Delaney The Best Wireless Routers of 2018 Keep all of your gadgets cruising along with a top-notch Wi-Fi router. Here's what you need to know to optimize your wireless network, along with our highest-rated recently reviewed routers for all budgets. Finding the Right Router With the gaggle of connected home products, smart, and other mobile devices ruling our lives, it's more important than ever to outfit your home or business with a wireless router that can handle the increased demand for Wi-Fi connectivity. When choosing a new router, you should consider the size of your coverage area and the number of clients, as well as the types of devices that will connect to the router. Granted, not everybody needs the kind of performance that you get with the latest and greatest models, and there's no reason to pay for features that you will likely never use, but if you have several family members vying for bandwidth for things like streaming video and playing online, a new router can make a world of difference and help keep the peace. We guide you through choosing a router that will handle your current and future wireless networking needs, and offer our top picks to get you started. Single- or Dual-Band?
Not all routers are created equal. Some models can only communicate over a single radio band, while others can use two. Single-band routers operate on the 2.4GHz frequency band and are typically the least expensive models out there, but they have to compete with other devices in the home that are on the same radio band, such as microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and wireless phones.
That said, they are perfectly adequate for things like Web surfing and connecting to social media services like Facebook and Twitter. If one or more of your devices will be streaming video from a service such as Netflix, or connecting to an online gaming service such as Xbox Live, consider a dual-band router. These have two radios; one connects to the 2.4GHz band, and the other connects to the 5GHz band. The 5GHz band is typically less crowded than the 2.4GHz band and offers more throughput, with minimal signal interference, making it ideal for video streaming and gaming duty. Dual-band routers allow you to assign a band to specific applications and clients, thereby easing the load on both bands. Then there are tri-band routers. These have three radios—one that operates at 2.4GHz and two that operate at 5GHz.
These models are a good fit for multi-device households that experience heavy network traffic via lots of video streaming, torrent downloading, file transfers, and online gaming. Wireless Protocols Wireless Ethernet networks use 802.11 protocols to send and receive data. Devices that use the older 802.11b and 802.11g standards are limited to data transfer rates of 11Mbps and 54Mbps, respectively, and they only operate on the 2.4GHz band.
The most widely used Wi-Fi protocol, 802.11n, allows for maximum data rates of up to 600Mbps and operates on both the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. It utilizes Multiple Input Multiple Output technology, which uses several antennas to send and receive up to four spatial streams, resulting in enhanced performance. Most of today's laptops, smartphones, and connected home devices use 802.11n, so an 802.11n router is a good fit for households that have a handful of these devices sharing Internet access. But if you're using your network to share large files and have several smart TVs, gaming consoles, mobile devices, and media streaming devices connecting wirelessly, a more powerful router that offers the latest Wi-Fi technology may be in order. The newest class of Wi-Fi routers use 802.11ac technology, which brings several improvements over previous protocols, including wider channel bandwidth (up to 160Hz, compared with 40Hz), more MIMO spatial streams (as many as eight), and, a technology that sends Wi-Fi signals directly to a client rather than broadcasting in all directions. The 802.11ac protocol also offers downstream Multi-User MIMO technology, which is designed to provide bandwidth to multiple devices simultaneously rather than sequentially. That means up to four clients can have their own data streams instead of waiting in turn to receive data from the router.
In order for MU-MIMO to work, the router and the client devices must contain MU-MIMO Wi-Fi circuitry. MU-MIMO routers and clients are still relatively uncommon, but more MU-MIMO-enabled devices, including smartphones and smart TVs, are hitting the market all the time. You'll see 802.11ac routers with labels like AC1200, AC1750, AC3200, and so on. This designates the theoretical maximum speed of the router. For example, a router that can achieve a maximum link rate of 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band is considered an AC1750 router. A tri-band AC3200 router gives you 600Mbps over the 2.4GHz band and 1,300Mbps over each of the two 5GHz bands.
It's important to note that routers rarely, if ever, reach these 'maximum speeds' in real-world applications, but if you're looking for performance, consider one of the high-speed routers (but be prepared to pay a premium). Features Wireless routers come with a variety of features, and as is the case with just about everything, the more features you get, the more you can expect to pay. Look for a router with at least four 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet ports, which allow you to connect to wired devices such as, and home-automation hubs. Having at least one USB port makes it easy to plug in a printer or a USB drive and share it across the network, but with two ports you can do both. Additionally, try to choose a router that offers removable antennas.
