Openwrt Two: An Enhanced Variant of Openwrt One Router

• Maybe you missed it? OpenWrt One Review.
• OpenWrt Two Overview: A sneak peek at the new upcoming OpenWrt One variant.

OpenWrt Two: An upgraded variant of OpenWrt One is in development.

The currently introduced OpenWrt One router offers one 2.5 GbE and one Gigabit Ethernet port, along with Wi-Fi 6 support. It boasts a powerful MediaTek Filogic 820 processor, 1GB of RAM, and an M.2 2242 slot for PCIe Gen 2 x1 SSDs or other expansions. Additionally, it features 128MB of SPI NAND flash memory and 4MB of read-only SPI NOR flash memory, which includes a recovery image that renders the board “almost untrickable,” as noted by the OpenWrt team.

This initial device, featuring OpenWrt branding, is limited to only two Ethernet ports, which is insufficient for a fully operational router. Moreover, while Wi-Fi 6 was once the standard, it is rapidly becoming outdated as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 emerge as the latest advancements in wireless technology.

OpenWrt One (Current Model)

This led the team to join forces with a new partner, GL.iNet, to develop their second device—an enhanced router boasting the impressive features outlined below.

OpenWrt Two Main highlights:

• MediaTek Filogic 880 processor
• 1 x 10 Gigabit SFP port
• 1 x 5 Gigabit Ethernet port
• 4 x 2.5GbE Ethernet port
• 1 or 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports
• WiFi 7 (three-band)

Upgraded hardware featuring additional LAN ports

The new model is designed to address the shortcomings of its predecessor effectively. With additional ports, it enhances its compatibility for networking applications, eliminating the need for extra hardware to establish more wired connections. It will support both 5GbE and 10 Gigabit networks, providing significantly higher speeds. Furthermore, wireless connectivity is poised for considerable improvements in speed, latency, and bandwidth.

Unlike the original, which featured an ARM Cortex-A53 quad-core processor running at 1.3 GHz, the upgraded model boasts a Cortex-A73 quad-core chip clocked at 1.8 GHz, promising substantial overall performance enhancements.

Prices and Availability

There are already several excellent alternatives on the market. The Banana Pi OpenWrt One kit can be purchased for around $89, while the upgraded Banana Pi R4, featuring 8GB of RAM but excluding accessories and a metal case, is available for approximately $107.

Having said that, it’s great to see an increasing variety of open-source-based routers entering the market. Anticipation is growing for the upcoming OpenWrt Two, which is expected to launch around $250 in late 2025.