Which Xiaomi router is the best? I've used everything from the 95-yuan CR8809 to the BE3600, and just follow the three budget tiers

Last month,

helped three families get routers together: one had 89 yuan to change the main router, one installed it in a rental apartment, and another was a NAS user looking to switch to a 2.5G port. All three are Xiaomi models, but each model is different. Later, someone in a relative's group asked me, "Which Xiaomi router is actually better?" I typed three lines and deleted it—this can't be explained in just a few sentences; it depends on the area, broadband, and the port you want. I might as well write an article to thoroughly organize the machines I've used and helped others install all at once.

think carefully about three things before buying, otherwise you'll waste money

I bought a router for the first time and ended up overpaying it. Back then, my home only had 100Mbps broadband, an old house of about 60 square meters. I gritted my teeth and got a flagship. The signal throughout the house was good, but the broadband was so low that even half the flagship's performance couldn't run at full capacity—a complete waste. Later, when I changed houses or helped people build PCs, I summarized three questions I had to answer before buying.

the first question: how big the house is and how many load-bearing walls . For three-bedroom units under 89 square meters, one unit is placed near the TV cabinet in the living room, covering the entire house. If the master bedroom has weak signal, you can only adjust the wall-through mode. I've written an article about checking poor signal, the full from signal strength level three to placement. For units over 120 square meters, duplexes, or self-built homes, no matter how you place a machine, there are blind spots. So don't invest in single-unit performance; plan two units to build Mesh. Buying two mid-range units is much more cost-effective than buying one high-end one. I've written separately about Mesh networking methods and sub-routing placement, so I won't elaborate here.

the second question, how many megabits of broadband there is. 100Mbps broadband—any device on sale can run smoothly, so you really don't need to be picky. For 300 Mbps to gigabit ports, make sure the device is fully gigabit; don't buy an old account with 100 Mbps. There's also a bandwidth account: 100Mbps broadband has a download limit of 12.5MB/s, gigabit is 125MB/s. Whether you can actually use it at home is a good calculation—I've written estimate of how much broadband is enough. Many people only have 300Mbps broadband, yet they pay the premium for gigabit ports. They can save that money and buy a better power strip.

the third question, have special needs . If you have a NAS at home and want to run a 2.5G private network, look for models with a 2.5G port; If you want to plug in a USB drive as a lightweight shared drive, look for models with USB ports. Xiaomi models with USB ports are actually rare, but I tested what USB ports can do in one article If you have forty or fifty smart devices at home, it depends on how many devices you have—I'll explain that in detail later. After answering these three questions, the budget range naturally appears.

100-yuan range: AX3000T still pick up a CR8809

the 100-yuan price range is the dessert range for most people, with only two machines worth mentioning.

one is Xiaomi AX3000T, my main router has been used for two years. MediaTek MT7981 platform, 256MB memory, four full gigabit ports supporting blind plugging, 192.168.31.1 background access, gigabit broadband tested at 940MB maxed out, and with 62 devices at home, peak memory usage is only about 60%. I've written a two-year long-term test about this phone's pros and cons, the full from overheating to the new chip replacement. Here's just the most critical pitfall: the current AX3000T on sale quietly swapped hardware. The new V3 version uses a Qualcomm chip, which generates a lot more heat. The SN code with 49850 is the old MediaTek, and the 64595 is the new Qualcomm. Before buying, ask customer service for SN verification or check the sticker before arrival. The old second-hand version was around 100 yuan, and its performance was not compromised.

another is CR8809, the Telecom custom Redmi AX3000, with hardware basically identical to the retail version. I once bought one for 95 yuan. Its gameplay is to flash the reference firmware, which is no different from the Redmi AX3000 and can even be linked to Mijia. But there are three pitfalls: custom firmware can't be linked to Mijia, firmware updates are suspended through carrier channels, and the backend password is set by the installer and must be reset first. The M79 motherboard's 2.4G power is even halved, so before buying, the seller takes a photo of the motherboard. I've recorded this process in detail, every step from checking the device to printing the reference version. . Finding bargains is for those willing to tinker; if your elders at home use it, don't bother with it—just buy the retail version.

