GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7 Travel Router: features, specs and who it suits

The GL.iNet GL-BE3600, called the Slate 7, is a pocket-sized travel router with Wi-Fi 7. It takes a hotel, cruise-ship or other shared connection and turns it into your own private network, with VPN support built in. It measures 3.5 in x 1.3 in x 5.1 in and weighs 0.7 lb.

Wi-Fi 7 speeds and ports

GL.iNet lists dual-band speeds of 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 2882 Mbps on 5 GHz. These are theoretical wireless rates, and real speeds depend on your devices, distance and the connection you plug into. The router has two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports (one WAN, one LAN) and a USB 3.0 port. A 2.5G port can carry more than a standard gigabit port, which helps if your upstream connection is faster than 1 Gbps.

The touchscreen

A touchscreen on the front lets you scan a QR code to join Wi-Fi, check speed in real time, switch a VPN on or off and change providers without opening a browser. Colour-coded indicators show the state of Ethernet, tethering, repeater and cellular modes.

VPN client and server

OpenVPN and WireGuard come pre-installed. GL.iNet says the router works with more than 30 VPN providers (an active subscription is needed) and encrypts traffic across the network once connected. It lists maximum VPN speeds of 100 Mbps for OpenVPN and 540 Mbps for WireGuard, measured on a local network.

The router can also run a VPN server and client at the same time. That lets you reach resources on your home network, such as a printer or local web server, while using the public internet through a VPN client.

OpenWrt and security features

The firmware is OpenWrt 23.05, with 512MB of storage, open-source customisation and installable plugins. On the security side, GL.iNet lists WPA3, DNS over HTTPS, DNS over TLS and IPv6 support. A programmable button can toggle AdGuard Home, an OpenVPN client or a WireGuard client, but the listing notes it has no function by default and must be set first.

Where it fits

GL.iNet pitches the Slate 7 at travellers: hotels, cruises, RVs, planes and business trips. It is listed with US, UK, EU and AU plug options.

What to check before you buy

• Confirm the plug type for the country where you will use it.
• Check that your VPN provider supports OpenVPN or WireGuard, and that you have a subscription.
• Expect VPN speeds to be lower than the raw Wi-Fi figures.
• Your devices need Wi-Fi 7 to use its top speeds; older devices still connect at their own speeds.
• Hotel and ship networks may use sign-in pages, which can take extra steps to set up.
• Set the programmable button before relying on it.
• Check that your power source suits the router.

The short version

• Pocket-sized Wi-Fi 7 travel router, dual band, 688 + 2882 Mbps.
• Two 2.5G Ethernet ports, USB 3.0 and a touchscreen.
• OpenVPN and WireGuard client and server, with OpenWrt 23.05 firmware.
• Listed security features include WPA3 and encrypted DNS.

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