It was purchased to replace an Asus DSL-AC68U, which I "got my hands on" because it decided to commit suicide when it received the latest firmware update.
Of course, it's not a modem like the Asus, but it joined the Zyxel that the provider gives. The Zyxel only functions as a modem and the Xiaomi "takes the lead", with about 50 devices connected to it in total.
The truth is, I didn't expect much from a device that costs 33€ compared to the 200€ Asus I had before - I got it as a temporary replacement until the Asus returned from service. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The Xiaomi performed excellently and seems to be even better at managing the internal network than the Asus (which has a lot of data traffic, as I have 12 IP 3MP cameras, plus around 40 other devices like PCs, NAS, TVs, A/C, and even light bulbs). It heats up much less and I have significantly better performance, especially in transmitting large amounts of data to wireless devices, where the transfer times have decreased significantly. Also, some cameras that used to "freeze" for a few seconds occasionally, now work flawlessly.
The WiFi range easily covers my two-story house, with the router located on the upper floor. I don't get full signal in the garage, but it's still quite good. I haven't modified the firmware, although there is firmware available that significantly boosts the signal strength and has been recommended by another user here, but I personally have no reason to do it. The signal at 2.4 GHz is significantly better than the Asus I had. At 5 GHz, it doesn't have a long range, but it provides high speed to devices even in the adjacent room.
As for the language, I think it has to do with the setup. The device I purchased includes Greece in the selectable regions, but the menu is in clear English. I didn't see any Chinese anywhere.
It doesn't have as many advanced settings as the Asus had, but the basics are there. It has basic QoS, DDNS settings, Port Forwarding, DMZ, and UPnP, as well as a Blacklist for WiFi devices. Each device can be assigned a static IP and/or internet blocking. It also supports Guest WiFi Network and WiFi Scheduling, but only through the mobile app. I believe that for 99.9% of users, its capabilities are sufficient.
For its price (33€), I believe there is nothing better, especially when I see it outperforming a 200€ modem/router and easily handling a heavy home network with 12 IP cameras, NAS, and many other devices connected to it.
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