REVIEW: Xiaomi Router 3 - $ 29 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Xiaomi gadgets often break stereotypes, offering modern features, high build quality and low cost at the same time. The dual-band router Xiaomi Router 3 was no exception.

Almost all modern devices are equipped with Wi-Fi support in the 5 GHz range. Higher speed, less interference. It's time for our readers to switch to this standard, because thanks to Xiaomi it can be done for ridiculous money. As a bonus - the ability to create your own home media server without spending in just two clicks.

We are used to the fact that things are either cheap or of high quality. Xiaomi gadgets often break stereotypes, offering modern features, high build quality and low cost at the same time.

The company's line of home routers was no exception. Today it includes a budget Youth, a practical Router 3 and several NAS options (a server for downloading, storing and distributing content over a home network), the younger model of which is gradually being discontinued.

- the best option for home, because you simply won't find other dual-band routers.

Appearance

Xiaomi designers sometimes manage to create truly masterpieces. Router 3 is one of them. Matte white, concise and stylish.

The router has no mounting holes and brackets, which makes it impossible to place the router on the wall. Numerous holes for ventilation will not help either - standard mounts cannot be installed in them. But this is not a disadvantage, because the Xiaomi Router 3 suits any interior or even its absence.

By the way, there are no radiators either - the cooling is passive. No significant heating is observed.

The solutions used led to a decrease in weight, absolute silence during operation and the possibility of installing the router in any interior. It is difficult to find a room in which there is no place for Xiaomi Router 3.

All connectors are located on the rear panel: 2 LAN ports (up to 100 Mbps) for connecting a network cable, WAN for wired connection of devices to the router, a USB 2.0 port, a power connector and a hidden reset button.

A standard lamp at the LAN input and a bright indicator on the front panel of the device serve to notify the user about the operating modes.

Specifications

The router is based on a single core processor MediaTek MT7620A with a frequency of 580 MHz. The amount of RAM is 128 MB. The same amount is reserved for storing firmware and settings.

The router belongs to the AC1200 class and delivers speeds up to 1200 Mbps. This is achieved by dividing the channel into two separate Wi-Fi networks: at 2, 4 (up to 300 Mbps) and 5 GHz (up to 867 Mbps). Each frequency band has its own pair of independent external antennas. The MIMO 2 × 2 protocol is implemented. With its help, increased transmission speed and faster data exchange between devices connected to the network are achieved.

All network ports are rated for 100 Mbps. But you can use Wi-Fi at 5 GHz with Xiaomi Router 3 at full speed only inside the wireless network.

Software

In many ways, Xiaomi's popularity is due to a single ecosystem, in which the company's engineers include an increasing number of devices that are connected to a single application for controlling a smart home MiHome. Xiaomi Router 3 is no exception.

If there are no other company devices in the house, you can use the separate MiWiFi Router application to configure and manage all Xiaomi routers.

The only drawback is the lack of Russification. All settings are available in English only. The Russified version can be installed by downloading the apk file from one of the thematic resources. But this is not the worst thing: the web version of the interface uses Chinese. In this case, either a translator or a flashing will help.

The MiWiFi Router app interface contains four tabs.

In the first tab, you can find a list of all devices that have ever been connected to the router. You can also find out information about traffic, current consumption, see the IP and MAC addresses, disable Internet access, block the device or configure the channel bandwidth for it. Here, other network devices of the company are configured.

The second tab is needed to access the connected drives.

The third tab provides access to the capabilities of the built-in download client. Torrent files are supported. The last tab contains all other settings.

You can change the login and password for connecting to Wi-Fi and the router, update the firmware, turn off the light indication, or set up a guest network. The Wi-Fi schedule and scheduled reboot are immediately configured.

There are also more advanced features in the app. So, the item "Wi-Fi Optimization" (Wi-Fi Optimization) starts the analysis of the environment and selects the optimal settings. There is a built-in Task Manager, which allows you to configure download and distribution settings.

In the item "Manage Bandwidth" you can configure the network bandwidth for the router and each of the connected devices. It is possible to set up your own cloud for photos from all connected mobile devices.

There is also a built-in Samba client that allows you to turn your router into a home media server.

The device management web interface can be accessed by opening the website in a browser or by going to 192.168.31.1. Here you can configure VPN, DHCP, port-forwarding, operating modes (router, repeater, bridge). The use of third-party firmware can expand the functionality of the device.

Testing

Testing was conducted in a standard two-room apartment. A router was installed at the entrance. In addition, the Xiaomi Mi WiFi Amplifier was purchased.

The quality of the coating turned out to be beyond praise. A small measurement was taken to demonstrate the work. The figure shows the plan of the apartment, the screenshots show the signal level at points 1, 2, 3, 4 in accordance with the serial number. Signed plus network - signal amplified by Xiaomi Mi WiFi Amplifier.

The router perfectly distributes the Internet not only on 55 square meters of the apartment. The coverage area extends to both the parking lot and the staircase. Enough even for neighbors.

The screenshots above show the signal levels of networks in the 2.4 GHz band.

In this case, the signal levels of the networks in the 5 GHz range are shown.

In a Wi-Fi network, the speed is slightly slower, but even the current tariff allows you to transfer the entire possible connection speed. With a wired connection, the router "squeezes" the set 100 Mbit / s.

Unfortunately, due to the 100-megabit LAN, the capabilities of the router in the 5 GHz range are limited - it simply cannot offer a higher Internet speed. However, it is possible to build a home network by linking devices together.

In addition, Xiaomi has limited the capabilities of the USB port. You can connect drives to it, but not printers or 3G modems. There is no print server built into the official client either.

But it is possible to set up automatic backup of photos from a smartphone, as well as use the built-in download client.

Additional features: Mi WiFi Amplifier

If necessary, you can expand the coverage area using the proprietary Mi WiFi Amplifier.

Outwardly, the device resembles an ordinary 3G modem in white matte plastic. The lower part is equipped with a hinge for more convenient installation. - an even more concise gadget than Router 3: it has only a status diode and a recessed reset key.

To connect, just install the Amplifier into the USB port of the router and wait for the blue LED signal to light up. The signal booster is then plugged into any powered USB port.

The coverage area is almost doubled. It is impossible to show it in full force due to the small area of the apartment, but the graphs of the signal level demonstrate everything quite convincingly.

The device is capable of broadcasting a signal only at 2.4 GHz and, according to official data, works exclusively with Xiaomi routers. With a certain amount of luck and the correct version of the Mi WiFi Amplifier application, it is possible to connect to routers of other brands using the proprietary Mi Home application.

Why Choose Xiaomi Router 3?

• Supports dual band Wi-Fi 2, 4/5 GHz.
• MIMO support.
• The ability to connect an external drive.
• Convenient setup using the iOS and Android app.
• The ability to create a home network.
• The cheapest router in its class. Price -.
• Convenient (and cheap - just) expansion of the coverage area with Mi WiFi Amplifier.