D-Link AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 router review

It’s hard to remember but there was a time when our home internet was all hardwired. To gain access to the internet you had to physically connect your computer to the router using a network cable. Today wireless internet is the norm; our cell phones, tablets, laptops, computers, and smart tv’s are all wirelessly connected to our routers. When there are too many devices connected, older routers can struggle to maintain fast and stable connections. This is where Wi-Fi 6 routers come into play. These next gen routers are meant to keep up with our modern, multi-device wireless world. They provide superior speed, connection quality, and security. Today I’ll be reviewing the D-Link AX1800 (DIR-X1870) Wi-Fi 6 router. 

D-Link AX1800 unboxing and set-up

The D-Link AX1800’s packaging is simple and straightforward. As someone who can’t wait to get their hands on a new product, I always enjoy a simple unboxing experience. Upon opening the box you’re immediately greeted by the router, charger, and documentation. Looking at the materials used, I see that D-Link took an eco-friendly approach using only recyclable materials. 

Setting up the AX1800 is simple to do and only requires your phone. With the AX1800 you no longer need to jump through the hoops of getting a laptop, typing in the router address, and logging in just to access controls. Using D-Link’s mobile app the entire set-up process can now be done from your phone.

The D-Link Wi-Fi app does a step by step walkthrough of setting up your router. After locating the new router, the D-Link app will ask you to create a Wi-Fi network name and password. Then, your router is ready to be used. For me the entire set-up was done in less than 10 minutes. 

Simple and small design

It’s clear from the packaging and design that the AX1800 is meant to be an entry level Wi-Fi 6 router. The body is black, boxy, and is made entirely of plastic. The size of the AX1800 is surprisingly small especially when compared to other Wi-Fi 6 routers. To keep the internals cool the AX1800 has ventilation on both the top and bottom of its chassis. 

Another small but thoughtful design choice in the AX1800 body is the mounting hooks. These hooks can be used if you want to hang the AX1800 from your wall or on the side of a piece of furniture. I liked this inclusion since it lets me keep my office space clean and organized.

The AX1800 has a limited port selection. On the back of the AX1800 there are 4 LAN ports for external devices. For those with multiple hardwire devices you may find the 4 LAN to be limiting. I currently have 5 hardwired devices that are connected to my home router and I’m often worried I will need more LAN ports. 

Another port that I found myself missing on the AX1800 was the USB port. For some this is a crucial connection point. The USB port performs a variety of functions. For example, printers and storage devices can be connected to this port which are then shared across the network. The USB port can also be used to update the router or charge other devices. 

D-Link AX1800’s fast and easy to use network

The AX1800 is a dual band router supporting 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. It has a maximum data rate of 1800 mbps. In my tests the AX1800 was able to achieve 164 mbps download speeds and 173 mbps upload speeds. Keep in mind that your speed tests may differ according to your network plan with your internet service provider.

The AX1800 comes with a neat feature called Smart Connect. This feature allows both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands of the AX1800 to share a single Wi-Fi network name. In doing so, the router selects which wireless band is the fastest based on the device connected. Another benefit of Smart Connect is that the router can balance the network traffic loads between the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. This ensures that wireless speeds remain fast and stable for connected devices.

In my research I wasn’t able to find the exact wireless range of the D-Link AX1800. However, during my tests I had no issues maintaining a strong Wi-Fi connection within my 900 sq. ft. space. If you find yourself needing additional range from your AX1800, you’ll be happy to know that you can create a mesh network with other D-Link Wi-Fi 6 routers. What if you have an older D-Link Wi-Fi device? There’s good news there too, as the AX1800 is compatible with all previous Wi-Fi devices from D-Link.

D-Link AX1800 user controls

The AX1800 can be controlled in three different ways, the mobile application, a web browser, and voice control. D-Link has made the user interface simple to use for both beginner and advanced users. Both the mobile app and web browsers make it easy to find the functions that most users need. It’s clear that D-Link put thought into their user interface making it simple for users to access controls. For example, finding and setting the Parental Controls was a simple 2 clicks. 

For the more advanced users the web browser is the easiest method for accessing specific controls. In my testing advanced features such as Port Forwarding were much easier to find in the browser controls than the mobile app. 

As of writing this review, the D-Link AX1800 currently supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. As expected both assistants have the least amount of control over the AX1800. Using these smart assistants you’re limited to a number of controls. These include being able to turn on/off guest mode, restart, and update your router.

Final thoughts on the D-Link AX1800

The D-Link AX1800 is a great entry level Wi-Fi 6 router that comes in at an affordable price. The AX1800 won’t win any awards for its plain black, boxy design. However the AX1800 excels at what it was built to do, providing next generation Wi-Fi 6 capabilities, security, and speed. The simplicity and ease of use of the D-Link app cannot be understated. If you don’t mind the limited port selection, I highly recommend checking out the D-Link AX1800 as your next Wi-Fi 6 router. If you’re interested to see what other products D-Link has to offer have a look here.