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The budget Wi-Fi router market is essentially split into two types. The first includes devices that aren’t worth the money, no matter how cheap they are. These often suffer from unstable connections, with coverage that behaves unpredictably – signal strength can fluctuate dramatically even when you’re standing right next to the router. The second type consists of reliable, no-fuss routers that just work. You set them up once and rarely think about them again. Speeds are consistent, and so is the coverage. The HUAWEI AX1 falls into this second category. Its specs are on par with its direct competitors, but it offers one additional port and slightly better coverage – nothing dramatic, but enough to notice.
HUAWEI AX1 specifications
The router operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Based on its technical specifications, it falls squarely into the “best value for money” category:
- Wired connection speed – up to 1 Gbps
- Wi-Fi standards – IEEE 802.11b/g/n, IEEE 802.11a/n/ac
- Wi-Fi connection speed – up to 300 Mbit/s at 2.4 GHz and up to 867 Mbit/s at 5 GHz
- Number of LAN ports – 4
- Weight – 217 g
Most competing models offer one dedicated port for the incoming cable and two ports for connecting devices. In this case, the router features four ports with automatic WAN/LAN detection. This means you can plug the incoming cable into any of them, and still have three ports available for other devices.
External appearance, package contents
The box, as well as the package, is absolutely standard. Having opened the ‘cardboard case’, we will find in it
- router
- patch cord
- power supply
- documentation
Let’s start with the physical dimensions of the router. Most listings only mention the size of the main unit, leaving out the length of the antennas. But that detail matters – many people don’t just place routers on shelves or cabinets; they often install them in wall niches or on dedicated mounts. In those setups, the antennas might not fit properly or could stick out, even if the intention was to keep everything neatly tucked away. Here are the full dimensions of the HUAWEI AX1 router, including the antennas:
- Body width is 20.6 cm. With the antennas folded on the sides – 25.8 cm
- Body depth – 11 cm. With the antennas folded down – 14 cm
- Height (at the highest point) – 2.9 cm. With the antennas raised – 13.2 cm
- Length of each antenna – 12.5 cm
As for the design, the front of the router features a “HUAWEI” logo and a single LED indicator. A red light means there’s no internet connection, while green indicates that the network is up and running.
The antennas are positioned at the back and on both sides, closer to the rear of the router. They can be folded in nearly any direction, offering flexible positioning. Additionally, each antenna mount includes a locking mechanism that allows them to be securely set in one of three fixed angles.
On the bottom of the router, there are four plastic feet. One minor drawback here is that they’re not rubberized. It’s not a major issue, but non-slip feet would have been a more practical choice. The base also includes mounting holes for wall installation and a set of large ventilation openings. Judging by their size and placement, overheating is unlikely to be a problem.
And the very ‘heart’ of the HUAWEI AX1 router is the back of the case:
- Ethernet ports
- power supply connector
- ‘WPS/RESET’ button
To reset the router to factory settings, you simply need to press and hold the “WPS/RESET” button for 8 to 10 seconds.
How to set up HUAWEI AX1
There are two setup options. You can either use the AI Life app on your smartphone, which guides you through the process with clear instructions, or configure the router through a PC. Personally, I prefer the second method.
To set up the AX1 router, start by connecting the power adapter and the incoming cable from your internet provider. Then, on your PC, connect to the newly visible Wi-Fi network. You should be automatically redirected to the router’s setup page. If that doesn’t happen, simply enter 192.168.3.1 in your browser’s address bar. On the main setup screen, check two boxes and click “Get Started.”
Next, you’ll be offered two setup options: configure the HUAWEI AX1 as a primary router to create a new network, or use it as a repeater to extend the coverage of an existing network. Since I needed a standalone router, I selected the first option and clicked “Next.”
After that, you need to select the network. If you require any specific settings, you can configure them here. Otherwise, you can simply click “Next” without making any changes.
Now, you choose the network name and set a password. An important detail here is that the HUAWEI AX1 doesn’t come with a default router password – you create it yourself. Leaving the password field blank isn’t allowed. Once you’ve set the password, click “Next.”
In the next settings window, make sure to enable the toggle for “Save network settings.” Leave the access mode as is (IPv4), unless you have specific requirements that call for different router settings.
Once the setup is complete, you’ll see a confirmation screen. Click “Next,” and the router will restart. After that, reconnect to the network and enter your Wi-Fi password. In rare cases, you might need to manually reboot the router by unplugging it for a few seconds.
That’s it – you’re ready to use the internet. For optimal performance, there’s one final setting to configure.
After entering the password, the HUAWEI AX1 router settings menu will open. Look for the “My Wi-Fi Network” section, located near the top center of the page. Here, you’ll find the first toggle labeled “Frequency Band Priority.” When enabled, the router automatically selects either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band based on signal quality, and your PC or smartphone will see a single network name for connection.
From my experience, budget routers often default to the 2.4 GHz band, which usually results in slower speeds. To avoid this, I recommend turning off this toggle. This will create an additional Wi-Fi network with the same name but with a “5G” suffix, allowing you to manually choose the faster 5 GHz connection. Don’t forget to click “Save.”
It might seem like a lengthy process, but in reality, from unpacking to full setup, it took me about five minutes. So, there’s really no cause for concern.
HUAWEI AX1 speed test
I tested it on three different services and the result was stable from time to time.
I noticed that SpeedTest tends to start its measurement around 100 Mbps – or sometimes even lower – and the speed ramps up rather slowly. In contrast, two other testing services show much quicker increases in both download and upload speeds. The total test duration is roughly the same across all platforms, which might explain the differences in results. Overall, though, the performance is more than satisfactory.
Operating experience
My expectations were fully met. I needed an affordable router that would work reliably, and that’s what I got. There were no noticeable speed fluctuations while streaming movies or using my PC and smartphone.
Another positive aspect is the consistent performance of the antennas. The coverage remains stable at any given spot in the apartment. With the AX1, there are no surprises like having a good signal in a distant room one day and no signal the next. Thanks to this reliability, I was able to easily find the ideal placement point before final installation, achieving stable coverage over an 80 m² living area with signal strength consistently between 2 and 4 bars.
As for drawbacks, there really aren’t any. If I had to be picky, I’d mention the lack of rubberized feet. But honestly, even without that, the router performs very well.
Conclusions
Considering the pros and cons alongside the price, specifications, and design, there are very few comparable options on the market – easily counted on one hand. This router definitely ranks among the top three budget models. It offers solid speed, stable coverage, straightforward setup, and reliable performance without any noticeable issues.