If you want to manage how your Wi-Fi network is being used, make sure your next router has parental controls, Quality of Service (QoS) options, and a guest-network feature. Parental controls allow you to limit network access for certain users to specific times and days and is ideal for parents who want to keep tabs on their child's online gaming and social networking activities.
A guest network lets you offer Wi-Fi connectivity to guests without leaving your entire network vulnerable. In a nutshell, you're creating a separate network for guests with a Service Set Identifier (SSID) and password that are different from your main network credentials. This lets your guests connect to the Internet, but doesn't give them access to your files, printers, and other connected devices. With QoS settings, you can decide which applications and clients get network priority. For example, if one device is streaming Netflix video, and another device is downloading files or running a print job, you can give priority to the streaming device to avoid choppy, out-of-sync video.
The same goes for online gaming; assigning a high QoS priority to a gaming console such as the or the will help eliminate lag time and improve overall gameplay. Almost all routers offer several forms of security. A router with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you add compatible devices with the push of a button. Just press the WPS button on the router then press the WPS button on the client device to add it to your network. For a more secure connection, you can use Wi-Fi Protected Access ( or WPA2), which requires entering a network password for each device.
Routers with WPA-Enterprise security offer a higher level of security than WPA/WPA2, but require a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service server to authenticate each client. The technology currently used to assign IP addresses, known as Internet Protocol version 4 , will eventually be replaced by its successor,. IPv4 is a 32-bit addressing scheme that before long will run out of addresses due to the number of devices connecting to the internet. IPv6 is a 128-bit scheme that will offer an (almost) infinite number of IP addresses. Most current routers have built-in support for IPv6 addressing, but it's a good idea to verify this if you want to be ready for the transition when IPv4 finally does hit the wall. Price Like anything else, router pricing is based on performance and features. A basic, single-band 802.11n router can run anywhere from $25 to $100, give or take a few bucks.
You can snag a dual-band AC1200 model for as little as $130, but you will have to pay upwards of $250 for a dual-band AC2400 router with MIMO streaming capabilities. An AC3200 tri-band model with all the bells and whistles will run you somewhere around $300. Early AC2600 MU-MIMO routers are hitting the market at around $300 to $400, but these prices will likely drop as more manufacturers get in on the action. Fast throughput speeds, good range, easy set up and manageability, a solid feature set, and, of course, fair pricing are what make a top router. These 10 recently reviewed routers span the range of pricing and strike the best balance among all our criteria right now.
That changes every month as we're continually testing routers and updating this story. For the latest reviews, visit the. How to Extend Your Wireless Signal If you live in a large or multiple-story home, you may have Wi-Fi 'dead zones.'
These are areas of your home where your main router isn't able to reach with a wireless signal. An easy way to solve this, without the hassle of running long cords around your home, is a, which will pick up your router's Wi-Fi signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast it. They come in both desktop and plug-in variations, and are relatively easy to install. They do have limitations, though: The rebroadcasted signal is typically half the strength of what you get from your main router, and they create a seperate network that makes seemless roaming through your home difficult. Wi-Fi Mesh Network Systems If a range extender doesn't do the trick, consider overhauling your network with a Wi-Fi system. This technology offers an easy way to blanket your home in Wi-Fi without the need for additional wiring, range extenders, or access points. They utilize extension nodes, or satellites, to extend your Wi-Fi signal across a larger area than most routers are capable of.
Systems such as and the employ mesh technology, where the satellites communicate with each other to provide coverage throughout your home, while others, like the, use a dedicated Wi-Fi band to communicate with its satellite. Depending on the number of nodes in the system you choose, you can spread a consistent internet connection across as much as 4,000 to 6,000 square feet of space. Satellites in a Wi-Fi system are all part of the same network and provide seamless connectivity as you roam throughout the house, and they do not usually require any configuration or management beyond a few taps on a free associated mobile app. A number of the solutions in this category support high-end features like guest networking, device prioritization, parental controls, and MU-MIMO, but because Wi-Fi systems are designed to be simple, in most cases you won't be able to access the same kind of in-depth settings you can on routers. For that reason, power users and compulsive tinkerers might not love Wi-Fi systems, but for everyone else who finds network setup intimidating, these are among the friendliest and most innovative options you can find today. For more details, read about. Next Steps You'll find a list of our favorite routers below.
We update this list monthly, but check out the for the latest reviews. Once you've found the right router, read our tips for, and. Need more network configurability or security with a? Check out our list of the.
