As the debut model of its BE series, the HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 raises the bar with its Wi-Fi 7 technology. Honestly, this is my first experience with HUAWEI’s implementation of Wi-Fi 7, but that only fuels my curiosity to see how it stands out. With promises of faster speeds, lower latency, and improved stability, I’m eager to put it to the test and discover just how much of a leap it offers.
Design: 4/5
Unboxing the HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 is a no-frills experience — and that’s not a bad thing. As soon as I lift the cover, the device greets me front and center, neatly wrapped in protective plastic, ready for action. There’s no clutter or unnecessary extras, just a clear focus on what matters most — the router itself.
The HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 embraces a simple, minimalist design that’s both modern and practical. Different from its other BE/AX series, this model appears to have four antennas and adapting to a more vertical, space-saving form factor because of its standing upright structure. When it comes to size, it measures 148.8 x 215 x 71.5 with the antenna folded and 280 x 215 x 61.5 with the antenna extended.
Flipping the HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 over, it has four LAN ports for wired connections, a power button, and power cable port. The front of the router features a single light indicator located just above the HUAWEI logo. The light is relatively subtle, but it clearly shows when the router is powered on. However, I do wish there were additional indicators to show the signal strength and Wi-Fi status, as this would provide more detailed feedback on the router’s performance.
Back in the box, there’s another compartment beneath the router where I was able to find the essentials: a power cable, a short Ethernet cable, a quick-start guide, and a warranty card.
Hardware: 4/5
Diving into the most exciting part—the technology that powers it. The HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 runs on the latest Wi-Fi 7, offering blazing-fast speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps. What does that mean for you? Faster downloads, buttery-smooth streaming, and lag-free gaming. So, no more staring at “buffering” messages or waiting forever for larger files to upload. With its promises of speed, reliability, and the power to handle everything you throw at it, this router is built to keep up with your digital lifestyle.
The HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 also features Multi-Link Operation, allowing me to connect Wi-Fi 7 devices only to both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously. This means I can enjoy faster, more stable connections across different devices without having to manually switch between networks. Another feature of the router is its built-in NP network acceleration engine, complete with a dedicated network processor and signal power amplifiers. It also includes a 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN port for better speed and performance.
HUAWEI also integrates this router with its AI Life app to provide a more secure and customizable connection experience. However, finding the app can be a bit tricky, especially for those who aren’t familiar with HUAWEI’s ecosystem. After scanning the QR code under the router, I expected to be directed to download the app, but it wasn’t available on the Google Play Store. This could be a hassle for users unfamiliar with HUAWEI’s app distribution process. A more straightforward approach would definitely improve the user experience.
User Experience: 4/5
When it comes to setup, the HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 keeps things refreshingly simple. No confusing steps here—just plug in the power source, connect the Ethernet cable to the existing Wi-Fi, scan the QR code under the router to access the HUAWEI AI Life app, and you’ll be on a roll to connect any devices to the HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3.
However, for those who are not familiar with the HUAWEI’s interfaces, it’ll be a bit of a chore. Since, I found myself changing the settings of my phone to download the AI Life app that can only be installed through the HUAWEI App Gallery, which is only found on any HUAWEI smartphone device. So, I wasn’t able to fully explore the AI Life app. However, I was able to find my way through by typing in the web address that can be found underneath the router. From there, I was able to customize the settings and password of the HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 and also activated its Multi-Link Operation.
When it comes to performance, the HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 doesn’t mess around. Online gaming was buttery smooth with zero lag—a game-changer for those intense, split-second decisions. As for streaming 4K videos at 60fps? It’s an entirely different experience. The playback was so smooth and fluid that I couldn’t help but feel a little thrill of excitement. No buffering, no stutters, even when multiple devices are connected—just uninterrupted, cinematic-quality streaming.
I decided to run this one to Ookla speed test, and the results were exactly what I expected—they perfectly matched the strong performance I’ve been experiencing with the Multi-Link Operation. The test showed that with Multi-Link Operation enabled, the download speed reached 416.03Mbps, while the upload speed hit 412.75Mbps. Latency was also impressive, with an idle latency of 5ms, a download latency of 11ms, and an upload latency of 36ms.
