TP-Link - Archer BE9500

Typically external antennas would be better for sure. The BE9500 can do MLO on all 3 bands whilst the BE550 can only do MLO on 5GHz and 6GHz.

Both could be problematic. A single WiFi device may not be enough to cover both floors in a home. If a single device were enough, the BE9500 would be better because it's tri-band WiFi 7; the AX3000 is dual-band WiFi 6. The AX3000 gives you two mesh nodes but you're trying to get them to receive WiFi between floors. It appears that they can do wired backbone so if you can run an Ethernet cable between floors, the AX3000 is going to be a better solution than the BE9500. Full WiFi 6 coverage will beat partial WiFi 7 coverage.

I have the BE9500 from previously netgear orbi 971 after it started boot looping, but I’m happier with the TP-Link.

I dumped Google's Nest Pro for the TPlink BE95 and been great! Real wired backhaul, and wireless if you want. I think that you probably want a wired backend. Do you have coax cable in your home? You can link everything up with Docsis 2.5 GBps using those runs without having to run new wire. Alternately, you could look Ethernet over power. I think they have 2.5 Gbps for that too.

absolutely not using tp-link, it started out good and it just too much headache BE95 was just horrible

Stay away from tp-link. As somone who bought the BE95 i eventually turned it off and used old netgear nighthawk

I have mine in passthru with a TP-Link Archer WiFi-7 router. No issues.

Netgear nighthawk for 6. Using tplink easy mesh for 7 and been happy so far

What speed is your fiber plan? I have a wifi 7 tp link that I’ve been using for over a year now. Solid router with no issues. The software to control isn’t amazing but if you don’t have a complicated setup- it would serve you just fine. Although I do suspect you can get a better price if you hunt around. Netgear is also a solid brand.

Fuck tp link. I bought a wifi 7 one and shit sucks. Went back to my Asus. Glad to know it wasn't just my router