Delaney The Best Wireless Routers of 2018 Keep all of your gadgets cruising along with a top-notch Wi-Fi router. Here's what you need to know to optimize your wireless network, along with our highest-rated recently reviewed routers for all budgets. Finding the Right Router With the gaggle of connected home products, smart, and other mobile devices ruling our lives, it's more important than ever to outfit your home or business with a wireless router that can handle the increased demand for Wi-Fi connectivity.
When choosing a new router, you should consider the size of your coverage area and the number of clients, as well as the types of devices that will connect to the router. Granted, not everybody needs the kind of performance that you get with the latest and greatest models, and there's no reason to pay for features that you will likely never use, but if you have several family members vying for bandwidth for things like streaming video and playing online, a new router can make a world of difference and help keep the peace. We guide you through choosing a router that will handle your current and future wireless networking needs, and offer our top picks to get you started. Single- or Dual-Band? Not all routers are created equal. Some models can only communicate over a single radio band, while others can use two. Single-band routers operate on the 2.4GHz frequency band and are typically the least expensive models out there, but they have to compete with other devices in the home that are on the same radio band, such as microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and wireless phones.
That said, they are perfectly adequate for things like Web surfing and connecting to social media services like Facebook and Twitter. If one or more of your devices will be streaming video from a service such as Netflix, or connecting to an online gaming service such as Xbox Live, consider a dual-band router. These have two radios; one connects to the 2.4GHz band, and the other connects to the 5GHz band. The 5GHz band is typically less crowded than the 2.4GHz band and offers more throughput, with minimal signal interference, making it ideal for video streaming and gaming duty. Dual-band routers allow you to assign a band to specific applications and clients, thereby easing the load on both bands. Then there are tri-band routers.
These have three radios—one that operates at 2.4GHz and two that operate at 5GHz. These models are a good fit for multi-device households that experience heavy network traffic via lots of video streaming, torrent downloading, file transfers, and online gaming.
Wireless Protocols Wireless Ethernet networks use 802.11 protocols to send and receive data. Devices that use the older 802.11b and 802.11g standards are limited to data transfer rates of 11Mbps and 54Mbps, respectively, and they only operate on the 2.4GHz band. The most widely used Wi-Fi protocol, 802.11n, allows for maximum data rates of up to 600Mbps and operates on both the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. It utilizes Multiple Input Multiple Output technology, which uses several antennas to send and receive up to four spatial streams, resulting in enhanced performance. Most of today's laptops, smartphones, and connected home devices use 802.11n, so an 802.11n router is a good fit for households that have a handful of these devices sharing Internet access. But if you're using your network to share large files and have several smart TVs, gaming consoles, mobile devices, and media streaming devices connecting wirelessly, a more powerful router that offers the latest Wi-Fi technology may be in order.
The newest class of Wi-Fi routers use 802.11ac technology, which brings several improvements over previous protocols, including wider channel bandwidth (up to 160Hz, compared with 40Hz), more MIMO spatial streams (as many as eight), and, a technology that sends Wi-Fi signals directly to a client rather than broadcasting in all directions. The 802.11ac protocol also offers downstream Multi-User MIMO technology, which is designed to provide bandwidth to multiple devices simultaneously rather than sequentially. That means up to four clients can have their own data streams instead of waiting in turn to receive data from the router. In order for MU-MIMO to work, the router and the client devices must contain MU-MIMO Wi-Fi circuitry. MU-MIMO routers and clients are still relatively uncommon, but more MU-MIMO-enabled devices, including smartphones and smart TVs, are hitting the market all the time. You'll see 802.11ac routers with labels like AC1200, AC1750, AC3200, and so on.
This designates the theoretical maximum speed of the router. For example, a router that can achieve a maximum link rate of 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band is considered an AC1750 router. A tri-band AC3200 router gives you 600Mbps over the 2.4GHz band and 1,300Mbps over each of the two 5GHz bands. It's important to note that routers rarely, if ever, reach these 'maximum speeds' in real-world applications, but if you're looking for performance, consider one of the high-speed routers (but be prepared to pay a premium). Features Wireless routers come with a variety of features, and as is the case with just about everything, the more features you get, the more you can expect to pay.
Look for a router with at least four 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet ports, which allow you to connect to wired devices such as, and home-automation hubs. Having at least one USB port makes it easy to plug in a printer or a USB drive and share it across the network, but with two ports you can do both.
