Wi-Fi for the Ages: OpenWrt’s First “Immortal” Device
The OpenWrt project has introduced its first hardware product—the OpenWrt One router, developed in collaboration with the Banana Pi team. Built on the MediaTek MT7981B chipset, this device supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and features a 2.5 Gbps WAN port alongside 1 Gbps LAN ports, delivering top-tier performance for home networks.
What truly sets this router apart is its "unbrickable by design" nature, meaning users can experiment freely with firmware modifications without fear of rendering the device unusable. This is achieved through a mechanical switch that toggles between NAND and NOR flash memory, an NVMe PCIe 2.0 slot, and an open hardware architecture, granting users an unprecedented level of control over their device.
Priced at just $89, the OpenWrt One arrives at a crucial time, as security concerns in home networking grow and manufacturers increasingly abandon support for older devices. This router offers a sustainable alternative to planned obsolescence, extending hardware longevity and reducing electronic w
aste.
