TP-Link Archer AX20 vs AX12: which should you buy?

The TP-Link Archer AX20 is a better router than the AX12 on paper, but it is a 2020-era model that TP-Link India has not refreshed, and fresh stock is hard to find. The AX20 is an AX1800 router with a 1.5 GHz quad-core Broadcom processor, 4 gigabit LAN ports, a USB 2.0 port, and OneMesh support. The AX12 is an AX1500 router with a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 3 gigabit LAN ports, no USB, and EasyMesh support via firmware update. If you can find an AX20 in India, it is the stronger router. But its successor, the Archer AX23, is the model you should actually be looking at.

The AX20 delivers 1,201 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz, per TP-Link's product page. The AX12 delivers 1,201 Mbps on 5 GHz and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. The 5 GHz speeds are identical. The difference is the 2.4 GHz band: 574 Mbps vs 300 Mbps. This matters for IoT devices (smart plugs, cameras, smart bulbs) that connect only on 2.4 GHz, and for devices further from the router that fall back to the slower band. The AX20's quad-core processor also handles heavier device loads better than the AX12's dual-core.

The AX20 adds a USB 2.0 port for network-attached storage or printer sharing, a 4th gigabit LAN port, and VPN server support (OpenVPN, PPTP). These are features the AX12 simply does not have.

Verdict: If you want what the AX20 offered, buy the Archer AX23 instead. It is the current-generation AX1800 from TP-Link sold in India with local warranty, similar specs (4 LAN ports, stronger processor, OneMesh/EasyMesh), and active firmware support. Paying the same or more for an AX20 with uncertain warranty makes no sense when the AX23 is readily available at ~₹5,200/-.