Hello! I currently have a stock running TP-Link WR841ND and I want to upgrade my router to some dual band gigabit ones. On the list I was following there are:
I'm really happy with mine! It is using the most open AC WiFi chip available. Has hardware NAT support in the latest master builds. And easily routes + NATs gigabit speeds, even with the regular software path.
Yes, it is a bit older. But IMO that's usually a good thing for Lede/Openwrt, since support will be mature and stable.
But that one does not have external omnidirectional antennas, only internal and I don't know how much coverage I get with it on 2.4ghz or with other router with some 9dB antenna upgrade in the future ... Hmm!