Synology is very best recognized for its domestic NAS servers, however the Taiwanese producer is increasingly more turning its consideration to domestic networking. Remaining yr’s RT6600ax Wi-Fi 6 router used to be an underrated gen, turning in superb connectivity and in depth instrument feature-set that used to be a category above its opponents.
Synology is following it up with the discharge of the WRX560. Subaru-esque branding apart, the router has so much going for it: you get speedy Wi-Fi 6 protection with 160MHz channels, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port that may be switched to a WAN connection if essential, and the similar class-leading parental controls and instrument options because the RT6600ax.
Moreover, the WRX560 will get a much-needed design refresh with hidden antennae, giving the router a cleaner glance. The most productive phase is that at $249, the WRX560 is a smart worth for the feature-set and connectivity on be offering. So if you are having a look to get your palms on one of the crucial very best Wi-Fi routers for only $250, this is why you will have to imagine the WRX560.
Synology WRX560: Pricing and availability
Synology introduced the WRX560 in November 2, 2022, and the router went up on the market beginning later within the month. The WRX560 is to be had in all markets the place the logo has an legit presence, and in North The usa, it’s offered in any respect primary outlets for $249. It prices £209 ($255) in the United Kingdom, and made its debut in India in January 2023 for ₹22,352 ($273).
Whilst the logo’s very best NAS fashions have a three-year guaranty as same old, the routers get a two-year guaranty as an alternative, and the WRX560 is not any other.
Synology WRX560: Design and contours
The RT6600ax had so much going for it, however design wasn’t one among them. Fortunately, Synology paid a bit extra consideration to the design of the WRX560, and the result’s that the router appears trendy. The important thing distinction is that the WRX560 has hidden antennae, making it glance that a lot more gratifying visually.
It’s comprised of the similar plastic subject matter that the logo makes use of on NAS servers just like the DiskStation DS723+, and the trendy design permits the WRX560 to mix in a bit higher — it unquestionably is not an eyesore. That stated, the router is considerably taller than the RT6600ax, so it is important to issue that during if you are within the WRX560.
The router has a vented design with excellent passive airflow, and there is a side-mounted USB 3 Gen 3.1 port that permits you to attach a power. You can in finding the ports on the again, and there’s a lot to love right here. The WRX560 has a Gigabit WAN port, 3 Gigabit LAN ports, and a 2.5GbE LAN port that doubles as a WAN port.
A space the place the router misses out is Hyperlink Aggregation; a obtrusive omission taking into account the objective target audience that is possibly to make use of the router would have already got the logo’s NAS servers.
That stated, a characteristic that is in particular nice this is the facility to make use of two WAN connections with the similar router. This has been a mainstay on all Synology routers going again to the RT2600ac, and it’s essential see the characteristic intact at the WRX560. What is additionally nice is that there is 2.5GbE connectivity, and with multi-gigabit fiber now a fact, this makes the router a bit extra future-proof on this regard.
Synology WRX560: Configuration and instrument
Putting in place the router is ready as simple because it will get. You can wish to use DS router to your telephone — it is to be had for Android in addition to iOS — for preliminary configuration and control, and set up takes simply 5 mins. I did not see any problems in detecting the router or environment it up in my domestic community, and you’ll be able to assign an SSID, configure visitor mode, and feature the WRX560 up and operating with no less than trouble.
DS router may be nice for port control, visitors regulate, tracking real-time community statistics, and seeing the collection of gadgets attached to the router. The place the WRX560 in particular shines is with the instrument feature-set; it makes use of Synology Router Supervisor (SRM) 1.3, and similar to the DiskStation Supervisor instrument that does a super activity at the logo’s NAS servers, SRM is exceptional for routers.
You get an exhaustive listing of options, and for a majority of customers eyeing the WRX560, DS router will have to be greater than sufficient to control the router every day. But when you wish to have the entire options that the WRX560 has to provide, you’ll be able to wish to check in to the internet interface. Simply level the browser in your gateway, log in along with your credentials, and you’ll be able to be view the entire choices.
I love options like Sensible Attach, the place the two.4GHz and 5GHz radios merge to create a unmarried SSID that switches between bands intelligently in line with the place your instrument is in the home. You additionally be able to arrange more than a few VLANs, a must have in the event you use good domestic merchandise — a excellent rule of thumb is to create a novel VLAN only for IoT tools.
Some other nice use case is popping the router right into a NAS server, and that is possible by way of connecting an exterior power into the USB port. You would not have the facility to run Plex at the router, however the Media Server bundle comes with numerous the similar options and works reliably for streaming media to attached gadgets in your house.
