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Voltarum OpenWRT buyers guide

TP-Link · Archer · Released 2021

TP-Link Archer AX23 (Archer AX23 v1)

TP-Link Archer AX23

Photo: OpenWrt wiki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · resized

OpenWrt compatibility
Fully supportedup to 25.12.6
Our recommendation
Good Budget Option
  • Low RAM
  • Low flash
  • Hardware revision warning

Cheap Wi-Fi 6 router with official OpenWrt support, but 128 MB RAM and 16 MB flash leave little room for extras.

CPU
2-core · 880 MHz · MIPS
RAM / Flash
128 MB / 16 MB
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6
Fastest port
1 GbE

Tested by us: No. Specifications and compatibility independently researched from manufacturer and OpenWrt documentation.· Last reviewed Oct 10, 2026

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Quick answers

Does it support OpenWrt?
Yes, with official images since OpenWrt 22.03.4; latest release with images: 25.12.6.
Is installation easy?
Easy. Upload the OpenWrt factory image through the TP-Link web interface (firmware upgrade).
Is it powerful enough for WireGuard?
WireGuard suitability: Fair. Benchmark not yet tested.
Does it have enough RAM and flash?
128 MB RAM, 16 MB flash. Fine for basic routing, but tight for extra packages.
Does it have 2.5 GbE?
No. Fastest wired port: 1 GbE.
Would we buy it today?
Only on a tight budget for basic routing or as an access point. For VPN or SQM, spend more.Opinion
What should I buy instead?
Consider GL.iNet Beryl AX, Xiaomi AX3000T. See Alternatives below.Opinion

Overview

Editorial opinion

The Archer AX23 combines an older MediaTek MT7621 MIPS CPU with Wi-Fi 6 radios supported by the open-source mt76 driver. It is an inexpensive way into OpenWrt for basic routing and Wi-Fi.

The limits are memory and CPU: 128 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash are the bare minimum for current releases, and the MIPS CPU is slow for VPN encryption.

OpenWrt compatibility

Factual data
Synced Oct 21, 2026
OpenWrt support
Fully supported
Support status
Current stable release
First release with images
22.03.4
Latest release with images
25.12.6
Snapshot only
No
Target
ramips/mt7621
Build profile
tplink_archer-ax23-v1
Install methods (OpenWrt wiki)
GUI OEM,U-Boot web recovery
Recovery methods (OpenWrt wiki)
U-Boot web recovery
OpenWrt device page ↗Download in Firmware Selector ↗
  • Hardware revision warning. Only hardware version v1 is supported. Check the version on the label underneath before buying or flashing; other versions may use different hardware.

Source: official OpenWrt build data and Table of Hardware, data as of Oct 20, 2026, 11:45 AM UTC.

Hardware specifications

Factual data
SoC
MediaTek MT7621DAT
CPU architecture
MIPS
CPU cores
2
CPU clock
880 MHz
RAM
128 MB
Flash storage
16 MB NOR
Expandable storage
None
USB
None
  • Low RAM. 128 MB RAM leaves little headroom for VPN, SQM or extra packages.
  • Low flash. 16 MB of flash limits which packages you can install.

Source: www.tp-link.com

Network and Wi-Fi

Factual data
Wired
Ethernet ports
5
Layout
1× 1 GbE WAN + 4× 1 GbE LAN
WAN speed
1 GbE
LAN speed
1 GbE
Multi-gig ports
None
VLAN support
Yes
Wireless
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 · AX1800 · 2.4 / 5 GHz
Standards
802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz
Yes / Yes / No
Max wireless speed
1.8 Gbps (theoretical)
Radios
2
Wi-Fi chipset
MediaTek MT7905DAN + MT7975DN
Antennas
4 external, fixed

Installation difficulty

Editorial opinion
Installation difficulty
Easy
Usual method
Upload the OpenWrt factory image through the TP-Link web interface (firmware upgrade).
Recovery difficulty
Moderate
Recovery method
U-Boot web recovery; see the device page for the procedure.

Our rating of how hard a first installation and an unbrick are for someone comfortable with a web interface. Always follow the official device page for exact steps.

Performance

Factual data
NAT routing throughput
Benchmark not yet tested
SQM (cake) shaping limit
Benchmark not yet tested
SQM (bufferbloat control)Fair
Access point useGood
MeshFair

VPN performance

Factual data
WireGuard throughput
Benchmark not yet tested
OpenVPN throughput
Benchmark not yet tested
WireGuard suitabilityFair
OpenVPN suitabilityPoor
Editorial opinion

The 880 MHz MIPS CPU is the bottleneck for WireGuard; fine for modest connections only.

Suitability ratings are our estimate from the CPU and architecture, not measurements. See the methodology.

Pros and cons

Editorial opinion

Pros

  • Low price
  • Wi-Fi 6 with open-source drivers
  • Installs from the stock web interface

Cons

  • 128 MB RAM and 16 MB flash
  • Slow MIPS CPU for VPN and SQM at high speeds
  • No USB
  • Only hardware v1 is supported

Editorial scores

Editorial opinion
Overall
6.0 / 10
OpenWrt friendliness
7.5 / 10
Ease of installation(higher is easier)
8.0 / 10
Performance
5.0 / 10
VPN performance
3.5 / 10
Value
8.0 / 10

Where to buy

Other regions (3)

Typical street price around $60 (editorial reference, not a live price). Prices are shown only if updated in the last 24 hours and may change; the retailer’s price at checkout applies. We may earn a commission from these links at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

Alternatives

Editorial opinion
GL.iNet Beryl AX
GL.iNet Beryl AX (GL-MT3000)8.8
Fully supportedHighly Recommended

Wi-Fi 6 · 512 MB RAM · 2.5 GbE · ~$89

Easy install, 512 MB RAM and 2.5 GbE, at a higher price.

Compare side by side →
Xiaomi AX3000T
Xiaomi AX3000T (Mi Router AX3000T)7.0
Fully supportedGood Budget Option

Wi-Fi 6 · 256 MB RAM · 1 GbE · ~$40

Much faster CPU and more memory for less money, if you can handle the install.

Compare side by side →

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