This is the coolest-looking router I’ve ever tested, and it’s got specs to match

At a glance:

• The HUAWEI Wi-Fi Mesh X3 Pro is a Wi-Fi 7 router with a striking mountain-peak design and ambient lighting.
• It delivers up to 3.6 Gbps speeds, supports 128 simultaneous devices, and covers up to 300 sq m with mesh extenders.
• Limited availability — not sold in the US — but otherwise a premium, feature-rich mesh system.

A router that doubles as art

When HUAWEI’s editorial team reached out to test a new router, I expected another sleek black box. What arrived instead was the HUAWEI Wi-Fi Mesh X3 Pro, a unit whose design immediately stopped me in my tracks. Shaped like a snow-capped mountain peak with a glowing summit, it’s the first router I’d proudly display in my living room. The transparent antenna hidden inside the “mountain” and the ambient light that shifts between warm white and cool tones make it as much a conversation piece as a networking device.

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

I live in a mountain town, so the summit motif feels especially fitting. The main router sits in my cabin like a modern art installation, while the smaller satellite unit — included in the Suite version — provides a softer glow that doubles as a night light in my bathroom. Both units let you toggle the lighting off in the companion app, which is a relief for anyone who prefers total darkness while sleeping.

Performance that matches the looks

Looks aside, the X3 Pro is a serious performer. It’s a Wi-Fi 7 dual-band system with theoretical speeds up to 3.6 Gbps: 688 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 2,882 Mbps on 5 GHz. My 500 Mbps home connection never comes close to those peaks, but that’s true of most households. What matters more is that this router can handle up to 128 devices at once — far more than the 10–15 typical of budget models. With 18–30 gadgets connected in my cabin (phones, tablets, TVs, smart bulbs), performance stays rock-solid.

Coverage is equally impressive. The Suite version, which pairs the main router with one mesh extender, blankets 120 square meters (about 1,292 square feet). I get full signal from my parking spot, 50–60 feet away, all the way inside. For larger homes, HUAWEI offers configurations with two extenders covering up to 300 square meters (roughly 3,229 square feet).

Thoughtful features and easy app

The companion app is clean and intuitive. You can map your home, place router and satellite icons on a floor plan, and generate a coverage heatmap to spot weak zones. A “Smart Diagnosis” button runs a quick network health check and assigns an “Excellent” score — which my small studio cabin easily earns.

Parental controls let you schedule device access and block URLs, while Wi-Fi management offers deeper settings. Guest Wi-Fi can be toggled on or off for visitors. Game acceleration is a standout: when enabled, the router recognizes gaming traffic and activates “Game Turbo,” cutting latency by about 37% for over 90 supported titles.

HarmonyOS Connect, HUAWEI’s smart-home hub feature, didn’t factor much into my testing — I don’t own other HUAWEI devices — but it promises seamless pairing for those embedded in the ecosystem. The Devices tab includes firewall and security options, rounding out a solid, if not revolutionary, feature set.

The catch: limited availability

Here’s the rub: the X3 Pro isn’t widely available. It’s not sold in the US, largely due to ongoing legal tensions between HUAWEI and the American government. You could import one, but I hit a snag during initial setup — the router wouldn’t connect to the internet for reasons I never pinpointed. After a factory reset and some trial-and-error restarts, it suddenly worked and has been flawless since. That initial headache might repeat for others.

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

The ambient lighting, while beautiful, can be too bright for some sleepers; thankfully, it’s easily disabled. At €169 ($199) for the main unit and €249 ($293) for the Suite, the price is fair for a high-end Wi-Fi 7 mesh system, especially given the unique design and robust performance.

Verdict: A router you’ll want to show off

The HUAWEI Wi-Fi Mesh X3 Pro is a rare blend of form and function. It’s fast, supports a huge number of devices, and offers a thoughtful app experience — all wrapped in a design that turns heads. If you can find one outside the US (or don’t mind importing), it’s a fantastic centerpiece for any smart home. Just be prepared for a potentially finicky first-time setup and the reality that you might be the only one on your block with a router that looks like a mountain.

HUAWEI Wi-Fi Mesh X3 Pro MSRP: €169.00 Style and specs: A uniquely styled Wi-Fi 7 dual-band mesh router system delivering up to ~3.6 Gbps speeds, seamless whole-home coverage, and stable roaming, with multi-gig Ethernet, MLO support, and smart mesh networking designed for fast, low-latency connectivity across every room.

Positives: Stunning design, impressive Wi-Fi 7 performance, user-friendly app with nice features, fair price for a high-end Wi-Fi 7 mesh router.

Cons: Not available in the US (or many other markets).