$89 Wi-Fi Router Allows You to Install Any Firmware You Want.
OpenWRT comes pre-installed.
The Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) recently announced the availability of the OpenWrt One router, designed with open-source software in mind, which can be purchased for $89 on AliExpress. This router promises its users that it "will never be locked," as well as the right to modify, change, and repair the device at their convenience.
The OpenWrt One is presented as a "hacker-friendly" device, meaning it does not rely on private companies' update schedules and will not lose support over time. By using open-source software—with OpenWRT preinstalled—it is possible to keep the device updated for as long as the user wishes to use it. This router includes a switch to separately update different parts of its flash memory, which, as mentioned in its announcement on AliExpress, makes it "almost unbricking" in case of failures.
The SFC collaborated with the single-board computer manufacturer Banana Pi, which previously launched its own OpenWRT router called BPI-WIFI6, to manufacture the OpenWrt One. An independent logic board is also offered for $68.42, although it currently does not seem to be available in the United States.
The router features a switch that allows separate flashing of the NOR and NAND parts of its flash memory. In general terms, the OpenWrt One is a dual-band device that uses the Wi-Fi 6 standard on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands and can be powered through a USB-C port on the back or via the 2.5GbE Ethernet port using Power over Ethernet (PoE). It also has a gigabit Ethernet LAN port and offers both a USB-A and a USB-C port on the front.
Unlike Banana Pi's cheaper router, which costs $30 and has fewer features, the OpenWrt One has double the RAM, which is 1GB. Although it has only two Ethernet ports compared to the four offered by the BPI-WIFI6, its 2.5GbE port allows PoE compatibility, while the BPI-WIFI6 only uses standard gigabit Ethernet ports. Additionally, the new router offers 3x3 MIMO support on the 5GHz band, which should provide better performance in data transmission to multiple devices. While it may not be the most powerful in terms of wireless networking, its open-source software focus makes it a valuable option against the limitations of many mainstream alternatives.