TechRadar Verdict
Im not sure who this router is aimed at.
A fully featured design, but it lacks 6GHz for the full WiFi 7 experience.
AVM has established itself as a maker of reliable, high-quality products that prioritise performance over superficial design.
Other features include support for DECT phones, Smart home networking, Zigbee networking, and even analogue telephony.
However, these aspects might not justify the price if they are technologies you dont intend to use.
One of those cheaper options is to get it from Germany, where it sells for only 263.99 onAmazon.de.
Its slightly more expensive in other EU countries, being around 310, typically.
One external change is that the ethernet port layout has been completely revised.
Surely, LAN should be faster than the WiFi?
Zigbee is a low-power 2.4GHz online grid protocol designed for IoT devices like smart switches and lightbulbs.
One place where the 7690 goes above and beyond is the FRITZ!Box applications for Android and iOS.
These are ranges where an Ethernet cable could be easily connected.
This demonstrates that in a congested environment, WiFi 7 isnt always the best approach.
What Im not saying here is that the FRITZ!
!Box 7690 isnt a good WiFi 7 router.
And, my location took away many of the advantages of this hardware, probably unfairly.
If the upgrades to this router line dont come along as often, then longevity needs to be maximised.
Should I buy a FRITZ!Box 7690?
Don’t buy it if…
If you intend to take that path, the 7690 won’t be suitable for those connections.
For more hardware, we’ve reviewed thebest mesh Wi-Fi systemsand thebest WiFi routers.
