HD Cameras and Webcam
Projectors and Speakers
VOIP Phones and Gateway
Access Control
LTE and 5G Devices
Smart Sensors And Automation
Fiber and SFP Modules
Firewall & Cloud Controllers
Network Adapters and Accessories
Network Switches
PoE Switches
Point To Point Wireless Radio
Routers
Wireless Access Points
IP Cameras
Memory Cards
NVR
Smart WiFi Cameras
Storage Devices
Desktop & Laptop RAMs
Internal and External Hard Drives
NAS Storage & Enclosures
SSD and NVMe Drives
USB Flash Drives
TP-Link Archer AX12 vs AX23: Is the AX1800 Upgrade Worth It?
Yes, the AX23 is the better router for most buyers. It has a faster 2.4 GHz radio, an extra LAN port, OneMesh support, and broader mesh compatibility. But the price gap is larger than it looks on paper - the AX23 typically sells around ₹5,500/ compared to the AX12 at around ₹3,000/. Whether that premium is worth it depends on how many devices you connect and whether you plan to expand coverage later.
What the AX23 adds over the AX12?
The AX23 is an AX1800 router: 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. The AX12 is AX1500: same 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz but only 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz.
The 5 GHz speeds are identical, and that's the band you'll use for any bandwidth-heavy activity - streaming, video calls, large downloads.
On a typical 100-300 Mbps Jio Fiber or Airtel Xstream plan, both routers deliver the full plan speed over 5 GHz without bottlenecking. The difference only shows up on 2.4 GHz, where the AX23 nearly doubles the AX12's throughput.
This matters for older phones, IoT devices, and anything connecting from two or more rooms away through concrete walls, since 2.4 GHz carries further but the AX12's 300 Mbps cap on that band leaves less headroom under interference.
Real-world Wi-Fi speeds on both routers stay well below the theoretical maximums. DigitalCitizen's testing of the AX23 found Wi-Fi throughput staying under 500 Mbps even in the same room on Wi-Fi 6, with performance dropping further through walls and with multiple devices connected.
The AX12 will behave similarly on 5 GHz since it shares the same radio specs on that band. These are routers built for plans up to about 300-500 Mbps - if your connection is 100 Mbps (which covers most Indian broadband plans), either router handles it comfortably.
The AX23 has four gigabit LAN ports compared to the AX12's three. Both routers use dual-core processors - the AX12's spec sheet lists a 1 GHz dual-core CPU, while the AX23's lists a dual-core CPU without specifying clock speed.
Mesh support: both routers now do EasyMesh
The AX23 supports OneMesh - TP-Link's proprietary mesh protocol that works with OneMesh-branded extenders like the RE305 and RE605X. The AX12 does not support OneMesh.
But both routers now support EasyMesh, the multi-vendor mesh standard. The AX12 gained full EasyMesh support, including Ethernet backhaul and AP-mode configuration, in firmware 1.4.1 (released June 2026, per TP-Link's Archer AX12 download page. It’s available in other countries but has yet to arrive in India as of June 2026). The AX23 also supports EasyMesh alongside OneMesh.
What this means in practice: if you're planning to expand coverage with a second router or extender, both the AX12 and AX23 can now serve as EasyMesh controllers or satellites. The AX23's advantage is that it also works with TP-Link's OneMesh extenders, which tend to be cheaper and more widely available than EasyMesh-compatible alternatives. If you already own a OneMesh extender, the AX23 is the obvious pick. If you're starting fresh and might mix brands later, EasyMesh on either router keeps your options open.
IPTV and WAN connection types
The AX23 adds IPTV support (IGMP proxy/snooping, bridge mode, 802.1Q tag VLAN) and L2TP/PPTP WAN authentication modes. The AX12 does not support these.
For most Indian home broadband users on Jio Fiber, Airtel Xstream, BSNL FTTH, or ACT Fibernet, these features don't come into play. These ISPs use PPPoE or Dynamic IP for authentication, both of which are supported by the AX12 and AX23. L2TP/PPTP matters mainly for specific corporate VPN setups or niche ISPs that still use these older protocols. IPTV VLAN tagging is relevant if your ISP delivers television over the same fiber connection and requires manual VLAN configuration - some Airtel IPTV setups need this, but it's not universal. If you don't know whether you need these features, you almost certainly don't.
Where does the AX12 still make sense?
If you're on a sub-200 Mbps plan with 2-5 devices and no plans to add mesh extenders, the AX12 does the job. The 5 GHz band handles your bandwidth-sensitive devices identically to the AX23. The three LAN ports are enough for most setups (router, desktop, smart TV is a common configuration). And with the June 2026 firmware update adding full EasyMesh support, the AX12 is no longer locked out of mesh expansion if your needs grow later.
The AX12 is the weaker choice if you have more than three wired devices, rely heavily on 2.4 GHz for smart home gear spread across multiple rooms, or already own OneMesh extenders.
Verdict
The AX23 is the better router on specs - faster 2.4 GHz, extra LAN port, OneMesh support, and IPTV/L2TP capability.
If you need the fourth LAN port, OneMesh extender compatibility, or IPTV support, the AX23 justifies the cost.
If you're on a tight budget with a basic broadband plan and a few devices, the AX12 with its recent EasyMesh firmware update is a more capable fallback than it was six months ago.
Best for: AX23 for buyers who want OneMesh, 4+ wired devices, or IPTV support. AX12 for budget-conscious buyers on sub-200 Mbps plans with basic coverage needs.