I would improve:
1. the number of ports should be 8 (will require a new CPU)
2. all ports (8 pieces) with PoE output
3. metal casing that is used as a radiator for the CPU (very efficient cooling)
4. dual power supplies

Your improvements leave here. Let's change Mikrotik for the better!

Make visible/controllable in RouterOS if the ports are in switch mode or in CPU mode.

Make visible/controllable in RouterOS if the ports are in switch mode or in CPU mode.

It is. Show "H" in Bridge->Ports
https://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:S ... Offloading

all ports with PoE output 802.3af/at/bt
Passive PoE is not needed - only the universal standard PoE 802.3af/at/bt

Think bigger!

Baby CCR, 4 Tilera cores, 8 ether ports and 2 SFP+

A CCR1009 is cheap enough, plus Tile architecture is end of life so I don't see new products based on that.

I'd like a new hEX to be based on quad core ARM (same as hAP AC2) and 8 GigE ports, maybe one SFP/SFP+ if we're lucky. Plus a separate POE version able to handle ~ 80W combined output. Nothing too fancy, just an incremental upgrade from RB750Gr3.

New hex will cpu mt7621a (2 core, 4 threads, 880mhz), no wifi, 5 1gb ports, 5th - poe out, the first - poe in, microSD card, usb type a, 1 sfp port, hardware encryption, support dude.
model called hEX S

New hex will cpu mt7621a (2 core, 4 threads, 880mhz), no wifi, 5 1gb ports, 5th - poe out, the first - poe in, microSD card, usb type a, 1 sfp port, hardware encryption, support dude.
model called hEX S

again 5 ports ... need 8 ports 2.5GBASE-T (why so to torment?)
but it was impossible to immediately add in the version (3) add a poe from (why so to torment?)

Mikrotik - turn on the brains ...

PoE 802.3af/at/bt ????
or again no one needs Passive PoE - shit

Mikrotik intentionally slows down the introduction of new technologies in order to earn as much money as possible and not change the world for the better.
Very, very bad ...: ((

More than 5 ports, 8 would be nice. Preferably 5Gbit/s as these standards are becoming really common. Software switchable per-port POE out would also be nice addition.
Also if these CPUs have pci-e 1x, please put the slot in there, so you can plug in wifi or LTE pci-e modem - this would make it far more versatile and futureproof - and adding slot itself can't be that expensive.

LTE pci-e modem

the wwan modems are usb ones, even though they come in mpcie form factor. indeed i like the idea to have an unpopulated mpcie slot with both pcie and usb pins connected.

btw, this could be the nextgen rb2011-rm.

otoh adding 8 ports and a mpcie slot would result double sized pcb - so less efficient logistics, therefore higher prices.

!!sfp port!!

Only improvement of the current model -
64MB of NAND/FLASH.

otoh adding 8 ports and a mpcie slot would result double sized pcb - so less efficient logistics, therefore higher prices.

This topic is ridiculous anyway. The RB750Gr3 is a low-end router that offers amazing performance for the price, but
it should not be extended into a device that fulfills all needs one can imagine and will cost much more.

There are other models in the MikroTik offerings that do what those people want to add to the RB750Gr3. They should
buy those models. Or maybe even newer stuff that comes around. But that does not mean "an improved hEX".

I have several installations where I require only 2 ports. 8-port routers have only a very small market because you
either need more (to connect everything you have to the router) or less (because you have a switch anyway).

otoh adding 8 ports and a mpcie slot would result double sized pcb - so less efficient logistics, therefore higher prices.

Just put the ETH ports on both sides of the box, not just along the one long side. This is SOHO router so it's perfectly acceptable to have wires coming out from all directions...
And mpcie slot isn't that big, it can go over the chips on PCB that doesn't get too hot, like flash and ram.
Actually best would be to have CPU from the other side of the board (bottom) where it directly touches thermal pad on the metal box. This allows the top side to be completely covered by mpcie slot, stuffed between two rows of lan connectors on both sides.

And no, this topic is not ridiculous... usually best ideas are found when "thinking outside the box".

