If you are looking for a portable and powerful WiFi 6 compatible router that allows you to use VPN easily, you have to check out the GL-iNET Beryl AX (GL-MT3000). It is a compact and versatile router that can be used on the go, at home or in the office. Offers dual-band WiFi 6 with speeds up to 2402 Mbps, two Ethernet ports, one USB 3.0 port, and one USB-C input. Plus, it has a relatively easy-to-use web interface and a mobile app that lets you customize your network settings and access a bunch of advanced features.

In this article we will talk in detail design, performance and functionality of the GL-iNET Beryl AX and we’ll see if it’s worth it. Join us!

GL-iNet Beryl AX: a pocket router with WiFi 6 for home or travel

Combine it with a powerbank and it becomes a portable router

The GL-iNET Beryl AX It is a small router that fits in your pocket and is ideal for travel, although it is not portable. By this we mean that it does not have a built-in battery, but you can use it portable with any powerbank taking advantage of its USB-C power input.

By the way, you can also find this router in the market under the name GL-iNET GL-MT3000, because GL-MT3000 is its model name, while Beryl AX is its trade name. Clarified that point, let’s see its technical specifications:

What does the GL-iNet Beryl AX router look like and what can it do?

What is most striking about the GL-iNET Beryl AX is how small and elegant it is. With a weight less than 200 grams and very compact dimensions, easily fits into any bag or even pocket. It has two antennas that help it offer fast and reliable wireless connections and that are foldable. You can take them down and glue them to the body of the router so they don’t take up more space than they should.

On both sides, the Berly AX has vents to prevent overheating of your 1.3GHz dual-core MediaTek MT7981B processor, as well as its 512 MB RAM memory. On the left side, it features two buttons: a power/reset button to turn the device on or off, and a mode button that can be customized. You can set this mode button to turn OpenVPN or AdGuard on or off quickly and easily.

All the features of the GL-iNet Beryl AX router

The back of the router has four ports: a USB-C port for power, a 2.5 Gbps WAN port for Internet accessa LAN port for wired connections up to 1 Gbps and a USB-A 3.0 port for external storage (internally only 256 MB) or other peripherals.

Below, it has more ventilation grilles and a label with the technical details of the device. On this label you can find the default SSID and password to connect to the router for the first time. In this part it also has four rubber bands to sit firmly on any table without fear of it falling.

As we have been mentioning throughout this article, the GL-iNet Beryl AX offers WiFi 6 and comes with OpenVPN and Wireguard VPN software (the open source software Tor to enable anonymous communication) pre-installed. It also comes with AdGuard Home to block advertising and tracking.

But beware, the GL-iNet GL-MT3000 is not just a simple router. These are all its modes of operation:

• WIFI repeater
• standard wireless router via ethernet
• USB tethering or cellular modem
• Private network storage device via Samba or WebDAV protocols

By the way, this router includes in its box a power adapter (with the specific adapter for each country), an Ethernet cable and the user manual.

It is easy to configure and its application is very complete (perhaps too much).

The GL-iNet Beryl AX router it is very easy to use, although its configuration can become very complicated if you want to personalize it to the maximum. Luckily, there is some excellent documentation and tutorials online that will guide you step by step through the setup process.

You can use the app or the web interface to access all of the router’s options. both apps they put a ton of options at your disposal and can become overwhelming for inexperienced users, or an amusement park for the more experienced users. In the following galleries you will be able to see the large number of options that you will find in the Beryl AX apps.

The mobile app for the GL-iNet Beryl AX router

Its performance has been as expected. We have had no problems using it as a traditional router or as a WiFi repeater. It offers a stable and fast connection, although we must say that its range is limited, which is logical if we see its size and that of its two antennas. Its WiFi coverage will not cover an entire medium or large house, so remember that it is designed for semi-portable use in travel or office.

One of the functions that I liked the most is its ability to switch between OpenVPN and WireGuard, two of the most popular VPN software. Keep in mind that WireGuard is usually faster than OpenVPN (300 Mbps vs. 150 Mbps), although both software are just as reliable in terms of stability and cybersecurity.

Also, keep in mind that through these two platforms you can use more than 30 different VPN services. In addition, the router is capable of hosting VPN servers and supports VPN Cascading, automatically forwarding data from your VPN server to the VPN client within the same device.

All the options of the GL-iNet Beryl AX router PC app

Finally, note that we were able to use the local network storage function by connecting an external hard drive to its USB 3.0 port to store and share files. That way, it made it easier for us to access files from any device Also, we were able to free up some space on the devices by transferring the photos and videos to the hard drive connected to the network.

Is the GL-iNet Beryl AX router worth it?

The GL-iNET Beryl AX GL-MT3000 is a versatile router that offers many features for travelers and home users alike. It has very complete applications and a lot of functions that allow you to use it as a normal wireless router, WiFi router with integrated VPN, WiFi repeater and even network storage device. It can keep you cybersecure on the go and also serve as a home router for small spaces.

As if that were not enough, it has integrated AdGuard Home to block trackers and ads, a customizable button and a very compact size. It is not entirely portable because it does not have a built-in battery, but it can be used with a powerbank without having to be connected to a power outlet. The only problem is that taking advantage of all its functions can be very difficult for inexperienced users in this ambit.

Without a doubt, the GL-iNet Beryl AX it is a good purchase if you need something more than a simple router to have at home and you want one that you can take anywhere and has more features. Its price is 129 and right now you can get it on Amazon for only 109 using this button: