Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority
Even though Wi-Fi has become an indispensable part of our lives, the tech can be quite frustrating to deal with sometimes. Moreover, routers haven’t become easier to use or included any exciting new features in the past decade. In fact, I’ve been disappointed by the lack of innovation by companies like Google that have only gone as far as making smartphone apps for easier setup or improving mesh connectivity.
So when I came across the Beryl AX — a Wi-Fi router claiming to disrupt the status quo on both, price and features — it piqued my interest. The device in question comes from a relatively young manufacturer, GL.iNet, that has mostly built its reputation on compact routers over the past few years. And on paper, it’s quite the disruptor: it can fit in a pocket, has 2.5Gbit Ethernet, uses USB-C for power, and packs more useful software features than routers that cost hundreds of dollars.
The Beryl AX is marketed as a travel router, but in my experience, it is just as useful as an everyday secondary router even in your own home. Will it replace your main home router? Absolutely not, but it’s still well worth your attention whether you’re a frequent traveler or not.
What does a “travel” router even mean?
Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority
The first question that popped into my head when I stumbled upon the Beryl AX is why does a travel router even exist? Most public places offer free Wi-Fi these days, and cellular connectivity has improved leaps and bounds. The answer’s pretty straightforward; a travel router stands between those free public networks and all of your devices.
The idea is that all of your devices connect to one centralized hub: the travel router, which then negotiates an internet connection either wirelessly or through a cable. If that sounds like a glorified Wi-Fi repeater, I don’t blame you. That is indeed one of the big selling points of most travel routers. But the one I ended up buying is far more sophisticated than a basic repeater for reasons I’ll explain below.
First, the biggest advantage to using any travel router is that they can deal with captive portals, or the login screens that pop up when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network like at a Starbucks or McDonald’s. I’ve also stayed at a number of hotels that require my room number and last name to access the internet. But where travel routers truly shine is on flights and cruises where you typically pay for internet access on a per-device basis. They can help you easily circumvent that restriction and connect as many devices as you need.
Travel routers can deal with captive portals, or the Wi-Fi login screens that pop up in hotels and elsewhere.
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