14 DAY TRIAL // Most wireless routers have a single band, meaning that they can communicate over the 2.4 GHz radio frequency but no other. The past two years saw a rapid rise in the availability of dual-band models, however, and D-Link has just released one of them.
In truth, D-Link has a fair few dual-band Wi-Fi routers up for sale already, but it's just unveiled a new one for the masses.
One might even say that the company is trying to accommodate everyone's tastes a bit too hard. That shade of blue isn't conductive to ocular health.
Then again, there are no doubt people who will disagree with that assessment, and even if they agree, the new AC750 Wi-Fi Router does come in Black and White as well. And that shade of red on the fourth model isn't strident at all, thankfully.
As far as routers go, all dual-band ones can be considered high-end. If you only look at dual-band Wi-Fi devices, however, the new D-Link DIR-818LW is pretty mediocre.
It can reach the regular 300 Mbps over 2.4 GHz, while the 5 GHz band adds 433 Mbps to the throughput.
Meanwhile, Gigabit Ethernet is supported too. And we're not just talking about the port that allows the router to connect to the net.
We mean that there are four Gigabit Ports that computers can plug into as well, freeing up the wireless bandwidth for smartphones, tablets, portable media players, etc. Any Wi-Fi devices really.
There's a connected USB port too, which lets you stream content from a flash drive to any one or more mobile devices at the same time.
You'll need a companion app installed for that, but it's downloaded for free, so you really only need to invest a few minutes to set it up, nothing more.
All in all, for a router based on the next-generation AC750 Technology, the D-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Router (DIR-818LW) is decent, but not overly astonishing.
Then again, being astonishing was never the point, because it would have demanded a huge price as well. As it is, the product gets away with a tag of $80 / €80.
In case you weren't clear on it, 802.11ac wireless technology is the latest specification for wireless transmissions and enables speeds on par with those from Gigabit Ethernet cable links. D-Link is pretty proud of how it balanced price, design and performance.
“Wi-Fi routers have never had the reputation of being the most aesthetically pleasing products in the home, and we set out to change that with our color routers,” said Daniel Kelley, vice president of marketing, D-Link Systems, Inc.
“With the launch of our new line of AC750 Wi-Fi Routers, customers not only get a powerful home network capable of supporting the most demanding applications, they also have a stylish device they can proudly display on the desk rather than buried underneath it.”