Flint 3 vs Flint 2: Wi-Fi 7 VPN Router Showdown

The GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) has arrived, bringing Wi-Fi 7 tri-band power and five full 2.5G Ethernet ports. But how does it compare to the Flint 2 (AX6000), one of the most popular Wi-Fi 6 VPN routers? In this guide, we’ll compare the two side by side to help you decide which is best for your setup.

Flint 2 Wi-Fi 6 VPN Router compared with Flint 3 Wi-Fi 7 Router – side by side specsAt a Glance

  • Flint 3: Wi-Fi 7, tri-band, all 2.5G ports, future-proofed for multi-gig internet.
  • Flint 2: Wi-Fi 6, dual-band, solid VPN speeds, great for gigabit and below.

Flint 3 vs Flint 2: Key Differences

Feature Flint 3 (BE9300) Flint 2 (AX6000)
Wi-Fi Standard Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Bands Tri-Band (2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz) Dual-Band (2.4 / 5 GHz)
Aggregate Wireless Speed Up to 9300 Mbps Up to 6000 Mbps
Ethernet Ports 5 × 2.5 Gbps (1 WAN + 4 LAN) 1 × 2.5 G WAN, 1 × 2.5 G LAN, 3 × 1 G LAN
Link Aggregation Yes (up to 10 Gbps) Limited
CPU Qualcomm Quad-Core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Quad-Core 2.0 GHz
RAM / Flash 1 GB / 8 GB 1 GB / 8 GB
USB USB 3.0 USB 3.0
Firmware OpenWRT (preinstalled) OpenWRT (preinstalled)
VPN Support OpenVPN, OpenVPN DCO, WireGuard OpenVPN, WireGuard

Pros & Cons

Flint 3 Pros

  • Wi-Fi 7 + 6 GHz band support
  • All ports are 2.5G multi-gig
  • Great for fiber and NAS setups
  • Future-proof networking

Flint 3 Cons

  • Higher cost than Flint 2
  • Larger footprint

Flint 2 Pros

  • Strong Wi-Fi 6 performance
  • Lower price point
  • Great VPN throughput for gigabit internet

Flint 2 Cons

  • No 6 GHz band
  • Three 1G LAN ports can be a bottleneck

VPN & Security

  • VPN-ready: Both support OpenVPN and WireGuard. Flint 3 also includes OpenVPN DCO for faster throughput.
  • OpenWRT: Preinstalled for full customization, advanced firewall rules, and VPN control.
  • WPA3 Security: Stronger Wi-Fi encryption for all connected devices.

Does Flint 3 support the 6 GHz band?

Yes — Flint 3 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz radios.

Are all Ethernet ports multi-gig?

Yes — Flint 3 has five 2.5 Gbps ports (1 WAN + 4 LAN).

Which VPN protocols are supported?

Both Flint 2 and Flint 3 support OpenVPN and WireGuard. Flint 3 also supports OpenVPN DCO.

Who should upgrade from Flint 2?

If you want Wi-Fi 7, all-2.5G Ethernet, and lower latency for next-gen devices, Flint 3 is a strong upgrade.

Bottom Line

Choose Flint 3 if you need Wi-Fi 7, the 6 GHz band, and full 2.5G wired networking. Choose Flint 2 if Wi-Fi 6 meets your needs and you want a more affordable VPN-ready router.

Ready to buy? Check out the product pages: