By June Ramli
Perth, Aug 20: D-Link’s latest networking products take two very different approaches to staying connected, with the new BE7200 10G Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router designed for the home and the compact F518 5G Wi-Fi 6 Mobile Hotspot aimed at people who need internet access on the move.
DailyStraits.com recently tested both devices, and the standout for us was the design of the new mesh router.
The D-Link DPN-BE7212GR BE7200 10G Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router looks noticeably different from many of the mesh routers we have tested previously.
Its tall, rectangular white body has a cleaner and more understated appearance that makes it easier to place in a living room or home office without looking like a typical piece of networking equipment.
For us, this design works particularly well for a mesh router.
The unit supports Wi-Fi 7 with wireless speeds of up to 7200Mbps, alongside a 10 Gigabit WAN connection and dedicated 10 Gigabit LAN connection.
It also supports D-Link’s EasyMesh technology, allowing the network to be expanded for broader Wi-Fi coverage around the home.
In everyday terms, this is a router aimed at households with increasingly demanding internet requirements whether that means working from home, streaming, gaming or simply having numerous connected devices competing for bandwidth.
Alongside the router, we also tested D-Link’s F518 5G Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 Mobile Hotspot.
The portable device allows users to insert a Nano SIM and create their own Wi-Fi connection using a 4G or 5G mobile network.
On paper, it is an attractive proposition for travellers and remote workers.
The F518 supports up to 16 connected devices and comes with an 8000mAh battery, with D-Link claiming up to 16 hours of use depending on conditions.
It can also double as a power bank through its USB-C connection, which adds another practical feature for people travelling with several devices.
Our initial experience with the F518, however, wasn’t quite as straightforward as we expected.
We found accessing the SIM area and inserting the Nano SIM fiddly, and it took us some time to work out how to open and position everything correctly.
For a product built around the convenience of portable connectivity, this is one part of the user experience that could be more intuitive.
Once that hurdle is overcome, however, the concept makes considerable sense.
A dedicated 5G hotspot means a laptop, tablet and other devices can share a mobile connection without continually relying on a smartphone’s hotspot function. Its compact dimensions also make it relatively easy to carry while travelling.
Between the two products, the BE7200 Mesh Router left the stronger first impression.
Its redesigned appearance is a welcome departure from some of the more conventional mesh equipment we have tested, and the combination of Wi-Fi 7, 10 Gigabit connectivity and EasyMesh gives it room to accommodate increasingly connected homes.
The F518 is potentially the more interesting product for frequent travellers and remote workers, although we would like to see the SIM installation experience made easier.
The D-Link BE7200 10G Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router is priced at AU$449.95 while the D-Link F518 5G Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 Mobile Hotspot cost AU$449.95, although D-Link was offering it for AU$379.95 at the time of publication.
The products reviewed in this article were supplied to DailyStraits.com for review.
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