These days your Wi-Fi router not only connects you to the Internet, but often your job, too. Here’s what you need to build your best home network along with reviews of the best routers we’ve tested for a range of needs and budgets.
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These days, your wifi
router not only connects To the internet, but often your job, too. Here’s what you need to
build your best home network, Along with reviews of the
best routers we’ve tested For a range of needs and budgets. The ASUS ROG Rapture GTAC 5300 is overkill For most home users. But if you take your gaming seriously, Or want to ensure that
your network is providing Maximum throughput for all of your play And streaming needs, this
router is as good as it gets. It delivered the fastest 5 gigahertz Close proximity throughput performance Of any router we’ve tested. And its 2.4 gigahertz and
MU-MIMO performance numbers Were also solid. It offers a heap of gigabit LAN ports With built in acceleration
for gaming applications, Robust protection against
malware and viruses, A powerful Quad Core processor, And a wealth of other gamer
friendly optimization features. All of which are controlled
using a well-designed interface. This router doesn’t come cheap, And its file transfer performance Could be a smidge better. But neither gripe prevents
it from earning our Editor’s choice for high-end routers. Designed for large homes, The Netgear Nighthawk X10
AD7200 is an expensive, High-end feature packed router
that delivers some of the Fastest throughput performance we’ve seen. While there are other
routers that have MU-MIMO Data streaming, 160
megahertz wifi technology, Or 60 gigahertz 802.11 wifi capabilities,
The R9000 is the only one we’ve
seen so far with all three. It’s loaded with six gigabit LAN ports, An SPF plus LAN port for
10 gigabit connectivity Via fiber, a feature we haven’t seen In a consumer level router until now, And automatic Amazon drive back up, And Plex media server capabilities. Granted, there aren’t many clients around To take advantage of the 802 11AD And 160 megahertz wifi features. But if you want to get ahead of the curve With a router that is
ready for the future, This NetGear is our latest editor’s choice For high end routers. If you’re looking to
replace your outdated router But have limited funds, Check out the ASUS RT AC 66UB1, A dual band router, the RT
AC 66UB1 is equipped with Four LAN ports and offers built-in trend Micro malware protection and user friendly Quality of service and
parental control settings. It outperformed similarly
budget priced routers In most of our throughput tests And was very easy to install and configure Using the intuitive ASUS WRT web console. Its solid performance, robust feature set, And affordable price earn
it our Editor’s Choice For budget priced routers. There’s a lot to like
about the D-link AC 2600. Its embedded secure home platform Brings strong home network protection Against viruses and other malware. It will also scan for IOT
anomalies that may indicate Hacking attempts on smart home devices
Such as thermostats and security cameras. It also offers rich
customizable parental controls That allow you to monitor your
child’s internet activity. Set time limits and block
access to inappropriate content. Moreover, its throughput
performance is wonderful. Granted, it’s a bit bulky
and it’s file transfer Performance could be better, But it’s still worthy
of our Editor’s Choice For mid-range routers. With the D-Link AC1200 you
don’t have to spend a lot To cover your home with
effective dual band Wireless networking. The router is a snap to install And delivers fast
throughput for the money, Especially on the five gigahertz band. But it lacks USB connectivity. Granted, it’s not as affordable As the Tenda F3 and 300 wireless router, But for an extra $30, you
get the 802.11 AC technology, An extra LAN port, and speedy
five gigahertz performance. As such, the DIR842 is our editor’s choice For budget wireless routers. The Linksys EA6350 AC1200 Plus Is an excellent choice
if you don’t require An advanced router. Ideal for smaller homes and apartments, It’s delivered very fast
five gigahertz throughput In our tests, and while it’s
2.4 gigahertz performance Didn’t set any records, It was more than adequate for
a router in this price range. As with most Linksys routers, The EA6350 is very easy
to install and manage. Thanks to Linksys smart wifi
web console and mobile app. You’ll pay around $30 more for this router
Than you would for the D-Link AC1200, But the extra money gets
you much faster throughput And a USB three port. TP Link’s Archer C7 AC1750 Is an affordable router that performs More like an expensive one. Its scores in our 2.4
gigahertz and five gigahertz Throughput tests were
significantly faster than Similarly priced budget models, Including the $90 Linksys EA6350. It offers a nice feature
set, four gigabet LAN ports, And a pair of USB two ports. Management settings were plentiful. But the web console is slow to respond And lacks user friendly
icons to help you navigate The menu system. That said, it’s the fastest
dual band router in its class, And neither gripe prevents it from earning Our editor’s choice for budget routers. With the Trendnet AC2600 Stream
Boost MU-MIMO wifi router, You get all the latest
802.11 AC technologies, Including streamboost,
MU-MIMO data streaming, And beam forming, as well
as outstanding performance Across the board. In fact, it delivered one of the fastest 2.4 gigahertz scores we’ve seen, And its five gigahertz and
MU-MIMO throughput speeds Rival that of the more
expensive, high-end routers We’ve recently tested. Its file transfer right
speeds aren’t particularly Fast though, however. Our biggest gripe with this router Has to do with its user interface. While easy to navigate, it takes
a long time to save changes
And requires a complete reboot. And you have to remember to save, Then apply any changes
before they take effect. That said, its excellent performance Puts it at the top of its class And earns it our editor’s
choice for mid-range routers. One of the first wifi 6
routers to hit our labs Back in April of 2019, the Asus RTX88U Is still one of the best
we’ve tested to date. Armed with 802.11 AX circuitry, This pricey router delivers
speedy 160 megahertz throughput, And fast file transfer
speeds in our tests. And its standard 802.11 AC
performance is also very good. Those numbers, coupled
with an excellent router Operating system and robust
third party software security Are what clinch the editor’s choice win. If it’s within your budget, the RTAX88U Is the best choice if you’re
ready for wifi 6 right now, And you want to future
proof your wireless network. Sold exclusively at Wal-Mart,
the Jetstream AC 3000 Is a mid-range model that
uses three wifi bands, Two five gigahertz, and one 2.4 gigahertz To help balance network traffic in homes Where online gaming and 4K video streaming Vie for network bandwidth. It’s very easy to install and
turned in respectable scores On our close range
throughput performance tests. But its long range and
file transfer performances Could be better. It also lacks some of the features That we have come to expect
with the current crop Of home wifi routers such
as parental controls, QOS settings that allow you to assign Bandwidth priority to a specific
clients and applications,
And protection against viruses
and other malware threats. Although the Jetstream AC3000
has an affordable price And a second five gigahertz
band that will help Distribute wifi traffic, It’s worth paying $90 more
for the editor’s choice Asus RTAC86U if you need a gaming router With advanced features
like device prioritization And parental controls.
