Linksys today announced the availability of its latest Smart Wi-Fi router, the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1750 HD Video Pro router (model EA6500). This is the company's first router to support the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard.
The new router is to compete with similar routers from other networking vendors, such as the Netgear R6300, the D-Link DIR-865L, and the Buffalo AirStation WZR-D1800H.
Taking an approach similar to Buffalo's, along with the EA6500 router Linksys announced a 802.11ac media bridge, the Linksys AC Universal Media Connector (model Linksys WUMC710), which makes it possible to add up to four Ethernet-ready devices to the Wi-Fi network.
Both the new router and the media bridge support all existing standards of Wi-Fi, with speeds of up to 450Mbps when used with Wireless-N (802.11n) and 1,300Mbps when used with 802.11ac.
On top of that, like others in Linksys' Smart Wi-Fi Router family, such as the recently reviewed EA4500, the new EA6500 router will support the Cisco Cloud Connect platform. This means users can manage the router via the Internet using a browser or mobile app. They can also use third-party apps to get out more of their home network.
Linksys says the new router will offer great performance and range. Both the new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1750 HD Video Pro router and the Linksys AC Universal Media Connector are available for purchase now with estimated prices of $220 and $160. Check back soon for an in-depth review.