Additionally, try to choose a router that offers removable antennas. If you want to manage how your Wi-Fi network is being used, make sure your next router has parental controls, Quality of Service (QoS) options, and a guest-network feature. Parental controls allow you to limit network access for certain users to specific times and days and is ideal for parents who want to keep tabs on their child's online gaming and social networking activities. A guest network lets you offer Wi-Fi connectivity to guests without leaving your entire network vulnerable. In a nutshell, you're creating a separate network for guests with a Service Set Identifier (SSID) and password that are different from your main network credentials. This lets your guests connect to the Internet, but doesn't give them access to your files, printers, and other connected devices.
With QoS settings, you can decide which applications and clients get network priority. For example, if one device is streaming Netflix video, and another device is downloading files or running a print job, you can give priority to the streaming device to avoid choppy, out-of-sync video. The same goes for online gaming; assigning a high QoS priority to a gaming console such as the or the will help eliminate lag time and improve overall gameplay. Almost all routers offer several forms of security. A router with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you add compatible devices with the push of a button. Just press the WPS button on the router then press the WPS button on the client device to add it to your network.
For a more secure connection, you can use Wi-Fi Protected Access ( or WPA2), which requires entering a network password for each device. Routers with WPA-Enterprise security offer a higher level of security than WPA/WPA2, but require a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service server to authenticate each client. The technology currently used to assign IP addresses, known as Internet Protocol version 4 , will eventually be replaced by its successor,.
IPv4 is a 32-bit addressing scheme that before long will run out of addresses due to the number of devices connecting to the internet. IPv6 is a 128-bit scheme that will offer an (almost) infinite number of IP addresses. Most current routers have built-in support for IPv6 addressing, but it's a good idea to verify this if you want to be ready for the transition when IPv4 finally does hit the wall. Price Like anything else, router pricing is based on performance and features. A basic, single-band 802.11n router can run anywhere from $25 to $100, give or take a few bucks. You can snag a dual-band AC1200 model for as little as $130, but you will have to pay upwards of $250 for a dual-band AC2400 router with MIMO streaming capabilities. An AC3200 tri-band model with all the bells and whistles will run you somewhere around $300.
Early AC2600 MU-MIMO routers are hitting the market at around $300 to $400, but these prices will likely drop as more manufacturers get in on the action. Fast throughput speeds, good range, easy set up and manageability, a solid feature set, and, of course, fair pricing are what make a top router. These 10 recently reviewed routers span the range of pricing and strike the best balance among all our criteria right now. That changes every month as we're continually testing routers and updating this story.
For the latest reviews, visit the. How to Extend Your Wireless Signal If you live in a large or multiple-story home, you may have Wi-Fi 'dead zones.' These are areas of your home where your main router isn't able to reach with a wireless signal. An easy way to solve this, without the hassle of running long cords around your home, is a, which will pick up your router's Wi-Fi signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast it.
They come in both desktop and plug-in variations, and are relatively easy to install. They do have limitations, though: The rebroadcasted signal is typically half the strength of what you get from your main router, and they create a seperate network that makes seemless roaming through your home difficult. Wi-Fi Mesh Network Systems If a range extender doesn't do the trick, consider overhauling your network with a Wi-Fi system. This technology offers an easy way to blanket your home in Wi-Fi without the need for additional wiring, range extenders, or access points.
They utilize extension nodes, or satellites, to extend your Wi-Fi signal across a larger area than most routers are capable of. Systems such as and the employ mesh technology, where the satellites communicate with each other to provide coverage throughout your home, while others, like the, use a dedicated Wi-Fi band to communicate with its satellite. Depending on the number of nodes in the system you choose, you can spread a consistent internet connection across as much as 4,000 to 6,000 square feet of space. Satellites in a Wi-Fi system are all part of the same network and provide seamless connectivity as you roam throughout the house, and they do not usually require any configuration or management beyond a few taps on a free associated mobile app. A number of the solutions in this category support high-end features like guest networking, device prioritization, parental controls, and MU-MIMO, but because Wi-Fi systems are designed to be simple, in most cases you won't be able to access the same kind of in-depth settings you can on routers. For that reason, power users and compulsive tinkerers might not love Wi-Fi systems, but for everyone else who finds network setup intimidating, these are among the friendliest and most innovative options you can find today. For more details, read about.
Next Steps You'll find a list of our favorite routers below. We update this list monthly, but check out the for the latest reviews. Once you've found the right router, read our tips for, and. Need more network configurability or security with a?
Check out our list of the.
