It’s cute AND crazy powerful - GL.iNet Slate 7

Quick Overview

The GL.iNet Slate 7 is a compact, feature-rich travel router that supports Wi-Fi 7 and includes an on-device OLED touchscreen for quick configuration, offering excellent speeds like 688Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2.5Gbps on the 5GHz band, alongside native support for OpenWrt plugins like AdGuard Home and WireGuard VPN.

Key Points: The GL.iNet Slate 7 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 travel router featuring two 2.5GB LAN ports and a USB 3.0 port. The device includes a small OLED touchscreen for quick setup, which displays connection options (Ethernet, Repeater, Tethering, Cellular) and Wi-Fi credentials via QR code. Performance testing showed speeds of 688Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2.5Gbps on the 5GHz band, though these are theoretical maximums. The router runs OpenWrt and natively supports plugins such as AdGuard Home for ad/tracking blocking and WireGuard VPN for enhanced privacy. The physical toggle button on the device is configurable via the admin panel to switch between VPN modes (Global or Policy Mode) or other functions. The router is priced at $149.99, which the presenter considers a good value given its feature set, especially for travel needs where hotel Wi-Fi is often poor.

Context: This video is a sponsored unboxing and first look at the GL.iNet Slate 7, a compact travel router designed for users who require secure and fast internet connectivity on the go. The presenter, Linus Sebastian, examines the physical hardware, the included accessories, and demonstrates the initial setup process using the device's unique on-screen interface, highlighting its advanced networking capabilities.

Detailed Analysis

The video begins with the unboxing of the GL.iNet Slate 7 travel router (Model GL-BE3600). The presenter is immediately impressed by the device's small size relative to other Wi-Fi 7 routers. The box contains the router, a USB-C cable, a PD power supply with various international plug adapters, and setup documentation. The router features a small OLED screen on the front that guides the initial setup, allowing users to select between Ethernet, Repeater, Tethering, or Cellular connection modes. The presenter notes that connecting via Ethernet is recommended for initial setup. The setup process quickly prompts the user to set up Wi-Fi credentials, which are also displayed via a QR code on the screen for easy connection to mobile devices. The router supports OpenWrt and features powerful capabilities like built-in support for AdGuard Home (ad/tracking blocking) and WireGuard VPN, which can be configured via multiple modes (Global or Policy Mode). Performance tests via a speed test app on a phone showed excellent results, hitting 875Mbps download and 925Mbps upload on the 5GHz band. The presenter emphasizes the usefulness of the physical toggle button, which can be configured to instantly switch VPN connections or other features, making it highly convenient for travel scenarios like dealing with restrictive hotel Wi-Fi or airlines blocking tethering. The presenter concludes that for $149.99, the Slate 7 packs significant performance and features into a portable form factor.