Linksys has been designing routers for many years and its products are known for their reliability and performance. The Max-Stream routers are one of the best Linksys routers and are a good choice for those who need good mesh capabilities and plenty of speed.
The Linksys Max Stream line introduced two top-notch routers Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream AC2600 and Linksys EA7500 Max-Stream AC1900- both of which feature MU-MIMO as their key selling points. The routers deliver strong performances and are equipped with most of the features that matter. However, if you need to choose one, you must look at the features of these routers in comparison with each other. Fret not because we’ve got you covered! We have jotted down and compared all the features and specs of these high-end routers to help you choose one. Have a look at this Linksys EA7500 vs EA8100 review:
Linksys EA7500 Max-Stream AC1900 MU-MIMO Dual Band Wi-Fi Router
The Linksys EA7500 Max-Stream is a home Wi-Fi router for power users. The Linksys EA7500 comes with four gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, single gigabit Ethernet WAN port, a single USB 2.0 port, and a single USB 3.0 port. It has three antennas and since it’s a dual-band router, it runs on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. The router has 802.11ac Wi-Fi type and can deliver up to 2x speeds as compared to the non MU-MIMO routers.
Setup is not a big deal since it doesn’t need a CD- you can either do the setup manually or use the setup utility option to configure the router. The setup utility will analyze your connection and take you through the initial wireless settings. The Smart Wi-Fi app allows you to form an individual guest network, see the network app, perform speed tests, use parental controls, prioritize media, and manage the external storage settings.
The router has an epic dual-core processor which gives up to 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1,300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The coverage is good, that is 1500 sq. ft., but it also depends where you place the router and how many barriers lie between the router and your device. The router serves more than 12 devices simultaneously and thus is a perfect option for those looking forward to connect a large number of devices. The Max-Stream technology of this Linksys router is really handy as it allows you to use another Max-Stream router in access point (AP) mode.
Linksys EA8100 Max-Stream AC2600 MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router
Linksys EA8100 AC2600 was the first DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) router introduced by the company. DFS is created to remove airspace congestion and interference surrounding the area. The DFS feature of this router allows it to operate in 6 channels at 80 MHz. The good thing about this technology is that if the device detects radar interference, it smoothly switches to a safer channel.
The design of this router is almost similar to Linksys EA7500 except the number of antennas- The EA7500 has three detachable antennas while the EA8100 has four antennas. At the back of EA8100 we have four Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, and a WAN port similar to the EA7500.
The Linksys EA8100 is also dual band but it delivers different maximum potential bandwidths; it gives up to 800 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 1,733 Mbps on 5 GHz. The setup of EA8100 is easy; you can use it within minutes after purchase.
As compared to the EA7500, the coverage provided by the EA8100 is more, that is 1800 sq. ft. Using the MU-MIMO technology the EA8100 can be used to serve 15 devices simultaneously while the EA7500 can connect around 12 devices at once.
The smart app allows you to set parental controls, prioritize the devices, and perform many other functions. The app is very handy as it offers plenty of management options similar to the Linksys EA7500 smart app.
Our recommendation
By doing a comparison of LinksysEA7500vs EA8100, we found out thatboth are excellent choices if you’re looking to bring MU-MIMO streaming and 802.11ac Wi-Fi to your home. Both routers feature beam-forming technology that helps in strengthening the Wi-Fi signals and directing them to specific devices. Apart from the similarities, we need to focus on the differences too so that choosing one device becomes easier.
With faster speeds and larger coverage, we highly recommend the Linksys EA8100 AC2600 to gamers and data streamers. This top-notch router is well-suited for online multiplayer gamers for the way it handles simultaneous data streams.
On the other hand, the Linksys EA7500 AC1900 Max-Stream router is focused on the variety of management options and port arrangements over functionality. This router is on the high-end spectrum of MU-MIMO routers and can be good for those who are power users. We recommend EA8100 because it is cheaper and offer high speeds and range for printer sharing and media streaming.