Consumer wireless routers vary in the Wi-Fi range they support. Routers with stronger Wi-Fi signals allow devices to connect at higher speeds from a greater distance and stay connected more reliably. Which one is best? A wireless router's antenna technology generally determines its Wi-Fi signal strength and hence its range.
So when you're considering a new router, you'll have to take into consideration the size of your coverage area, the number of connections you’ll want to make, as well as the type of devices you are looking to connect. Need help figuring out which one to buy? Here are our top picks for the routers with the longest range. Powerful, sleek and full of ports, the RT-AC88U from Asus is the gold standard for routers that offer fast speeds alongside an extended range that can fill an entire home.
Weighing 2.6 pounds and measuring at 6.5 x 30 x 18.8 inches, the Asus isn't small, but with a larger size comes a superb router that's worth every penny. The extra footprint doesn't go to waste, as the Asus is the first router with eight Gigabit LAN ports capable of running eight separate Ethernet-compatible devices simultaneously.
Additionally, the Asus is powered by 1024-QAM technology, which offers 80 percent faster speeds at 5GHz (2100Mbps) and 66 percent faster speeds at 2.4GHz (1000Mbps). Accompanying the faster speeds, the AC88U offers 33 percent greater coverage at the 2.4GHz range with the four-transmit, four-receive antenna design allowing expansive coverage in areas up to 5,000 square feet. Beyond coverage range, the Asus excels with its fun-to-use Web interface, easy setup and outstanding network monitoring features.
It includes a built-in VPN, as well as TrendMicro vulnerability detection to ensure a safer and more secure browsing experience protecting against malware. Furthermore, the Asus includes support for MU-MIMO, which offers each connected user his/her own dedicated Wi-Fi connection. And for gamers, the AC88U includes built-in game acceleration and route-optimized servers to offer the lowest ping-times during gaming sessions. Released in 2015, the Linksys WRT1900ACS Open Source Wi-Fi router might not offer the most aesthetically pleasing design, but its performance will have you all but forgetting its uninspiring looks.
Offering the same black and blue design that has dominated router appearance for years, the 1.77-pound and 7.67- x 9.76- x 2.01-inch WRT1900ACS offers a large footprint. With that comes a slew of performance-enhancing additions and excellent range. The design also includes four adjustable, high-performance antennas designed to enhance the 2.4GHz (600Mbps) and 5GHz (1300Mbps) dual-band communication to ensure maximum Wi-Fi coverage and performance.
Additionally, the inclusion of a 1.6GHz CPU enhances high-speed data processing allowing multiple users in the same home or office to simultaneously stream Netflix or Hulu, as well as play games online without any lag. Overall, the dual-band technology can handle up to four independent lanes of Wi-Fi data traffic at its peak performance of 1.9Gbps. Utilizing beamforming technology, the WRT1900ACS works to get every drop out of your wireless signal and push it across the house. Unfortunately, the WRT1900ACS lacks MU-MIMO capability for increased efficiency across data traffic, but still handles multiple connections in the same home with aplomb. Beyond its excellent speed, the setup for the WRT1900ACS is a snap with the Linksys iOS or Android app or Web browser. Finding a budget-priced router with excellent range isn’t an easy request, but the TP-Link AC1900 wireless long-range router is an excellent wallet-friendly option. Offering support for 802.11ac and dual-band networks (2.4 and 5GHz), the AC1900 adds three high-powered antennas to create a strong and reliable Wi-Fi signal throughout your home or small office.
Setup is a snap with the free TP-LINK tether app available on both Android and iOS, which allows you to both initiate the router right out of the box, as well as manage settings throughout its life. From a design standpoint, the all-white aesthetic differentiates it from the traditional black utilitarian look of traditional routers.
At three pounds and 13.2 x 3.9 x 9.5 inches, the AC1900 has three detachable antennas that are assisted by beamforming strengthening connections, which help direct the routers signal focus toward devices. Additionally, the AC1900 is tweaked out-of-the-box to enable gaming and 4K video streaming without interruption even if multiple devices are connected to the network at the same time. With its multitude of antennas and streamlined black design, the Linksys AC5400 Tri-Band Wireless Router is an excellent addition to any home. While most routers offer both the 2.4 and 5GHz bands, the inclusion of a third band at 5GHz offers blazing fast Wi-Fi speeds that are perfect for gaming and streaming online video. Powered by a 1.4GHz dual-core processor and sporting eight Ethernet ports, the AC5400 is ready to tackle any job. At 3.25 pounds and 5.39 x 14.29 and 11.73 inches, the router is not small, but the larger size also enables the longer range and excellent W-iFi performance. The router also supports MU-MIMO technology, so each device connected to the Wi-Fi network can operate independently without affecting the speed of other devices.
