Cisco Linksys X3000 review

Too high a price for a quality router?

Cisco Linksys X3000
The X3000 is sleek and has plenty of features at a premium price

TechRadar Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Easy setup for fast connectivity

  • +

    Strong wireless signal

  • +

    Plethora of ports

Cons

  • -

    Relatively pricey

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Virtually every internet service provider will supply you with some kind of free or cheap modem when you sign up with them. However, unless you're paying a premium for your internet service, 'cheap' is likely to be the most important word: the quality of the hardware, software and performance isn't likely to be stunning.

If you want to maximise your net connection, then, or if your old device simply gives up the ghost, a decent quality modem/router is a worthwhile purchase. And there's no bigger name in network equipment than Cisco.

The Cisco Linksys X3000 is the higher-end model in a new range of routers. Supporting both cable and ADSL 2+ connections, it's a sleek-looking thing. It's thin and small, yet comes with a full complement of four Gigabit Ethernet ports, support for 802.11b/g/n, and a USB port that lets you connect and share storage.

Setup is simple. Cisco has created some configuration software specifically for the Mac (dubbed Cisco Connect) which actually works really well.

Performance, too, was good. We compared the Wi-Fi strength using 802.11n with an Apple Time Capsule, and the X3000 consistently delivered higher signal strength and therefore speed. Connection speed over ADSL 2+ was always solid and reliable, with no line drops.

Overall, the X3000 is a well-made, easy-to-use router with all the features you're likely to need. Its one issue is that it's a little on the pricey side, but you can at least see the quality you're paying for.

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Ian Betteridge

Ian has been writing about technology for more than 20 years, which is long enough for his original focus – Apple – to have gone from “five days from bankruptcy” to “biggest company in the world”. Since then he’s managed magazines, websites, apps, YouTube channels, Facebook pages and pretty much every other kind of medium there is. He’s interested in mobile technology, from laptops to phones via tablets and smartwatches, along with the cloud and startups. 

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