GL.iNet
GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router with VPN
Bottom line: The GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router ($101.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-07): WireGuard hits 550 Mbps, OpenVPN 500 Mbps, so VPN rarely bottlenecks; main trade-off: toggle switch does nothing until you assign it a function in the admin panel.
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ WireGuard hits 550 Mbps, OpenVPN 500 Mbps, so VPN rarely bottlenecks
- ✓ Full OpenWrt 21.02 means package installs and deep customization
- ✓ Physical toggle switch flips VPN or AdGuard Home without the admin panel
- ✓ Repeater mode converts hotel or public Wi-Fi into your own private network
- ✓ USB port adds SAMBA and WebDAV NAS sharing from any external drive
Cons
- ✗ Toggle switch does nothing until you assign it a function in the admin panel
- ✗ Captive-portal hotspots with time limits force a manual router reconnect
- ✗ OpenWrt 21.02 ships kernel 4.4.60, older than current OpenWrt releases
- ✗ 1200 Mbps 5GHz ceiling trails full-size Wi-Fi 6 routers at similar prices
Manufacturer description
The GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX is a pocket-sized Wi-Fi 6 travel router built for people who refuse to trust hotel and airport networks. Dual-band throughput reaches a combined 1800 Mbps (600 Mbps on 2.4GHz, 1200 Mbps on 5GHz), and MU-MIMO, OFDMA and BSS color let it hold up to 120 devices at once without the interference you get from a stock hotel access point. VPN is the headline feature: OpenVPN and WireGuard ship pre-installed, work with 30+ VPN service providers, and hit up to 500 Mbps and 550 Mbps respectively, so the tunnel is not the bottleneck on a fast uplink. A physical toggle…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the networking category. GL.iNet's networking lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for networking of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the VPN on the Slate AX?
GL.iNet rates WireGuard at up to 550 Mbps and OpenVPN at up to 500 Mbps. Both are pre-installed and compatible with 30+ VPN service providers, so most hotel and home uplinks will cap out before the router does.
Will it work with hotel Wi-Fi that has a login page?
Yes. Repeater mode converts a public wired or wireless network into a private one and works with captive portals. Note that many free hotspots enforce a time limit, so you will need to reconnect the router when the session expires.
How many devices can connect at once?
Up to 120 devices simultaneously. MU-MIMO, OFDMA and BSS color handle the contention, which is what separates it from the single-band travel routers that stall out at a dozen clients.
What are the actual Wi-Fi speeds?
Dual-band combined 1800 Mbps: 600 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 1200 Mbps on 5GHz. That is Wi-Fi 6 (AX1800) class, so client throughput depends on your device's radio and the upstream connection.
Can I use it as network storage while traveling?
Yes. Plug an external USB hard drive into the router and the NAS feature shares it over SAMBA or WebDAV, creating a private network drive for documents and media without a cloud account.
Key Features
- 【AXT1800 WiFi 6 Wireless Router】Slate AX offers powerful Wi-Fi 6 network connection with a dual-band combined Wi-Fi speed of 1800 Mbps (600 Mbps for 2.4GHz and 1200 Mbps for 5GHz). Enhance Wi-Fi performance with MU-MIMO, OFDMA, BSS color and able to connect to up to 120 devices simultaneously.
- 【Fast and Secure Browsing】IPv6 supported; OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers, OpenVPN speed up to 500 Mbps; WireGuard speed up to 550 Mbps. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
- 【Easy File Sharing】Our NAS feature supports SAMBA and WebDav protocol. By plugging an external USB hard disc into the router, you can create a private network to store and share your documents.
- 【Runs on OpenWrt 21.02】Slate AX runs on the latest OpenWrt 21.02 operating system (Kernel version 4.4.60), with mass device connection capabilities, and significantly reduced signal interference. You can customize the router and install applications based on your preferences.
- 【Repeater for Public, Hotel WiFi】Convert a public network(wired/wireless) to a private network(wired/wireless) for secure surfing. Work with Captive Portal. (Note: Most of the Free Public Wi-Fi hotspot set a time limit for users, which will disconnect your devices once the time is over. To deal with this situation, please reconnect your router to the wifi.)
- 【Enable VPN or AdGuard Home Easily】Immediately enable/disable your selected feature (AdGuard Home or OpenVPN Client or WireGuard Client) through the physical toggle switch. ***The default setting of the button is NO Function, you need to set it in the admin panel before using this function.***
Full Specifications
| Brand | GL.iNet |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Voltage | 5 volts |
| Coverage | Moderate to Large |
| Frequency | 5 GHz |
| Model Name | Slate AX |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Antenna Type | Fixed |
| Connectivity | Wireless, USB, WiFi, 2.4GHz |
| Model Number | GDB008W3-050400ZX |
| Compatibility | Switch |
| Built-In Media | Ethernet Cable, GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) router with 2-year warranty, Power Adapter (US Plug), User Manual |
| Control Method | App |
| Connection Type | Wired |
| Controller Type | App Control |
| Mfr Part Number | GL-AXT3000 |
| Number of Ports | 3 |
| Special Feature | Guest Mode, QoS |
| Antenna Location | Home |
| Wi-Fi Generation | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Full listing title | GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router with VPN | Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 1800 Mbps, MU-MIMO and OFDMA, connects up to 120 devices simultaneously |
Ready to buy?
GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router with VPN | Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 1800 Mbps, MU-MIMO and OFDMA, connects up to 120 devices simultaneously is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.
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