GL.iNet GL-BE6500 Flint 3e
Flint 3e is a next-generation dual-band router built on the IEEE 802.11be standard with WireGuard and OpenVPN support, five 2.5G Ethernet ports and combined wireless throughput of up to 6500 Mbps (688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz + 5764 Mbps on 5 GHz). In our tests WireGuard runs above 750 Mbps and OpenVPN with DCO above 700 Mbps.
IEEE 802.11be and Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology
Flint 3e supports the IEEE 802.11be standard with Multi-Link Operation technology, which allows both bands — 2.4 and 5 GHz — to be used simultaneously to reduce latency and improve connection stability. This is especially relevant for environments with a large number of devices, a dense radio-frequency surroundings or a substantial coverage area. The router reliably serves more than 100 simultaneous connections.
VPN and encryption
Flint 3e supports the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols (with DCO acceleration), in both client and server modes. In our tests WireGuard runs steadily above 750 Mbps and OpenVPN with DCO above 700 Mbps. At these speeds all network traffic is encrypted without a noticeable drop in speed on most internet connections. The VPN router is compatible with most commercial VPN services. For the best compatibility, speed and privacy protection, we recommend GemiGuard VPN. The Tor network is also supported, along with flexible VPN traffic policy routing, which lets you direct the traffic of individual devices or groups through different VPN tunnels.
Connectivity and 2.5G Ethernet
The router is equipped with five 2.5G Ethernet ports: one dedicated WAN port, one WAN/LAN port with automatic mode detection and three LAN ports. It supports link aggregation, multi-WAN configuration with automatic switching between internet sources (failover) and load balancing. The internet connection can be established via Ethernet, a Wi-Fi repeater, USB tethering or an external cellular modem. The USB 3.0 Type-A port lets you connect an external storage drive to set up a network file server, or an external 4G/5G USB modem for backup mobile internet.
Privacy and cybersecurity with GemiGuard Mirage
For the Flint 3e, the GemiGuard Mirage package is available — our software solution for enhancing the privacy, anonymity and cybersecurity of GL.iNet devices. Mirage for the GL-BE6500 includes: automatic BSSID randomization, MAC address randomization, automatic system log cleanup, removal of the connected Wi-Fi clients history, hardened encrypted DNS and other security improvements. These features significantly reduce the device’s digital footprint and protect the privacy of the user and of every device connected to the network.
Flint 3e vs Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) — which model to choose?
Customers often compare these two models. Both are Wi-Fi 7 routers of the Flint series with five 2.5 Gbps ports, and in our tests both run WireGuard above 750 Mbps. The main technical difference: the Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) is tri-band and supports an additional 6 GHz band, whereas the Flint 3e operates on two bands — 2.4 and 5 GHz. At the same time, the Flint 3e’s throughput on the 5 GHz band (5764 Mbps) actually exceeds the corresponding figure of the Flint 3 on the same band — the 6 GHz band on the Flint 3 delivers the same throughput as 5 GHz on the Flint 3e. So for users who connect specifically to a 5 GHz network, the Flint 3e is the technically better choice — and a more economical one too. Both routers have the same amount of RAM (1 GB DDR4) and support MLO. The difference is in internal storage: the Flint 3e has 512 MB NAND, the Flint 3 has 8 GB eMMC. If expanded internal storage and the 6 GHz band are not critical, the Flint 3e is the more sensible choice. The Flint 3 makes sense for those who genuinely use 6 GHz-capable devices and need more built-in storage.
Network features and protection
Flint 3e supports WPA3 encryption, AdGuard for blocking ads and trackers at the network level, DNS over TLS to protect DNS queries from interception, the IPv4 and IPv6 protocols, a built-in firewall with port forwarding, DMZ and IP address reservation. It also supports the ZeroTier and Tailscale platforms for building private networks, Dynamic DNS and Drop-in mode (a wired VPN gateway in front of the router) for integration with existing equipment. The device operates in several modes: classic router, access point (AP), wireless extender and WDS — allowing it to be flexibly integrated into any existing network. Parental controls are available through the built-in GL.iNet interface or the app.
OpenWrt, custom firmware and full technical support
GL.iNet firmware is based on OpenWrt and gives you full control over settings and additional options. Our team of system administrators, network engineers and DevOps specialists supports the router for its whole life, handles warranty repair or replacement directly, and builds custom firmware and set-ups on request.
What’s in the box
GL.iNet Flint 3e router (GL-BE6500), 12 V / 3 A power supply (EU plug), Ethernet cable, quick-start guide, warranty card.
GemiGuard Mirage for the GL.iNet Flint 3e. Mirage for this device includes DNS encryption, system log wiping, removal of the connected Wi-Fi clients history, and MAC and BSSID randomization. More about Mirage →
Useful materials
Full technical specifications
- Wi-Fi standards
- 802.11b · 802.11g · 802.11n · 802.11a · 802.11ac · 802.11ax · 802.11be
- Wi-Fi bands
- 2.4 GHz · 5 GHz
- Wi-Fi speed
- 5765 Mbps (5 GHz) · 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
- Ethernet interfaces
- 5 (1 WAN + 1 WAN/
LAN + 3 LAN) - Ethernet speed
- 1 Gbps · 10 Mbps · 100 Mbps · 2.5 Gbps
- VPN protocols
- OpenVPN · OpenVPN (with DCO support) · WireGuard
- WireGuard speed
- over 750 Mbps (our tests)
- OpenVPN speed
- over 700 Mbps with DCO (our tests)
- Network modes
- wireless bridge · wired bridge · router · access point
- Operating system
- GL.iNet firmware based on OpenWrt
- Processor
- Qualcomm IPQ5332, quad-core, 1.5 GHz
- RAM
- DDR4 1 GB
- Storage
- 512 MB NAND flash memory
- USB ports
- 1x USB 3.0 Type-A
- Antennas
- 4 pcs., external
- Antenna type
- non-removable
- Power port
- DC5521 (5.5 × 2.1 mm)
- Supply voltage
- 12 V
- Power consumption
- <25 W (no USB load), <37.2 W (with USB load)
- Operating temperature
- 0–40° C
- Color
- black
- Dimensions
- 240 × 157 × 74 mm
- Weight
- 848 g
- Humidity
- 5% - 95%, non-condensing
- Warranty
- 24 months
- Certifications
- CCC · CE · CP65 · FCC · IC · MIC · RCM · RoHS · WEEE
- In the box
- GL.iNet Flint 3e (GL-BE6500) router · 12 V /
3 A power adapter with EU plug · Ethernet cable · user manual