Linksys Hydra Pro 6

A fast, easy-to-use Wi-Fi 6 router upgrade for your home network

Linksys Hydra Pro 6 router on a wooden desk.
(Image: © Future)

TechRadar Verdict

The US pricing is a little higher than we expected, but the Hydra Pro 6 is easy to set-up and use, and provides strong wi-fi performance and good coverage for anyone that wants to upgrade their old router.

Pros

  • +

    Good value for UK buyers

  • +

    Simple but effective app

  • +

    Lots of physical ports

Cons

  • -

    Weak parental controls

  • -

    Not suited for gamers

  • -

    Lack of customization may be frustrating to some users

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Linksys Hydra Pro 6: Two-Minute Review

It’s taken a while for the prices of Wi-Fi 6 routers to come down to more affordable levels, but the new Hydra Pro 6 from Linksys is a good option for anyone that wants to net themselves one of the best wireless routers without taking out a second mortgage. It is admittedly still a little pricey for a dual-band router, but it works hard to earn its keep.

Its top speed of 5.4Gbps is still far faster than most routers that use the older Wi-Fi 5 standard (aka 802.11ac), whilst also providing additional benefits of Wi-Fi 6, such as improved efficiency when transmitting data to lots of different devices on your network all at once. 

Linksys Hydra Pro 6 router on a wooden desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Linksys Hydra Pro 6: Price and Availability

  • $299.99 in the US
  • £169.99 from Amazon in the UK
  • Currently unavailable in Australia
Spec Sheet

Here is the Linksys Hydro Pro 6 configuration sent to TechRadar for review:

Wi-Fi: dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz/5.0GHz)
Speed: 5.4Gbps
Range: 2,700sq.ft
Connectivity: 1x Gigabit Ethernet (WAN), 4x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB 3.0
Processor: 1GHz dual-core
Memory/Storage: unspecified
Dimensions (with antennae): 215 x 155 x 158mm
Weight: 0.57kg

The pricing of the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 varies quite a lot from region to region, with Linksys listing it at $299.99 on its US website and other online retailers. At current exchange rates that price should convert to around £250.00 in British pounds - not including 20% of British sales tax - but the Hydra Pro 6 is actually a lot cheaper in the United Kingdom.

Linksys primarily sells via Amazon in the UK, which currently lists it at £169.99 (and it even recently went down to £129.99 for Prime Day). Linksys’ Australian division mostly seems to focus on the company’s Velop range of mesh routers, with few standalone routers currently available. 

  • Price and availability: 3.5/5

Linksys Hydra Pro 6 router on a wooden desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Linksys Hydra Pro 6: Design and Features

  • Guest network and ‘pause’ scheduling
  • Four Gigabit Ethernet ports
  • USB port for shared network drives

The Hydra Pro 6 isn’t much to look at, consisting of an unassuming black plastic box with a couple of antennae sticking up at the back. It’s compact and solidly built, though, and will fit neatly onto any convenient table or shelf when you connect it to your existing broadband modem or router. Linksys hasn’t cut too many corners either, as the Hydra Pro 6 provides impressive wi-fi speeds of up to 5.4Gbps, along with four Gigabit Ethernet ports that can be used to provide a lag-free wired connection for devices such as a games console or smart-TV. It even has a USB 3.0 port that can be used to connect a hard drive, so that you can share the drive with other people on your home network.

The Linksys app is a little basic, though. It takes a few minutes to set the router up, as you first have to download the Linksys app, create an account, and then enter a password in order to connect your iOS or Android mobile device to the router’s default ‘setup’ network. Then you have to rename that network and create a new password, and then re-connect all over again - which seems a little long-winded when many routers now just let you scan a QR code in order to set everything up automatically. But, once that’s done, the app is pretty easy to use - it automatically creates a single network that combines the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, and then provides an overview of all the devices that are connected to the network. You can pause Internet access for any device, or create a schedule to limit your child’s Internet use to specific times. There’s a built-in speed test to monitor network performance, and you can prioritize three devices to provide maximum performance for demanding tasks such as gaming or streaming video. The parental controls are fairly limited, though, as the app just leaves it up to you to manually enter the addresses of any websites that you want to block - but at least it doesn’t constantly pester you with ads for additional subscription services, as some of Linksys’ rivals do.

