TP-Link · Archer · Released 2024

TP-Link Archer BE450

OpenWrt compatibility: Partially supportedup to 25.12.6
Our recommendation: Advanced Users Only

Difficult installation
Limited OpenWrt support

An affordable Wi-Fi 7 router on Filogic 880 with 10 GbE and 2.5 GbE ports; OpenWrt support is partial and needs a serial install.

CPU: 3-core · 1.8 GHz · ARM 64-bit
RAM / Flash: 512 MB / 128 MB
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
Fastest port: 10 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?: Partially. Yes, with official images since OpenWrt 25.12.0; latest release with images: 25.12.6. Not working: 10 GbE port (RTL8261N) without a code change; WED offloading.
Is installation easy?: Hard. Connect a serial console, boot the OpenWrt initramfs over TFTP, then run sysupgrade -n.
Is it powerful enough for WireGuard?: WireGuard suitability: Excellent. Benchmark not yet tested.
Does it have enough RAM and flash?: 512 MB RAM, 128 MB flash. Plenty of room for VPN, SQM, ad blocking and extra packages.
Does it have 2.5 GbE?: Yes: 1× 2.5 GbE, 1× 10 GbE.
Would we buy it today?: Only for enthusiasts who can live with the current limitations; the Flint 2 or BPi-R4 are easier routes to fast OpenWrt.Opinion
What should I buy instead?: Consider Banana Pi BPI-R4. See Alternatives below.Opinion

Overview

Editorial opinion

The Archer BE450 is one of the cheapest ways to get MediaTek's Filogic 880 (MT7988D) with dual-band Wi-Fi 7, a 10 GbE port and a 2.5 GbE port.

Official OpenWrt supports it, with caveats from the commit that added it: the 10 GbE port needs a code change to work, and Wireless Ethernet Dispatch (WED) offloading breaks the Wi-Fi. Installation needs a serial console.

OpenWrt compatibility

Factual data

Synced Oct 21, 2026

OpenWrt support: Partially supported
Support status: Current stable release
First release with images: 25.12.0
Latest release with images: 25.12.6
Snapshot only: No
Not working: 10 GbE port (RTL8261N) without a code change; WED offloading
Target: mediatek/filogic
Build profile: tplink_be450

OpenWrt device page ↗Download in Firmware Selector ↗

Limited OpenWrt support. Not working under OpenWrt: 10 GbE port (RTL8261N) without a code change; WED offloading.

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 MT7988D (Filogic 880)
CPU architecture: ARM 64-bit (aarch64)
CPU cores: 3
CPU clock: 1.8 GHz
RAM: 512 MB
Flash storage: 128 MB NAND
Expandable storage: None
USB: 1× USB
Power: 12 V / 2 A DC

Source: www.tp-link.com

Network and Wi-Fi

Factual data

Wired

Ethernet ports: 5
Layout: 1× 10 GbE + 1× 2.5 GbE + 3× 1 GbE
WAN speed: 10 GbE
LAN speed: 2.5 GbE
Multi-gig ports: 1× 2.5 GbE, 1× 10 GbE
VLAN support: Yes

Wireless

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 · BE7200 · 2.4 / 5 GHz
Standards: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be
2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz: Yes / Yes / No
Max wireless speed: 7.1 Gbps (theoretical)
Radios: 2
Wi-Fi chipset: MediaTek MT7992 (4×4 on both bands)
Antennas: —

Installation difficulty

Editorial opinion

Installation difficulty: Hard
Usual method: Connect a serial console, boot the OpenWrt initramfs over TFTP, then run sysupgrade -n.
Recovery difficulty: Hard
Recovery method: Serial console and TFTP.

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)Excellent

Access point useGood

MeshGood

VPN performance

Factual data

WireGuard throughput: Benchmark not yet tested
OpenVPN throughput: Benchmark not yet tested

WireGuard suitabilityExcellent

OpenVPN suitabilityGood

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

Pros and cons

Editorial opinion

Pros

Wi-Fi 7 (BE7200, 4×4)
Filogic 880 with Cortex-A73 cores
10 GbE and 2.5 GbE ports
Low price for the hardware

Cons

10 GbE port not working with official images
WED offloading not usable
Installation needs a serial console
512 MB RAM and 128 MB flash

Editorial scores

Editorial opinion

Overall: 6.8 / 10
OpenWrt friendliness: 6.0 / 10
Ease of installation(higher is easier): 3.5 / 10
Performance: 8.5 / 10
VPN performance: 8.5 / 10
Value: 8.0 / 10

Where to buy

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Alternatives

Editorial opinion

Banana Pi BPI-R47.8

Fully supportedAdvanced Users Only

No Wi-Fi · 4 GB RAM · 10 GbE · ~$110

Working 10 Gbit ports on the same Filogic 880 platform.

Compare side by side →

Related guides

Start with how to install OpenWrt or browse all OpenWrt guides.