In today 's connected world, where virtually all homes are filled with smartphones, computers, smart TVs and other devices struggling for bandwidth, the Need a quality router has never been so big. Most of the time, the one that is distributed by your ISP is at best average. If you want a router with improved throughput, range, and features, check out our best choices.
Best Wi-Fi system for the most part
Great | Differentiating Characteristics
Cheaper than most competitors, incredibly easy to install, great software and mobile application
Good | Most have it
Large blanket, elegant and elegant design
Average | Competitors may be better
Few advanced features, no USB port
It took a long time for Google Wifi to arrive, but it was worth the wait. Unlike simple and powerful routers, mesh networks use two or more devices that communicate wirelessly with each other, overlaying your home with a single, reliable network. They are a great option for those with medium or large space who do not want the cost or rigmarole of setting up multiple devices.
Simplicity is the key word here: just download the Google Wifi app on your phone or tablet, plug in a power source with the help of the USB adapter Type-C, connect your existing modem via the Gigabit Ethernet port, and following the instructions on the screen. But it's just set up and one of the many amenities offered by this wireless mesh system.
Another particularly interesting thing about Google Wifi is that it automatically downloads and installs firmware updates. These happen quite often, which means that the performance and security of your network is regularly improved.
Google's system is one of the cheapest mesh networks, which costs around $ 258 for a three-pack or $ 129 for a single unit, thus offering good value if you want to add extra points to your house. Google says its 3 pack covers up to 4500 square feet, which should be enough for most people.
The Google Wifi feature-rich application is another of the highlights here. It allows users to see which devices are connected and which bandwidth each uses. You can prioritize traffic to specific devices for certain times, which is useful if you are streaming the latest 4K Netflix or participate in a Fortnite: Battle Royale session. Worried parents, meanwhile, can pause Internet access for groups of devices, thus ensuring that children do not stay online too long, and it is also possible Automatically block adult sites The stability of the network is maintained because the units constantly check the best channel and Wi-Fi band that a client can connect to, and you can even create separate guest networks.
CNET reports that Google Wifi has tested a dual-stream AC1200 router, reaching a sustained Wi-Fi speed of more than 470 megabits per second at short range, falling to 201 megabits at greater distance. There is a drop in performance when adding additional units, but this is the case with all mesh systems.
In the end, for ease of use, competitive pricing and stylish design, Google Wifi is hard to beat, especially if you have a big house and want better coverage.
The Performance Option
While the Netgear Orbi RBK50 Tribande is much bigger than Google's nodes and less easy to look at, it offers more. You get a complete Web interface with all the same features as Netgear's Nighthawk routers, including static routing, advanced port mapping, firewall rules, and backups. There is even MU-MIMO support, a three-port Gigabit Ethernet switch on the router and a four-port switch on the satellite.
The basic package of $ 291 includes two units instead of the usual three, but they still cover 5,000 square feet. You could lose the easy-to-use application and the subtle Google WiFi styles, but Orbi offers the best wireless performance of all mesh routers.
The Best Enthusiast & Gaming Router
Great | Differentiating Characteristics
Incredible speed and range, support for the MU-MIMO 4x4, eight Gigabit LAN ports with link aggregation and dual WAN support, player-focused and lifetime protection against online threats.
Good | Most have it
Tons of features.
Average | Competitors may be better
Very expensive, no wall mounting, too much for much.
Although it may be too heavy for most people, few routers can match the speed, features, and game concentration offered by the Asus GT-AC5300. The device is part of the famous Republic of Gamers brand of Asus, so you know who its main audience is. It should not be surprising to learn that if you want a router that is about the best in the business, you will have to pay for the privilege; $ 386, to be exact, which is a very interesting price. However, all this money brings you a lot of advanced technology.
The Asus GT-AC5300 offers the MU-MIMO 4x4 (Multiple User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output), which allows it to connect to multiple devices simultaneously, rather than having to relay, accelerating thus the network.
This is a tri-band router that can provide 5300mbps of combined theoretical throughput. In addition, users can allocate one of the 5 GHz bands to gaming devices, while anything that is not dedicated to this hobby the most important can use the second 5 GHz band or the 2.4 GHz band.
