Tested Linksys WRT1900AC vs WRT1900ACS

There is no doubt that deciding between Linksys WRT1900AC vs WRT1900ACS router can be overwhelming.

It makes sense. The Linksys brand is well-known to be a reliable router brand, and continues to produce a variety of wireless routers such as WRT1900ac vs WRT1900acs models for home use. This is in part due to the consistently good router designs as well as the option for open source firmware in several of their models.

It Started With Linksys WRT54G

Up until 2014, the Linksys WRT54G was a nearly ideal router and popular among its users. This was due in part to its design as well as the open source nature of the router’s firmware, making it more usable for more people. The concept behind having open source firmware is that it allows the user to improve upon or add different functionalities than the wireless router originally came with. The WRT54G remained the Linksys go-to router for its open source firmware options for many years.

Then Linksys WRT1900AC Was Introduced

Finally in 2014, Linksys introduced the WRT1900AC to the router market to replace its WRT54G. Like its predecessor, the WRT1900AC also had an eye-catching design and worked with open source firmware. The WRT1900AC, however, was far more powerful than the WRT54G.

A Year Later Linksys Introduced WRT1900ACS

Merely a year later, Linksys introduced an upgrade of the WRT1900AC, the WRT1900ACS. Like all Linksys ‘WRTs’ or ‘Wireless Routers,’ the WRT1900ACS supports third-party firmware and has an appealing design that makes it easy to set up. Additionally, the routers offer the ability for multiple users within a household to use the internet, including streaming games and videos at the same time.

BlueGadgetTooth team decided to test Linksys WRT1900ac vs WRT1900acs routers since they were released back to back and because they are still both available to purchase today. Since they look very similar, it can be confusing which router you should be buying. We are going to list out the pros and cons for each router to help you determine which router is best for you and which router is best overall.

What Have Linksys WRT1900AC vs WRT1900ACS In Common

On the surface, it could be look like the Linksys WRT1900AC and the WRT1900ACS are the same router. Not only were they released close together, but they do share quite a few of the same features. Both routers are dual band, meaning they operate at two frequencies, giving you fewer interruptions as the consumer. The routers also both have USB 3.0 ports as well as 4 LAN ports.

The biggest similarity is that the routers are both open source ready, allowing you to choose the firmware that would you like to use, if you would like to do it. Both the Linksys WRT1900AC and the Linksys ART1900ACS have the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi menu which is meant to be simple for the average consumer, but give flexibility to the user who wants to play around with it.

Both the Linksys WRT1900ACS and the WRT1900AC support 802.11AC standard, making them versatile and compatible with most devices. Their theoretical Wi-Fi connection speeds are also the same at 1.9Gps, giving you the most Wi-Fi speeds across their dual bands. The each also have adjustable antennas, letting you get the strongest wireless connection from your router as possible.

Main Difference Between Linksys WRT1900AC vs WRT1900ACS

While the routers have a lot in common, there is still one major difference between the Linksys WRT1900ac vs WRT1900acs. The Linksys WRT1900AC only has a RAM of 256Mbps and a CPU of 1.2GHz while the Linksys WRT1900ACS has a RAM of 512 Mbps and a CPU of 1.6GHz. This means that the WRT1900ACS is more powerful than the WRT1900AC.

1. Linksys WRT AC1900 Dual-Band+ Wi-Fi Wireless Router (WRT1900AC)

Unlike previous models, the Linksys WRT1900AC proves to be one of the fastest Wifi routers available, with great range. Its network storage performance is equal to many dedicated NAS servers, and even though it is a little pricy, it is a great option for those who want to take advantage of the open source firmware.

WRT1900AC Speed:

The Linksys WRT1900AC wireless router offers a powerful 1.2 GHz dual core processor, making it fast for households that are active online. When we tested it out, we found that we could easily stream HD videos in one room while someone else downloaded heavy files in the next room without interruptions. You can reach speeds of 1.3Gbps on the 5 GHz band and 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz. While we couldn’t reach those speeds, we were happy with amazing speeds we received, totalling to 400 Mbps on both bands.

WRT1900AC Performance:

The WRT1900AC was the first router that featured four adjustable antennas as well as offering the dual band Wi-Fi coverage (2.4 GHZ and 5 GHz), this router eliminates dead zones and delivers transfer speeds of up to 1.3 Gbps. It also has a high-powered amplifier that insures a strong signal strength as well as coverage. Happily, this meant that even in multistory houses, all family members were able to use the internet as they liked to – browsing, HD gaming online and watching HD videos on Netflix.

WRT1900AC Best Use:

Because of its reliable dual core processor, adjustable antennas, and the powerful processor, the WRT1900AC will let you stream videos, play online games, or even just surf the internet, all at the same time. The high speed nature of the WRT1900AC will let you do whatever online activity you would like to without interruption.

2. Linksys AC1900 Dual Band Open Source WiFi Wireless Router (WRT1900ACS)

Although the design follows Linksys’ basic black and blue design, the WRT1900ACS provides an 8 port switch so you can stack your WRT gear. However, it is also a lot bigger than most routers in its range. If you’re looking for more power, you have the option to buy a set of four larger antennas that will work twice as better than the stock ones offered. With 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, you know this machine is geared for speed and power.

WRT1900ACS Speed:

The Linksys WRT1900ACS wireless router provides a 1.6 GHz dual core processor, making it fast for households that are highly active online. This means that multiple family members can use the internet across the house at the same time, including streaming videos, surfing the web, and gaming. Due to the dual band, you can theoretically receive 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1.3 Gbps on the 5GHz band, but whether you receive those high speeds depends upon your ISP plan. We tested it out and it delivered a total of 500Mbps over both bands. That is impressive enough, but even at a distance of 120 feet, we found the speeds were still decent on the 2.4GHZ, working at 21 Mbps.

WRT1900ACS Performance:

The WRT1900ACS features four adjustable antennas as well as offering the dual band Wi-Fi coverage (2.4 GHZ and 5 GHz). This powerful router also eliminates dead zones and offers high transfer speeds so you can transfer large files quicker than ever before. The high-powered amplifier insures a strong signal strength as well as coverage so multiple users can simultaneously stream videos, transfer files, or game online from various devices.

We connected multiple devices over a period of two weeks to really test it out – ranging from Samsung tablets, iPad pros and a whole bunch of electronic devices. While one laptop was browsing through Youtube, watching videos, another was transferring heavy files easily, while another was watching Netflix. For households with data hungry machines, the WRT19000ACS is a dream.

WRT1900ACS Best Use:

The high power for the WRT1900ACS means that you can play online games against members of your household using different devices in different rooms, without interruption. Let the kids watch their cartoons, while your loved ones catch up on their favorite TV shows, while you happily game away.

Why Is Linksys WRT1900ACS Better vs Linksys WRT1900AC

While both the Linksys WRT1900AC vs WRT1900ACS routers are reliable routers with open source firmware and good streaming abilities, the Linksys WRT1900ACS is better than the LinksysWRT1900AC. Of course, the Linksys WRT1900AC is still an excellent option for the average user, though it is starting to age.

Yet the price point between the WRT1900AC vs WRT1900ACS is not much, making the WRT1900ACS worth the extra few dollars for the increased power. The RAM of the WRT1900ACS is so much greater than the WRT1900AC that you can have multiple devices streaming videos or games at the same time without a drop in speed. This makes using Wi-Fi easier in a household where more people want to do different things at the same time. The CPU is also more powerful in the WRT1900ACS, adding more power to your router, ensuring you are not going to get kicked off the internet when you need it most.