It's a set of 54 cards containing many different randomizers, among others the. Kuhlmann geschichtsspiele. So instead of throwing dice you (have someone) shuffle the cards and draw one (or multiple 1) Here's what a card looks like: 1 Note that in order to maintain probabilities you either need to use multiple decks or put the drawn card back and re-shuffle for every 'throw'. If you are not strictly insisting on actual dice, you may be interested in the as-silent-as-you-can-shuffle.
Beyond the tri-band feature set, the inclusion of 802.11ac offers the fastest possible Wi-Fi signal, which is especially great for busy households or home offices. All totaled, the 802.11ac connection paired with the three Wi-Fi bands add up to a combined potential speed of 5.3Gbps. Actual data speeds are limited by environmental factors and device limits, but for the price, the AC5400 is future-proofed for years to come.
Paired with a separately purchased Max-stream range extender, the AC5400 automatically switches to the strongest Wi-Fi signal available while roaming around the house. Online reviews peg the AC5400’s best performance under 150 feet of range without the extender, which is an exceptional range for a standalone router. Featuring a glossy white design, the Portal has nine antennas that are located inside the router. Portal's unique 'Fastlane' feature offers a patented technology that helps steer your devices to exclusive Wi-Fi channels typically reserved for non-consumer devices avoiding both congestion and reduced speeds. Portal's unique technology introduces a reliable router experience that's perfect for both everyday computing and business work, as well as lag-free gaming. The 802.11ac-equipped router includes MU-MIMO technology, as well as Turbo-AC2400 spectrum boost, which offers speeds that are three times faster than ordinary AC3200 routers.
Add in Mesh 2.0 readiness and hook the Portal up to additional units for 10x faster speeds and 3x more coverage. Even without additional mesh units, the standalone portal can easily cover up 3,000 square feet of your home. To the average person, routers are undeniably confusing. Between their multiple antennas, bands and inputs, they can be incredibly frustrating to set up. So we’re pleased to recommend the Nighthawk X6 as not only one of our favorite long-range routers but one of the easiest to set up as well. With its tri-band technology plus beamforming+, it smartly assigns each one of your devices to an optimal Wi-Fi band, ensuring they can connect at their max speed, up to 3.2Gbps. As for its simple set-up?
The NETGEAR genie app makes installation a snap. It supports a single sign-on (SSO) feature that lets you use one login for all of your NETGEAR accounts and also enables you to monitor, connect and control your home network remotely from your iOS or Android phone.
On top of that, it’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, so you can control your home network via voice commands. If it’s speed you want, spring for the TP-Link’s AC5400 Wireless Wi-Fi Tri-Band Gigabit router. At just three pounds and 9.1.
X 9.1 x 1.7 inches, it’s more compact than most routers at this price range with a comparable set of features that make it shelf- and desktop-friendly for any room in the house. However, don’t let the Archer’s compact size fool you; it’s powered by a 1.4GHz dual-core processor running three co-processors for each wireless band, the two 5GHz bands and a lone 2.4GHz band.
The eight high-powered antennas pair enable the Archer to provide blazing fast speeds, but also to offer extended range capable of hitting every room in the house. Additionally, the included NitroQAM technology delivers a total of 5400Mbps Wi-Fi speeds over the lone 2.4GHz band (1000Mbps) and the two 5GHz bands (2167Mbps). To make the signals range and speed even more reliable, the included MU-MIMO beamforming technology creates standalone connections to ensure the fastest possible speeds without affecting other users on the same network. Even gamers who demand fast speeds to keep up with users around the world will love the faster connection and high-speed signals that can fill a house up to 10,000 square feet. As a bonus, the Archer includes VPN security that locks away access to hard drives and other devices connected to the router Add in a slew of Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports and the Archer is an attractive, feature-rich Wi-Fi router that offers blazing fast performance. In today’s connected world, everyone wants faster Wi-Fi speed and a bigger Wi-Fi range and fortunately, the tech industry is listening.
Enter Mesh networking, a relatively new Wi-Fi router technology that offers complete home coverage through a multitude of devices plugged in around the home or office. AmpliFi HD’s home Wi-Fi system is a new entry into the Mesh networking space and is already leading the pack with glowing online reviews. Inside the main AmpliFi HD box are six high-density long-range 802.11ac 3x3 MIMO antennas offering speeds up to 5.25Gbps and a range of 20,000 feet. The design of the five-pound, four-inch main box is a complete breakaway from traditional router appearance and it’s a well-deserved change. Setting up the network is as easy as plugging in and watching once Internet dead spots in your home disappear. On the front of the all-white unit is a lone multicolored LCD that offers both the current time and speed statistics.
