I reviewed the D-Link M30 series Wi-Fi system back in June—a great solution for all your home internet needs with very few downsides. You can read my full review here. But, as always, everyone wants MORE—more speed, in this case.
Yes, this is a real photo of the real router that we actually test and live with – it’s a bit messy!
Enter (at pace!) the relatively new D-Link AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 Smart Mesh Router M60. I’ve been testing the 3-node pack (all units are identical and connect seamlessly in a mesh network), for a few weeks now (Using my partially work from home wife and two kids who hate slow ping!) .. and here’s the key takeaway: it’s fast, robust, and ideal for larger homes.
M60 vs. M30: What’s New?
While the M60 shares many features with the M30, it stands out in two key areas:
- Back-End Speed – The M30 supports up to 1 Gbps via its WAN port, while the M60 features a 2.5 Gbps WAN port. While most Australian ISPs don’t yet offer speeds above 1 Gbps, the M60 is ready for the future.
- Wi-Fi Speeds – The M60 provides a significant boost on the 5 GHz band, delivering speeds of up to 4804 Mbps, compared to the M30’s 1800 Mbps. (Dual-Band AX6000 Wi-Fi 6)
- Lightning-Fast Connectivity – Speeds up to 6 Gbps
- Design and Antennas – The M60 is larger than the M30, likely to accommodate its eight internal antennas (up from five in the M30). This design upgrade enhances both range and performance.
- Eco-Green Design – Made with Post-Consumer Recycled case and packed in recyclable packaging
- Help Secure Your Home Network – Advanced parental controls, IoT cybersecurity certification and WPA3 encryption.
You can download the full data sheet here: D-Link M60 DataSheet
Real-Life Performance
In the few weeks I’ve used the M60 in my home, the results have been impressive. Any dead spots I experienced with the M30 have disappeared entirely. The M60 delivers consistent speeds throughout my two-story house, even reaching out to my car a few houses down!
For reference, I have TPG Fibre to the Premises with speeds averaging 800 Mbps, even though I only pay for 500 or 600 Mbps (thanks, TPG). The M60 ensures my Wi-Fi never becomes a bottleneck, and complaints about ping or slow speeds from my kids have dramatically decreased. That alone gets a big tick of approval from me!
Setup Experience
Setting up the M60 was as simple as it was for the M30. Using the D-Link iPhone app, I scanned the QR code, added the new device, and was up and running in no time. Adding nodes to the mesh network was just as easy, making the whole process seamless.
The M30 and M60 are considerably different in physical size (and power consumption) as you can see below!
The Oddities: Room for Improvement
No product is perfect, and the M60 is no exception. Here are a couple of quirks I’ve encountered:
1. App Bugs
The iPhone app occasionally struggles:
- Some devices incorrectly appear under the Guest network instead of the main one.
- The app doesn’t always connect on the first attempt. I’ve tried resetting the app, clearing the cache, and rebooting my phone, but the issue persists.
D-Link support has been responsive, and I’m hopeful a future firmware update will resolve these issues.
2. Browser Security Certificate Errors
Accessing the M60’s admin interface through Google Chrome fails due to a security certificate issue. Safari does allow access after showing a warning, but this could confuse less tech-savvy users.
I’ll update the certificate eventually, but from a consumer standpoint, this is worth noting.
Extras: A Fun Discovery
One feature I’ve enjoyed is the AI-powered reporting. The router recently flagged late-night internet usage by one of my kids, who was surprised when I confronted him. Thanks for the assist, D-Link! 😄
Final Thoughts
The D-Link AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 Smart Mesh Router M60 is a powerful, future-proof upgrade from the M30. With its faster speeds, improved range, and robust performance, it’s perfect for larger homes and bandwidth-heavy users. While there are minor quirks, they’re easily outweighed by the benefits.
If you’re ready to future-proof your home Wi-Fi, the M60 is an excellent choice. And if you’re already using the M30, the upgrade is worth considering—especially if you need more speed and coverage.
The D-Link Aquila Pro AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh has a RRP for $399.95 for 2 nodes, and $599 for 3 nodes. There is however, a Black Friday deal on Amazon knocking a hefty amount off – just $299 for the 2 nodes and $499 for 3 nodes.
DRN would like to thank D-Link for providing the review units.
