Modified on 06.10.2025 
Xiaomi is famous for its smartphones and tablets. However, the company manufactures lots of devices, including wireless routers. I will review all their Wi-Fi 6 models in the next couple of weeks, and I decided to start the series with their entry-level router: Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800. It is an affordable device with solid hardware, Wi-Fi 6 support, and a couple of exciting features. But is it a good router? Who is the best audience for the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800? Find the answers to these questions and more in this detailed review:
The packaging used for Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800
When you unpack everything, you find the following items: the router, its power adapter, a short CAT5e network cable, the quick setup guide, and the warranty details.
What you find inside the box
The unboxing experience is straightforward. Inside the box, you find all the basics you need to get started.
Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 has a classic design
Inside the router, you find a quad-core Qualcomm Atheros IPQ6000 processor, running at 1.2 GHz, 256 GB of RAM, and 128 MB of storage space for the firmware. The router has ventilation grills both on the top and bottom to cool all this hardware. On the bottom, there are two holes for mounting it on walls, together with stickers containing information about the specific model you just bought (RA67) and the default name for the Wi-Fi. If you pay attention to the picture below, you’ll notice four plastic feet on the bottom of the router that help keep it in place when you position it on furniture and other surfaces. I prefer rubber feet because they provide more grip, especially when placing the router on slippery surfaces like glass.
The bottom of the router has holes for mounting it on walls
The backside of the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 is quite simple: it features the Power jack, four 1 Gbps Ethernet ports (one of which is used for the internet connection), and the Reset jack. Unfortunately, there are no Power and WPS buttons like on routers from other brands.
The ports on the back of the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800
Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 has a size of 247 x 141 x 180 mm or 9.7 x 5.5 x 7 inches and a weight of just 376 grams or 13.2 ounces. It is a dual-band wireless router with Wi-Fi 6, 2x2 MU-MIMO, and OFDMA transfers on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This being a Wi-Fi 6 router, it offers support for WPA3 password encryption, but it doesn’t have 160 MHz channel bandwidth. The total maximum theoretical bandwidth is 1201 Mbps on the 5GHz frequency band and 574 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. For more technical information about this router, visit its official webpage: Mi Router AX1800.
Setting up the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 is easy
The network was up and running in no time, and then, each time I wanted to log in to the router’s admin interface from my web browser, it recommended that I use the Mi Wi-Fi app instead.
Xiaomi heavily promotes the Mi Wi-Fi app
There’s a reason for this recommendation: the web interface is very basic, and it doesn’t offer some features that are found in the mobile app. However, the admin interface looks good and is simple to navigate and use. You’ll find all the settings in no time, alongside text explanations for the more advanced items. Unfortunately, there’s no manual for you to download or separate help documentation to access. On the upside, the admin interface is available in 13 languages, including Spanish, German, French, or Chinese. This is a welcome improvement since the last time I tested a Xiaomi router, back in 2018.
The admin interface looks good and is easy to use
I didn’t find many advanced settings, and I think technical users will be disappointed by the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800. For example, you can’t disable Wi-Fi 6 only for one band, as you do on routers from other brands. Instead, you either disable Wi-Fi 6 for both bands, or you have it enabled for both. Also, disabling Wi-Fi 6 means enabling the switch for “Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Compatible Mode,” which isn’t intuitive, not even for a person reviewing routers for many years, like myself.
To disable Wi-Fi 6 you have to enable Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Compatible Mode
Most settings are changed immediately, while others require a reboot, which takes around 30 seconds. I appreciated that the reboot time is quite fast, even when compared with premium routers. While I didn’t have any issues finding my way, I think the web-based admin interface is a bit unpolished. Also, I encountered an annoying bug that didn’t allow me to use the & (ampersand) symbol inside the Wi-Fi password. However, the Mi Wi-Fi app allows you to do that, and so do all routers from other manufacturers.
You can't use the & symbol in your Wi-Fi password. Why?
Another downside is that some features like enabling and configuring Guest Wi-Fi are available only in the Mi Wi-Fi app. This is counterintuitive since other vendors offer all their features primarily in their web interfaces.
Configuring Guest Wi-Fi is done only in the Mi Wi-Fi app
Speaking of the Mi Wi-Fi app, I’ve found it easy to use and relatively friendly. It does have some features that are not present in the web admin interface, which makes it more useful in certain situations. However, it doesn’t offer all the features of the web admin interface either. Therefore, if you want to familiarize yourself with everything this router can do, you need to access both. I think Xiaomi should improve its approach and make sure all the router features are included in its web admin interface instead of having them scattered around in different places. It will surely improve the user experience.
The Mi Wi-Fi app is easy to use
I’ve used the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 for about three weeks, and I’ve noticed that its coverage area isn’t that large. This router seems to be a good fit only for small apartments. Also, about once a week, my laptop complained about not having an internet connection available for a couple of seconds. It then got back online without me doing anything, 5-10 seconds later. This looks like a reliability issue that should be investigated and fixed by Xiaomi.