  • Design and Features: 4/5

Linksys Hydra Pro 6 router on a wooden desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Linksys Hydra Pro 6: Performance

  • Creates a single network using 2.4/5.0GHz bands
  • Good performance and range
  • Ability to prioritise three devices
Benchmarks

 Here's how the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

Ookla Speed Test (download/upload)
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 100Mbps/11Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 100Mbps/11Mbps

20GB Steam Download
Within 5ft, no obstructions:  12.5MB/s
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 12.5MB/s

The wi-fi router provided by our broadband supplier works perfectly well for computers and other devices that are nearby, allowing us to achieve the maximum 100Mbps available from our broadband service, and 12.5MB/s downloads from Steam. And, as we expected, the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 simply reproduced that performance when connecting to nearby devices.

However, we also have an office towards the back of the building where our wi-fi signal is so erratic that we normally have to rely on PowerLine adaptors to provide a more reliable wired network connection. Happily, the Hydra Pro 6 didn’t bat an eyelid as I picked up my laptop and walked down the hall to the back office, maintaining those speeds with no problem at all. There may be faster tri-band Wi-Fi 6 routers now available, but the Hydra Pro 6 hits a good sweet spot, providing a fast and reliable Wi-Fi 6 upgrade that won’t break the bank.

  • Performance: 4/5

Buy it if...

You’re On A Budget

The fastest tri-band Wi-Fi 6 routers can cost $600 or more, but the dual-band Hydra Pro 6 provides strong performance at half that price.

You’re A Network Newbie

The Linksys app is a little basic, but it keeps things simple and helps you to set up your new network with minimal jargon.

You Still Like Wires

With four Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB 3.0, the Hydra Pro 6 can provide wired network connections for computers, games consoles, and network drives.

Don't buy it if...

You Want Parental Controls

You can create a schedule to limit your child’s Internet access, but the Linksys app doesn’t provide additional content filters to block unsuitable websites.

You’re A Hardcore Gamer

Gamers who need split-second reaction times may prefer a tri-band router that provides even greater speed to minimize latency in online games.

You’re A Network Guru

Advanced users who want really fine control over their network set-up may find the user-friendly Linksys app a bit limited.

Also consider...

Asus RT-AX58U

 Asus RT-AX58U

A sensibly priced but also highly effective Wi-Fi 6 router, the Asus RT-AX58U offers strong 3Gbps speeds, a straightforward setup, and easy-to-use parental controls for $180.

Check out our Asus RT-AX58U review.

D-Link Eagle Pro AI M15

D-Link Eagle Pro AI M15

A simple, powerful mesh Wi-Fi system that's easy to set up and doesn't cost the world. Two- and three-packs are available, so you can get the exact right number of units you need to cover your house in speedy Wi-Fi.

Check out our D-Link Eagle Pro AI M15 review.

Netgear Nighthawk XR1000

Netgear Nighthawk XR1000

It may be a bit expensive at $349.99, but the XR1000 provides Wi-Fi 6 running at 5.4Gbps, as well as advanced features for gamers thanks to its built-in DumaOS operating system.

Check out our Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 review.

Linksys Hydra Pro 6: Scorecard

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Price and AvailabilityIt’s not the cheapest Wi-Fi 6 router, but the Hydra Pro 6 is fast and easy to use.3.5 / 5
Design and FeaturesStrong wi-fi performance and good wired connectivity make the Hydra Pro 6 a versatile Wi-Fi 6 upgrade.4 / 5
PerformanceIt may only be dual-band, but a top speed of 5.4Gbps is more than fast enough for most home users.4 / 5

First reviewed July 2022

How We Test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

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Contributor

Cliff Joseph is a former Editor of MacUser magazine, and a freelance technology writer with 30 year’s experience in the industry (and old enough to remember when Apple was close to going bust…).

His first job involved using Macs for magazine sub-editing and typesetting, which led to the realisation that these computer-thingies might actually turn out to be useful after all. After a few years specialising in the Mac side of the market, he went freelance and embraced the wide world of digital technology, including Windows PCs, digital audio and hi-fi, and networking. Somewhere along the line he also developed a bit of a gaming habit and has stubbornly waved the flag for Mac gaming for far too many years.