Best Wi-Fi routers 2022

There are lifesavers in the best wi-fi. The difference between good and bad internet in your house can be the difference between a good day and a bad one. Whether you need a ton of speed and connections or just want to make sure you don't drop your connection when you move around your home, there's a routers that's right for you. We have a guide to some of the best wireless routers you can buy.

What are the best Wi-Fi routers?

The TP-Link Archer AX21 is the best routers because it is enough for most people and has the capacity for future devices. It has an easy setup procedure thanks to the TP-Link tether app. The AX21 is a great fit if you are looking for something to keep up with most households.

The TP-Link Archer A7 is the best value option. The AC1750 should keep up with HD media streaming and browsing without slowing you down. It supports up to 1300Mbps on the 5 GHz band, and also has steady support for the 5 GHz band.

An increasing number of routers are asking for a subscription fee for advanced software features like improved network security and parental control, but in routers like the RT-AX1800S, the AiProtection software is free, making it one of the best options for families. Since there is no need to sign up for recurring fees, the cost over time is much lower than other routers that offer similar features.

The source is Samuel Contreras.

Most people should be happy with TP-Link's affordable and high quality Archer AX21, which has a spec list that most people should be happy with. A four-stream dual-band wireless setup has a speed of 574Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 1,199Mbps at 5 GHz. Modern software features are running smoothly thanks to a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor.

There are four ports for wired devices around the back. Speeds are limited to USB 2.0. This should be enough for HD video streaming in a pinch. It would have been nice to have more software features, but TP-Link has the most important features at this price.

TP-Link has a relatively large main housing that is 10.2 inches wide and 5.3 inches deep. The redesign adds some design flair, but it is still a standard design. It is nice to have a routers that looks modern without going over the top.

  • Modern Wi-Fi 6
  • Inexpensive
  • AX1800 delivers plenty of speed for most people
  • Four Ethernet ports and a USB port
  • Supports WPA3 technology
  • Large size for its speeds
  • Missing some software features
">TP-Link Archer AX21 Wi-Fi 6 Router

The best device for most people.

For a low price, the AX21 has 6 speeds. You don't give up any connection with four wired ports.

There is a source of the Android Central.

TP-Link's Archer A7 is one of the best wireless routers with enough speed for HD streaming and even browsing on a few devices. The A7 can deliver up to 1,300Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 450Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. The 2.4 GHz band has a wider range due to better wall penetration. It should be able to handle several devices at once without any issues. If you want to connect a lot of smart home devices, consider something with greater capacity.

TP-Link thinks the router will provide a signal for a three-bedroom home. If you need more coverage down the line, you don't need to replace your router. OneMesh allows you to connect other TP-Link routers. Unlike a traditional extender, you only use one name and your devices will automatically connect to the best available connection.

If you want to block specific URLs and prioritize a connection, the basic QoS and parental controls are included. The tether app can be used to set up and configuration the routers.

  • AC1750 speeds are plenty for most homes
  • OneMesh allows for coverage expansion
  • Four Ethernet ports allow for an easy upgrade
  • Lacks MU-MIMO support
  • Not for larger homes
">TP-Link Archer A7

The best routers on a budget.

Most people with support for future coverage expansion will get more than enough speed from the TP-Link Archer A7.

The source is asus.

The RT-AX1800S isn't the fastest routers you can buy, but it has plenty of speed for most families. The 5 GHz band can support up to 1,199Mbps, while the 2.4 GHz band can support up to 574Mbps. When your family gets more capable devices, you will be ready. There are four open ports on the back of the routers.

This is one of the best wireless routers for large homes, and its array of four external antennas should be able to reach most of your home easily. This is still a great pick for most homes, even though it doesn't support AiMesh mesh expansion like the similarRT-AX55U, but at a lower price.

This is a good choice for families because of the AiProtection Classic software. AiProtection comes with advanced parental controls. The software is free for the lifetime of the product. Whether you want to block inappropriate web content or just set up limited internet hours to keep students on task, this is a great inclusion.

  • AiProtection Classic included for the product's lifetime
  • Good coverage for large homes
  • Cheap Wi-Fi 6 speeds
  • Free parental controls included
  • AX1800 speeds aren't a great fit for a large family
  • No AiMesh support
">Asus RT-AX1800S

It's the best value for families.

You can get solid AX1800 wi-fi speeds for a reasonable price, without giving up parental controls, with the Asus RT-AX1800S.

