Broadband ISP EE UK details new Smart Hub 7 Max router for 8Gbps package
Mobile and broadband provider EE (BT) has today finally revealed details of their new Smart Hub 7 Max (SH4XJ) router that is about to start shipping alongside orders for their 8Gbps speed Advanced Full Fibre Broadband package, which first launched a few months ago, albeit initially alongside a temporary router.
Just to recap. EE took the wrappings off their new 2.3Gbps and 8Gbps capable broadband packages in July 2026, which were both based off Openreach’s on-going pilot of 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) and XGS-PON technology. At present the coverage of this service is still limited but should reach about 1 million premises by August 2027, before rising to cover a third of their full fibre network over the next 5 years.
At present EE are the only retail internet provider offering commercial packages via the new technology on Openreach’s network, which isn’t a surprise as it’s still technically in pilot. Other ISPs are instead expected to wait until after Openreach’s new tiers exit the pilot phase and will, in addition, also first need to significantly update their capacity links to support such speeds.
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However, EE’s initial launch was somewhat hobbled by the fact that they didn’t yet have a new own-branded router ready to support the top 8Gbps package, which had instead initially been shipping to early users alongside a temporary router from a different manufacturer (customers of the 2.3Gbps package did however receive EE’s existing Smart Hub 7 Pro router).
The good news this week is that some of our readers (credits to Josh) and other sources were able to confirm that EE have begun to mention the existence of a new Smart Hub 7 Max (SH4XJ) router on their website (pictured – backside view of the device), which looks almost identical to their existing Smart Hub 7 Pro (SH40J). But unlike that device the new Max model supports 10Gbps Ethernet speeds (via 1 x LAN and 1 x WAN – the remaining 3 x LAN ports are 2.5Gbps), otherwise they’re very similar.
Smart Hub 7 Max (SH4XJ) specs
Wireless Spec
Wi-Fi 7
802.11be
6Ghz 320Mhz 4×4
5GHz 160Mhz 4×4
2.4GHz 40Mhz 4×4
Processor
Qualcomm Bells IPQ9570
Quad Core 2.2Ghz
Memory
Flash 8GB
RAM 2GB
Wired Connections
1 x 10 Gbps WAN (Ethernet)
1 x 10 Gbps LAN (Ethernet)
3 x 2.5 Gbps LAN (Ethernet)
Technology
XGS-PON FTTP
NFC
Supported (currently configured for Guest Wi-Fi)
Complete (Mesh) Wi-Fi Support
Yes (WiFi Extender 7 Pro)
Digital Voice Support
Yes (DECT/FXS)
Connectivity Backup Support
Yes
EE TV Support
Yes
EE App Support
Yes (setup and operation)
On/Off/Dim Light Control
Integrated Password Card
Casing 95% PCR
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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The Only Difference Is The 10Gbps Wan/Lan Ports From The Pro
‘the remaining 2 x LAN ports are 2.5Gbps’ List says 3.
Typo, corrected, thanks.
Probably doesn’t do MLO…..
As the Smart Hub 7 Pro is Tri-Band MLO, I would expect this to be the same.
The spec shows “EE App Support
Yes (setup and operation)”.
Does this mean that it cannot be configured from a web interface and you have to use the same bloated, clunky app that I use for my EE mobile account?
All EE hubs act like they need the app but the hub manager has all the same options
There is web interface available as on all BT/EE BB products.
the pro’s webpage is http://192.168.1.254
That should be the same for the max
Article says they’re the only company providing 8gbps on Openreach’s network, but recently you posted an article about Vodafone Pro 4 saying they now offer 8gbps? This will be over Openreach an Cityfibre initially?
Vodafone’s 8Gbps is only via CityFibre.
I’m a bt customer on the 900mb package and they won’t give me anything better than the superhub 2 which only doesn’t have WiFi 6
Be happy to even get fibre at all. Total joke openreach.
I wouldnt call it a joke. They are carrying out a massive infrastructure upgrade and aim for 30 million customers passed in the next few years. And before you start complaining, it was Maggie that never let BT go fibre in fear of a monopoly decades ago. They will get to you at some point.