FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro has it all. A Fiber/DSL router with tri-band Mesh WiFi 7, 2.5GbE, a Zigbee/Matter hub and Telephony

FRITZ!Box routers have always been a jack of all trades. They are one of the few brands on the market that produce routers with a built-in VDSL modem. Recent models have expanded into fiber with a fiber optic modem (ONT) and the XGS-PON fibre optic standard.

When it comes down to things like WiFi, they are good but haven’t been able to keep up with brands like Netgear and ASUS, who churn out mesh systems and routers with the latest WiFi technology as soon as it is available.

At MWC 2023, AVM has announced a range of routers that tick almost every box you could want.

The new FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro and 5690 XGS both offer tri-band WiFi 6E as well as the newer WiFi 7.

They both have multi-gig ports, but I would have liked to see at least one additional multi-gig port on both routers.

As always, they have a built-in telephone system that supports DECT, IP/SIP or 1 analog connection.

Finally, they have expanded the smart home functionality with DECT ULE and Zigbee, Matter in preparation.

FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro for fiber and DSL with Wi-Fi 7

The fiber rollout is progressing rapidly and many households are about to make the transition from DSL to fiber. For this technology shift in broadband networks, AVM is introducing a future-proof router, the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro. This high-end FRITZ!Box in a new elegant, upright design is suitable for all common fiber and DSL connections in Germany. The FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro is also a tri-band Mesh router and supports Wi-Fi 7, the next Wi-Fi generation. The FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro can transmit data rates of several Gbit/s via the three frequency bands 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and, for the first time, 6 GHz. The 2.5-gigabit LAN port and four gigabit LAN ports offer additional ultra-fast networking options. For convenient telephony, the high-end model supports IP telephony and offers a comprehensive telephone system including ports for cordless and analog phones (FXS). The 5690 Pro also has a highlight to offer for the Smart Home: In addition to DECT ULE, it supports the Zigbee wireless standard for integrating multiple Smart Home devices and is ready for the upcoming Matter standard. Mobile broadband dongles or printers and storage media can be quickly connected via USB. As is usual with FRITZ!, the future-proof model offers full convenience for telephony, VPN, Wi-Fi guest access and firewall. With fiber and DSL integration, ultra fast Wi-Fi 7, a versatile Smart Home with Zigbee and DECT, the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro is a powerful box for those who are committed to the digital future at broadband connections.

FRITZ!Box 5690 XGS for fiber optics with 10 gigabit/s

The XGS-PON fiber optic standard enables unbelievable data rates of up to 10 gigabits/s on the connection. Network providers and households will soon be able to rely on the FRITZ!Box 5690 XGS for this speed. The product can be connected directly to the connection and also to the ONT via WAN. This model passes the 10 gigabit/s from the connection with a strong processor and as a Wi-Fi router in 4×4 design with strong Mesh Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 7 and 6) as well as via a 10-gigabit and four gigabit LAN ports to the devices in the home network. For telephony, this fast FRITZ!Box offers a comprehensive telephone system including ports for cordless and analog phones (FXS). In addition to DECT ULE, the FRITZ!Box 5690 XGS also supports the Zigbee wireless standard for integrating multiple Smart Home devices and is ready for the upcoming Matter standard. The high performance at the connection and on n the Mesh Wi-Fi, and the complete conven-ience including telephone system, FRITZ!OS with VPN, firewall and guest Wi-Fi make the FRITZ!Box 5690 XGS a power package for fiber optics.

FRITZ!Box 6860 5G

Fast 5G internet at home for real-time applications such as virtual reality and gaming.

The new FRITZ!Box 6860 5G achieves speeds of up to 1.3 Gbit/s in all 5G mobile networks and supports 5G NSA and SA as well as LTE across all common 5G and LTE bands in Europe. It offers 5G/LTE users high-performance equipment with fast Mesh Wi-Fi according to the Wi-Fi 6 standard, networking via gigabit LAN and a telephone system including telephony via mobile (VoLTE, VoNR). Thanks to the FRITZ!Box 6860 5G, the well-known home networking convenience of a FRITZ!Box as a Mesh Master for Wi-Fi, telephony and Smart Home is also available to users in 5G networks. The compact new housing of the FRITZ!Box with the power connection via Power over Ethernet enables users to place the 5G FRITZ!Box practically anywhere. In addition, the FRITZ!Box 6860 5G software helps users find the optimal position for the best signal.

The FRITZ!Smart Gateway with DECT and Zigbee

With the FRITZ!Smart Gateway, AVM is presenting its first ever product that combines the two wireless technologies, Zigbee and DECT ULE, expanding the FRITZ! Smart Home with a number of new applications. This opens up many integration options, especially for lighting control, since Zigbee LED lights from other manufacturers that users already own can be easily integrated into the FRITZ! Smart Home. The smart Gateway automatically connects via Wi-Fi or gigabit LAN for exchange with the FRITZ!Box as the Mesh hub and can be plugged into any socket in any room of the home. In addition, the new smart Gateway can be used to integrate even more DECT devices such as radiator controls, smart switches, and LED lights into the FRITZ! Smart Home. Via the smart Gateway, existing FRITZ!Box models will also become Zigbee-capable. All settings for DECT and Zigbee devices can be carried out via the smart Gateway interface or centrally via the FRITZ!Box. All devices can be conveniently controlled at home and when out and about using the FRITZ!App Smart Home, FRITZ!Fon or a browser. The integrated USB port serves as a charger for mobile devices.

