The short comparison
All figures below are GL.iNet specifications and prices listed on its US store on 13 October 2026. They are not our measurements. GL.iNet notes that its VPN figures come from tests on a local network, that real-world speeds may differ, and that the numbers are client mode results. [1][2][3]
| Spec (vendor-listed) | Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) | Slate AX (GL-AXT1800) | Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listed price, 13 Oct 2026 | $98.99 [1] | $119.99 [2] | $159.99 [3] |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6; 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + 2402 Mbps (5 GHz) [1] | Wi-Fi 6; 600 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + 1200 Mbps (5 GHz) [2] | Wi-Fi 7; 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + 2882 Mbps (5 GHz) [3] |
| Wired ports | 1 x 2.5G WAN, 1 x 1G LAN [1] | 1 x 1G WAN, 2 x 1G LAN [2] | 1 x 2.5G WAN, 1 x 2.5G LAN [3] |
| Storage extras | USB 3.0 [1] | USB 3.0 and microSD slot up to 512GB [2] | USB 3.0 [3] |
| Listed WireGuard client max | 300 Mbps [1] | 550 Mbps [2] | 490 Mbps [3] |
| Listed OpenVPN client max | 150 Mbps [1] | 560 Mbps with DCO [2] | 385 Mbps with DCO [3] |
| Power input / listed consumption | Type-C 5V/3A; under 8W [1] | Type-C 5V/4A; under 8.75W [2] | Type-C 5V/3A, 9V/3A or 12V/2.5A; under 18W without USB [3] |
| Size / weight | 120 x 83 x 34 mm / 196 g [1] | 125 x 82 x 36 mm / 245 g [2] | 130 x 91 x 34 mm / 295 g [3] |
Choose by the port you will actually plug in
Most hotel use is wireless repeating: the router joins the venue Wi-Fi and your devices join the router. In that job, the wired ports sit idle. They matter when the room has an Ethernet jack, when you carry a wired laptop or streaming box, or when you plug the router into a home or office network at the destination.
Beryl AX has one LAN port. If you need two wired devices at once, Slate AX is the only one of the three with two LAN ports, though they are listed as gigabit. Slate 7 pairs a 2.5G WAN with a 2.5G LAN port, which only pays off when both the upstream connection and your wired client can exceed one gigabit. That is rare in a hotel and more plausible in a short-term rental or office. [1][2][3]
Read the VPN figures as a ceiling, not a promise
If you plan to run a VPN client on the router, the listed WireGuard figure is a useful upper bound. Beryl AX lists 300 Mbps, Slate 7 lists 490 Mbps and Slate AX lists 550 Mbps. GL.iNet states that these results were measured in client mode on a local network and that server mode is slower. [1][2][3]
Compare those numbers with the connection you expect to have. If a typical hotel connection you use is far below 300 Mbps, Beryl AX is unlikely to be the bottleneck on paper, and paying more for a higher ceiling buys little. If you will sit on a fast wired connection with a router-level VPN for every device, the higher ceilings become relevant. This is arithmetic on vendor figures, not a throughput test.
Power and weight in a travel bag
Beryl AX lists a Type-C 5V/3A input and consumption under 8W. Slate AX lists Type-C 5V/4A and under 8.75W. Slate 7 lists Type-C with 5V/3A, 9V/3A and 12V/2.5A profiles and consumption under 18W without USB, so plan for a charger that can supply the higher profile rather than assuming any phone charger fits. [1][2][3]
Slate 7 is the heaviest of the three at 295 g against 196 g for Beryl AX. That difference rarely decides a purchase, but it is worth noting for one-bag travelers. Use the travel-router packing check to record your charger, cable and adapter before a trip.
Worked example: two fictional travelers
Mina travels with a laptop and a phone, stays in hotels with Wi-Fi only, and wants one portal login for both devices. She does not run a router-level VPN. Every one of the three meets that job on paper, so the lowest listed price, Beryl AX at $98.99, is the defensible pick. Paying $61 more for Slate 7 would buy capabilities she has no current use for.
Theo works from rentals with an Ethernet jack, carries a small wired NAS and a laptop, and wants every device on a router-level WireGuard tunnel. Two simultaneous wired clients point to Slate AX, whose two LAN ports and 550 Mbps listed WireGuard figure fit that job. If his laptop and rental line both exceed a gigabit, Slate 7 becomes the candidate instead. Neither choice is tested; both follow from the published specifications.
Who should skip all three
Skip a new travel router if one device already completes the hotel login and you do not need a personal LAN. Skip an upgrade if a router you already own does the job you have; a newer Wi-Fi generation is not a reason on its own. Remember that Wi-Fi 7 features need Wi-Fi 7 clients to matter.
If you need a tunnel only on your laptop, a VPN app on that laptop may cover it without new hardware. Read the VPN-on-router-or-device guide before buying a router mainly for VPN speed. Confirm current price, regional plug options and return terms on the store before checkout.
Questions before you decide
Is Slate 7 worth the extra money over Beryl AX for hotel Wi-Fi?
Only when a feature it adds is part of your job: a 2.5G LAN port, Wi-Fi 7 clients, or a router-level VPN where GL.iNet lists a higher WireGuard client figure. Hotel upstream capacity is usually the limit, and a newer router cannot add capacity the venue lacks.
Which one can run from a USB power bank?
GL.iNet lists Beryl AX and Slate AX as Type-C 5V inputs (5V/3A and 5V/4A) and Slate 7 as Type-C with 5V/3A, 9V/3A and 12V/2.5A profiles. Whether a specific power bank and cable supply enough power is untested here; check the bank, the cable and the listed power consumption before relying on it.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- GL.iNet Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) product page and specifications Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Slate AX (GL-AXT1800) product page and specifications Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) product page and specifications Accessed 13 Oct 2026
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