Each of us has different needs. And improved can be everything. I would forget the 750Gr3 although it is great device. Arm architecture looks to be more promising for the future so I am expecting something like rbd52g with really working beamforming multichain wifi (both 5ac and 2n), at least 10 gigabit ports, 256MB flash, 512MB ram, pci-e slots, usb3, sd card slot. Just something like 2011 with performance of 1009 and whole smb/home abilities including the modern wifi. Even rather with all those poe-out options... Why not, if the price would be around USD 100. There could be multiple versions of it like the 2011 are with different accessories around the main core, adequately cheaper or more expensive according to the configuration.

But it is just a dream.

There are other models in the MikroTik offerings that do what those people want to add to the RB750Gr3. They should
buy those models. Or maybe even newer stuff that comes around. But that does not mean "an improved hEX".

I have several installations where I require only 2 ports. 8-port routers have only a very small market because you
either need more (to connect everything you have to the router) or less (because you have a switch anyway).

You are in many respects right, but there should probably be two versions of hEX
1. hEX stand-alone version: 2. hEX All in One version:

I honestly wouldn't change a thing.
The great thing about the 750gr3 is the price...

op:
adding more ports will increase the price
adding poe will increase heat/lower reliability and cost more
metal casing would be nice, but not necessary - and making it also act as a heatsink requires tight tolerances which would also increase cost..
adding a second barrel connector for a redundant power supply would be cheap insurance, but the psu that already comes with will most likely still work when you upgrade in a few years.

come to think of it, mikrotik already makes a router that fits most of that seemingly arbitrary criteria.. it's called the rb1100ahx4.

imo the next gen rb750 will probably be arm based and have similar functionality but with a beefier cpu. maybe mikrotik will iron out the many bugs and inconsistencies with their arm based stuff by then.. oh, and hopefully they don't go with the flamboyant design like that of the hap ac2..

Already people are suggesting a hEX with 10 Gbps.
This is getting more and more ridiculous!
The router you want is A DIFFERENT MODEL. NOT a hEX.
You should look in de MikroTik product gamma (or elsewhere) for the router you need, not
suggest that the hEX is redesigned to be that router.

For the people who suggest thinking out of the box: you should think about another box.

Already people are suggesting a hEX with 10 Gbps.
This is getting more and more ridiculous!
The router you want is A DIFFERENT MODEL. NOT a hEX.
You should look in de MikroTik product gamma (or elsewhere) for the router you need, not
suggest that the hEX is redesigned to be that router.

For the people who suggest thinking out of the box: you should think about another box.

Can't agree more. Most of this demanded things already exists, be it a CCR router or a 3011 or a 1100, it already exists.

In my personal opinion, I'm more than happy with 5 ports on my RB750GL, I connected a switch and I'm good to go. I don't run the 750 as my primary router anymore, but it does what its suppose to. I needed more power and I got a 3011 and upgraded to a CCR1009 not too long ago, yet, they both connect to a switch without a issue. Guess my home use case isn't "normal" goign by what other people are demanding.

The router you want is A DIFFERENT MODEL. NOT a hEX.
You should look in de MikroTik product gamma (or elsewhere) for the router you need, not
suggest that the hEX is redesigned to be that router.

Yes indeed, the above mentioned, expected hEX All in One is a completely new device with a lot of 2.5GBase-T PoE ports -
offering full versatility combined with huge productivity and price - yes it is NOT hEX - forget about it.

But back to our hEX stand-alone - compact, productive, affordable - it is the development of hEX in the future! And so hEX 2019:
1. 3 x SFP+ port
2. 1 x 10GBase-T with PoE Out 802.3af/at/bt support (for SXT LTE, SXT 5G or other purposes)
3. 1 x 10GBase-T with PoE In 802.3af/at/bt support
4. 1 x mpci-e (or m.2) slot for 3G/LTE/5G modem + 2 RP-SMA connectors for MIMO antenna
5. External Dual Power
6. Metal casing that is used as a radiator
7. Standard case 19" Rackmount 1U / 4 (height=1U, width=19" / 4 = 4.75")
8. 1-2GB RAM (probably)
9. Storage size 512-1024MB (probably)

Only five ports - as in the current hEX - but much more interesting

hEX S is out. I would have preferred with 2 SFP ports but at least the SFP lineup continues to expand. Terrific price point when you think how capable is already the RB750Gr3. Good job MT !

The board cannot negotiate 1GBPS speed of my pc networkcard.