Also, this router seemed to be faster when using Wi-Fi 5 instead of Wi-Fi 6! Naturally, this stirred my curiosity, and I decided to follow up with a thorough batch of measurements and analyses. If you want to know more about the real-world performance offered by Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800, go to the next page of this review.
The apartment in which I tested Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800
I evaluated the quality of the wireless network managed by Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 through measurements made in three different places:
Signal strength on Wi-Fi 4 (2.4 GHz band)
However, when switching to the Wi-Fi 6 standard, the signal strength decreased significantly in the room furthest from the router.
Signal strength on Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz band)
I then used SpeedTest to see how fast the internet connection is on the 2.4 GHz band. When using Wi-Fi 4, Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 performed reasonably well, but other AX1800 can provide faster downloads.
SpeedTest - The download speed on Wi-Fi 4 (2.4 GHz)
When measuring the upload speed, I noticed that in Room 2, separated by two walls from the router, this router couldn’t deliver any stable data throughput.
SpeedTest - The upload speed on Wi-Fi 4 (2.4 GHz)
Switching to Wi-Fi 6 on the 2.4 GHz band, I noticed faster downloads everywhere in my apartment. However, other AX1800 routers can deliver faster speeds than those shown below.
SpeedTest - The download speed on Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz)
Things were slower in general when measuring the upload speed, and Room 2 was very problematic once again.
SpeedTest - The upload speed on Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz)
For the next set of measurements, I used the PassMark Performance test to transfer data between two computers connected to the network on the 2.4 GHz band when using Wi-Fi 4. Again, downloads were reasonably fast, but I’ve seen better from other AX1800 routers.
Network Wi-Fi downloads on Wi-Fi 4 (2.4 GHz)
When measuring the upload speed, I encountered the same issue in the room separated by two walls from the router.
Network Wi-Fi uploads on Wi-Fi 4 (2.4 GHz)
I switched to the Wi-Fi 6 standard on the 2.4 GHz band and repeated the same measurements. I noticed a solid improvement in download speed in the room where the router is placed. However, in the other rooms, the speed improvements were barely noticeable.
Network Wi-Fi downloads on Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz)
Upload speeds were generally lower, and the router barely provided any throughput in Room 2.
Network Wi-Fi uploads on Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz)
My measurements have shown that Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 can deliver reasonable speeds both on Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 6. However, this router doesn’t provide a large coverage area, and you shouldn’t be using it in large apartments.
Signal strength on Wi-Fi 5 (5 GHz band)
When switching to Wi-Fi 6 on the 5 GHz band, the signal strength lowered slightly in all rooms.
Signal strength on Wi-Fi 6 (5 GHz band)
I then used SpeedTest to see how fast the internet connection is on the 5 GHz frequency band. When using the Wi-Fi 5 standard, Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 delivered excellent download speeds in all rooms, including Room 2.
SpeedTest - The download speed on Wi-Fi 5 (5 GHz)
When measuring the upload, the speeds were even faster. An excellent result!
SpeedTest - The upload speed on Wi-Fi 5 (5 GHz)
I changed from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6, and to my surprise, there were no meaningful improvements in download speeds. The differences were too minor to be noticeable.
SpeedTest - The download speed on Wi-Fi 6 (5 GHz)
The same happened when measuring the upload speed too.
SpeedTest - The upload speed on Wi-Fi 6 (5 GHz)
For the next set of measurements, I used the PassMark Performance test to transfer data between two computers connected to the network on the 5 GHz band. Downloads were fast in all the rooms where I’ve made my measurements, and I was happy with the results.
Network Wi-Fi downloads on Wi-Fi 5 (5 GHz)
The same was true for the upload speed, including in Room 2.
Network Wi-Fi uploads on Wi-Fi 5 (5 GHz)
When switching to Wi-Fi 6, in some rooms, Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 offers slower downloads than when using Wi-Fi 5.
Network Wi-Fi downloads on Wi-Fi 6 (5 GHz)
The same was valid for data uploads—a disappointing result.
Network Wi-Fi uploads on Wi-Fi 6 (5 GHz)
My measurements have shown that Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 can deliver excellent speeds using the Wi-Fi 5 standard. Unfortunately, switching to Wi-Fi 6 doesn’t deliver meaningful improvements, and, in some cases, the speed you get lowers. This is a problematic aspect that Xiaomi should fix in future firmware updates.
SpeedTest on wired connections
Ethernet connections work well on the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800. Also, this router can use 1 Gbps internet connections to their maximum potential.
Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 has few advanced features
Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800: Who is it good for?
