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While the GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) might be an older model, it remains one of the best budget-friendly networking tools you can pick up on Amazon for staying connected on the road.
It's currently running around $84 on Amazon. If you want the newest generation, GL.iNet's Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) — their first dual-band Wi-Fi 7 travel router — runs closer to $169. For us, the Beryl AX still covers everything we actually need, but it's worth knowing the upgrade path exists if faster Wi-Fi 7 speeds matter for your setup.
Design and Power
One of its most practical features is the modular power design. The router comes with several interchangeable face plates (US, EU, and UK). Because it can plug directly into foreign power sources natively, you don't have to waste a valuable outlet on your voltage converter just to keep your network running.
How It Stacks Up on Paper
Rather than just asserting the Beryl AX is capable, here's GL.iNet's own side-by-side spec comparison against the older non-AX Beryl (GL-MT1300) — CPU, memory, Wi-Fi speed, Ethernet speed, and (relevant if you use one) OpenVPN/WireGuard throughput:
The WireGuard throughput gap (300Mbps vs 91Mbps) is the number that actually matters for the VPN setup below — it's a large part of why WireGuard is the better choice on this hardware specifically, not just "more efficient" in the abstract.
Security and VPN Integration
If privacy is a priority, this router handles it seamlessly. It is fully compatible with NordVPN and effortlessly runs both standard VPN and WireGuard connections. This ensures that all your traffic is encrypted at the hardware level before it ever hits the local network.
We chose the WireGuard setup specifically because it's meaningfully more efficient than a traditional VPN protocol on this hardware (see the spec comparison above) — and setting it up took only a few minutes:
- In the router's admin panel, open VPN → WireGuard Client and select NordVPN from the list of built-in providers.
- Add the token from your NordVPN.com account when prompted — that's the only manual input required.
- The router automatically pulls in NordVPN's full server list — ours downloaded 64 available locations.
- From there, it's just picking a location on the VPN Dashboard and switching it on. No manual config files, no copying keys by hand.
Ease of Use
The biggest selling point is its setup-and-forget convenience. You only need to configure the router once to broadcast your preexisting home SSID. Because your devices are already programmed to recognize that network, they will connect automatically the moment the router comes online. Whenever you arrive at a new destination, simply connect the router to the local internet and your entire tech ecosystem is instantly online — saving you the hassle of individually authenticating every phone, tablet, and laptop you travel with.
Do You Need a 5G Modem or USB Dongle?
We've gone back and forth on adding a USB cellular dongle or dedicated 5G modem to this setup, and for us, it doesn't make much sense. Our phones already have solid mobile hotspot capability, so when we don't have hotel or venue Wi-Fi to connect the router to, we just point it at our phone's hotspot instead. It's one less device to carry, charge, and manage a separate data plan for — worth considering before you spend extra on dedicated cellular hardware.
The Bottom Line
For the low cost and compact size, the Beryl AX provides an outsized amount of utility and security. It is a brilliant addition to your tech kit if you want a secure, hassle-free network anywhere in the world.