Summary
A travel router is one of those things that you don’t know you need until you actually try it. And if you need a good one, TP-Link’s latest launch is bringing Wi-Fi 7 to a pocketable factor you may take with you at all times.
TP-Link has announced its first-ever Wi-Fi 7 travel router, the TL-WR3602BE. This product was first introduced during CES 2025 earlier this year, so it’s actually surprising to see that it has taken this long to actually release to store shelves. The router is equipped with a 2.5 Gbps WAN port, a 1 Gbps LAN port, and a USB 3.0 port, and it’s powered via a USB Type-C port and can be charged using the included adapter, a power bank, or a compatible laptop. There aren’t a lot of travel routers compatible with Wi-Fi 7, and this router makes this very short list with pretty decent specs too.
Since it has Wi-Fi 7, it also means that you can take advantage of many Wi-Fi 7 improvements. You have Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which combines Wi-Fi bands to increase throughput and lower latency, 4K-QAM for 20% higher transmission rates compared to Wi-Fi 6, and Multi-RU to improve transmission efficiency by assigning multiple resource units to a single user.
The router features seven distinct operating modes: Router, Hotspot, USB Tethering, USB Modem, Access Point, Range Extender, and Client. These modes can be managed through the TP-Link Tether app. Being a travel router, it’s pretty good as a middleman between your devices and a public or hotel Wi-Fi network. So it also has features like One-Step Captive Portal Authentication, which allows the router to handle logins for public Wi-Fi hotspots, sharing that single connection across multiple user devices without requiring individual logins. The device also functions as both a VPN client and server, supporting the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. It is compatible with over 35 VPN service providers, including NordVPN, Surfshark, and IPVanish. The router’s processor is stated to deliver VPN speeds of up to 450 Mbps with WireGuard and 350 Mbps with OpenVPN.
At $109.99 (TP-Link is marking this as a “launch price” which means it could go up), it’s not only a really good price for a travel router, but it’s also a really good price for a Wi-Fi 7 router in general. Considering the package you’re getting here, it’s a no-brainer if you need a travel router. And if you don’t think you need one,there are some reasons that might make you change your mind, especially if you travel frequently.
TP-Link BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router
Experience blazing-fast speeds and enhanced network capacity. Delivers up to 2882 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and up to 688 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. Enjoy uninterrupted video streaming, downloads, and gaming across up to 90 devices.
