D-Link M60 Aquila Pro AI AX6000 Mesh WiFi router review: The more the meshier

Mesh is a potentially misleading networking term. Put ‘mesh’ before ‘router’, and you’re talking about the potential for a single device to connect to a compatible wireless-expanding ecosystem, like the affordable TP-Link HX510 or the WiFi 7-capable Eero Max 7. But put ‘mesh’ in front of ‘WiFi system’ and you’re looking at two or more interlinked devices designed for straightforward home network expansion and better all-round performance.

While it’s also available in single-unit or two-node equivalents, D-Link sent me the three-pack version of its new mesh on the block, the makings of a mesh network in my interference-prone apartment.

Before we delve into the pros and cons of the M60, here’s a round-up of today’s popular NBN plans.

What we like about the D-Link M60 Aquila Pro AI AX6000 Mesh WiFi router

While the RRP is par for the course, at the time of writing, D-Link already had the M60 at a discounted price, and Amazon’s listing was even cheaper. It’s $399.95, $699.95 and $999.95 RRP, respectively, for the single unit, two-node or three-pack configurations. But you can nab the three-pack for around $600, which is a great price to pay for a mesh WiFi system.

Setup is mostly a breeze, thanks a lot to the companion app. There’s a clearly marked internet port on the back for the included Ethernet cable and an obvious power connector. I’m also a fan of the router port logic, with four gigabit LAN ports per M60 device, one of which can be used for more reliable wired backhaul or you can use them all for wired devices. That would be enough for me to ditch my networking switch. The aerial-free stingray design may not be as slimline as other competitors, but nor do the M60 units take up a lot of space.

The Aqila Pro AI companion app has a logical layout and is a great way for basic tweaks, plus there are tutorial videos to give you a better idea of how to tweak. I also appreciated the basic but meaningful notifications from the app. Unlike other mesh WiFi systems like the Eero, there’s also a web portal for more advanced settings. Most people won’t need to use more than the companion app, which is a big plus for the overall user-friendly reputation for mesh WiFi systems. 

 I only had one extremely short dropout in the interference-prone back half of my apartment during dozens of hours of testing. Speed test results with a single M60 unit were respectable, improved with a second mesh unit, and even better with three units creating whole-home WiFi coverage. There were rare moments when a video stream would degrade in quality for a couple of seconds. Otherwise, the M60 offered a seamless experience for everyday internet tasks including online gaming, video and voice calls, downloading and uploading files, and large local file transfers over Ethernet and WiFi. There is a disclaimer to ensure smooth sailing, though.

What we dislike about the D-Link M60 Aquila Pro AI AX6000 Mesh WiFi router

The biggest problem I had with the D-Link M60 is the AI-assisted Quality of Service (QoS) feature. QoS at its best is an automated way to control internet traffic in the home so that priority tasks like streaming, online gaming and video calls all have enough capacity to offer a smooth and uninterrupted experience, even if other devices are downloading and uploading files at unrestricted speeds.

By default, QoS is disabled on the M60, to the point where you’re prompted to access the web portal to even activate it so you can interact with the feature via the companion app. That should’ve been a clue. When enabled, I was getting concerning connectivity issues, especially on my main Ethernet-connected computer. Initially, I thought there was something wrong with the M60’s Ethernet, but disabling QoS immediately restored speedy functionality of web browsing and faster file downloading.

My other main concern with the M60 is an overreliance on the faster, shorter-range 5GHz wireless band, particularly when interference and/or outside testing is concerned. As a dual-band mesh system with band steering—wherein the M60 is supposed to intelligently choose between 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands as devices move closer and farther away—you’d expect the M60 to handle this automatically and intuitively. In fairness, the M60 did a better job of band steering when I tested with a single unit, but with three M60s connected, there was a preference for 5GHz in WiFi problem spots where 2.4GHz probably would’ve likely been a better fit.

This is somewhat compounded by the tendency for individual M60 nodes to hang onto device connections as I was moving farther away from one and closer towards another node that would’ve been a better fit. My other concerns had an easier fix, like the sensory issue my bleary-eyed past self discovered on the first night. The intensity of the LED indicators is so bright it could comfortably call for aid from Rohan.

Admittedly, disabling the LEDs is a blanket option in the companion app, or you can press an LED button on the back of each device if you want to mute some but not all. What’s not on the back of any of the devices, though, is a USB port. Sure, USB ports aren’t common in mesh WiFi systems, but it certainly would’ve been a handy point of difference. While I’m griping, the thin electrical cables could have a wee bit more length, too.

D-Link M60 Aquila Pro AI AX6000

AI is a buzzword that’s not going away anytime soon, but despite being in the full product name of the D-Link M60, I was underwhelmed by its application. Leave the AI-assisted QoS off for the best experience and buy at least a two-pack version to deal with problem WiFi spots if your home has them, and you’re looking at a solid mesh WiFi system. But if you were hoping for something more—as I was, given the more impressive run with the M60’s predecessors—you’ll likely be left a little underwhelmed at what’s on offer here with this latest-gen D-Link mesh WiFi system.