Wi-Fi 7 series routers have been on the market for more than one year. Last month, Xiaomi launched its product line. With an accumulation of over ten years of technology, Xiaomi is leading in the arena of Wi-Fi 7 while insisting on building smarter and user-friendly routers.
The BE3600 Pro whole-home router is Xiaomi’s latest system equipped with the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology and perfectly integrated into smart home systems. It reduces MESH network settings to just a few steps, including a pre-set factory pairing, automatic networking, and a central and Bluetooth gateway. This includes, but is not limited to, support for Xiaomi Pengpai Zhilian in smart control of the home.
The series includes a main and secondary router, each with minor differences in hardware. Both routers are equipped with the Qualcomm QCN6402 quad-core processor, 512MB of memory, and support for the Wi-Fi 7 protocol. Up to 2882Mbps bandwidth performance is supported on the 5GHz band, and as high as 688Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. Wired connections are rounded out by one 2.5G and three 1G RJ45 ports.
Additionally, the central gateway from the BE6500 Pro ensures Mi device management is local; thus, it guarantees smart home control even when the network disconnects. The Bluetooth gateway allows for unified management with Bluetooth-based Mi devices.
Appearance
The design of the whole-home router set, Xiaomi BE3600 Pro, adopts a runway circle shape with a hidden antenna layout found on the original Xiaomi router. The black outer casing uses a unique zero-degree draft process and skillfully utilizes semiglossy and semimatte textures to present an exterior that is low-key yet easily integrates into homes.
While identical in look and feel, both have different uses. The main router needs to be set up first; the sub-router automatically syncs in to create a MESH network. The main router supports the central gateway, while the sub-router does not; there are slight hardware differences between them. Both have rubber feet and heat dissipation holes with narrow top-side vents to avoid dust blocking the vents.
Each router has a pairing device with an NFC connection logo. It also offers four RJ45 ports, but only the fourth one is 2.5G. You’ll also get two identical power supplies and an Ethernet cable to connect both routers for ease of setup.
Inside, both the routers share similar constructions internally with hidden antennas for 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands for omnidirectional coverage. The main router includes a battery and an extra chip for a Mijia central gateway with increased storage thanks to 512MB of NAND flash memory to handle up to several smart devices; whereas the sub-router has 128MB.
User experience
1) One-Click MESH Network Setup
Setting up the whole Xiaomi BE3600 Pro router set is quite easy: power the main router on and connect it with the modem. A new Wi-Fi network showed up in the list of accessible networks on your phone. You connect to it, and the whole setup process is managed via the Mi Home application; a computer isn’t needed at all. Sub-router syncs automatically, and the MESH network is quickly created. If the network environment is complex, confirmation may be necessary manually.
2) Speed Test: Gigabit Limitations
When placed 13 meters away with several obstacles such as walls and workstations in between, the network speed near the main router reached 900 Mbps, although this is below the theoretical 2880 Mbps of Wi-Fi 7. Naturally, the sub-router was slower because of wireless backhaul, but a wired connection can alleviate this problem somewhat.
3) Signal Test: Seamless Roaming
The signal strength is strong (-30dBm) near the main router, weakens in the middle, then improves near the sub-router. Roaming between routers is seamless, with no noticeable delays.
4) Central Gateway: Smart, But Not Intuitive
Central device control via the gateway is even possible when the latter is in offline mode, but initially, the gateway must be configured using a computer browser. Automation possibilities are powerful but overwhelming for non-programmers. Possibly, tutorials or simpler examples are wanted in the future.
Conclusion
The set of the Xiaomi Whole-Home Router BE3600 Pro is a perfect representation of the future of routers, wherein MESH networking no longer requires technical expertise. For this reason, with one-click MESH setup, it converts routers into one of the many household appliances and integrates them seamlessly with smart homes.
This router set serves as the core hub of Xiaomi’s vision to unify smart home ecosystems. Its intuitive design makes advanced features like MESH networking accessible to everyone, without technical help. Equipped with a central gateway, it keeps smart devices running during network outages. The Bluetooth gateway also connects smaller devices like the Mi Thermometer effortlessly.
The Xiaomi BE3600 Pro enhances the smart home experience with automation features. Mijia Automation can control devices based on users’ presence. NFC one-touch access and Xiaomi Quick Connect simplify smart home setup. This makes it easy for more people to access smart technology.
For advanced users, the BE3600 Pro offers Wi-Fi 7 MLO dual-band simultaneous connection. This minimizes performance loss during wireless backhaul. Capable of handling up to 10 devices, it is also flexible with easy MESH expansion in larger networks.
The Xiaomi BE3600 Pro set offers affordability and high performance. Its user-friendly features make it ideal for both beginners and tech enthusiasts. It bridges the gap between technology and daily life. Routers transform from technical devices into essential smart home appliances, ready to use straight out of the box.