This wireless router is a suitable choice for:- People who want an affordable Wi-Fi 6 router
- One or two-bedroom apartments
- Those who want to control their router from a mobile app
Pros and cons
Here are the things we like about Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800:
- Reasonably priced
- Solid hardware that can handle many network clients
- Wi-Fi 6 and WPA3 encryption support
- The firmware is easy to use and configure
- You can control it remotely with a mobile app
- Can be mounted on walls
- Mesh Wi-Fi support
- Small coverage area on the 2.4 GHz band
- Little to no benefits when using Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 5
- No VPN server functionality and no USB port
- The firmware needs a bit more polish
Verdict
Price-wise and spec-wise, the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 looks promising. Its hardware is modern and powerful, the mobile app for remote management is easy to use, and the speeds you get are within expectations for both the Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5 standards. However, the router’s firmware is not fully mature yet, and the coverage area on the 2.4 GHz frequency band is relatively small. Also, there are no tangible benefits when using the Wi-Fi 6 standard compared to Wi-Fi 5. Therefore, I recommend the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 only to people living in small apartments, who want a Wi-Fi 6 router for a low price.Unboxing the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800
The Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 comes in a cardboard box that uses white and orange as the dominant colors. On the top, you see a picture of the router, its name, and its main features. In addition, there’s an extensive presentation of its hardware and software features on the back.Hardware specifications and design
Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 has a classic design that’s typical for a device of its type. The router is white, with only two small LEDs on the top, signaling the working status of the router and the internet connection. There’s no LED for the Wi-Fi or the Ethernet ports, like on other routers. Also, the Mi Router AX1800 has four nondetachable external antennas.Setting up and using the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800
Setting up the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 can be done from a computer, using a web browser, or a smartphone/tablet with the Mi Wi-Fi mobile app for Android and iOS. I preferred to use a laptop and a web browser for the initial setup, and I navigated to router.miwifi.com to get the process started. The setup wizard is brief: it requests the admin password you want to set, details about your internet connection, and basic Wi-Fi settings like the name and password you want to use to connect your devices.Wireless network performance
After many years of living (and testing) in the same apartment, I decided to move to a new place. Because of that, I can no longer use the comparison data I’ve collected about all the routers I’ve reviewed in the past. The new apartment is set up similarly to the diagram below. As you can see, I’ve placed the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 in a central position to provide good coverage in all the rooms where I tend to spend most of my time.- I record the maximum speeds when no walls absorb the wireless signal in the room where the router is placed.
- Room 1 - is separated by one wall from the router. So the wireless signal and the Wi-Fi speed I get should be lower here.
- Room 2 - is separated from the router by two walls absorbing the wireless signal. Also, the wall between Room 1 and Room 2 is twice as thick as the one between the router’s room and Room 1. I expect Room 2 to be a challenge for all the routers that I review, including this one.
How the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 performs on the 2.4 GHz band
I always start my analysis by measuring the signal strength using NetSpot. When using the Wi-Fi 4 standard on the 2.4 GHz band, I was happy with the signal strength provided by the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 in all rooms.How the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 performs on the 5 GHz band
I switched to the 5 GHz band, and I started by measuring the signal strength with NetSpot. When using the Wi-Fi 5 standard on the 5 GHz band, Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 delivered solid signal strength, in line with what I’ve seen from other AX1800 routers.Wired network performance
It was time to evaluate the performance we get on Ethernet network connections. Our internet connection offers a maximum of 1 Gbps for the download speed and 800 Mbps for the upload. When using SpeedTest, Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 reached the maximum potential of our internet connection: 925.66 Mbps for the download and 788.06 Mbps for the upload.Extra features
The firmware on the Xiaomi Mi Router AX1800 is less complex than on competing routers from other brands. As a result, it doesn’t have as many advanced features as the competition does. What you get is the following:- Wi-Fi Optimization - a feature that exists only in the Mi WiFi mobile app, not in the router’s web interface. It scans the signal strength of your network and the quality of your connection and it improves the router’s settings. I believe this should be added as a standard feature to the router’s firmware.
- Firewall - another mobile-only feature that makes it easy to evaluate the security of your network, set up blocklists for unwanted guests, and improve the password strength and WiFi security.
- IPv6 - nowadays, IPv6 compatibility is a must; it’s no longer counted as an “extra feature.” So this router can connect to the internet using IPv6 addresses, use IPv6 DNS servers, and assign IPv6 addresses to the clients that connect to its network.
- QoS - the router features an intelligent Quality of Service bandwidth allocation algorithm that prioritizes network traffic based on its type (gaming, web browsing, video, etc.). Unfortunately, it is designed to work only for 50 Mbps internet connections, rendering it unusable for people with fast internet connectivity of 100 Mbps and above.
- DDNS - a service that allows you to connect to the router from the internet, even if your internet provider assigns you a dynamic public IP address. Xiaomi Mi AX1800 can use the following DDNS services: Oray DDNS, PubYun, DynDNS, and No-IP.
- VPN - this router can connect to VPN services using the PPTP and L2TP protocols, but it cannot function as a VPN server. You also set which services or devices can use VPN traffic. However, many competing AX1800 routers can be set to work as VPN servers too.
- Mesh Wi-Fi - you can add the router as a node in a mesh Wi-Fi network composed of other Xiaomi wireless routers. It is a valuable feature when you need to increase the coverage of your Wi-Fi network.
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