14 DAY TRIAL // D-Link's routers usually look pretty tame, but the company decided to open the new year with a different design statement from the norm. Which is to say, it decided to make its products stand out aesthetically.
The path it chose isn't that of sunshine and rainbows though. Instead, it decided to go with a really angular, alien look that gives people pause through how menacing it appears.
We have little doubt that the products would inspire fear if they were car-sized or larger, instead of small enough to sit idly on a tabletop.
Fortunately, you don't need to worry about some evil sapience trying to take over the world from within the red carapace of these upside-down creepy crawlers.
The D-Link Ultra Performance family
The routers are three in number and bear the names of AC5300, the AC3200 and the AC3100. As usual, the names indicate their top transfer speeds.
That means that the AC5300 can achieve a total transfer rate of 5.3 Gbps when both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz bands are used. Beamforming technology is what we have to thank for this.
In addition to Wi-Fi support (802.11ac tri-band beamforming technology, if you want to get technical), the D-link Ultra Performance AC5300 offers Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB 3.0 connectivity.
You'll also notice the existence of no fewer than eight antennas, two of which are of particularly high power. They should allow the device to reach every corner of your home even without a range extender.
The AC3200 and AC3100 are alike in every sense of the word, except, of course, the Wi-Fi speed: 3.2 Gbps and 3.1 Gbps, respectively.
All three routers can be controlled via smartphone / tablet, thanks to free companion apps.
Compared to the previous “high end” of Wi-Fi routers which barely scraped 1.9 Gbps, these three newcomers are powerful indeed. Enough to make one wonder if they're not too overkill.
Then again, there are plenty of hotels, hostels and boarding schools which could use an upgrade in this regard, so D-Link isn't likely to want for customers.
Availability and pricing
The D-Link Ultra Performance AC5300, the AC3200 and the AC3100 have prices of $300 / €250 or more, but won't all sell immediately. While the AC3200 can already be found online, for $310 / €260, the other two will start shipping later this quarter, which can mean anything from late January to late March, 2015.
