Fritzbox 7590 vs. 7590 AX – What are the differences?

Fritzbox 7590 vs. 7590 AX – Is the upgrade worth it

The Fritzbox 7590 AX is AVM's current flagship in the VDSL2 segment. Its main advantage over the Fritzbox 7590 (without "ax") is support for fast Wi-Fi 6 according to the 2019 IEEE 802.11ax standard. We brought both boxes home and tested them, with interesting results. Both are still in use today after two years. Which model we recommend for which user, you'll find out in our conclusion.

The Technical Specifications in Detail

Equipment Features

Fritzbox 7590 vs. 7590 ax – What are the differences?

As the data shows, one difference lies in the Wi-Fi/IEEE 802.11 support and the S0 port missing in AVM Art. No. 20002998. Additionally, the Fritzbox 7590 AX is somewhat larger or more voluminous and has more ventilation slots, which promotes cooling of the device from above and the sides. The improved thermal design helps to better cool the WiFi-6 chip of the 7590 ax and thus prevent failures due to overheating. Under full load, both routers only become hand-warm. Additionally, both Fritzbox routers are secured by a 5-year manufacturer warranty.

While the Fritzbox 7590 "only" supports IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac, i.e. Wi-Fi up to and including version 5, the Fritzbox 7590 ax additionally supports the new IEEE 802.11 ax standard, corresponding to Wi-Fi 6. To achieve this, a modern 4×4-MU-MIMO antenna system is installed in the 7590 ax, just as in the 7590 base version.

The theoretically possible throughput of 9,600 Mbit/s according to the standard is not achieved by the Fritzbox 7590 ax. However, it achieves (with ISO 802.11 ax) according to manufacturer specifications in the 2.4 GHz band with 1200 Mbit/s compared to 800 Mbit/s of the Fritzbox 7590 (with ISO 802.11 n) a 50% higher throughput; in the 5 GHz band with up to 2,400 Mbit/s compared to the 1733 Mbit/s of the Fritzbox 7590 (with ISO 802.11 ac) around 40% throughput increase. Cumulatively, 3.6 Gbit/s compared to 2.533 Gbit/s with the 7590 are possible. Anyone transferring large amounts of data via WLAN will benefit from this difference. However, the average consumer will rarely exhaust this performance volume and thus notice no difference.
This also benefits online gamers who forgo a LAN connection through lower latency times during transmission.

In the Speed Test: Fritzbox 7590 vs. 7590 AX

However, the nominal performance increase only affects communication with end devices that also support ISO 802.11 ax, i.e. Wi-Fi 6. In direct comparison of throughput, ComputerBild even achieves lower throughput rates in the 2.4 GHz band for the AX version¹ (442 Mbit/s compared to 619 Mbit/s). Also regarding the peak value in the 5 GHz band, the Fritzbox 7590 AX falls short of manufacturer specifications according to that test, 922 Mbit/s were measured, which corresponds in good approximation to the performance of the predecessor model Fritzbox 7590 of 920 Mbit/s measured there. In another test, however, maxwireless² shows clear advantages, measured at various distances in favor of the FritzBox 7590 AX in the 5 Ghz frequency band with both Wi-Fi-5 and Wi-Fi-6 capable devices. In testing both devices, I could also determine clear advantages in transmission rates of the 7590 AX. However, there are only few devices that benefit from the high potential throughput, which is usually due to the internet connection on one hand and the end device on the other.

The 7590 AX thus shows itself to be more performant overall with regard to WLAN speed. However, this high performance capability will rarely be exploited in everyday use.

The range of both routers in comparison

To determine the differences regarding the range of WLAN between 7590 and 7590AX as realistically as possible, we tested both routers with a Wifi-6 capable Samsung Galaxy S22 and a Dell XPS15 notebook with Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Network Adapter in a multi-family house with several floors and ceilings made of reinforced concrete. One floor difference was no problem for both. The radio signal averaged 3 out of 6 bars. From two floors, which corresponds to a distance of about 15 meters to the router and two reinforced concrete walls as barriers, the FritzBox 7590 AX had the edge. The connection could be maintained reasonably well here. The 7590, on the other hand, showed a lower range and no signal was present at the end device at this distance.

Connections

The Fritzbox 7590 has a standard additional external S0 port for ISDN end devices on the back panel, the Fritzbox 7590 AX only in the variant of AVM Art. No. 20002929.² As can be seen in the pictures, we had the 7590 AX variant without S0 port in the test. Apart from this difference, the connection options are the same for both routers.

Connections of the 7590 and 7590 AX

Below you will find all connections briefly explained.

Connections of the 7590 AX without ISDN

Price – How big is the difference

The Fritzbox 7590 moves in a price range of 190-220 euros. The Fritzbox 7590 AX (with S0 port), on the other hand, usually fluctuates between 230 and 260 euros. On Black Friday 2022, however, the AX was also sold for 199 euros – according to geizhals.de the absolute lowest price. The difference is therefore between 10 to a maximum of 70 euros depending on the time of purchase.

• Fritzbox 7590 AX with ISDN at Media Markt: [url="https://pvn.mediamarkt.de/trck/eclick/981118a0686aee083ad1f0998d9249b3",name="To the offer",title=""]
• Fritzbox 7590 AX without ISDN at Media Markt: [url="https://pvn.mediamarkt.de/trck/eclick/981118a0686aee08bf565560f7dc4448",name="To the offer",title=""]

Conclusion: Fritzbox 7590 vs. 7590 AX – What are the differences?