In addition to these eight distinctive antennas, the GT-AC5300 also features two USB 3.0 ports and eight solid Ethernet ports. Two of them are dedicated to gaming traffic, while two others can be used for link aggregation, combining two ports to create a 2 Gbps connection.
The number of features on the GT-AC5300 is staggering: VPN Fusion (for the simultaneous execution of a VPN and a regular internet connection), Game IPS, Game Radar, Range Boost , AiMesh Support, Smart Connect, built-in malware protection, and much more. The internal components of the router are equally impressive: a 64-bit quad-core 1.8 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM and 256 MB of flash memory.
Again, this router is exaggerated for the average consumer, but for those who want the best, you can not go wrong with the Asus GT-AC5300, especially if you prioritize the game above all others .
Other Options
The Netgear Nighthawk X6 is another great option, and although this tri-band router is not as feature-rich as the other enthusiastic options here, it's still a great choice and available for just over $ 200 .
The winner of last year was another Asus, the AC3100 RT-AC8800 Dual Band. Like the AC5300, it comes with a ton of features, excellent speeds and wireless range, MU-MIMO support, eight gigabit LAN ports with Link Aggregation and a dual WAN. It is now offered by Amazon for 237.55 dollars.
Best Router for Most People
Great | Differentiating Characteristics
High speed and wireless reach, easy-to-use web interface, dual WAN support, removable antennas, excellent price.
Good | Most have it
Powerful home networking features, simple configuration.
Average | Competitors may be better
Can not be wall mounted, can only be placed upright, aged
For those who want a traditional router but do not need all the bells and whistles that come with models at $ 200 +, there is the Asus RT-AC68U. But do not think its price of $ 140 equates to a suboptimal performance: there is a reason why it was our choice of the best amateur in 2016, while it cost almost $ 300.
The AC1900 Dual Band Wireless Gigabit Router offers impressive range and throughput, especially for the price. It supports 600 Mbps at 2.4 GHz and up to 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. And even though it may not have the classy looks of the new high end models of today, it offers a sleek and subtle design. These ten status lights may be useful, although the fact that it is not fixed to the wall is a negative point.
The router comes with four Gigabit LAN ports and a WAN port, with a USB 2.0 port and a USB 3.0 port, which support printers and mobile broadband devices, as well as USB drives. It even has removable antennas.
AsusWRT's excellent ASUSWRT web interface is clean and simple to use, offering traffic management, status and parental controls. There are also options for more advanced users, such as multiple wireless SSIDs, support for two WANs, QoS, security, and encrypted VPN access.
Another great feature of this router is that you can buy more one for larger homes and, thanks to the Asus AiMesh system, create a nearly meshed system.
In the end, the Asus RT-AC68U is the perfect all-rounder for anyone who does not require state-of-the-art features or blazing speeds. It has been my router of choice for the past two years, and I have not found a single complaint yet.
Also great: Synology RT2600ac
If you want a high-end router with some improvements over the RT-AC68U and you're ready to spend a little more, then the Synology RT2600AC is a great alternative and a dual-core processor running at 1.7GHz . Synology's model is a quad-stream (4x4) router that supports MU-MIMO and comes with a host of features, while still managing to stay under the $ 200 mark.
It has top speeds of up to 1733 megabits per second on the 5GHz band and up to 800Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, while offering excellent range. It is also expandable through additional packages for VPN, DNS, multiple file sharing services and more.
Like some enthusiastic routers, the RT2600ac will likely be overcrowded for some people, though DIYers will definitely appreciate the advanced network features offered by the Synology firmware. It may not be player-oriented like the Asus GT-AC5300, but it's a great choice for busy homes, and the fact that it can double as that networked storage server is another plus.
A solid option of $ 70: TP-Link Archer C7 1750
If you want something that just does this job and do not worry about a bunch of features you do not use, there is the TP-Link Archer C7 1750. It can only cost $ 60 on Amazon, but this router offers simultaneous connections at 2.4 GHz 450 Mbps and 5GHz 1300 Mbps for 1.75 Gbps of total available bandwidth. You also have a Gigabit WAN port, four Gigabit LAN ports and two USB 2.0 ports, as well as parental controls and guest network options. There is even a web interface, even if it's not one of the best.
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