June 20, 2024, 1:13 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
It is supposed to be “the new DSL flagship” among the Fritzboxes from router manufacturer AVM. However, users are disappointed with various features of the newly introduced Fritzbox 7690. They say it is not a worthy replacement for the previous model. What’s behind the criticism?
At the ANGA broadband trade fair in May, AVM introduced a total of four new router models, including the Fritzbox 7690–the “new DSL flagship,” as stated in a press release. The router is said to “set new standards” in terms of speed, performance, and versatility. The latter refers to extensive applications for smart home devices. The market launch of the announced product was scheduled for the summer, and the Fritzbox 7690 has been available for a few days now. But users are now expressing some disappointment. What’s the issue?
These are the innovations of the Fritzbox 7690
In a FritzTalk, the router’s innovations were recently explained again. Thanks to various optimizations, it rounds off AVM’s DSL portfolio at the top–starting with its smaller, more compact power supply, which fits better into power strips. Overall, the Fritzbox 7690 is more powerful and offers significantly more in various technologies than its predecessors.
Thanks to the 2.5 Gigabit LAN port, for example, the router is particularly suitable for households that want to use connections with high bit rates. The moderator explains that it not only perfectly supports DSL but can also be easily used if you want or need to switch to fiber optics in the future.
It sounds like an upgrade. However, some users feel it is more of a step backward.
Also interesting: Update for Fritzbox and repeater fixes issues with telephony and Wi-Fi
Users criticize “worse technology than the predecessor”
The comments under the YouTube video are quite clear. One of the main criticisms is the downgrade from two USB 3.0 ports to just one USB 2.0 port. This limits the ability to connect network drives or other devices, it is criticized. Equally frustrating is the reduced number of LAN ports on the new Fritzbox 7690 from four to three. “Due to the elimination of a LAN port and a USB port, you now need an additional active USB hub/LAN switch,” someone writes under the video. This means, among other things, increased power consumption and space requirements. And: “If you have the box mounted on the wall, you now have to somehow accommodate an additional hub and port.”
The new router supports Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), which is supposed to achieve “maximum speeds on the DSL connection.” However, the new Fritzbox can still only operate on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. Some had apparently hoped for support for the less crowded 6 GHz band. Discouraged by this, a user who was actually interested in the new model has now abandoned his purchase intentions. “Partly worse technology than the predecessor at a higher price,” he notes in the comments. “Not like this, AVM!”
Fritzbox 6690 Cable – Features, Pros and Cons, Review
AVM Unveils New Outdoor Repeater and Wi-Fi 7 Fritzboxes
What the company says
TECHBOOK inquired with AVM about this. Doris Haar, the company’s spokesperson, said that the Fritzbox 7690 has just launched on the market and that they are receiving a lot of positive feedback from users who are already using the device.
“When equipping a new model, we always look at the most used and future-proof use cases. And so the overall package of the FRITZ!Box 7690 represents a significant added value compared to the DSL predecessor models–this includes the new Wi-Fi generation Wi-Fi 7 with doubled Wi-Fi data rates and Zigbee support for more possibilities in the smart home.”
Additionally, the new model brings “a powerful processor for more efficiency and speed, as well as more storage space for future updates and significantly faster VPN connections. In terms of LAN, there are now two 2.5 Gbit/s LAN ports, and multiple gigabits per second can be distributed via cable. The WAN port for connection to a potential future fiber optic modem is also available. With our new ‘assistant,’ moving from an older model to the new FRITZ!Box is a breeze,” the company spokesperson said.
Better to stick with the old router model?
Among the recently introduced new AVM boxes is also the Fritzbox 5690 Pro. Unlike the Fritzbox 7690, this one can operate in the 6 GHz frequency band. Furthermore, the router model is equipped with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB 3.2 Gen1 port. However, it is also somewhat more expensive. While the new Fritzbox 7690 costs 329 euros through AVM, the price for the 5690 Pro is 359 euros.
The predecessor model–the Fritzbox 7590–is still very popular, as numerous comments show. As stated at the beginning of the FritzTalk, the router will remain in AVM’s lineup for the time being and will not be replaced by the new model, as initially assumed. Some users might therefore prefer to stick with the older device.