The Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900 is a plug-in WiFi extender that looks minimal and follows that design ethos to its software, making it easy to install and use.
The compact design means you don't even lose a wall outlet when plugging this in. Yet you still have access to a Gigabit LAN port and decent boosted speeds from the original router. Features like a dead spot finder are great but more on that below.
This made it onto our list of the best WiFi boosters. It's not the best but for the price and size offers a decent performance with that higher-end AC1900 rating.
But before you buy a WiFi booster you should consider whether that's really the best solution to your problems. If you're having internet connection issues, it could be an issue with your wireless router, or you might not be with the best internet provider.
But once you've ruled those issues out and decided you need one, is this the best WiFi extender for you? Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Linksys RE7000.
Linksys RE7000 review: Design and build
The Linksys RE7000 is super minimal and compact. From the front it looks like a sleek white flat unit with a single light. That makes this ideal to plug-in without being noticed as it quietly works on keeping you connected.
To the bottom is a Gigabit LAN Ethernet port for connecting a hard-wired device which will get the maximum bandwidth from the router.
To the side is a WPS button which allows for quick connections of devices without the need to manually input the network information each time.
The unit measures 5 x 3.2 x 1.7 inches in total and doesn't have any extras in the form of antennas to worry about.
Inside that glossy white unit is four internal antennas along with dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi complete with MU-MIMO support, but more on that below.
WiFi rating: AC1900
WiFi spec: 802.11ac dual-band
Antennas: Four internal
Ports: One Gigabit LAN Ethernet
Range: 10,000 square feet
Linksys RE7000 review: Features
The Linksys RE7000 features a claimed range of 10,000 square feet. An impressive figure for such a seemingly small unit. This is achieved thanks to the four antennas which offer dual-band 802.11ac WiFi. By that it means both 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual-band simultaneously.
This extender also offers MU-MIMO tech so that it can send signals to specific devices at the same time. This makes it a viable option for households with lots of gadgets connected at once.
Beamforming tech and cross band smarts are also employed to make sure that the best possible signal is directed at each device. It should also mean there are no issues with overlapping signals even in the case of a 4K video stream and high-quality gaming in two separate rooms at the same time, for example.
The dead zone eliminator is a useful feature. This uses the app in order to find areas in your property where WiFi signal is particularly weak or non existent. The idea is that you can setup the extender in the right spot to allow it to work most effectively to cover that dead zone.
This extender can also be setup as an access point allowing you to connect a router using a wired connection to boost the most broad bandwidth input possible.
Linksys says this extender will work with all WiFi routers so you don't need to adjust any settings to get this working alongside your current setup.
Linksys RE7000 review: Performance
The Linksys RE7000 was an above average performer in our testing, although it wasn't one of the top-end units – which were also more expensive. For its size and price it did well.
Initially this was an easy setup with spot finder smarts to help you find the ideal location to plug in. The front LED lights green, orange or red to show if you're in a good, average or poor spot in relation to the router.
Using a web browser you can access setup which lets you configure the basics easily enough. You can also update firmware here so you're running your best possible setup. Or you can use WPS, tapping the button on your router, then on the extender and you'll be connected in seconds.
While top-end routers repeat about 90 to 100 percent of router signal, this model was between 58 and 72 percent in our testing. That meant a range of between 450 Mbps and 220 Mbps – so still more than enough for most.
Running this on multiple devices at once put that MU-MIMO to the test and we found it to work well, offering plenty of bandwidth no matter the tasks. That said, the unit can run a little warm after extended use, but it didn't appear to be a problem.
Should I buy the Linksys RE7000?
The Linksys RE7000 is a compact plug-in WiFi extender that is minimally designed and stays well hidden while still offering all the power of AC1900 dual-band WiFi. The MU-MIMO and dead spot focused features meant decent speeds even when on multiple devices simultaneously.
There are pricier and faster options but they won't be as cheap or compact. This is one of the best WiFi extenders in our best WiFi boosters list.
