Synology is best known for its home NAS servers, but the Taiwanese manufacturer is increasingly turning its attention to home networking. Last year’s RT6600ax Wi-Fi 6 router was an underrated generation, offering excellent connectivity and an extensive software feature set in a class better than its rivals.
Synology is following it up with the release of the WRX560. Subaru-esque branding aside, this router has a lot to offer. You get fast Wi-Fi 6 coverage with 160 MHz channels, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port that can switch to a WAN connection when needed, and the same best-in-class parental. Control and software functions as RT6600ax.
Additionally, the WRX560 has a new design with hidden antennas to give the router a cleaner look. The best part is that his $249 WRX560 is great value for the feature set and connectivity it offers. So if you’re looking to get one of the best Wi-Fi routers for under $250, here’s why you should consider the WRX560.
Synology WRX560: Pricing and Availability
Synology launched the WRX560 on November 2, 2022, with the router going on sale later that month. The WRX560 is available in all markets where the brand officially exists and retails for $249 at all major retailers in North America. Priced at £209 ($255) in the UK, he debuted in India in January 2023 at £22,352 ($273).
While the brand’s best NAS models come with a standard three-year warranty, the router comes with a two-year warranty instead, and the WRX560 is no exception.
Synology WRX560: Design and features
The RT6600ax had many features, but design was not one of them. Thankfully, Synology paid a little more attention to the design of his WRX560. As a result, the router looks modern.
Made from the same plastic material the brand uses in NAS servers like the DiskStation DS723+, the updated design allows the WRX560 to blend in a little better. Not an eyesore, though, the router is significantly taller than his RT6600ax, so if you’re interested in the WRX560 you should take that into account.
The router features a vented design with excellent passive airflow and a side-mounted USB 3 Gen 3.1 port for connecting drives. It has ports on the back, and there’s a lot to like here. The WRX560 has 1 Gigabit WAN port, 3 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 2.5GbE LAN port that doubles as a WAN port.
One area that routers miss is link aggregation. Considering who is most likely to use a router, the obvious omission is already having her NAS server on the brand.
A particularly cool feature here, though, is the ability to have two WAN connections on the same router. It’s been a mainstay of all Synology routers all the way back to the RT2600ac, and it’s nice to see that functionality isn’t compromised on the WRX560. The arrival of multigigabit fiber makes the router a little more future-proof in this regard.
Synology WRX560: configuration and software
Setting up a router is as easy as it gets. Initial setup and management requires using a DS router with a mobile phone. This is available for Android as well as iOS. Installation takes only 5 minutes. I had no problems finding my router or setting it up on my home network. You can assign an SSID, set guest mode, and get your WRX560 up and running with minimal fuss.
DS routers are also great for port management, traffic control, monitoring real-time network statistics, and seeing how many devices are connected to your router. Where the WRX560 stands out is its software feature set. I use Synology Router Manager (SRM) 1.3 and SRM works wonders for routers, as does the DiskStation Manager software which does a great job with his NAS servers of the brand.
You get a full list of features, and for the majority of users considering the WRX560, the DS router should be sufficient for day-to-day router management. you will need to sign in to the web interface. Just point your browser to the gateway, log in with your credentials, and you’ll see all your options.
I love features like Smart Connect, which combines the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios into a single SSID and intelligently switches between bands based on where the device is in the house. It also has the ability to configure different VLANs. This is mandatory when using smart home products. As a rule of thumb, we recommend creating a unique VLAN specifically for IoT devices.
Another great use case is turning your router into a NAS server. This can be achieved by connecting an external drive to the USB port. You can’t run Plex on your router, but the Media Server package comes with many of the same features and works reliably for streaming media to your home’s connected devices.
Synology’s Threat Prevention service continues to be a worthy addition, with easy-to-use parental controls that let you assign usage limits to individual devices or block access to specific sites. This is an area where the WRX560 sets itself apart from its rivals, and if you want a feature-rich router that doubles as a NAS, the WRX560 is a great choice.
Synology WRX560: Performance
As for the hardware itself, the WRX560 is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core chip with 512GB of RAM and 256GB of flash storage. The wireless connection has 6 hidden antennas that provide 4 x 4 MIMO on the 5 GHz band and 2 x 2 MIMO on the 2.4 GHz band. This is a Wi-Fi 6 router and also has wider 160MHz channels available.
A key difference between the WRX560 and the RT6600ax (and why the former is a little more affordable) is that it features dual-band connectivity, so you get one 5GHz band and one 2.4GHz band. That said, you still get plenty of throughput here, with the 5 GHz band going up to 2400 Mbit, which is more than enough for home use.
Having used the RT6600ax for a few months in 2022, I was curious to see how the WRX560 would measure up, but you did an admirable job. About the same number as the RT6600ax, with less than 10% variance. A single unit covered my 1,960 square foot home with a reliable Wi-Fi signal, but for a two-story house, adding another unit would always make the WRX560 a robust mesh. You can turn it into a system.
I’ve seen 122Mbit of bandwidth on the 2.4GHz band at 10 feet, and definitely 843Mbit of bandwidth on the same spot on 5GHz. The master bedroom is 75 feet away from the router and I got an average of 338Mbit here. I tested the router with a Pixel 7 Pro, Galaxy S22 Ultra, and a range of Windows notebooks and iPads, and it provided a very stable connection.
Long-term reliability is also good, with no slowdowns in three weeks of using the router. That said, the WRX560 is his one of the fastest dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers you can buy today.
Synology WRX560: Competition
The RT6600ax uses a tri-band configuration and has better coverage, so it’s a better choice if you have a bigger home.It also gives you double the amount of RAM with 1GB . The design isn’t particularly modern, but the six omnidirectional antennas do a great job of covering the whole house. Get the port.
Even if you want a traditional router, the ASUS RT-AX86U is a reliable choice. You can also buy a router for $249 that offers whole-home coverage, lots of ports, and a dedicated game mode that prioritizes bandwidth for gaming. Although the software is less scalable and you don’t get the same feature set, AiMesh allows the RT-AX86U to be used in mesh configurations.
Synology WRX560: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if:
- Need a mid-range Wi-Fi 6 router with good connectivity
- Requires extensive software capabilities
- If you want the best parental controls in this category
- Requires a multi-gig Ethernet connection
Do not purchase if:
- Requires a router that supports Wi-Fi 6e
- Looking for Link Aggregation for use with NAS
- i want a tri band router
The WRX560 nails the basics and you get your money’s worth here. The sheer number of software features alone makes it a strong contender, and if you’re looking for strong parental controls and usage access, there’s no better solution for under $250. The design is also much better this time around, and I like the modern aesthetic. It blends well into the background.
The WRX560 provided solid connections throughout my home, and I had no connectivity issues. The only drawback in this area is that the router does not support his Wi-Fi 6e. With Wi-Fi 7 on the horizon, you should consider what your router will need in 2023 and beyond. The WRX560 is a great option now (and for years to come), and if the first wave of Wi-Fi 6 routers is any indication, Wi-Fi 7 will carry a hefty premium at launch.
So if you want a reliable Wi-Fi 6 router with great connectivity and software features that doubles as a NAS server and works in a mesh configuration, the WRX560 is an all-around option under $250. It is most suitable as
The WRX560 is the best dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router you can get under $250. It offers great connectivity, has a robust software feature set and has a great looking modern design.
