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As the world has gone wireless, the market for wireless routers has absolutely exploded. There are two key aspects to choosing the best wireless router – speed and range.
We have scoured over the thousands of different models available, tested the top picks, and aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews. Here are our top picks for best wireless router.
Our Top Pick
NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router (R7000)
With a great price point, and over 12,000 (!) stellar online reviews, the Nighthawk is our pick for best wireless router. Unless you have special needs (gaming, huge range, etc.) – this is the wireless router for you. Highly recommended.
Other Great Picks
D-Link AC3200
This great router from D-Link has over 1,000 positive online reviews, and a cool design, to boot. While you can certainly spend more, and get more features – this is more than enough for most people. Definitely recommended.
NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 Smart WiFi Router (R9000)
This top of the line wireless router from Netgear has over 2,000 positive online reviews, and is an absolute beast, in terms of performance. Definitely recommended, though may be slight overkill for anyone with just regular network traffic needs.
NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700
If you want a wireless router for gaming – this is the one. With over 1,300 stellar online reviews, it has a sleek look, incredible performance (specifically tailored for gaming), and tons of range. Highly recommended.
ASUS Dual-Band Gigabit WiFi Gaming Router (AC3100)
If you want speed and power for gaming – check out this luxury performance model. With over 6,000+ positive online reviews, and one of the sleekest designs we’ve ever seen – it’s a true beast. Highly recommended.
Google WiFi system, 3-Pack – Router replacement for whole home coverage (NLS-1304-25)
Google does great manufacturing on wireless networks, and this system is no different. With over 6,400 glowing reviews, it is simply unbeatable, for most people’s needs. Highly recommended.
AmpliFi HD WiFi System by Ubiquiti Labs
With over 1,500 glowing online reviews, this sleek wireless router from AmpliFi is a great home solution. We love the design, as well as the easy ability to see the speed of our connection. A top pick.
TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750
This great budget pick has over 20,000 stellar online reviews, and for the price, it is simply unbeatable. While you may want to spend slightly more and get more features – for the most basic of needs, this is more than enough. Definitely recommended.
NETGEAR Orbi Ultra-Performance Whole Home Mesh WiFi System
With a mind-blowing 7,000+ positive online reviews, this great product from Netgear delivers a great mesh networking solution for your home. If performance is what you are prioritizing – this is like the wireless router for you.
ASUS Dual-Band Gigabit WiFi Gaming Router (AC3100)
With over 6,000 glowing reviews, this high-performance router works great for gaming, as well as any other high-traffic needs. The dual-band feature allows for more than normal wireless routers do, and the sleek, minimalist design reminds us of the infamous stealth bomber. Definite must-buy.
What You Need To Know About Wireless Routers
Things have really changed since the initial explosion of the internet. No longer is there a slow, dialup connection – in fact, each of us has at least 2 internet connected devices. Smartphones, laptops, connected watches, fitness trackers, smart refrigerators – there are so many devices in our homes that are constantly online.
With this, comes an increased need to have greater speed, and huge range. You might have one person downloading a movie in their bedroom on the second story of the house, someone else could be streaming music in the kitchen, and a third person might be gaming in the basement. This places a huge demand on your Wi-Fi connection, and also requires a great wireless router.
While this may sound intimidating, the truth is, it’s fairly easy to choose the right wireless router for you. You simply need to figure out what your needs are, and how much you are willing to spend. We do recommend that you spend a little bit more on a router, than other technology in your home – as a great router can make a huge difference when it comes to the speed and quality of your network.
What Are The Different Types Of Wireless Routers?
Unlike previous time periods, it is now accepted that all modern routers are – at a minimum – dual-band. This means there is a slower band (which has longer range), and a faster band (which has shorter range). This is definitely an improvement over older routers, but sometimes you will still have to use two separate network names – and choose which devices will connect to each network.
While this typically only happens in older (or cheaper) routers, it is still an issue to be aware of. The two bands most commonly used are 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz. In these lower level routers, if you don’t assign different networks to different devices – you will experience massive slowdowns.
Luckily, newer (and more expensive) routers avoid these problems, leading to better performance for every device on the network. This is known as band steering – which is the function that allows your router to determine which network should connect with each device.
Unfortunately, some lesser routers still can’t use band steering very well – and end up simply connecting each device to the strongest band – leaving your network congested. Our picks for the best wireless router avoid this problem – and you will want to make sure you do not pick a model that cannot properly utilize band steering.
Tri-band routers are what you may have already guessed – they have three different bands to operate on. The first two bands remain the same, but the third band is an extra 5 GHz band. This is obviously preferable, especially if you have a larger number of devices on the network.
