GL.iNet has carved out a niche building routers for users who want control without complexity. The GL-BE6500 Flint 3e brings WiFi 7 to that formula, with five 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports that make it a natural fit for homes with wired gaming PCs, NAS drives, or multiple heavy users. This isn’t a router you’ll need to replace in two years.

The real standout is VPN performance. WireGuard and OpenVPN both hit around 680 Mbps, which is fast enough to run a 4K stream while someone else is gaming, all through your VPN tunnel. That matters if you work remotely, access a home server, or just want to keep your traffic private without sacrificing speed. Coverage is solid for a dual-band unit, handling most homes up to 2,500 square feet without drop-offs.

One honest note: the dual-band design means you won’t get the 6 GHz band that tri-band WiFi 7 routers offer. That’s a trade-off for the price, but the wired ports and VPN throughput make up for it in most real-world setups. If your ISP delivers gigabit or faster, this router will handle it without choking.