Why it's worth switching to a new router

‘But my router still works.’

That may be. But does it work reliably in every situation? If you lose Wi-Fi in the bedroom, video conferences stutter, or you have to restart your router regularly, it may be time to change routers. The latest FRITZ!Box models like the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro and FRITZ!Box 7690 build on Wi-Fi 7: significantly higher speeds, more robust in the face of interference, more stable and considerably more reserves for cutting-edge devices.

‘But I already have fast internet.’

Then your router should be able to distribute this speed throughout the entire home. When a film is being streamed concurrently with game download, while photos are being backed up and phone calls are being conducted in the home office, older technology can become a bottleneck. For this Wi-Fi 7 uses multiple Wi-Fi bands concurrently – for the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro, there are even three bands including 6 GHz. What's more, both the FRITZ!Box 7690 and the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro have fast 2.5-gigabit sockets available for wired devices.

‘I only use a few devices.’

Soon a few devices can become a lot: smartphone, notebook, smart TV, speakers, consoles, thermostats, smart plugs and even a smart refrigerator. Smart devices add up in most households. Wi-Fi 7 is made precisely for this growing number of concurrently active devices: The standard distributes it efficiently over multiple frequency bands so that the connection remains stable. Parental controls provide for additional everyday control, and thanks to the guest access you can offer your Wi-Fi to friends.

‘A repeater will do the job.’

A repeater helps with dead spots, but cannot replace an outdated router. The better basis is an up-to-date device that can be extended into Mesh Wi-Fi as needed with the push of a button. This way smartphone and notebook automatically switch to the best access point – for instance, when you head down the hall from the living room to the bedroom.

‘Switching must be complicated.’

On the contrary! The Simple Switch to a New FRITZ!Box wizard does most of the work. When switching to a new FRITZ!Box, all important settings are transferred automatically – from internet to telephony to Wi-Fi. Connected devices like FRITZ!Repeaters, FRITZ!Powerline and smart home devices then register themselves with the new FRITZ!Box – even the MyFRITZ! account is transferred. You can continue to use your FRITZ!Apps without having to reregister. After the wizard has finished, just plug in the network cable, USB devices, and phones from the old FRITZ!Box into the new one – generally nothing more is needed.

‘That's too expensive for me.’

A new router costs money. But frequent disruptions, additional interim solutions and an unused fast connection cost time and money as well. The FRITZ!Box 7690 is especially suitable for DSL connections The FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro is the flexible choice if you want to be ready to switch to fiber optic. Both models have regular updates and a five-year manufacturer's warranty.

Which model is best for you?

• FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro: High-end Wi-Fi for DSL and fiber optic, with three Wi-Fi bands including 6 GHz and plenty of power reserves. Perfect for the ultimate gaming performance, large households, 8K streaming and data-intensive applications.
• FRITZ!Box 7690: High-speed Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi 7 for the DSL connection, with intelligent Mesh Wi-Fi and lots of power for streaming, gaming and smart households with many devices connected concurrently. The optimum all-in-one solution for everyone who wants to get more out of their DSL connection.

Summary

An older router will often continue to work, but a new model creates additional leeway for everyday use: Films run more stably, video conferences remain reliable, devices connect faster and your home network is better prepared for next-generation applications. Bring this leeway into your home with the FRITZ!Box 7690 or the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro.