Acer Predator Connect X7 5G CPE review: an appealing Wi-Fi 7 and 5G router combo

The Acer Predator Connect X7 5G CPE can make a claim to be one of the best Wi-Fi 7 routers on the market and one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems – because you can either use it on its own, or in tandem with several other units for broader Wi-Fi coverage.

As you can guess from the name, there's also a SIM card slot, so you can get an additional 5G nano SIM from your network provider of choice and use that to connect to the internet rather than via your broadband. That ultimately gives you a handy safety net if the internet ever goes down – if you're in an area where 5G/LTE coverage is any good.

Having spent a few days testing out the Acer Predator Connect X7 5G CPE, I can tell you what I do and don't like about it, and give you an idea about whether or not it'll work for you. If you need connectivity on the go rather than at home, then check out our best mobile hotspots list too.

Price & Availability

The Acer Predator Connect X7 5G CPE is currently available to buy in the UK, but as yet it hasn't gone on sale in the US.

In the UK, it's available from retailers including Amazon, Currys, and Acer itself, for around £399 at the time of writing.

However, the price widget embedded above on this page should direct you towards the best deals currently online.

Design & Setup

This is a router that certainly looks the part, and is going to attract the attention of any guest in your home who walks past it – it's actually won awards for its looks. Now, the aesthetics of your router probably aren't the biggest priority compared to its performance, but it's still nice to have.

The LED lights on the front and top of the unit are really well done, and keep you right up to date with the status of the connection (which was solid and secure during my testing, thankfully). Around the back you've got a WAN connection for hooking up to a modem, but you've only got two gigabit Ethernet ports to make use of.

As for dimensions, the device stands 212mm tall, with width and depth both at 109mm. Setup was relatively easy, and as usual these days, is handled through the app – from start to finish I was up and running in about 15 minutes. As per usual with new hardware, you'll need to sign up for yet another account (unless you're already registered with Acer).

The software – in terms of the mobile apps and the web interface – does all the jobs it needs to up to a satisfactory level, but it's hardly the slickest or smoothest experience I've ever come across. There is occasional lag as you move between menus or dismiss dialogue boxes, while the look of the app isn't particularly easy on the eye either.

Performance & Features

The headline feature here is of course Wi-Fi 7 support, which is spread across three bands: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6GHz – each of these offer a different kind of compromise between speed and range, and you can connect your devices to different bands or have the router automatically pick between them for you.

Bear in mind, too, that all your devices will need to be Wi-Fi 7 compatible in order to get the best performance here, otherwise you're going to be falling back to Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 6. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL supports Wi-Fi 7, for example, while the M4 MacBook Air doesn't. It's worth weighing up the specs of the devices you've got at home when deciding whether or not this is the router upgrade for you.

Beyond the basic features, you've got a Hybrid QOS (Quality of Service) mode, which prioritises gaming traffic (based on apps and devices), as well as built-in security from Trend Micro to keep your network and gadgets well protected. There are some basic parental controls included, as well as a guest mode option if you don't want to give visitors full access to your network.

As for the 5G connectivity, it can be used in tandem with your broadband (so the router picks the fastest), or you can keep them separate. As a remote worker, having that cellular backup is something I think is worth paying a little bit extra, for those times when the normal internet is sluggish or broken. Your mileage may vary depending on your needs and how reliable your internet service provider is, of course.

In my tests with a Wi-Fi 7 phone, the Acer Predator Connect X7 5G CPE offered strong connectivity and range across a smallish, two-storey semi-detached house, although performance varied across bands – the upgrade was particularly noticeable closer to the router, as you'd expect. With a Wi-Fi 6 laptop, there wasn't much of an improvement over the default Sky broadband router I normally use.

I did try connecting a gaming PC to the Acer router to test the use case scenario it's primarily designed for, and the Wi-Fi performance impressed in terms of speeds and latency. Again, though, it's about on a par with my current setup (aside from the extra 5G option), so you'll need to carefully consider whether or not this is a Wi-Fi 7 specific upgrade that you need.

Acer Predator Connect X7 5G CPE review: Verdict

Choosing a new router isn't easy, because you can't fully predict how it's going to perform – or more specifically, how much difference it's going to make compared to your existing router – until you've actually got it home and set up with your own unique combination of rooms, walls, devices, and bandwidth demands.

That said, I had no complaints about performance during my testing of the Acer Predator Connect X7 5G CPE: it was always speedy and reliable. It's also got a decent range of features to explore, including of course the option to use 5G if you need it, and that Wi-Fi 7 support means you're future-proofed as you gradually upgrade your gadgets.

Whether or not you need a new Wi-Fi 7 specific router right now is another matter: it's not actually going to improve the speed of the broadband coming into your home, of course, but might do a better job in delivering high-speed internet to your various devices, particularly in scenarios where low-lag gaming is important.

Also consider

The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S is another Wi-Fi 7 router, which will cost you even more than the Connect X7 5G. The Wi-Fi performance from the Netgear model is certainly impressive, and it's a polished piece of kit, but the cost of the investment isn't going to be worth it for everyone.

Depending on your home and what you need from your internet, you might find a mesh system suits you better, even if it's not Wi-Fi 7. The Linksys Velop Pro 6E gives you three units and Wi-Fi 6E, and will make sure that wireless connectivity reaches every corner of every room – and it's not all that expensive either.