Another key aspect of a wireless router – speed. 802.11AC routers come with an AC speed rating – which is exactly what it sounds like – it tells you just how fast the router is. At least, that’s what the rating is supposed to do.
But in the real world – the AC speed rating is largely meaningless. No matter what the rating, most routers are dual-band, and offer three spatial streams. Beyond this, the rating does not really help steer you towards a better buying decision.
Another aspect important to a wireless router’s performance, is processing power. A router with a fast processor can handle more devices and offer better network speeds. Even if you have good radios inside a device, your router will be slowed down by a slow processor.
How To Choose The Best Wireless Router For You
There are a lot of variables to consider, when it comes to choosing a wireless router. You want to consider price, range, speed, and compatibility.
What may be a top priority for you – may not be a top priority for others. Speed and range tend to be the most important factors – but not always.
Gaming, home office use, and streaming are other considerations to factor in. If you’re a gamer – you will definitely want the fastest wireless router possible. Streaming will likely be the same scenario – speed is always critical for smooth streaming.
However, range is also important. If you have a large space to cover – you don’t want your Wi-Fi speed to drop – simply because you’re sitting farther away from the router. Range can be a critical factor, between choosing between a router that gives you average speed – and a router that will be blazing fast.
Your internet service provider will also control your speed – so be sure and check with them, if you are looking to increase the quickness of your Wi-Fi connection. For most, a standard 802.11AC router is going to be able to handle most (if not all) of your traffic needs.
However, Gigabit internet plans will need a better router – and if you like to plan ahead – a better router is a great investment for the future. Technology changes rapidly, and the speed of our devices constantly increases. A better, more advanced router is certainly going to be required in the future – so why not get one now, and stay ahead of the curve.
One interesting advancement, is Wi-Fi 6. This is a new paradigm, and Wi-Fi 6 routers are starting to be rolled out into the marketplace. Average broadband speeds are still mostly around 100 Mbps however, so most wireless AC routers will deliver good speeds.
Besides speed, range for a wireless router is very important. If you have an apartment or small home, the standard range for most routers (50-100 feet) will suffice. However, if you have a larger home, or need more coverage – you will have to move up to the next level.
In homes of 3,000 square feet or more, a mesh router is a better option. This type of router will utilize multiple devices, to provide a Wi-Fi signal throughout a much bigger space. If your home has multiple floors, or you have some dead spots, a mesh router is a great solution.
The Best Wireless Router: Cost
Just like any technology – you will pay more money for extra features, as well as better speed. The same goes for wireless routers. There are basic models which typically sell for less than $100 – and super-advanced models which sell for more than $400.
As with most products, for most people, the middle range may work best. This means spending more than $100 – but also spending less than $400. This price range will get you a very good router – not the absolute best – and for most people this will suffice. While you can try to save money on most technology in your home – we don’t recommend trying to save money when it comes to choosing a wireless router.
A cheap router will give you many headaches – from network speed to device connectivity issues. You will also constantly be trying to reboot it, reset it, or get your devices to connect to it. Trust us in advance – you do not want to go through this process.
Spending a little bit more now, will not only give you great performance today – it will set you up to be ready for the future. In just a few short years, we will have even more devices that rely on constant internet connectivity – so our networks will need to be even more robust.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how much you want to spend on a wireless router. Your life does get a lot easier with faster internet, however. So our advice is to plan for the future, and get the best wireless router that you can afford – as one day you will need it.
How Much Range Do You Need For A Wireless Router?
It’s important to determine your needs for range – before you make a wireless router purchase. If you have a small house or apartment – range is unlikely to be an issue. However, if you have a house or larger space – range can be a make-or-break factor for a wireless router.
Wi-Fi routers operating on the 2.4 GHz band typically have a range of 150 feet. 5GHz bands will have shorter range, which is why it’s important to choose a dual-band router – you get the best of both worlds.
If you are unsure exactly how much range you need – we recommend buying a wireless router with a longer range. This will guarantee that you will always be able to have a strong signal – as well as ensure that you end up with a great overall router.
What’s The Most Important Feature Of A Wireless Router?
While there are many potential bells and whistles on wireless routers, ultimately the most important factor is how good your internet quality is. At the end of the day, this is what most people will notice – and it’s usually only something they notice when there is a problem. Thus, reliability would be the second most important factor, when it comes to choosing the best wireless router.
The Best Wireless Router
There they are – our top picks for best wireless router. There are many other important elements to having a perfect home office (or gaming) setup, so be sure and check out our other top picks, in the tech category.