TP-Link AX3000 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Extender (RE715X)

Having trouble streaming video in a back bedroom? Before you go out and plunk down hundreds of dollars for a new Wi-Fi router or mesh system, consider extending your existing router’s reach with the TP-Link RE715X ($119.99). The RE715X is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 range extender that is easy to install and can even be used to create a mesh network in tandem with a compatible TP-Link router. It’s bulkier than most range extenders we’ve tested, and it could use a pass-through outlet, but its performance and ease of use earn it an Editors’ Choice award nonetheless.

---

Big Box, Big Range

The RE715X is a plug-in Wi-Fi 6 extender that sports a white finish with textured grillwork on the front. It measures 6.2 by 4.2 by 1.3 inches (HWD), which makes it significantly larger than TP-Link’s RE603X and RE505X, both of which measure 4.9 by 2.9 by 1.8 inches. There are two antennas on either side of the device that fold up, bringing the total height to 10 inches. The two-pronged plug on the back is positioned near the bottom of the device, allowing it to be used in a two-receptacle wall outlet without blocking access to the second receptacle. Still, a pass-through outlet would be welcome here, something that few range extenders offer these days.

There are four LED indicators on the front left for power, Wi-Fi signal strength, and radio band connectivity (2.4GHz and 5GHz). The right side holds a 1GbE LAN port, a Reset button, and a WPS button. The RE715X is an AX3000 extender, which means it can hit speeds of up to 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 2,402Mbps on the 5GHz band, for a total maximum throughput of just under 3,000Mbps.

The RE715X supports Wi-Fi 6 technologies, including 160MHz channel bandwidth, WPA3 encryption, MU-MIMO data streaming, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), and beamforming. It can operate as an extender or as an access point, or it can be used as a mesh node when connected to a TP-Link OneMesh router such as the Archer AX3200.

You can manage the RE715X using TP-Link's web-based management console or with your phone using the Tether mobile app. The extender appears in a panel on the Tether app’s My Devices screen. When you tap the panel, you’ll open a screen that has a network map with icons for the main network, the extender, and the number of clients that are connected to the extender. Tap the main network icon to view the network name, the type of encryption, the signal strength, the password, and the MAC address for both radio bands. Tap the extender icon to view device information, including firmware and hardware versions, the IP address, and DHCP settings. To see which devices are connected to the extender, tap the clients icon.

Below the map are names of both extended networks (2.4GHz and 5GHz). You can easily share the network credentials via email or text message by tapping the upload box next to the SSID. Tap the SSID name to open a screen where you can edit and hide the SSID, and disable one or both radio bands.

To access the device settings screen, tap the Tools button at the bottom. Here you can edit Wi-Fi, LAN, and DHCP settings; enable OneMesh networking; configure High Speed mode (which has the extender shut off one radio band and speed up the other based on its connectivity to the main router); and use the Location Assistant to find the best location for the extender. Other settings allow you to disable the LED status lights, create a power-off schedule, and toggle between extender and access-point mode.

---

Testing the RE715X: Speedy Installation

Whether you use the web console or the Tether mobile app to install the RE715X, it's a quick and easy process. I used the mobile app, and started by powering up the device in the same room as the router that I wanted to extend. I tapped the + button in the upper right corner of the My Devices screen, selected Range Extender from the list, and confirmed that the power LED was solid blue. I answered Yes when asked to connect to the extender’s Wi-Fi SSID. and once connected, I created a local management password for the device.

Next, I was prompted to choose the SSIDs of the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks that I wanted to extend, entered their passwords, and waited a few seconds for the app to apply these settings. I unplugged the RE715X and relocated it to a point in my house that was approximately halfway between the router and the area that needed a signal boost. I then verified that the extender had a good connection to the router, and the installation was finished.

The RE715X turned in solid scores in our throughput performance tests and did particularly well on the 5GHz tests, where it garnered 410Mbps on the close proximity (same room) test. That’s significantly faster than what we saw with the Rock Space AX1800 (174Mbps) and more than 60Mbps faster than the Netgear EAX15 (354Mbps) and the TP-Link RE603X (358Mbps). At 20 feet, the RE715X’s score of 264Mbps took top honors, beating the Rock Space AX1800 (158Mbps), the Netgear EAX15 (171Mbps) and the TP-Link RE603X (251Mbps). At a distance of 40 feet, the RE715X’s score of 159Mbps was faster than the Rock Space AX1800 (130Mbps) and the Netgear EAX15 (132Mbps), but not the TP-Link RE603X (200Mbps).

On our 2.4GHz close proximity test, the RE715X’s score of 106Mbps squeaked past the TP-Link RE603X by just 2Mbps and beat the Rock Space AX1800 (62Mbps) and Netgear EAX15 (65Mbps) handily. The RE715X’s score of 71Mbps on the 20-foot test was nearly twice as fast as the competition: The Rock Space AX1800 scored 35Mbps, the Netgear EAX15 scored 37Mbps, and the TP-Link RE603X scored 38Mbps. Finally, at 40 feet, the RE715X delivered 14Mbps, beating the Rock Space AX1800 (9Mbps) and the TP-Link RE603X (12Mbps). However, it was a bit slower than the Netgear EAX15 (15Mbps).

To test wireless signal strength, we use an Ekahau Sidekick 2 Wi-Fi diagnostic device and Ekahau’s Survey mobile app to measure signal strength and to generate heat maps that show the extender’s 2.4GHz and 5GHz signal range throughout our test home. (Editors' Note: Ekahau is owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company.) The circle on the map below represents the location of the extender and dark green shading indicates the strongest signal. Lighter green and yellow shading represent gradual signal degradation, and gray indicates a very weak signal or no measurable signal reception.

5GHz (top) and 2.4GHz (bottom) signal strength maps for the TP-Link AX3000 Mesh WiFi 6 Range Extender

As shown on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz heat maps, the RE715X did a good job of bringing strong Wi-Fi to the target areas (the den, living room, and garage), but both signals become weaker in the back bedrooms.

---

Verdict: A Fast, Versatile Range Extender

If your Wi-Fi 6 router has trouble providing strong Wi-Fi signals to certain rooms in your home, give it a boost with the TP-Link AX3000 Mesh WiFi 6 Range Extender (RE715X). It works with any Wi-Fi 6 router and installs in minutes, which makes it a logical alternative for people whose existing routers work fine and who therefore don't need to spend $200 or up on a new mesh system with multiple nodes. That said, the RE715X also offers the best of both worlds, since it can be pressed into service as a mesh node if you already have a TP-Link OneMesh router.

Ultimately, the RE715X is easily one of the bulkiest range extenders we’ve tested, but it’s also one of the fastest, and that earns it an Editors’ Choice award for the category.