Beyond the base router are the white plastic “mesh points” that look like slightly larger USB sticks that plug into traditional power outlets around the home. With 85 percent five-star reviews on Amazon, the AmpliFi HD is the most robust mesh router on the market that offers a unique style and solid performance in both speed and range. Interested in reading more reviews? Take a look at our selection of the. Courtesy of Walmart.com Netgear’s Orbi system gives you multi-unit “hotspot” system with plug-and-play simplicity.
This particular tri-band system comes with two separate units: the Orbi Router and the Orbi Satellite. Technically speaking, the router works like any of the other routers on the list, the satellite unit works basically like an extender. But what’s interesting about a holistic system like this is that they all work together under the same name. So, a Wi-Fi-connected computer will see each unit as its own separate router under one unified name, giving you amazing coverage.
What does that coverage amount to? In this case, the two units will easily cover a 5,000-square-foot home, which is more than enough unless you live in a McMansion. The added benefit here is you can string more units into the package to extend the range even further.
So, while one unit might not mind-blowing range on its own, if you hook up enough of them, you’ll beat the range of any powerhouse unit on this list. It doesn’t hurt that they look pretty slick, too. Courtesy of BestBuy.com Motorola's N450 is a powerhouse router, at least as far as regular at-home usage goes. Their proprietary MIMO antenna gives you wireless-n technology with an extended range and fewer dead spots.
It offers up to 450 Mbps with 802.11 b/g/n wireless connectivity, which Motorola claims is enough for 4k streaming. Of course, that claim is up for debate, but the transfer rate is pretty impressive nonetheless. All of these specs are stepped up even further with Motorola’s built-in Power Boost wireless tech that works in tandem with the MIMO antenna to give you as much as range as possible without that frustration of having to reconnect. The on-board DOCSIS 3.0 modem provides eight downstream channels and four upstream channels to accommodate as much bandwidth as possible, and the built-in four Gigabit LAN ports give you the wired option, too.
Round that out with all the expected network compatibility and some industry standard encryption levels and you have an extremely reasonably priced router that’ll give you plenty of bang for your buck.
The next thing to consider is how much you’re willing to spend. The cheapest entry in this round-up costs under £100, though if you’re willing, you can shell out more than £200 and get your hands on a range of advanced features, such as one with a built-in VDSL2 modem so you don’t need plug your new router into the one provided by your ISP.
Related: Good range is especially important if you live in a house rather than a flat, and would ensure all rooms pick up the same strong Wi-Fi signal. Thanks to the integration of USB ports, the best routers can now cater to printers and external hard drives, while cloud support enables you to even use your mobile to quickly tinker with settings. Key Features:. 3x access point system.
Single SSID. 3×3 AC2533 Wi-Fi system. One Ethernet port per disc.
Works with any router. Review Price: £299.00 If you’re after a mesh network router but don’t have oodles of cash, then the BT Whole Home Wi-Fi is an excellent choice.
It takes a different approach to the Netgear Orbi and Linksys Velop systems that sees its base stations work with, rather than replace, your existing router. Though it doesn’t quite match the performance of more expensive mesh systems, with pricing starting at just £299 for a three-pack, it’s one the best-value options on the market.
It’s also very easy to set up and will provide reliable, fast Wi-Fi coverage for your whole home. Key features:. AC1900 speeds. MU-MIMO.
Four Ethernet ports, 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0. Review price: £100 It may not be the flashiest router around, but the Linksys EA7500 (sometimes known as the EA7500-UK) is a great value piece of kit. Not only do you get up to 1300Mbps over 5GHz and 600Mbps over 2.4GHz (your mileage may vary), you also get MU-MIMO, which works wonders for houses with multiple bandwidth-hungry devices. It’s a big step up from non-MU-MIMO routers, which slow down significantly when lots of users are connected. You get two USB ports, one of which is a fast USB 3.0 connector for connecting storage devices, as well as four gigabit Ethernet ports.
Our tests found good reliability and range. Key Features:. Wave 2 AC wireless connectivity. Seven antennae. Four Ethernet ports, 1 x USB 3.0. Review price: £100 BT’s broadband packages are what might be called “reassuringly expensive,” compared to some budget offerings.