200 yuan range: For the BE3600, go for the white 2.5G version, Redmi can also compete

budget is around 200 yuan, so a few choices add a lot, but also many pitfalls.

top recommendation is the white 2.5G of the Xiaomi BE3600, model code RD15, one 2.5G port plus three gigabit ports, four independent FEMs, firmware updates frequently, costing about 150 to 160 yuan. My cousin's house has this model. The 2.5G port connects to the NAS, and the internal network tests show up to 95MB/s, breaking the ceiling of gigabit ports. But this machine comes in four versions, and that's where the flaws lie: the white gigabit RD16 doesn't have a 2.5G port and its firmware is a bit slower; the black version quietly swapped its CPU, with the independent FEM reduced to an integrated one, resulting in a much weaker signal across the wall; the BE3600 Pro looks like an upgraded version but is actually a different machine, positioned as a mother-and-child mesh set. I've summarized three ways to distinguish e-commerce pages: four versions of comparison tables and the e-commerce page identification method . In short: stick to the words 'white + 2.5G'—don't look at other versions, no matter how cheap.

don't pursue a 2.5G port, Redmi AX3000 is also a good choice in this 200-yuan range. Redmi and Xiaomi share the same firmware and two product lines, with the main price differences being the appearance and some peripheral features, but the core wireless performance is in the same tier. When buying a device for my parents, I studied the differences between Redmi and Xiaomi for three days, which offers better value and which features are downgraded. This article explains everything clearly. The conclusion is simple: for scenarios like parents' homes or rental apartments, Redmi buys with its eyes closed; For home use and caring about Mijia ecosystem integration, spend a few dozen yuan more on Xiaomi.

WiFi7 and four or five hundred machines, who would actually need them

the store currently promotes WiFi 7, the BE3600 is itself an entry-level WiFi 7 model. But the most valuable feature of WiFi 7 is MLO. The phone connects to both 2.4G and 5G simultaneously. I tested it with Xiaomi for a week, and external network speed tests showed almost no change, because the bottleneck was broadband; the real beneficiary was internal file transfers, about 30% faster, and seamless switching when moving around the house. So the conclusion is straightforward: for broadband within gigabit and without a large intranet transmission need, WiFi 6 AX3000T is sufficient, so don't spend extra money on WiFi 7. Think carefully about whether to use it; you can check out my MLO test article, where the real difference between and not running is .

high-end models priced above 400 or 500, my attitude is that they are basically useless for family use. At that price point, you get a stronger CPU, more bandwidth, and higher negotiation speeds, but the premise for this performance feed is that broadband starts at 2000GB or has 10GB drives. In a typical home space environment, the difference in experience between the high-end model and the 200-yuan model is much smaller than their price difference. With that budget, it's better to buy two mid-range Mesh units to solve the coverage issue—the effect is immediate. I've calculated how many units to buy—two are enough for 89 to meet, but pushing for a third just slows down .

another overlooked point: the number of with the number of devices. If you include cameras, speakers, vacuum cleaners, and bulb sockets at home, the number of devices can easily reach fifty or sixty. At this point, the router's memory is more critical than the chip model. An old 128MB machine starts disconnecting after 15 units, while a 256MB AX3000T starts disconnecting with 62 units. I did a major slimming down on my home devices, 62 the composition and how to reduce them to a healthy level. For families with many devices, always check the memory specs before buying.

Don't rush to buy new ones; old machines still have three ways to survive

writing a purchase post, you have to be honest: often you don't need a new router, but rather a new one.

the first option: old machines to upgrade to wireless relay to supplement the signal in one room. After my old AX3000T retired, I switched to a repeater and put it outside the kitchen. The signal was pulled back from two bars back to full bars, with the speed halved, but it's enough for video play. The management IP will become the address assigned by the main router. Find it from the main router device list. I've encountered this pitfall before, the complete steps for changing the relay and the of IP changes. The second option is switch to AP mode, connect the main router with a network cable, which offers better stability and speed than the relay. The old AC2100 is used in my home as an IoT private network. The third path is to Mesh subnodes , enabling same-brand machines to network with one click, making roaming experience better than fiddling with it yourself.

there's only one situation where you really need to replace it: after seven or eight years of use, firmware stoppages, new phone negotiations can't speed up, and restarts are getting more frequent—this means the hardware is old and can't be saved. The method to judge by looking at five aging signals routers can generally be analyzed and for several years.

take the right spot and copy your homework

finally laid out the homework from the three families and assigned them accordingly.

On the day

I bought and built the PC, I did three things along the way: write down the broadband account and WiFi password before starting, export and back up the old machine's configuration first, and separately set up the management and WiFi passwords for the new machine. Don't throw away or confuse the power adapter. Most Xiaomi devices are 12V, and connecting a 5V charger won't light up. I've written about adapter model comparison and replacement rules which I've written separately. After installation, I tested the speed of one wheel, once in the living room and once in the farthest bedroom. Only when both met the standards was it considered complete.