To all the recent posters... This topic was created to learn about routers that meet the requirements in the original post. It specifically asked for recommendations, not a debate.
If your post doesn't recommend a router, it will be removed as off-topic.
If you recommend a router that doesn't meet the criteria (or nearly all the criteria), it will be removed as off-topic.
If you must recommend a router that doesn't meet the criteria, please list all the criteria that it misses, and the reasons that this might not matter to a newcomer. Otherwise, the post will be removed as off-topic.
Having just come from a bricked RT3200/E8450, I'm enjoying the slightly better specs of the GL-MT3000 right now and may get a MT-6000 if I need some extra horsepower before WiFi 7 takes over.
I can endorse the GL-MT3000 as a great value, performance, and ease-of-us combo, especially as I got it on sale for USD$79. I paired it with a $10 5-port gigabit switch to add a few more ethernet ports, and of course it seamlessly flashes from GL-iNet's custom OpenWrt to the regular community OpenWrt, which is awesome. I'm using it as a whole-home router, and it reaches all three floors and even my car outside.
Bad reviews on Amazon ā which is notorious for having unreliable reviews. I checked FakeSpot (owned by non-profit Mozilla/Firefox) and there aren't enough reliable reviews for them:
I've been following this topic (the one we're reading) and this topic for a while and it seems the community really likes GL-iNet's products. I got a MT3000 and love it, and plan to get a MT6000 in future unless/until an affordable Wifi 7 OpenWrt-compatible router presents itself.
Worth it to save up and get the GL-MT6000. It is a great first OpenWrt router and is one of the top performing consumer routers supported by OpenWrt in 2024. I have two of them, no hiccups running a master build.
Except for #2 and #4, I think the GL.iNet Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) is the way to go. I ordered one last night because they are on sale for $132.30, and you can save an additional $5 with coupon code GLFANS5OFF. So above $100 so doesn't meet #4, but not too far off.
It doesn't meet #2 because you install OpenWrt via sysupgrade image, you might have to set up the Internet connection manually, and then install LuCI. I hope that is not going to be a PITA.
@BTJustice I see what you mean about #2. Those instructions on the ToH page look scary with that big warning at the top, when they should (and can) be reassuring.
Would you verify the procedure (retrieve an OpenWrt sysupgrade binary, then do steps 1..4)?
If those steps check out, I can think of ways to edit that ToH page to be more newcomer-friendly. Thanks!
That is right. The installation is one of the simplest ones nowadays, as the sysupgrade image is directly compatible with OEM firmware. (and with the OEM recovery interface, too.)
The point in that box be that unlike with most routers, you do not need factory image, but can use the sysupgrade image directly.
(the factory image is not needed at all by a normal user... I have not seen anybody in the forum mentioning to have actually replaced the u-boot and would be using OpenWrt u-boot needing the factory image for the initial install)
Personally I wouldn't want to relax the ease of installation point, it should be 1-step flash of a factory or sysupgrade image for newcombers. This could also encourage companies to allow it out of the box (e.g. recent Gl-Inet, old Linksys WRT series, etc.) to have higher sales due to stronger recommendations from the community.