Wi-Fi 7 – the next generation of Wi-Fi

Anyone purchasing a new mobile device today should make sure it supports the Wi-Fi 6 standard. At MWC 23, AVM is already showing the first FRITZ!Box models for the next Wi-Fi generation, Wi-Fi 7. The future IEEE 802.11be standard, also known as Wi-Fi 7, offers advantages in the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands, which are are already in use, and also covers the new 6 GHz spectrum. Wi-Fi 7 offers improvements in latency, speed, and throughput. This combination enables powerful wireless communication for future real-time applications such as virtual reality, cloud computing, gaming, the metaverse, etc.

The new 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi

The most important advantages at a glance:

• Exclusive and more space: the 6 GHz band is primarily available for home Wi-Fi
• Faster Wi-Fi: With 480 MHz, a lot of spectrum is available, meaning high throughputs of several gigabits/s can be achieved in the Wi-Fi
• Extremely low latencies thanks to 4K-QAM modulation and multi-link, ideal for real-time applications such as VoIP, gaming, IPTV, etc.
• More robust: Non-overlapping channels ensure very good coexistence of neighboring Wi-Fi networks in urban environments
• Automatically bypasses interferences: No radar detection (DFS) required as with 5 GHz, meaning bandwidth is continuously available. In addition, the “Punctured Mode” allows frequencies to be extracted in the event of interference.
• More performance: By aggregating or extremely fast switching of the two Wi-Fi   bands

FRITZ! Smart Home with Zigbee and DECT

With Zigbee, AVM is integrating another Smart Home wireless technology into the FRITZ! Smart Home this year. In addition to the DECT ULE standard, version 3.0 of Zigbee is supported on the first new FRITZ!Box models such as the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro, the 5690 XGS and the FRITZ!Smart Gateway. The Zigbee gateway uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band and, like DECT ULE, has an extremely long range and uses very little power when transmitting data. Thanks to Zigbee integration, the Smart Home from FRITZ! is compatible with even more manufacturers. All devices can be set up centrally in the FRITZ!Box interface and operated from anywhere using a browser or app. At market launch, users can check a list to find out which Zigbee-compatible devices work together in a FRITZ!Box Smart Home via the FRITZ!Smart Gateway.

The technical highlights of the new FRITZ! products

Planned features of the new FRITZ! products at the time of the MWC industry event. The market launch is scheduled for later this year. Prices will be announced at market launch.

FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro

• Powerful integrated fiber optic and DSL router
• Supports the fiber standards: GPON up to 2.5 Gbit/s, AON up to 1 Gbit/s
• Can be used on a fiber optic modem (ONT) with 2.5 Gbit/s (WAN)
• Supports DSL including 35b supervectoring to 250 Mbit/s
• Tri-band Mesh, 4×4 on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz / Wi-Fi 7, 6E, 6
• Wi-Fi speeds: 2.4 GHz: up to 1440 Mbit/s, 5 GHz: up to 5760 Mbit/s, 6 GHz: up to 11.53 Gbit/s
• 1 x 2.5-gigabit LAN/WAN port and 4 LAN ports at 1 Gbit/s
• Telephony via DECT, IP/SIP and 1 analog telephone connection (FXS)
• Smart Home via DECT ULE and Zigbee, Matter in preparation
• 1 x USB 3.1 (Gen 2) for mobile broadband dongles (5G/4G) as well as storage media and printers

FRITZ!Box 5690 XGS

• High-speed fiber optic router for up to 10 Gbit/s
• Supports the XGS-PON fiber optic standard
• Can be used on a fiber optic modem (ONT) with 10 Gbit/s (WAN).
• Mesh Wi-Fi, 4×4 on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz / Wi-Fi 7, 6E, 6
• Wi-Fi speeds: 2.4 GHz: up to 1440 Mbit/s, 5 GHz: up to 5760 Mbit/s
• 1 x 10-gigabit LAN/WAN port and 4 LAN ports at 1 Gbit/s
• Telephony via DECT, IP/SIP and 1 analog telephone connection (FXS)
• Smart Home via DECT ULE and Zigbee, Matter in preparation
• 1 x USB 3.1 (Gen 2) for mobile broadband dongles (5G/4G) as well as storage media and printers

FRITZ!Box 6860 5G

• Router for on the go and at home via 5G and LTE up to 1.3 Gbit/s (4×4 MIMO)
• Support for 5G SA/NSA (3GPP Release 16) and LTE Advanced Pro (CAT19)
• 5G carrier aggregation (5G CA), Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS), nano SIM, 5G via band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 78
• 4G (LTE) via band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43
• Also supports 3G (UMTS)
• Mesh Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 2×2 for 2.4 and 5 GHz
• 1 x gigabit LAN port with Power over Ethernet (PoE)
• Telephony via VoLTE, VoNR (5G) and VoIP
• Telephone system for DECT and IP phones
• Removable base for wall/window mounting

FRITZ!Smart Gateway

• Complements the FRITZ!Box as a control hub in the Smart Home
• Supports DECT ULE/HAN FUN, Zigbee 3.0
• Enables registration of all FRITZ!DECT and DECT-ULE/HAN-FUN devices as well as Philips Hue LED lights (Gen 3-5), IKEA Tradfri and others. (List will be available at market launch)
• Automatically connects to the FRITZ!Box, no Wi-Fi repeater function
• 1 x LAN port with 1 Gbit/s
• 1x USB port; can be used to charge mobile devices

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.