GL.iNet Slate 7 Review: The Ultimate Portable Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router

GL.iNet has established itself as a leader in router technology, and its Slate 7 travel router exemplifies the company’s commitment to quality and innovation. This compact device takes the best features of GL.iNet’s larger routers and packs them into a portable package that’s perfect for travelers, remote workers, and anyone who needs reliable internet connectivity on the go.

30-Second Review

The GL.iNet Slate 7 is a powerful travel router that supports Wi-Fi 7 technology, offering impressive speeds of up to 2.1 Gbps on the 5 GHz band. With dual 2.5 GbE LAN ports, it can connect to hotel wired networks and provide secure, high-speed wireless access to multiple devices. The router features OpenWRT 23.05 firmware with support for over 5,000 plugins, allowing for extensive customization. While it lacks 6GHz support and mesh capabilities, the Slate 7 offers excellent value for its price point of $170/£151/€174.

Price and Availability

The GL.iNet Slate 7 is available now at a competitive price of $169.99/£150.99/€173.99 when purchased directly from GL.iNet. The company offers bundle deals when purchased alongside the Flint 3 router, with the bundle costing $358.99 in the USA and €347.98 across Europe.

You can purchase the Slate 7 from:

• GL.iNet’s official store
• Amazon.com ($169.99)
• Amazon.co.uk (£117.29 – currently discounted)

GL.iNet also offers accessories including a travel pouch (£11.99 in the UK) and a SIMPoYo uFi 4G USB Dongle (€23.52/£21.89, not available in the USA).

Design and Build Quality

The Slate 7 features a minimalist, practical design that prioritizes functionality over flashy aesthetics. Measuring just 130 x 91 x 34 mm and weighing only 295g, it’s incredibly portable and can easily fit alongside a laptop in hand luggage.

Key design features include:

• Two foldable external antennas for optimal signal strength
• A small touchscreen on the front for basic navigation and status display
• USB-C power input (5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.5A)
• Two 2.5GbE LAN ports on the rear (one WAN, one WAN/LAN)
• One USB 3.0 port for storage or 4G/5G dongles
• A hidden “Mode” button under the left antenna for quick toggling of VPN services and other functions

The router comes with a 30W power supply that includes adapters for US, UK, EU, and Australian power outlets, making it truly international travel-ready.

Performance and Features

The Slate 7 delivers impressive performance for a travel router, with real-world wireless speeds reaching up to 2.1 Gbps on the 5 GHz band. This is strong performance considering the theoretical bandwidth of 3400 Gbps across all bands.

Key performance features include:

• Wi-Fi 7 support with 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 2882 Mbps on 5 GHz
• Support for Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for improved efficiency
• WireGuard VPN support (up to 490 Mbps)
• OpenVPN-DCO support (up to 395 Mbps)
• OpenWRT 23.05 firmware with support for over 5,000 plugins

However, there are some limitations:

• No 6GHz band support, which is a key feature of full Wi-Fi 7 experience
• USB 3.0 port performance is capped at around 132MB/s instead of the expected 500MB/s+
• No mesh networking capabilities

In Use

Setting up the Slate 7 is straightforward – simply plug in the power, connect any necessary Ethernet cables, and select your desired mode from the touchscreen. The router can operate in multiple modes:

• Standard routing mode
• Access point mode
• Wireless bridge mode
• Wired bridge mode
• Wi-Fi repeater mode

The touchscreen can display QR codes for easy connection of phones, tablets, and laptops without entering complex passwords. There’s also a companion phone app for guided configuration and management.

Security Features

Security is a major focus of the Slate 7, making it ideal for travelers concerned about network safety:

• Built-in support for WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols
• Customizable firewall settings
• VPN kill switch functionality
• Guest network isolation
• Regular security updates through OpenWRT

Who Should Buy This?

The GL.iNet Slate 7 is perfect for:

• Frequent travelers who need reliable, secure internet access
• Remote workers who need to set up temporary offices
• Digital nomads who work from various locations
• Small business owners who need portable networking solutions
• Tech enthusiasts who want advanced customization options

Final Verdict

The GL.iNet Slate 7 is an excellent travel router that offers impressive performance, extensive features, and great value for its price point. While it lacks some features like 6GHz support and mesh networking, it excels in its core functionality and provides the flexibility that travelers need.

The combination of Wi-Fi 7 support, dual 2.5GbE ports, VPN capabilities, and OpenWRT customization makes it a compelling choice for anyone who needs reliable, portable internet connectivity.

Rating: 4/5

Buy It If:

• You need a portable, powerful travel router
• You want Wi-Fi 7 capabilities in a compact form factor
• You need VPN support for secure browsing on public networks
• You want extensive customization options through OpenWRT
• You need dual 2.5GbE ports for maximum connectivity

Don’t Buy It If:

• You need 6GHz band support for the full Wi-Fi 7 experience
• You want mesh networking capabilities
• You need maximum USB 3.0 performance for storage devices
• You prefer a simpler, more basic travel router
• You’re on a very tight budget (though it’s competitively priced)

Tags:

GLiNet #Slate7 #WiFi7 #TravelRouter #PortableRouter #OpenWRT #WireGuard #VPN #RemoteWork #DigitalNomad #TechReview #Networking #5G #4G #USB3.0 #2Point5GbE #SecureBrowsing #HotelWiFi #MobileOffice #TechGear

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“Travel smarter, not harder with Slate 7”

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