Linksys Wifi Routers
But with that higher monthly/yearly expenditure comes a better class of router. While the likes of PlusNet and TalkTalk provide a pretty barebones experience with their routers, BT’s new BT Smart Hub is an impressively capable device.
It provides the latest AC WiFi standard and includes four Ethernet ports, a USB 3.0 port for sharing files and printers as well as seven antennae. BT claims that all allows for up to 500m range or up to 350m with a wall in the way. In reality it’s nowhere near that powerful but it does provide good overall WiFi speed and range, plus it comfortably bests BT’s previous effort, the BT Home Hub 5. As such, if you’re an existing BT customer it’s well worth the £50-£70 upgrade. Key Features:. 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi. Four Ethernet ports, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0.
About the cheapest AC1900 router you can get. Review price: £135.99 The TP-Link Archer C9 AC1900 is plain and simply one of the cheapest true AC1900 routers you can buy, and it doesn’t compromise on performance or features to achieve this. A smart design and decent build quality are joined by all the usual physical features such as four Ethernet ports and a couple of USB ports for printer and file sharing. As with any other AC1900 router, the actual speeds you’ll get from this thing are theoretically up to 1300Mbps using the 5GHz band and 600Mbps over the 2.4GHz band. Combined, that’s of course 1900Mbps. Real world performance is seldom anywhere close to that but this router still delivers the sort of speeds you’d expect from AC1900. Plus range and reliability are good, too.
It’s certainly not the fastest, but considering it costs almost half of what many other AC1900 routers cost, it’s a great buy. Key Features:.
4 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x eSATA/USB 2.0. OpenWRT support. Robust build.
Review price: £229 The Linksys WRT1900ACS isn’t quite the company’s flagship router in terms of raw speed and technology. It is, however, specifically designed with enthusiasts and demanding users in mind. A robust build is joined by a very practical design that includes things like individual lights to indicate the status of every connection and feature of the router. Moreover, you get OpenWRT support, which is the equivalent of Linux for routers. The open source firmware allows you to completely tinker with and customise the router’s functionality. Alternatively you can use the impressively powerful but easy to use OS that’s pre-installed.
It has all the latest software features, including things like printer and file sharing and much more. With ‘only’ four aerials and limited to ‘just’ AC1900 WiFi, it doesn’t match the very latest for pure WiFi features – most notably MU-MIMO is missing – but this is still among the fastest AC1900 routers you can buy. Plus it’s rock solid stable and reliable.
Key Features:. The fastest router we’ve ever tested. AC5300 with MU-MIMO. Four Ethernet ports, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0. Ethernet link aggregation. Review price: £400 The Asus RT-AC5300 is quite simply the fastest router we’ve ever tested. Equipped with the latest in WiFi technology, it boasts AC5300 speeds (that’s two 5GHz bands at 2167MBps each, plus a 2.4GHz band at 1000MBps), MU-MIMO and NitroQAM.
To pack in all that technology Asus has also had to make this the largest router we’ve ever tested, with it measuring over 30cm square and 17cm tall with all its eight aerials attached. Plus it weighs 1.7kg. This is a hefty thing. It’s therefore a bit of a shame that you only get one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port and four Ethernet ports. At this price and size I’d have hoped for two USB 3.0 and eight Ethernet. You do get Ethernet link aggregation, though, so you can combine two ports for up to 2Gbps speeds. As such, if you simply must have the best, then the RT-AC5300 certainly delivers.
Key Features:. 4 x Gigabit Ethernet, 2 x USB 3.0. IR transmitter. Gaming Boost network traffic management. H2R travel router and media streamer. AC2600 WiFi.
Review price: £184 The ASRock G10 is the most feature rich router we’ve ever seen. As well as all the usual trappings of a high-end router you also get an IR transmitter for controlling AV devices from your router, a gaming boost network management feature and a separate travel router. Called the H2R, the travel router docks into the main unit but can be pulled out and taken with you on your travels. It will convert a wired network connection into a wireless hotspot, plus it’s also a media streamer. Just plug it into your hotel’s HDMI port and you can play a pretty huge variety of multimedia files.
Joining that little lot you also get AC2600 WiFi (that’s 1733 Mbps at 5 Ghz and 800 Mbps at 2.4 Ghz), four gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB 3.0 ports for sharing files and printers. Overall performance is impressive too, with this comfortably beating most AC1900 routers. All those extras do make this a pricey option, but if you might find them useful this router delivers where it counts.