Closer Look

Despite the smaller product box and even the dimensions listed previously, I was not ready for the compact dimensions of the Vilfo router. Indeed, it is barely bigger than the mobile LTE router we saw recently and comes in at just 180 x 120 mm on the surface. The design is also one I quite like myself, with perpendicular lines carved into the white plastic exterior to make for rectangles of different sizes. The Vilfo name is on the top towards the right as seen from the front, and we see the gold antenna connectors up top as well. Rounded corners and a cutout at the bottom for ventilation add to the design positively, while maintaining a clean look throughout.

On the back are four rubber pads that lift up the router to prevent scratches and allow for less obstructed passive airflow through the case, which works with the ventilation holes on the sides as well. There are also holes for wall-mounting, although no mounting hardware is provided, so you need to have your own screws/mounting system if you prefer to do so. We also find that the Vilfo router consumes a maximum of 36 W (12 VDC, 3 A), which makes the provided power supply a bit overkill. 36 W is still a decent amount of power, however, so the cooling has to be on par to keep up with the performance demands.


The backside of the router is where we see the antenna connectors, but also the primary I/O. The WAN port and three LAN ports are full-sized RJ45; each supports up to 1 Gbps data transfer. The DC power port also makes a showing here, as do two status indicator LEDs for the various operational phases. The opposite side has the Vilfo logo that is presumably meant to be facing the user if the router is placed on a table horizontally. Here, we see two USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) ports and an HDMI port, which are a first for me in a router review. That says a lot about the consumer-grade products we typically get in for review, and these ports are there to connect the router to an HDMI screen and keyboard/mouse for its advanced settings, and run the router as a mini-PC for firmware updates or a factory reset, as well as a few other things we will go over in due time. There is also a nice tactile power button at the other end of these ports to power on/off the router or conduct a quick factory reset by pressing the button thrice in a row.


The antennas screw in easily using their thumb grips, and can be routed to point towards your clients easily as well. The ability to have the router horizontally or vertically also works well here, although a horizontal layout allows for easier cable management of the power and Ethernet cables, or at least hides them from sight better. The indicator LEDs are also bright enough, with two different colors, unless you suffer from deuteranopia anyway.