The FRITZ!Box 7590 AX is the best-selling DSL router in Europe. Wi-Fi 6 at up to 3,600 Mbit/s, VDSL Supervectoring, a full telephone exchange, DECT and smart home support. Years after its launch, it remains the benchmark for features per euro.
Technical specifications
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax) |
|---|---|
| 5 GHz speed | Up to 2,400 Mbit/s |
| 2.4 GHz speed | Up to 1,200 Mbit/s |
| DSL | VDSL2 Supervectoring 35b (300 Mbit/s) |
| LAN ports | 4x Gigabit Ethernet |
| WAN port | 1x Gigabit |
| USB | 1x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0 |
| DECT | Base station for 6 cordless phones |
| Telephony | 2 analogue ports, 5 VoIP numbers, answering machine, fax |
| VPN | WireGuard + IPSec |
| Security | WPA3 |
| Mesh | FRITZ!Mesh |
| Approximate price | Around 230-260 euros |
Design and connections
Classic FRITZ!Box design: compact, in red and silver. On the back: 4 Gigabit LAN ports, 1 WAN, 2 USB ports (3.0 + 2.0), 2 analogue ports and the DSL connection. Compared with the 7690, there are no 2.5 GbE ports and no Zigbee. Everything else is there.
Wi-Fi 6 performance
The move to Wi-Fi 6 from the older 7590 brought a 40% improvement. In our benchmarks:
- 1 metre: around 900-1,000 Mbit/s on the 5 GHz band
- 5 metres: around 600-700 Mbit/s
- 10 metres: around 300-400 Mbit/s
OFDMA and 4x4 MU-MIMO keep things stable with lots of devices. FRITZ!Mesh with Band Steering ensures optimal coverage. 4K video, video calls and gaming run without a hitch even with 15-20 connected devices.
The telephone exchange: the killer feature
Probably the most complete telephone exchange of any consumer router:
- 5 VoIP (SIP) numbers with any provider
- 2 analogue ports for traditional phones and fax machines
- Answering machine with email notification and audio attachment
- Central phone book synchronised with DECT phones
- Forwarding rules by number, time of day and type of call
- Virtual fax with sending and receiving by email
- Call blocking for unwanted numbers
For professionals and small offices, these features replace a PBX system that would cost hundreds of euros.
FRITZ!OS: why it matters
The 2017 FRITZ!Box 7590 (non-AX) is still receiving updates in 2026. Every update brings new features, not just patches: WireGuard VPN, Mesh improvements, smart home options. That means a 7590 AX bought today will still be up to date and secure in five years' time.
7590 AX vs 7690: which one should you choose?
- Wi-Fi: the 7690 has Wi-Fi 7, the 7590 AX has Wi-Fi 6. The difference is marginal in practice.
- Ports: the 7690 has 2.5 GbE. If you have fibre faster than 1 Gbps, you need the 7690.
- Zigbee: only the 7690 has it. If you want Zigbee smart home control from your router, you need the 7690.
- Price: the 7590 AX costs 80-100 euros less.
For DSL/VDSL up to 300 Mbit/s, the 7590 AX offers everything you need at a lower price.
Final rating
| Design | 4/5 |
|---|---|
| Performance | 5/5 |
| Features | 5/5 |
| Setup | 5/5 |
| Value for money | 5/5 |
| OVERALL SCORE | 4,7/5 |
Our verdict: The best value for money among premium DSL routers. Mature and reliable, with unbeatable software and a telephone exchange that is worth the price on its own.
Conclusion
The FRITZ!Box 7590 AX needs no introduction. A bestseller for good reasons: complete features, solid performance, exceptional software and a reasonable price. If you have DSL/VDSL and want a router that does everything well for the next five years, buy this one.
Read also: our FRITZ! reviews
- FRITZ!Box 7690: Wi-Fi 7 Router with Zigbee and DECT
- FRITZ!Repeater 6000: Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 with 2.5 GbE
- FRITZ!Repeater 3000 AX: Affordable Tri-Band
- FRITZ!Repeater 1200 AX: Compact and Inexpensive
- FRITZ!Box 6850 LTE: Complete 4G Internet
- FRITZ!Box 6850 5G: Qualcomm X55 5G Router
FRITZ!Box 7590 AX
Translated from the Italian original. Read in Italian
