Which GL.iNet Router to Buy for China in 2026, and What to Avoid
Flint 2 for offices and busy homes, Beryl 7 for small spaces, Beryl AX for best value: the GL.iNet routers that run Throughwire in China, and the ones to avoid.
Updated October 2026.
The short answer
For most offices and busy homes in China, buy the GL.iNet Flint 2 (GL-MT6000). For a small office, serviced apartment or travel, buy the Beryl 7 (GL-MT3600BE). For one or two people, the Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) is the best value. Avoid 16 MB storage models and the original Beryl. Routers bought on JD.com or Tmall are fine.
Table of contents
- Which GL.iNet router should you buy?
- Which routers do our customers use?
- Why can't some cheap GL.iNet routers run it?
- Which models should you not buy?
- Is a router bought in China fine?
- How do you check a router you already own?
- How does setup work?
- When Throughwire isn't the right choice
- Common questions
- Details for your IT team
- Related guides
Which GL.iNet router should you buy?
Throughwire runs on GL.iNet routers with their normal GL.iNet firmware, so there is nothing to reflash. These are the models we recommend, in order:
| Router | Best for | Wi-Fi | Price on GL.iNet's store | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) | Offices and busy homes | Wi-Fi 6 (AX6000) | US$169.99 | Tested by us and our first choice. Plenty of memory for a whole office. |
| Beryl 7 (GL-MT3600BE) | Small offices, serviced apartments, travel | Wi-Fi 7 | US$129.99 | Tested by us. Small enough to carry. |
| Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) | One or two people | Wi-Fi 6 (AX3000) | US$98.99 | Proven by our customers. Best value. |
| Brume 2 (GL-MT2500) | Adding Throughwire behind a router you already have | None (wired only) | US$77.99 | No Wi-Fi of its own. Devices connect by cable or through your own access points. |
| Slate Plus (GL-A1300) | A tight budget | Wi-Fi 5 | US$69.99 | The cheapest model that meets our minimum. |
| Mudi 7 (GL-E5800) | 5G, where there is no fixed line | Wi-Fi 7 | US$419.99 | Supported since 17 October 2026. Support is still early. |
Prices are from GL.iNet's official store (store.gl-inet.com, which now opens www.gl-inet.com) in US dollars on 23 October 2026, before shipping and tax. Prices on JD.com, Tmall and Taobao are in yuan and differ.
If you are unsure, buy the Flint 2. It has plenty of headroom (1 GB of memory and 8 GB of storage), strong Wi-Fi for an open-plan office or a large apartment, and it is the router our office setup is built around.
Other recent GL.iNet models, such as the Flint 3 (GL-BE9300), Slate 7 (GL-BE3600), Slate AX (GL-AXT1800) and the original Flint (GL-AX1800), meet our minimum. We haven't tested them ourselves, so setup asks you to confirm before it installs.
The Mudi 7 is not the old Mudi. The original Mudi (GL-E750) is a much smaller router and is not suitable. The Mudi 7 is a new design with 2 GB of memory.
Which routers do our customers use?
Of the routers active on our service on 23 October 2026:
- about 53% are Flint 2
- about 13% are Beryl AX
- about 13% are Opal
- about 5% are Beryl 7
- the rest are other GL.iNet and OpenWrt routers
The Opal's share shows it does run Throughwire for light use. With 128 MB of memory, though, it is marginal under heavy use, so we don't recommend buying one now.
Why can't some cheap GL.iNet routers run it?
Smart routing does real work on the router: it encrypts your international traffic and checks every connection against long lists of Chinese websites and addresses. That needs two things a very cheap router doesn't have.
Storage (flash). The software and its China lists need about 30 MB of free storage. A Mango has 16 MB of storage in total, less than the software alone. The original Beryl and the Convexa-B have 32 MB, and GL.iNet's own firmware already uses most of it.
Memory (RAM). When your network is quiet, the software uses about 30 to 40 MB of memory. During heavy use, such as several large downloads at once or a speed test, it can need more than 128 MB. A router with 128 MB can run out and restart. 256 MB is the practical minimum and 512 MB is comfortable.
The chip. Newer GL.iNet routers use arm64 chips, which handle encryption well. Many older models use slower MIPS chips.
Here is how that looks on real models, using GL.iNet's published specifications:
| Router | Memory | Storage | For Throughwire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) | 1 GB | 8 GB | Recommended |
| Beryl 7 (GL-MT3600BE) | 512 MB | 512 MB | Recommended |
| Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) | 512 MB | 256 MB | Recommended |
| Brume 2 (GL-MT2500) | 1 GB | 8 GB | Recommended (wired) |
| Slate Plus (GL-A1300) | 256 MB | 128 MB | Works (budget) |
| Opal (GL-SFT1200) | 128 MB | 128 MB | Marginal, not recommended |
| Mango (GL-MT300N-V2) | 128 MB | 16 MB | Cannot run it |
The plain rule: buy an arm64 GL.iNet router with at least 256 MB of memory and at least 128 MB of storage.
