@jzchen The model numbers are understandably confusing. The easiest explanation is that 'Archer BE600' is the model within the class of BE9700 routers. The same way that a BE550 Pro is also technically a BE9700. The BE9700 naming convention refers to the total combined bandwidth (9.7 Gbps) across tri-band setup, which may be the case for multiple models of routers. And so a BE3600 would refer to a family of routers where the combined bandwidth would be 3.6 Gbps.

In similar fashion, the Archer AX90 is a model of the AX6600 class router. This model has tri-band setup as 4804Mbps (5 GHz) + 1201Mbps (5 GHz) + 574Mbps (2.4 GHz). If you were to add these together, they equal 6579, which TP-Link rounded up to 6600, which they included in the the AX6600 class.

I hope this helps. :-)

  @abermuffin Thank you very much for that insight!

There is a difference in Web services enabled by default, as the BE600 (hope I didn't mix the two) has a whole bunch enabled while the BE9700 doesn't have any.

I am confused as to why even though every other spec seems the same, the power adapters are different, BE9700 claims 7 streams with 12V 3.3A, the BE600 says 6 streams 12V 2.5A.  Is it accurate to have 7 vs 6 streams, but the same 9700 PHY?  The extra 0.8A seems to support an extra stream, but they are both 9700 and both have 6 antennae.  (No mention of any internal ones)...

  @jzchen Yeah! So my understanding is that you're actually referring to two different models: Archer BE9700 and Archer BE600, both of which fall within the BE9700 Tri-band class.

BE9700 Tri-band

Archer BE9700: Archer BE9700 | BE9700 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router | TP-Link
Archer BE600: Archer BE600 | BE9700 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router | TP-Link
 

As to the actual differences, they appear to be minuscule, potentially referring to those features you mentioned being enabled by default. It's also possible the PCB layout or shielding components, or who knows what other component quality, differs and that's where you're seeing those slight differences. In some markets, I would imagine that certain models are specific to retailers, such as BestBuy. Not sure if that's very helpful but that's my guess.