Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 in the test: Inexpensive router with Wifi 6


Interest in routers without a modem could soon increase significantly in Germany – because the number of fiber optic connections is increasing and in many living rooms an external modem provides Internet access. While the router requires a modem for classic DSL and cable connections, any router can be connected to the external fiber optic modem – including those without a modem of their own. The Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 is one of the cheaper devices on the market, but still has the current WLAN standard Wifi 6 (WLAN-ax). Can it hold its own against the more expensive competition in the test?

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Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 in the test: Equipment

The Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 theoretically achieves up to 2,402 megabits per second (Mbps) in the 5 gigahertz frequency and up to 574 Mbps per 2.4 gigahertz via WLAN. The suffix “AIoT” indicates a special feature of the router – it is made up of the English abbreviations for artificial intelligence (Aartificial Intelligence) and Internet of Things (Iinternet Of Thung) together. Because one of the total of seven antennas is only available for connecting Xiaomi smart home devices. The router recognizes the devices automatically, and they can be quickly integrated into the network via an app. You can hardly certify that the router has artificial intelligence, but the function is always practical – at least if you own smart home devices from the manufacturer.

The router has three LAN ports with gigabit speeds (1,000 Mbps) and a WAN port for connecting to an external modem or existing modem router. A button for the WPS method for quickly connecting devices and a USB port for storage media, for example, are absent. Good: The power consumption is extremely low at 6.8 watts.

Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600

The router connects Xiaomi smart home devices with a separate antenna.

Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600: WLAN speed in the test

COMPUTER BILD recorded the WLAN speed of the router for a PC network card with Wifi 6 (two antennas) and for a card with the older Wifi 4 and 5 standards (four antennas) – the Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 also uses them. The router achieved a very good result at 5 gigahertz. On average, it reached up to 944 Mbps and scored with its long range: At the measuring point furthest away from the test PC, it still reached up to 323 Mbps. Overall, it performed better here than the powerful AVM FritzBox 4060 and was roughly on par with the equally inexpensive Huawei WiFi AX3. Although it performed well at 2.4 gigahertz, it was defeated by many of its competitors. Because while the FritzBox 7590 managed up to 619 Mbps at 2.4 gigahertz, the Xiaomi was already at 416 Mbps. Wifi 6 showed a clear advantage in twelve out of a total of 16 measurement scenarios. This also means that older devices without Wifi 6 are sometimes supplied with data much more slowly by the Mi router – especially at greater distances.
Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600

The Xiaomi router has a total of seven external antennas.

Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 in the test: functions

The Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 has so-called mesh functions. If you set up a WLAN with Xiaomi repeaters, which also support Mesh, the network always connects devices optimally – i.e. in the fastest frequency (band steering) with the access point with the strongest signal (access point steering). This also works if you expand the WiFi of the Mi AIoT AX3600 with other Xiaomi routers in repeater mode. The Xiaomi exchanges data with several devices at the same time via multi-user MIMO, which increases the speed. With data prioritization, users can give priority to individual devices in the network. Overall, however, the range of functions is meager – a WLAN guest network and child safety, for example, are only available via app. Most other router manufacturers have a lot more to offer here – especially AVM.

Mi AIoT AX3600: setup and operation

Commissioning the Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 is easy thanks to a setup wizard. The operation is different: Although the browser menu is extremely sparse, it lacks a logical structure and overview. Even when repeatedly looking for a specific function, it is sometimes necessary to click through all the menu items until you have found the desired option.

Mi AIoT AX3600 in the test: conclusion and alternatives

The Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 offers fast to very fast WLAN thanks to Wifi 6, but older devices with Wifi 4 and 5 are sometimes significantly slower. With its clever mesh functions, the Xiaomi network always connects devices optimally. Setting up the router is easy, but operating it is cumbersome. Compared to many other router manufacturers, Xiaomi only has a small range of functions. The FritzBox 4060 is currently the best alternative: It offers significantly more functions, is well suited for large households with its three WLAN radio units and has an integrated telephone system including a DECT base for cordless telephones. Among the inexpensive routers without a modem, we recommend the Huawei WiFi AX3, which performed quite a bit better than the Xiaomi in the test.

Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600: price and release

The Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX3600 is already commercially available. It currently costs from 94 euros (as of March 31, 2022).



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