Portable routers share their excessive weight of compromises, ranging from lack of performance to gimped features, but GL.iNet has managed to address these problems with the Slate AX, a portable Wi-Fi 6 router that is small enough to carry around in your hand, a small pocket of your backpack, making it an ideal travel companion if you like to move around a lot. Alternatively, the Slate AX can also be used as a decent standalone router or access point as it supports the bandwidth thanks to being Wi-Fi 6 compliant.
On the 2.4GHz band, the Slate AX can reach maximum speeds of 600Mbps, while on the 5GHz band, those figures can reach 1,200Mbps. This portable Wi-Fi 6 router can also support up to 120 devices simultaneously. For extra range, the antennas’ positioning can be changed for maximum performance, and when the router needs to be carried around to another location, those antennas can be retracted. For connectivity, there is a single WAN port, two LAN ports, a single USB 3.0 port, and a USB-C for power input, with the ability to detect storage cards too.
Typically, connecting to a hotel or Airbnb Wi-Fi might not be the safest route, but the Slate AX ticks all the latest security protocols to protect you from those threats. Also, a neat trick that can be applied to this portable Wi-Fi 6 router is that its USB-C power input requires a 5V 3A adapter, and if your powerbank can deliver the same wattage at these specifications, you can keep the Slate AX’s lights on for several hours. Given its compact form factor, GL.iNet has incorporated a fan that runs silently to cool the components, so that is a nice touch.
For $112.90, the Slate AX is easy on the wallet despite the fact that it does not support the latest Wi-Fi standards. Then again, that kind of hardware is expensive, and for most users, a portable Wi-Fi 6 router will be more than plentiful.
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About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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