Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by consumers.

Skip to Main Content

Suggested Searches

Recent Searches

Clear History

Suggested Searches

Product Ratings

Resources

CHAT WITH AskCR

Resources

All Products A-Z
Your membership has expired

The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.

Re-activate
Favorites
Donate

Save products you love, products you own and much more!

Save products icon
Become a Member Upgrade

Other Membership Benefits:

Savings icon Exclusive Deals for Members Best time to buy icon Best Time to Buy Products Recall tracker icon Recall & Safety Alerts TV screen optimizer icon TV Screen Optimizer and more
Savings icon Exclusive Deals for Members Best time to buy icon Best Time to Buy Products Recall tracker icon Recall & Safety Alerts TV screen optimizer icon TV Screen Optimizer and more
Become a Member Upgrade
Cars Home & Garden Appliances Electronics Babies Digital Security Deals Money Travel Health & Wellness Kids Pet Products News Bill Negotiator All Products A-Z
 
Sign In
Become a Member
Explore categories

Cars

Car Research

Ratings & Reviews
SUVs Hybrids/EVs Luxury Cars & SUVs Sedans & Hatchbacks Minivans & 3-Row SUVs Pickup Trucks Used Cars Electric Bikes Bike Racks Car Insurance
All Car Research
All Car Research
Buying Advice & Tools
10 Most Satisfying Cars 10 Most Reliable Cars Best Cars for Short or Tall Drivers Best Cars for Teen Drivers Best Used Cars Interactive Car Finder
2025 Top Picks

CARS

2025 Top Picks

Car Buying & Pricing

Best Car Deals Now
Best SUVs Under $30K Best Deals on SUVs Best Deals on Fuel-Efficient Cars Leasing vs. Buying Car Loan Advice How to Buy a New Car Now
All Car Buying & Pricing
All Car Buying & Pricing
Member Savings & Tools
Car Buying Guide Build & Buy Car Buying Service Trade-in Estimator Used Car Marketplace
Which Car Brands Make the Best Vehicles?

Which Car Brands Make the Best Vehicles?

Tires, Maintenance & Repair

Ratings & Reviews
Tires Tire Retailers Car Batteries Car Repair Shops Car Seats
All Tires, Maintenance & Repair
All Tires, Maintenance & Repair
Ownership Advice
Find Car Recalls Make Your Car Run Longer Inspect Belts and Hoses Car Repair Assistant Find the Best Car Insurance
Car Reliability Guide

Car Reliability Guide

Key Topics & News

Car Safety
Car Recalls Car Seats Car Safety Guide Safety System Glossary
All Key Topics & News
All Key Topics & News
Fuel Efficiency
Should You Go Hybrid/EV? Save Money at the Pump Most Fuel-Efficient Cars EV Incentives Fuel Efficiency Guide
Listen to the Talking Cars Podcast

CAR NEWS

Listen to the Talking Cars Podcast

All Cars
All Cars

Home & Garden

Bed & Bath

Ratings & Reviews
Mattresses Sheets Pillows Toilets Bidet Seats Curling Irons Hair Dryers
All Bed & Bath
All Bed & Bath
Ownership Advice
Cleaning Your Mattress Organize Your Linen Closet Under-the-Bed Storage
Best Mattresses

Top Picks From CR

Best Mattresses

Lawn & Garden

Ratings & Reviews
Lawn Mowers & Tractors Charcoal & Gas Grills Leaf Blowers Pressure Washers String Trimmers Floodlight Cameras Chainsaws Snow Blowers
All Lawn & Garden
All Lawn & Garden
Ownership Advice
Best Charcoal Grills Fix Hidden Dangers in Your Home 5 Expert Tips for Staining a Deck
Best Lawn Mowers and Tractors

TOP PICKS FROM CR

Best Leaf Blowers

Home Improvement

Ratings & Reviews
Decking Door Locks Flooring Generators Paints Security Cameras Security Systems Wood Stains Windows
All Home Improvement
All Home Improvement
Ownership Advice
Protect Your Biggest Investment Best Smart Lightbulbs How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Best Whole-House Generators

Rated and Reviewed

Best Whole-House Generators

Home Safety & Security

Ratings & Reviews
Door Locks & Smart Locks Home Security Cameras Home Security Systems Smoke & CO Detectors
All Home Safety & Security
All Home Safety & Security
Safety Advice
Storm & Emergency Guide Generator Safety Tips Protect Against Indoor Air Pollution
Best DIY Home Security Systems

Survey Results

Best Homeowners Insurance Companies

All Home & Garden
All Home & Garden

Appliances

Kitchen

Ratings & Reviews
Cooktops Countertops Dishwashers Freezers Microwave Ovens Wall Ovens Ranges Refrigerators
All Kitchen
All Kitchen
Ownership Advice
Tips for Doing Laundry Organizing Your Kitchen Make Your Dishwasher Last
Most and Least Reliable Refrigerators

SURVEY RESULTS

Most and Least Reliable Refrigerators

Small Appliances

Ratings & Reviews
Air Fryers Blenders Breadmakers Coffee Makers Electric Kettles Food Steamers Food Processors Rice Cookers Knives
All Small Appliances
All Small Appliances
Cooking Advice
Small Kitchen Essentials Cleaning Cast Iron Kitchen Appliances for $100 or Less
Best Coffee Makers