The answer to the question "What are the differences between Fritzbox 7590 vs. 7590 AX?" essentially reduces to the supported Wi-Fi/IEEE 802.11 ax standard and the purchase price. Additionally, the 7590 AX box is somewhat larger and better ventilated.

For about 30 euros more, you ultimately get a device with the Fritzbox 7590 AX that supports the latest Wi-Fi standard 6. Whether this additional cost pays off depends on your existing infrastructure and usage behavior. Basically, our tests show that the speed advantage of the "AX" is present in everyday use, but is rarely exploited by current infrastructure. It looks different with range, where the AX delivers the more stable WLAN signal at greater distances.

We therefore recommend choosing the 7590 AX overall, as it delivers the better overall package with currently small price difference. For everyday requirements (surfing, streaming) and manageable distances, the 7590 is nevertheless completely sufficient and still a router at a very high level. If you also work with repeaters, the advantage of the 7590 AX in terms of range is relativized. In this case too, you can hardly go wrong!

Fritzbox 7590 or 7590 AX – How did we decide?

For home use, where many devices run without WiFi-6 support, we use the Fritzbox 7590. So far, we can attest to the 7590 having good performance and signal coverage over an area of about 100 m². We also use the NAS function with a [url="https://www.amazon.de/dp/B087DFFJRD?tag=produck-21",name="Samsung SSD T7 2TB hard drive",title=""] and have a [url="https://www.amazon.de/dp/B098B4KP2B?tag=produck-21",name="Tado bridge",title=""] connected to the LAN port and to the USB port for power supply. The system works smoothly.

For work, where fewer household devices but modern PCs and smartphones communicate with the router or with each other over greater distances, we use the newer Fritzbox 7590 AX. Here too, the use has proven itself. Both range and speed are optimal for our purposes.

Sources:

1. ComputerBild: https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-Tests-DSL-WLAN-AVM-FritzBox-7590-AX-Test-30139421.html
2. Maxwireless Comparison: 7590 / 7590 AX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Uy0vIQH8I
3. AVM technical data: https://avm.de/produkte/fritzbox/fritzbox-7590-ax/technische-daten/ (above)

Frequently Asked Questions

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  What is the main difference between 7590 and 7590 AX?

  The main difference between the FritzBox 7590 and the 7590 AX lies in the support of the Wi-Fi standard. The FritzBox 7590 AX supports Wi-Fi 6 (also known as 802.11ax), a newer generation of the Wi-Fi standard (most current is WiFi-7 / 802.11be), which offers higher speeds, improved efficiency and better performance in crowded networks. In contrast, the FritzBox 7590 uses the older Wi-Fi 5 standard (802.11ac).

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  What does the AX mean in the FritzBox?

  The "AX" in the FritzBox 7590 AX stands for the supported Wi-Fi standard 802.11ax or Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6 offers numerous improvements compared to its predecessor Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), including higher data rates, improved capacity, and better performance in environments with many Wi-Fi devices.

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  Which FritzBox 7590 is the best?

  The "best" FritzBox 7590 depends on your specific needs. If you want to use the latest Wi-Fi technologies, especially Wi-Fi 6 for faster speeds and more efficient network management, then the FritzBox 7590 AX is the better choice. However, if you don't own Wi-Fi 6 devices or don't plan to use them, the FritzBox 7590 could be a more cost-effective option that still offers excellent performance and reliability.

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  Does the FritzBox 7590 have Wi-Fi 6?

  No, the FritzBox 7590 does not support Wi-Fi 6. It uses the Wi-Fi 5 standard (802.11ac). If you need Wi-Fi 6, you should consider the FritzBox 7590 AX, which is designed for this newer standard.

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  Is the Fritz Box 7590 AX fiber optic compatible?

  Yes, in combination with a fiber optic modem, you can operate the FritzBox 7590 and 7590AX on a fiber optic connection. More information available [url="https://www.produck.de/quack/4718/fritzbox-5590-vs-7590ax-mit-modem—was-ist-besser",name="here",title=""].

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  Which is the best FritzBox for fiber optic connection?

  Currently, the FritzBox 5590 Fiber is the top model for fiber optic connections, as it already has an integrated fiber optic modem. A somewhat reduced and cheaper variant is the FritzBox 5530 Fiber. ([url="https://www.produck.de/quack/4582/fritzbox-5530-vs-5590-im-vergleich—lohnt-das-upgrade",name="To the comparison",title=""])

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  Does WiFi-6 affect WLAN range?

  WiFi-6 generally has no effect on WLAN range. For this, the power of the built-in antennas in the router is actually more decisive.

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  Does WiFi-6 affect WLAN range?

  WiFi-6 generally has no effect on WLAN range. For this, the power of the built-in antennas in the router is actually more decisive.

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  What is the successor to the FritzBox 7590AX?

  There is no real successor in the VDSL area yet. The Fritzbox is as of March 2024 AVM's top model in the DSL area. However, the successor has already been announced and will most likely launch in the coming months. The new router bears the designation Fritzbox 5690 Pro and has both DSL and fiber optic modem integrated and also supports WiFi-7. It is therefore a kind of combination of FritzBox 5590 Fiber and 7590AX. An all-rounder that enables even more flexibility and speed.