinion, the TP-Link RE450 AC1750 is a fantastic deal for many homeowners. It’s reasonably priced, offers decent Ethernet and Wi-Fi data transfer speeds, and has a wide range of Wi-Fi coverage.

It doesn’t have the fastest speeds, but it is fast enough for any Internet plan with 500 Mbps. 

The RE450 has given us no difficulties during setup or regular usage. It is very affordable and a great option if you have a slow Internet connection.

In general, the TP-Link RE450 is a good purchase. Satisfactory connection speeds, ease of use, and tremendous range make it perfect for homeowners looking to expand their network. 

Reviews

On several websites, the TP-Link RE450 AC1750 has gotten a lot of good comments and praise. Customers rated it very highly on Amazon, with over 25,000 reviews. On other e-commerce sites, it has a rating of 4.5 to 4.8 out of 5 stars.

The ratings are from both experts and customers, with the majority reporting just a few minor problems. Most reviewers commended the booster’s performance and features.

However, the RE450 generated some complaints.

Some negative reviews mentioned issues with the 5 GHz band turning off, the unit turning off entirely, and a few reviewers with defective units. 

Some of the extenders we have tested
Extenders we have tested

Alternatives

Here are some alternative options to the TP-Link RE450 AC1750. 

TP-Link RE650 AC2600
Source: TP-Link.com

TP-Link RE650 AC2600

If you want to stick with the TP-Link brand but want faster speeds and a bit better range, the RE650 is a good alternative. This more expensive option has 70 to 80 feet of coverage and faster speeds, suitable for Internet plans of 1,000 Mbps or faster. 

Plus, if you have a TP-Link router, the RE650 works with OneMesh to create a single network (a feature the RE450 lacks). 

If your household has lots of people watching 4k movies, joining video meetings, playing online games, etc., this is the booster for you. You’ll pay a bit more upfront, but you’ll have the extra throughput and range. 

Netgear EX20 AX1800
Source: TP-Link.com

Netgear EX20 AX1800

The Netgear EAX20 is a fantastic choice if you want faster download speeds, as well as a single network. It’s quick (398.67 Mbps on Wi-Fi versus 291.56 Mbps with the RE450) but has a shorter range (50-60 feet).

It is also faster than the TP-Link RE450 on Ethernet (609.81 Mbps vs. 458.02 Mbps), making it an excellent choice for those with fast Internet plans of 1,000 Mbps or faster.

The EAX20 features four Ethernet ports for connecting nearby computers, desktop PCs, and gaming consoles to further improve download speeds and reduce latency—a perfect choice for a home office or gaming den far from your router. 

The EX20 offers faster connection speeds, a single network, and more Ethernet ports at a higher price but a slightly lower range.

TP-Link RE315 AC1200
Source: Netgear.com

TP-Link RE315 AC1200

Perhaps you have a very basic Internet plan, with a maximum speed of 100 to 300 Mbps. In that case, the RE450 might be overkill for your plan, and a slower extender would be a better choice since it would save you money. 

This is where the TP-Link RE315 comes in– it is slower than the RE450, but it provides the same range and supports OneMesh (so you can make a combined network with a TP-Link router).

Bottom Line

In terms of speed, the TP-Link RE450 is perfect for slow to medium-speed Internet plans. It’s a fantastic option for customers looking for decent download rates, a wide coverage area, and a local Ethernet connection.

The RE450 is a great Wi-Fi booster that provides excellent value. It’s very reasonably priced, especially considering how far it can reach.

However, it has a few disadvantages: it makes a second network, doesn’t have TP-Link’s OneMesh feature (unless you have version 4), and is not tri-band.

Despite its minor drawbacks, the TP-Link RE450 AC1750 is an excellent choice for extending your Wi-Fi network. 

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