Actiontec Powerline 200
Score: 56/100
Zyxel Powerline AV2
Score: 75/100Rankings
The ZyXEL PLA5206KIT is a HomePlug AV2 powerline kit offering up to 1000 Mbps theoretical speed with advanced QoS and 128-bit AES encryption. In practice, throughput averages around 300 Mbps and the single-port design lacks a pass-through outlet. Best suited for budget-conscious households needing a simple gigabit extension for a few devices.
The Actiontec PWR200K01 is an affordable 200 Mbps powerline adapter kit with basic AES encryption and a small wall-plug form factor. Its low advertised speed and limited features make it less suitable for high-bandwidth applications. Good for users needing a simple, low-cost network extension for basic tasks.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
200 Mbps | 1,000 Mbpsbest | |
200 Mbps | 1,000 Mbpsbest | |
— | 1best | |
| ↓ lower better | — | 4 Wbest |
— | 300 mbest | |
1 years | 2 yearsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 0.181 kgbest | 0.408 kg |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Performance(2) | ||
Powerline Speed (Mbps) | 200 Mbps | 1000 Mbps |
Maximum Data Rate (Mbps) | 200 Mbps | 1000 Mbps |
General(1) | ||
Warranty Period (years) | 1 years | 2 years |
Design(1) | ||
Device Weight (kg) | 0.181 kg | 0.408 kg |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consider the PLA5206 a competent entry-level powerline adapter that reliably delivers 300+ Mbps and offers solid security and QoS features, but they caution that its SISO design and reliance on wiring quality prevent it from matching the higher speeds of MIMO-based competitors.
Consumers appreciate the ease of installation, the security button, and the ability to stream HD content without new cabling, yet many express frustration with inconsistent speeds and occasional dropouts on older wiring, noting that the device rarely reaches its advertised 1000 Mbps rate.
“Reliable speeds up to 300+ Mbps in tests, good noise handling.”
“Easy plug-and-play with QoS for streaming/gaming.”
