What GL.iNet lists for Opal
All figures come from GL.iNet's Opal product page and its specification documentation, read on 30 October 2026. GL.iNet says its VPN results come from tests on a local network, that real-world speeds may differ, and that the published figures are for client mode, with server mode slower. [1][2]
| Item | Vendor-listed figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | $39.99 USD (30 Oct 2026) | [1] |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz, 867 Mbps on 5 GHz; two fixed external antennas | [1][2] |
| Wired ports | 1 x WAN, 2 x LAN, all 10/100/1000 Mbps | [1][2] |
| USB | 1 x USB 2.0 | [2] |
| Processor / memory | SF19A28 dual-core 1 GHz; 128MB DDR3; 128MB SPI NAND | [1][2] |
| VPN client maximums | WireGuard 65 Mbps, OpenVPN 12 Mbps | [1] |
| Power | USB Type-C 5V/3A; consumption under 6W | [1][2] |
| Size / weight | 118 x 85 x 30 mm / 145 g | [1][2] |
| Wireless clients | Up to 52 simultaneous devices listed | [1] |
Worked example: when the VPN ceiling is below the venue's speed
Airbnb's wifi speed labels give a useful reference scale. A listing showing 7 to 24 Mbps is labeled Solid, 25 to 49 Mbps Snappy, and 50 Mbps or more Fast. Airbnb's speed test measures download speed only, at one point in time. [5]
Fictional example: you book a rental showing 60 Mbps. Without a VPN, Opal's Wi-Fi and gigabit ports are not the bottleneck on paper. With WireGuard on the router, Opal's listed 65 Mbps client maximum sits just above the line speed, so the two are close and the router may become the limit as overhead and real-world conditions bite. With OpenVPN on the router, the listed 12 Mbps maximum is far below 60 Mbps, so every device behind the router would share at most 12 Mbps through the tunnel. [1][5]
The practical rule: if you need a router-level VPN, use WireGuard on Opal, and if your typical connection is above roughly 50 Mbps, compare against Beryl AX's listed 300 Mbps WireGuard maximum. [1][4]
Where Opal is genuinely good value
Opal has three gigabit ports: one WAN and two LAN. That is one more LAN port than Beryl AX, which lists one 2.5G WAN and one 1G LAN. If you carry a wired laptop and a wired streaming box, or want to plug into a rental's Ethernet jack and still wire two devices, Opal handles that without an extra switch. [1][4]
It is also lighter on paper, at 145 g against Beryl AX's listed 196 g, and draws under 6W from a 5V/3A USB-C input against Beryl AX's under 8W. For a router that mostly repeats hotel Wi-Fi to a phone, a laptop and a tablet, those trade-offs favor Opal. [1][4]
What the cheaper hardware gives up
Opal uses Wi-Fi 5 rather than Wi-Fi 6, a 1 GHz dual-core processor with 128MB of memory, and a USB 2.0 port. [2] The memory figure shows up in software support: GL.iNet lists Opal as unsupported for Tailscale, noting that some models cannot run it because of insufficient memory. [3]
GL.iNet's firmware 4 user guide for Opal lists Plug-ins, Dynamic DNS and Network Storage under Applications. The Beryl AX guide additionally lists AdGuard Home, Tailscale, ZeroTier and Tor. If ad blocking or remote access to your home network through the router is part of your plan, that difference matters more than raw Wi-Fi speed. [6]
Everyday travel features it keeps
Opal's user guide lists Ethernet, Wi-Fi repeater, USB tethering and cellular connections, with Multi-WAN failover when more than one connection is available. It also lists OpenVPN and WireGuard as both client and server, a guest network with AP isolation, and GoodCloud remote management. [6]
In other words, the hotel-login, phone-tethering and guest-network basics are present. What you give up is headroom: VPN throughput, newer Wi-Fi and the extra applications.
Opal or step up: a quick decision table
Use this table with your own typical connection speed and devices. Figures are vendor-listed.
| Your situation | Opal | Beryl AX |
|---|---|---|
| No VPN, 2 to 4 devices, hotel Wi-Fi | Fits; lowest listed price at $39.99 [1] | More than you need |
| WireGuard on router, venue around 50 Mbps or more | Listed 65 Mbps ceiling is close to the line [1] | Listed 300 Mbps ceiling leaves headroom [4] |
| OpenVPN on router | Listed 12 Mbps ceiling [1] | Listed 150 Mbps ceiling [4] |
| Two wired devices | Two gigabit LAN ports [1] | One 1G LAN port [4] |
| Tailscale on the router | Listed unsupported [3] | Listed supported [3] |
| Fast wired upstream above 1 Gbps | Gigabit WAN [1] | 2.5G WAN [4] |
Who should buy Opal and who should skip it
Buy Opal if you want a cheap, light router that logs into hotel Wi-Fi once for a few devices, if two wired LAN ports matter, and if you will rarely run a VPN on the router or can use WireGuard on modest connections.
Skip it, and look at Beryl AX, if a router-level VPN is the main reason you are buying, if you want Tailscale or AdGuard Home on the router, or if your typical connection is fast. Skip both if your phone hotspot or the venue Wi-Fi already serves your one or two devices well.
Watch demos / Official walkthroughs
See the hardware in action.
Videos load from YouTube only when you press play. These are provider videos, not our own product tests.
GL.iNet / Official video
Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) - Unboxing and Setup Guide
What to look for: Identify the hardware connections and setup steps for Beryl AX; other models can differ.
Watch on YouTubeQuestions before you decide
Is 12 Mbps OpenVPN on Opal too slow?
It depends on the connection you would otherwise get. GL.iNet lists 12 Mbps as Opal's OpenVPN client maximum, measured on a local network. Airbnb, for example, labels listing Wi-Fi of 25 to 49 Mbps as Snappy and 50 Mbps or more as Fast, so on a connection like that, OpenVPN on Opal would cap you well below the line speed. WireGuard's listed 65 Mbps maximum leaves far more headroom.
Can Opal run Tailscale?
No, according to GL.iNet. Its Tailscale documentation lists GL-SFT1200 (Opal) among unsupported models and says some models running firmware v4.2 or later still cannot run Tailscale because of insufficient memory.
Does Opal support USB tethering from a phone?
Yes. GL.iNet's Opal user guide lists USB tethering, cellular USB modems and external storage on its USB 2.0 port, alongside Ethernet and Wi-Fi repeater connections.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- GL.iNet Opal (GL-SFT1200) product page and specifications Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 3: GL-SFT1200 (Opal) specification Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: Tailscale supported and unsupported models Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) datasheet, version 20250320 Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Airbnb Help Center: Check the wifi speed for a place Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet Router Docs 4: GL-SFT1200 (Opal) user guide Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.