But with Multi-Link Operation turned off, the speeds dropped a bit, showing 228.98Mbps for downloads and 184.98Mbps for uploads. Latency also shifted to 6ms for idle, 48ms for download, and 68ms for upload. While it’s not as fast as with Multi-Link enabled, these numbers are still pretty solid for regular browsing, light gaming, streaming, and everyday use.
Here’s the real test—there’s one room on the second floor of our house that’s basically a Wi-Fi dead zone. No matter how strong our existing Wi-Fi is, it just can’t reach that spot, leaving us with a weak signal, or worse, no connection at all.
So, I put the HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 to the test. With Multi-Link Operation enabled it was like night and day. Suddenly, I could work, stream, and even play games in that room with minimal issues. The connection was fast, stable, and most importantly, reliable. But here’s the catch — when Multi-Link Operation is turned off, the speed does drop a bit. However, it’s still fast enough for me to get through my work and enjoy my daily dose of entertainment without any major hiccups. When I moved around the house, excluding the dead spot room, the HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 continued to impress, delivering strong signals effortlessly to both my smartphone and laptop.
Value: 4/5
The HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 SRP is priced at PHP3,999, which I’d consider quite affordable. I did expect the price to be a little higher based on how well it performed, but honestly, it’s a great bargain for the value you’re getting.
The HUAWEI Wi-Fi BE3 is available online, and if you’re thinking about picking it up, it’s currently on sale for PHP 2,499. You can find it on the HUAWEI store, Shopee, and Lazada.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 148.8mm (H) × 215mm (W) × 71.5mm (D) (Antenna folded), 280mm (H) × 215mm (W) × 61.5mm (D) (Antenna unfolded)
- Weight: 436g
- Wi-Fi Standards: IEEE 802.11a/n/ac/ax/be, IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ax/be, 2 × 2, MIMO
- Wireless Rate: Wi-Fi 7 2 × 2, 2.4 GHz: 688 Mbps (theoretical), 5 GHz: 2882 Mbps (theoretical), Total theoretical negotiated rate: 3,570 Mbps; Wi-Fi 6 2 × 2, 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps (theoretical), 5 GHz: 2402 Mbps (theoretical), Total theoretical negotiated rate: 2,976 Mbps
- Wireless Band: 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz (support dual band integration configuration)
- Antenna: External dual band Wi Fi antenna
- Memory: 256 MB RAM + 128 MB ROM
- Network Port: Adaptive WAN and LAN interfaces: The home network cable can be plugged into any network port, allowing for internet access. Provide 1 Ethernet interface with 10/100/1,000M/2,500M adaptive rate and 3 Ethernet interfaces with 10/100/1,000M adaptive rate.
- Button: Reset Button (Independent Reset pinhole)
- LED indicator: One indicator(red/green)
- Power Supply: 12V DC,1A; Power consumption < 12W; Input voltage: 100-240V AC; Input voltage frequency: 50-60Hz
- Software Functions: Supports Huawei HarmonyLink and 802.11kV protocol, PPPoE/DHCP/static IP internet access, intelligent detection, blind insertion of network ports, remote control, Wi-Fi timer switch, guest Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi anti brute force cracking, WPA3, parental control, VPN penetration, DMZ/virtual server
- Security: Firewall Security: HUAWEI HomeSec® security protection: supports Wi-Fi anti brute force cracking, Wi-Fi anti scraping network. Parental Control: Support duration restrictions, interception of malicious websites to protect children’s healthy internet access
- Package List: HUAWEI WiFi BE3: 1, Power Adapter: 1, Insurance Card: 1, User Guide: 1, Ethernet Cable: 1 (1-metre)
What’s Hot:
- Fast speed and lower latency with WiFi 7
- Multi-Link Operation
What’s Not:
- Had trouble customizing the router’s system
Bottomline:
HUAWEI makes Wi-Fi 7 affordable and accessible, bringing ultra-speed performance to everyone.
Reviewed by: Alyssa Joji Silva