Back when we reviewed the WRT1900AC we noted that the retro styling was a real selling point and despite it not being new here, it’s still pretty great. We love the older aesthetic of this series and it is great to see that despite this being a lower cost model, the same solid casing is used on the WRT1200AC and we even get the same LED panel and port layout.
Feature wise, the WRT1200AC uses the same setup, the same software/control panel and uses beamforming, dual core CPU and option for open source firmware. The only significant difference is the antenna configuration and associated speed. On the WRT1900AC we get 1300MBPS/600MBPS, on the 1200AC it’s 867/400MBPS. The saving for this is around $100/£75 but what does that mean to you in real world use? Well the 1900AC ensures maximum signal strength in larger buildings, or across multiple floors and is more likely to handle multiple devices being used at the same time without noticeable performance impact. For those who maybe only use a couple of systems at any one time in an average sized house the 1200AC will offer a great experience for that lower cost.
