Conclusion:

The D-Link DIR-885L AC3150 Ultra Wi-Fi router offers solid performance, plenty of throughput, and an easy configuration. Definitely three things I like when it comes to network devices. It is strong enough to serve a large hone with plenty of connected devices, and should be able to continue doing things for years to come, even as more and more devices use wireless connections.

While the styling is really less important to me, some may find the space age styling of the DIR-885L to be a strong selling point. It looks fast, and luckily it is also actually quite fast, too.



The user interface for the DIR-885L is the same as what I saw on the DIR-880L two years ago. At that time I was OK with the interface, although I did not think it was for the power user. Fast forward from 2014 to 2016, I would expect a bit more in a higher end router. I would like to see more power user options, and based on some of the cool things I have seen on other routers (such as the Tenda AC9), I don't think it is a stretch to expect them on a router like this.

The D-Link DIR-885L AC3150 Ultra can be found at popular online retailers like Newegg.com, where the price is just south of $200 (US). This is definitely a premium price for a wireless router, but you honestly can't compare the features and specifications with this unit to the common router that might be under $50 (US). If you have multiple devices that are all looking for high speed connections, you need something like the DIR-885L that can keep up.

All things considered, there is no way that the D-Link DIR-885L AC3150 Ultra shouldn't earn the Bigbruin.com "Highly Recommended" award.



Pros:

» High end hardware, with fast processor, strong antennas, and configuration for 4x4 data streams
» Modern features including:
   » MU MIMO (Multi-user multiple-input and multiple-output) for fast multi-device transfers
   » AC SmartBeam beamforming
   » Ultra DualBand (1000Mbps on 2.4GHz + 2165Mbps on 5GHz)
» Excellent transfer rates when tested on one device
» The real beauty is with multiple devices, as there is plenty of bandwidth to go around
» Easily setup via a web browser or the D-Link QRS app

Cons:

» User interface isn't all that exciting or modern
» A dedicated access point mode option in the user interface or via a physical switch would be nice

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