Artwork or router? Huawei WiFi Mesh X3 Pro with WiFi 7 for only €180

• Extraordinary “snowy mountain” design with invisible antennas and light effects
• Supports the modern WiFi 7 standard (up to 3.6 Gbps)
• Two fast 2.5 Gbit ports (WAN/LAN adaptive)

With the Huawei WiFi Mesh X3 Pro, Huawei presents a device that, at first glance, looks more like an art object than networking equipment. Instead of blinking antennas and a cold, technical aesthetic, it boasts a design reminiscent of a snow-covered mountain range, presumably intended to blend in as living room decor. While aesthetics are subjective, performance and range are what ultimately matter when it comes to a router. So the question is: are we simply paying for the stylish design?

Snow mountains instead of a forest of antennas

The design is clearly the highlight here and likely the main reason for buying it. Huawei has packaged the technology in a transparent body reminiscent of a snow-capped mountaintop. That’s quite different from the usual plastic boxes.

What’s particularly interesting is that the antennas are completely integrated into the casing, making them virtually invisible. There are also light effects that simulate sunrises and sunsets depending on the time of day. This looks quite elegant and is a welcome change from having to hide the router behind the sofa. The design has sparked quite a few mixed reactions in our office. Is router design important to you, or does the box end up behind a cabinet anyway?

WiFi 7 and 2.5 Gbit ports

The design could almost overshadow the technology, but on paper, Huawei delivers solid performance and doesn’t skimp on features. The X3 Pro supports the new WiFi 7 standard and achieves a theoretical maximum speed of 3.6 Gbps. To dissipate heat from the rather compact and enclosed design, an internal fan provides cooling. In operation, this fan was barely noticeable, if at all. Using the mesh extender increases the range throughout the house, enabling comprehensive WiFi coverage.

The main router offers two 2.5 Gbps ports, which are perfectly adequate for a fast home network. This allows you to connect a large number of devices via cable, though not directly to the router. Please note that there is no integrated modem; however, you will typically receive one from your internet provider. Therefore, one of the network ports will be used for connecting to the modem.

Control primarily via the app

The entire system is controlled as usual via the Huawei AI Life app, and it runs on HarmonyOS. The app is not available in the Play Store and must be downloaded from the website or the Huawei App Gallery. While there is a web interface accessible through a browser, its functionality is nowhere near that of the app.

The companion app for the Huawei WiFi Mesh X3 Pro proved to be an extremely comprehensive and clearly structured tool for managing the home network. The interactive floor plan immediately catches the eye on the home screen. This visualizes the current signal strength of the wireless network in different rooms using an easily understandable color gradient. The dashboard also provides important information about connection quality and current upload and download speeds at a glance. Furthermore, users will find convenient quick access to functions such as network diagnostics and a special acceleration setting for smooth gaming.

The detailed network settings allow you to adapt the wireless network to your individual needs optimally. In addition to the basic options for network name and password, transmission power can be precisely controlled to meet different spatial requirements. Users can explicitly define a suitable mode for their needs in the signal strength menu, choosing between three levels: Low, Medium, and Maximum.

To reduce interference, the app offers a detailed view of WiFi quality. This clearly visualizes the strength of each channel and highlights the currently active channel. Interference can then be conveniently resolved with the touch of a button; the router will automatically select new channels. A backward-compatible backup network is also available for older devices. Convenient features such as automatic shutdown of the WiFi network at night complete the network configuration.

Managing connected devices is intuitive. The overview provides a detailed view of which smartphones or computers are currently active and how much bandwidth they are using. Unwanted access can be blocked with just a few clicks. The advanced hardware settings allow you to manage various aspects, from firmware updates to prioritizing data traffic for smooth video conferencing while working from home. You can also customize the device’s appearance. The integrated lighting effects offer various patterns, such as a golden glow, and can be completely deactivated, along with the status indicators, for undisturbed sleep.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Huawei WiFi Mesh X3 Pro

Advantages

• Extraordinary “snowy mountain” design with invisible antennas and light effects
• Supports the modern WiFi 7 standard (up to 3.6 Gbps)
• Two fast 2.5 Gbit ports (WAN/LAN adaptive)
• Very comprehensive app with interactive floor plan map & signal optimization
• Practical youth protection features (online time limits & web filters)

Disadvantages

• Few physical network ports overall (and no integrated modem)
• The web interface in the browser offers significantly fewer features than the app.
• Mesh extender not available for separate purchase (expansion only via additional router bundles)

Finally, a router you don’t have to hide!

The router is generating more discussion than we expected. Some welcome it as an alternative to the usual routers; others dislike the design, or the router ends up out of sight anyway. The router delivers good performance, even if there are, of course, more powerful WiFi 7 routers available. For the average user, however, there’s plenty of bandwidth. A few more network ports would have been helpful, and this is about the average user’s needs. Thanks to the 2.5 Gbps connection, you can easily connect a switch if you want to connect more devices that don’t require the full bandwidth. For most people, this will likely be the case with gaming PCs or game consoles, enabling low ping.

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