Synology’s Danger Prevention carrier remains to be a precious addition, and easy-to-use parental controls help you assign utilization limits for particular person gadgets, block get entry to to express websites, and so forth. That is a space the place the WRX560 pulls forward of its opponents, and if you wish to have a feature-rich router that doubles as a NAS, the WRX560 is an implausible selection.
Synology WRX560: Efficiency
As for the {hardware} itself, the WRX560 is powered by way of a 1.4GHz quad-core chip and has 512GB of RAM together with 256GB of flash garage. For wi-fi connectivity, there are six hidden antennae that ship 4 x 4 MIMO over the 5GHz band and a pair of x 2 MIMO over 2.4GHz. It is a Wi-Fi 6 router, and also you get the broader 160MHz channels as neatly.
A key level of differentiation between the WRX560 and RT6600ax — and why the previous is a bit more inexpensive — is that it has dual-band connectivity, so that you get one 5GHz band and one 2.4GHz band. That stated, you continue to get quite a few throughput right here, with the 5GHz band going as much as 2400Mbit, greater than sufficient for domestic use.
Having used the RT6600ax for a number of months in 2022, I used to be interested in seeing how the WRX560 would measure up, and it did an admirable activity. It delivered as regards to the similar figures because the RT6600ax, with a variance of underneath 10%. A unmarried unit used to be ready to blanket my 1,960 sq. toes. space with a competent Wi-Fi sign, however if in case you have a two-story space, you’ll be able to all the time flip the WRX560 into a strong mesh machine by way of including every other unit.
I noticed bandwidth of 122Mbit over the two.4GHz band at a distance of 10ft, and over 5GHz I reliably noticed bandwidth of 843Mbit in the similar location. The master suite is the furthest clear of the router at 75 toes, and right here I were given 338Mbit on reasonable. I examined the router with the Pixel 7 Professional, Galaxy S22 Extremely, and a slate of Home windows notebooks and iPads, and it did a super activity turning in a rock-solid connection.
There aren’t any problems round long-term reliability as neatly, and I did not see any slowdowns within the 3 weeks I used the router. All issues stated, the WRX560 is among the quickest dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers you’ll be able to purchase this present day.
Synology WRX560: The contest
The RT6600ax makes use of a tri-band configuration and has higher protection, so if in case you have a bigger domestic, this is a better option. You additionally get double the quantity of RAM at 1GB, and whilst the design is not in particular trendy, the six omni-directional antennae do a super activity turning in whole-home protection. The RT6600ax additionally has 160MHz channels and works over Wi-Fi 6, and also you get a 2.5GbE port that can be utilized with both LAN or WAN.
If you wish to have a standard router, the ASUS RT-AX86U continues to be a competent selection. The router additionally is available in at $249, and also you get whole-home protection, quite a few ports, and a devoted sport mode that prioritizes bandwidth for video games. The instrument is not as extensible and you aren’t getting the similar set of options, however AiMesh permits you to use the RT-AX86U in a mesh configuration.
Synology WRX560: Must you purchase it?
You will have to purchase this if:
- You need a mid-range Wi-Fi 6 router with stellar connectivity
- You want in depth instrument options
- You need the most efficient parental controls on this class
- You want multi-gig Ethernet connectivity
You should not purchase this if:
- You want a router that works with Wi-Fi 6e
- You might be on the lookout for Hyperlink Aggregation to make use of with a NAS
- You need a tri-band router
The WRX560 nails the fundamentals, and you might be getting numerous worth on your cash right here. The sheer collection of instrument options by myself makes it a powerful contender, and if you are on the lookout for tough parental controls and utilization get entry to, there is no higher answer for only $250. The design may be a lot better this time, and I love the trendy aesthetic — it does a excellent activity mixing into the background.
I had 0 problems at the connectivity entrance, with the WRX560 turning in a solid connection to all corners of my domestic. The one problem on this space is that the router misses out on Wi-Fi 6e, and with Wi-Fi 7 at the horizon, you’ll be able to wish to imagine what you wish to have out of a router in 2023 and past. The WRX560 is an implausible selection for nowadays (and can be for a couple of years), and if the preliminary wave of Wireless 6 routers have been any indication, Wi-Fi 7 will lift a vital top rate at release.
So in the event you simply desire a dependable Wi-Fi 6 router with superb connectivity and instrument options that may additionally double as a NAS server and paintings in a mesh configuration, the WRX560 is the most efficient general choice for only $250.
The WRX560 is the most efficient dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router you’ll be able to get for only $250. It delivers stellar connectivity, has a strong instrument feature-set, and has a contemporary design that appears nice.