5 Best Wireless Routers
5 Best Wireless Routers
All of today's technology requires a Wi-Fi connection, from smartphones and tablets to streaming devices and smartwatches. As a result, the wireless router is one of the most critical home appliances that no one seems to discuss. Routers are essentially your key to the internet, and if yours frequently needs to be reset, it may be time for an upgrade.
It's worth noting that routers and modems are frequently confused. A modem connects your home network to the Internet, whereas a router establishes a private network that enables all of your personal devices to connect and communicate with one another. Therefore, ensure that you are purchasing the correct product!
TP-Link Archer AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 Router
If you're one of the fortunate few who have a fiber-optic internet connection and want to maximize its potential, consider the next-generation TP-Link Archer AX6000 router. This model boasts astounding wireless performance.
CNET editors reported that this router achieved the fastest wireless transfer speeds they've ever seen — an average wireless download speed of 1,523 Mbps at a distance of five feet and a zippy 868 Mbps at a distance of 75 feet.
To put those figures into context, it would take slightly more than two hours to download all 22 Marvel Cinematic Universe films in 4K — a feat that would take nearly 30 hours for the average US broadband internet user.
In addition, the router comes equipped with a single 2.5 Gbps WAN port, eight Gigabit LAN ports, and dual USB. Three 3.0 ports and one USB-C jack — that's more than enough ports for all your consoles, servers, and other devices. It features a quad-core processor, Alexa integration, and link aggregation.
If you desire the very best and have the means to acquire it, you will not be disappointed.
TP-Link Archer AX10 Wi-Fi Router
The TP-Link Archer AX10 is a low-cost router that supports dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ax, making it an excellent choice for those looking to achieve high speeds without breaking the bank.
Its antennas assist in ensuring that your devices achieve peak network speeds of up to 574 Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 2,402 Mbps at 5 GHz. On the back, four Ethernet ports make it simple to connect video game consoles, hard drives, or printers. However, do not anticipate being able to engage in any intensive gaming while using this router. Regrettably, it only has 256MB of RAM.
The router comes with a link to a free download of an intuitive app that you can use to configure it, manage it, and adjust settings or passwords.
If you're looking for a budget-friendly router for streaming HD video or achieving faster speeds on your smartphone, this TP-Link is a no-brainer. Power users on a budget should opt for a more powerful router, such as TP-newer Link's Archer AX21.
Asus RT-AX88U AX6000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router
This wireless router was designed specifically for gamers. Its four antennas promise combined wireless speeds of up to 6,000 Mbps across the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, an increase over the predecessor's 2,600 Mbps. The RT-AX88U is an excellent choice for large families with numerous devices, users with large homes, 4K video streamers, and gamers who play online or broadcast live on Twitch.
According to Jorge Jimenez, a PC Gamer hardware writer, for gaming in a congested environment, "this router outperforms the competition with the highest FPS seen to date and a very low frame rate drop when simultaneously streaming videos."
If the price of ASUS' Wi-Fi 6 gaming router is prohibitively expensive, we also recommend the slightly older ASUS RT-AC86U Wi-Fi 5 router for gamers on a budget.
Google Nest Wi-Fi Mesh Router
The Google Nest Wi-Fi is an attractive and reasonably priced mesh router setup that is capable of providing a fast and reliable wireless internet connection to an area of more than 5,000 square feet. The Google Home app makes it incredibly simple to set up and manage the device. Also, the range extender included doubles as a Google Assistant smart speaker.
Likewise, CNET named Nest Wi-Fi the best mesh router of 2021 for its superior performance, attractive design, and affordable price.
Although it does not support the new Wi-Fi 6 standard and its beacons lack Ethernet ports, we believe it is a well-rounded and reliable mesh network system that performs better and easier (and is also less expensive) than the competition.
TP-Link Archer AX50 Wi-Fi 6 Router
The Archer AX50 is one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers currently available. Due to its dual bands, it offers speeds of 2,402 and 574 Mbps, making it an excellent choice for users who stream a lot of video or play video games online.
The router provides exceptional wireless coverage and includes five Ethernet ports for those who prefer wired connections. There is a USB port for file sharing over your wireless network. It comes with a two-year warranty and a free downloadable app that simplifies setup.
We appreciate that the router assigns slower and faster devices to the appropriate Wi-Fi band automatically. Furthermore, it supports MU-MIMO (tech that helps it better handle simultaneous data streams).
Overall, the Archer AX50 is a highly versatile and powerful router that works well in homes of all shapes and sizes, making it one of the best wireless routers available today.