TOP PICKS FROM CR

Best Coffee Makers

Laundry & Cleaning

Ratings & Reviews
Air Purifiers Vacuums Robotic Vacuums Washing Machines Clothes Dryers Washer/Dryer Pairs Pressure Washers Steam Mops Laundry Detergents
All Laundry & Cleaning
All Laundry & Cleaning
Laundry & Cleaning Advice
Don't Use Vinegar Here Cleaning a Dirty Oven How to Reduce Indoor Allergens Repair or Replace: Washer
Best Washing Machines

Top Picks From CR

Best Washing Machines

Heating, Cooling & Air

Ratings & Reviews
Air Conditioners Air Filters Air Purifiers Central Air Conditioners Dehumidifiers Thermostats Water Heaters Space Heaters
All Heating, Cooling & Air
All Heating, Cooling & Air
Ownership Advice
Are Smart Thermostats Worth It? 4 Reasons to Consider a Heat Pump Protect Against Indoor Air Pollution
Best Air Purifiers

TOP PICKS FROM CR

Best Air Purifiers

All Appliances
All Appliances

Electronics

Home Entertainment

Ratings & Reviews
TVs Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers Soundbars Streaming Media Players Headphones
All Home Entertainment
All Home Entertainment
Media Advice
Streaming Services Guide Best Streaming Music How to Clean Your Flat-Screen TV
Best TVs

FIND YOUR NEW TV

Best TVs

Home Office

Ratings & Reviews
Laptops Desktop Computers Printers Computer Monitors Tablets Wireless Routers
All Home Office
All Home Office
Set Up Advice
Organize Your Home Office Choosing a Standing Desk Best Office Chairs
Best Printers From CR's Tests

Rated and Reviewed

Best Printers From CR's Tests

Smartphones & Wearables

Ratings & Reviews
Smartphones Smartwatches Headphones Cameras
All Smartphones & Wearables
All Smartphones & Wearables
Tech Advice
Choosing a Cell Phone Mount Filter Social Media Apps Pre-Owned Tech: Yes or No?
Best Workout Earbuds for Your Fitness Routine

Top Picks From CR

Best Workout Earbuds for Your Fitness Routine

All Electronics
All Electronics
Babies

Digital Security

Digital Security & Privacy

Ratings & Reviews
Antivirus Software Crypto Wallets Password Managers Wireless Routers Home Security Cameras Home Security Systems
All Digital Security & Privacy
All Digital Security & Privacy
Safety Advice
Google Privacy Settings 30-Second Privacy Fixes What Is Smishing? Identity Theft Advice Permission Slip App Security Planner
One app to take back control of your data

CR PERMISSION SLIP APP

One app to take back control of your data

All Digital Security
All Digital Security
Deals

More

Money Travel Health & Wellness Kids Pet Products News Bill Negotiator All Products A-Z
All Products A-Z
About Us
Our Mission

Take Action

Get involved
Volunteer With Us Add Your Voice Join a Research Project Attend an Event
Issues we work on
Food Safety Car Safety & Efficiency Data Privacy Financial Fairness
Donate

    Linksys AC2600 (EA8500)

    Wireless Routers / Wireless Routers
    0-gallery-image
    0-gallery-image
    1-gallery-image
    AC2600 (EA8500)
    Shop
    An 802.11ac wireless router with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and 1 USB port. Includes an Ethernet cable.
    PRICE
    Shop

    * This Model May Have Limited Distribution

    Description
    An 802.11ac wireless router with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and 1 USB port. Includes an Ethernet cable.
    Pros & Cons
    Unlock full review and ratings with membership.
    Linksys AC2600 (EA8500)
    Shop

    CR Expert Take

    How did it perform in our expert lab testing?

    What goes into the Overall Score?

    Ratings

    EXPERT LAB TESTS

    Data security
     /  5
    Data privacy
     /  5
    Throughput near
     /  5
    Throughput mid-range
     /  5
    Throughput far
     /  5
    Versatility
     /  5
    Ease of setup
     /  5
    Security
     /  5
    Color
     /  5
    Protocol
     /  5
    Single-Mesh
     /  5

    Detailed Test Results

    Overall this routers performance was excellent. Throughput with this router was speedy when devices were located nearby or at a mid-range distance without too many things blocking the signal. It slowed down only slightly when farther away.

    Versatility scores excellent with four Ethernet ports and two USB ports for connecting computers, printers and storage. Security is very good and if you want to use Quality of Service (QoS) priority ranking you can. This will get you better performance from streaming videos and playing performance intensive games when you have multiple connections to your router.

    Setup is excellent and one of the easiest with a "wizard" to guide you and WPS for connecting devices that don't have a physical keyboard for passphrase entry. It has guest networks for both the 2.4 and 5GHz bands.

    About

    The Linksys AC2600 (EA8500) is an 802.11ac wireless router supporting 802.11ac, 802.11n (2.4 and 5GHz frequency bands), 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

    The Linksys AC2600 (EA8500) supports 2.4 and 5GHz guest networks, WPS, and has 2 USB ports one of which is a USB 3.0 port for faster connections.

    The Linksys AC2600 (EA8500) measures 10.1 inches wide by 2.3 inches high by 7.4 inches deep and it weighs 1.6lbs. It's backed by a 12 month warranty and 90 days free tech support.

    Price & Shop