If you want better dual-WAN support
Choose GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7. It scores 5.0 vs 1.8 for dual-WAN support, with a 4.5 overall score.
Fritz!Box 5690 Pro Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for excellent whole-home Wi-Fi 7, integrated DSL/fibre, telephony and smart-home control. Skip it if you need 10GbE/XGS-PON, native Matter today, or the simplest advanced setup.
Best for
Best for tech-savvy homes and small businesses that can use its DSL/fibre modem flexibility, strong whole-home Wi-Fi, telephony, VPN and Zigbee/DECT integration.
Not for
Skip it if your priority is high-speed wired networking, XGS-PON, native Matter support at the time of these tests, or a minimal setup experience with few advanced options.
Verdict
The Fritz!Box 5690 Pro stands out less for absolute peak speed than for how much it combines in one box. Reviewers consistently praise its broad Wi-Fi 7 coverage, strong 5GHz and 6GHz performance, DSL-to-fibre flexibility, telephony, VPN tools and deep FRITZ!OS controls. Its mesh and smart-home capabilities make it especially compelling as the center of a larger home or small-business network. The tradeoffs are equally clear: four gigabit LAN ports and only limited 2.5GbE feel conservative for a premium router, Matter was still unavailable in several tests, and advanced fibre or automation setup can demand real networking knowledge. For buyers who will use its integrated features, the price is easier to justify than it is for someone seeking only a fast standalone router.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
62 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.034 (55%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.414 (23%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.46 (10%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.46 (10%)
-
Very negative below 1.52 (3%)
Pros highlights
-
Integrated DECT, analogue-phone and VoIP functions are repeatedly treated as a major differentiator, especially for small businesses that want routing and telephony in one box.
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Value depends heavily on use case: it looks expensive as a simple router, but reviewers find the price much easier to justify when its modem, telephony, mesh and smart-home roles replace separate hardware.
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Setup feedback is mixed by user type: basic installation can be fast and beginner-friendly, while advanced fibre, telephony and smart-home configuration demands more networking knowledge.
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The 6GHz band delivers the highest throughput and excellent nearby speeds, but range drops faster with distance and barriers than on 5GHz.
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Long update support, fibre readiness and modern Wi-Fi give the router strong longevity, although missing XGS-PON and limited Ethernet speeds may matter to the most demanding users.
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Zigbee and DECT ULE make the router a capable smart-home hub that can replace extra bridges, but compatibility is not universal and missing Matter reduces cross-platform reach.
Cons highlights
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Wired speed is the most repeated hardware complaint: four LAN ports are only gigabit and the faster port tops out at 2.5GbE, which limits high-end NAS and local transfers.
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There is no built-in wall-mounting option, a repeated disappointment for users who prefer to keep networking hardware off desks or shelves.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Wi-Fi Routers, this product is above average in long-range speed, hardware reliability, automatic configuration, near average in Wi-Fi speed, 2.4 GHz performance, below average in multi-gig Ethernet support, security features, design and appearance.
Comparison summary
33 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher11 (33%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts13 (39%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower9 (27%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| multi-gig Ethernet support | 2.5 | 4.8 | -2.3 |
| security features | 2.5 | 4.8 | -2.3 |
| long-range speed | 5.0 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
| design and appearance | 3.0 | 4.6 | -1.6 |
| close-range speed | 3.5 | 5.0 | -1.5 |
| hardware reliability | 5.0 | 4.0 | +1.0 |
| automatic configuration | 5.0 | 4.0 | +1.0 |
| whole-home coverage | 5.0 | 4.1 | +0.9 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better wall-mounting support
Choose MSI Roamii BE Pro. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for wall-mounting support, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better 10 GbE support
Choose D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95. It scores 5.0 vs 1.8 for 10 GbE support, with a 4.8 overall score.
If you want better security features
Choose Netgear Nighthawk M7. It scores 4.6 vs 2.5 for security features, with a 4.1 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Eero router
- Similar: wireless speed With a non-Wi-Fi-7 MacBook, the reviewer saw very little speed difference versus the Eero router.
FRITZ!Box 4690
- Better: UK wired connectivity For UK buyers, the FRITZ!Box 4690 is considered more appealing because of its faster Ethernet ports.
FRITZ!Box 5690
- Cheaper: price and positioning The Pro model is positioned above the older, cheaper FRITZ!Box 5690.
FAQ
Is the Fritz!Box 5690 Pro fast over Wi-Fi?
Yes. Reviewers found Wi-Fi 7 performance strong overall, with excellent 5GHz/6GHz throughput and especially good coverage away from the router.
How good is its range?
Range is one of its strongest traits. Multiple tests report useful signal through several walls and better multi-room coverage than competing standalone routers.
Is setup easy?
Basic setup can be quick and well guided, but advanced fibre, telephony and smart-home configuration may require more networking knowledge.
Does it have fast Ethernet ports?
Only partly. The faster WAN/LAN connection tops out at 2.5GbE while four LAN ports are limited to 1GbE, a repeated reviewer complaint.
Is it good for smart homes?
Zigbee and DECT ULE integration are major strengths and can replace separate hubs for some devices, but compatibility is not universal and Matter was still unavailable in several tests.
Who gets the most value from it?
Buyers who will use several integrated functions—modem, Wi-Fi, telephony, VPN, mesh, NAS and smart-home control—get much better value than someone who only needs a basic router.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
basic-tutorials.com
FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro test report: Wi-Fi 7, fiber optic and DSL modem plus Zigbee in one device - but is the hefty price really worth it?
- Review score
- 4.4
techradar.com
A router that handles DSL, fibre, phones and Zigbee devices straight from the box
- Review score
- 4.2
basic-tutorials.com
Looking for a suitable router for a fiber optic connection? In the FRITZ!Box 5690 test, we took a look at a new fiber optic modem from FRITZ!
- Review score
- 4.5
expertreviews.co.uk
With strong speeds, a user-friendly interface and plenty of built-in features, this router deserves a serious look – but check UK availability
- Review score
- 3.7
mightygadget.com
I first wrote about the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro back at the start of 2023, but for various reasons, the launch was delayed. It has finally been...
- Review score
- 4.2
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