Which models should you not buy?
Some of these are still on sale and cheap, which is why people ask:
- 16 MB storage models: Mango (GL-MT300N-V2), AR300M16, AR750, SF1200, X750, AR150 and USB150. Too little storage.
- The original Beryl (GL-MT1300). Not to be confused with the Beryl AX (GL-MT3000), which is fine.
- Convexa-B (GL-B1300). Too little storage.
- Opal (GL-SFT1200). Works in light use but marginal. Buy a Beryl AX instead.
Is a router bought in China fine?
Yes. GL.iNet routers from JD.com, Tmall, Taobao and other Chinese shops work with Throughwire. China-market units hide GL.iNet's own VPN menu, but Throughwire doesn't use that menu, so there is no need to bring a router in from abroad.
How do you check a router you already own?
- Read the label. The model number on the underside starts with "GL-", for example GL-MT3000.
- Compare it with the tables above. If it is on the recommended list or the "other recent models" list, you are fine.
- Not sure? Run the setup. It checks your router's memory and free storage before it changes anything. If there isn't room, it stops and tells you which router would work. If memory is low or we haven't tested the model, it warns you and asks you to type a confirmation. If setup cannot finish, the router is restored automatically.
- Not a GL.iNet? A router already running OpenWrt 24.10 or 25.12 works. Other brands' own firmware does not.
You can also ask us before you buy. Send the model number and we'll tell you.
How does setup work?
- Plug the router into your existing modem or router.
- Join its Wi-Fi, open 192.168.8.1 and finish GL.iNet's first-time setup, including an admin password.
- Create a one-time router code in your Throughwire account.
- On a laptop connected to the router's Wi-Fi, run the one command shown for Mac (Terminal) or Windows (PowerShell), then enter the code and the admin password.
It takes a few minutes and tests itself before finishing. Near the end you choose a route, with the latency measured from your router: Los Angeles (recommended and preselected), or Osaka or Singapore on Ultra. After that, the router keeps itself updated with signed updates, refreshes its China lists and keeps working after power cuts.
To our knowledge (as of October 2026), Throughwire is the first China service that sets up the GL.iNet router you already own with one command from your Mac or Windows PC. No reflashing, no config files.
It builds on an approach that open-source projects such as ShellCrash, OpenClash and PassWall pioneered: China split routing on the router itself.
When Throughwire isn't the right choice
- You already run ShellCrash, OpenClash or PassWall with your own servers and you enjoy maintaining it. Keep it.
- You want to keep only an ASUS or TP-Link router with its own firmware. We support GL.iNet routers and routers running OpenWrt 24.10 or 25.12, so you would need a second box.
- You are one person with a phone and a laptop. The app covers you; a router adds most value for households, offices and devices that can't run apps.
- You stream for hours every day and want no data allowance. Our plans have allowances, from 100 GB a month for US$49 on Personal.
Common questions
Is a GL.iNet router from Taobao or JD.com OK for Throughwire?
Yes. China-market units hide GL.iNet's own VPN menu, which Throughwire doesn't use. Check the model number against the lists above before you order.
Do I need to reflash my router or install OpenWrt?
No. Throughwire installs on GL.iNet's normal firmware. If your router already runs OpenWrt 24.10 or 25.12, that works too.
Which router should a larger office buy?
One Flint 2 runs Throughwire for the office. For several floors, add Wi-Fi access points connected to it by cable, so you still set up only one router. Our office router guide covers this.
Can I travel with a Beryl 7?
Yes. It is a small travel router, and where there is no cable to plug into, GL.iNet routers can connect to a hotel's or building's Wi-Fi instead. A cable is more reliable when you have one.
Does the router cost extra on top of Throughwire?
You buy the router separately. Every paid plan includes router access, starting with Personal 100 GB, and Team plans include office router setup. On larger plans we may credit the cost of the router; check your account.
Details for your IT team
- Minimum: arm64 or armv7 CPU, at least 256 MB RAM, at least 30 MB free flash. Setup refuses below 30 MB free and asks for a typed confirmation below 256 MB RAM or on untested models.
- Runs on GL.iNet stock firmware, or as a package on OpenWrt 24.10 and 25.12. The engine is sing-box with VLESS-REALITY, a TUN interface and a China-direct split.
- Setup runs from a laptop on the LAN with a one-time code and the router's admin password. The subscription link is never typed or shown.
- Updates and routing lists are signed and verified on the router; each update is self-tested and rolled back if a test fails.
Related guides
- VPN Router Setup for an Office in China
- Astrill on a Router vs Your Own GL.iNet Router With Throughwire
- How We Built Smart Routing for the Router You Already Own
- VPN for Devices That Cannot Install Apps in China
- Throughwire for your home