The source is Netgear.

The price is kept in check by the sacrifice of the Netgear Nighthawk RAX 48. There is a slightly odd connection that results in 4.8Gbps on the 5 GHz band with 160MHz band support. With most of our devices utilizing 5 GHz, the sacrifice of a lower QAM on 2.4GHZ is not as big as it seems.

The RAX48 is a standard Nighthawk routers, which is to say, excellent. Four gigabit LAN ports on the back keep your wired devices connected, and a USB 3.0 port can provide network storage in a pinch. If you want to wall mount your router, there are four antennas on the back. A few shades of black create a rugged but modern aesthetic.

The Nighthawk app can be used to set up this router. You will be able to sign up for Netgear armor when you sign up. The security package powered by Bitdefender can provide network security for all devices connected to your router. Smart home devices with previous exploits or out-of-date software are included.

  • Superfast AX5200 speeds
  • 160MHz channel support
  • Great price
  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Slower 2.4GHz speeds for legacy devices
  • Advanced parental controls are not included
Netgear RAX48

Great for 5 GHz devices.

The Netgear RAX 48 is a fast router for 5 GHz devices with 160MHz support and an outstanding industrial design.

The source is Netgear.

The Nighthawk XR1000 from Netgear has everything you need for a good gaming experience with a fast wi-fi 6 router, top-notch hardware, and a software package designed to get the most out of it. 600Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 4.8Gbps at 5 GHz is what the AX5400 is capable of. The 160MHz 5 GHz band has fast speeds. There are four more ports on the back.

There are some nice features in DumaOS 3.0. Make sure you have enough bandwidth left over for live streaming because they keep game ping low and consistent. You get application quality of service so you can prioritize. Users can find and use the best server while blocking the worst connections with the help of ping heatmaps.

Playing a high-resolution PC game with an HD live stream to twitch or youtube gaming will push your home network to the limit, and the Nighthawk was designed to cope with it all.

  • Wi-Fi 6 AX5400 speeds
  • Four Ethernet LAN ports
  • DumaOS 3.0 adds geofencing application QoS
  • Easy setup with the Nighthawk app
">Netgear Nighthawk Xr1000 Router Gaming

The best gaming device.

Ensuring your internet is fast and consistent for gaming is one of the best ways to do that.

The source is ASUS.

With a 12-stream tri-band wi-fi 6 setup, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is the fastest gaming routers on the market. There are two 5 GHz channels at 4804Mbps and a 2.4 GHz channel at 1148Mbps. This is a lot of speed for a lot of tasks. There are four gigabit Ethernet ports around the back and a 2.5Gbps capable WAN port next to them.

Multiple devices can be connected for storage with the twousb 3.0 ports. There are eight red antennas on the outside of the router. The gaming prioritization software from Asus finds the fastest possible connection to a server. If you are looking for the fastest wireless speeds around, this is the one for you. If you want the same speed, you can choose the ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 version.

  • Blazing-fast AX11000 speeds
  • Fast 2.5Gbps Ethernet support
  • Latency reduction with prioritization software
  • Works with Asus' AiMesh expansion
">ASUS ROG Rapture AX11000 Router

The best wireless speeds.

The ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 has plenty of wireless speed for years to come and supports 2.5Gbps wired networking.

Hayato Huseman is a part of the Android Central.

The third generation Eero is one of the easiest systems to get up and running. While Eero doesn't reveal the exact speeds of its routers, we typically see speeds maxing out around 400Mbps. This is not the best option if you have a lot of internet speed. For most people, Eero is fast.

If you are a fan of the Eero platform but need more speed, the Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6 will give you enough speed for internet connections of up to 500Mbps and 1Gbps, respectively. The increased performance of the mesh can improve your connection.

The units are 3.86 inches wide and 2.36 inches tall and have two Ethernet ports on the back. The mesh connection can be strengthened with the help of the Ethernet ports. The nodes will be able to switch between modes. If you need more coverage than the included one, you can add any Eero routers to your mesh.

  • Works with all Eero models
  • Easy setup with an app
  • Compact nodes are easy to place
  • Wi-Fi is slow for the price
">Eero 3-pack

The best mesh wi-fi.

As long as you need it, you can add as much coverage as you want. Most people can use dual-band wi-fi.

The source is Netgear.

The OrbiRBK752 is a great mesh system that has advanced features and simplicity. While the actual settings aren't much more complex than other mesh systems, Netgear allows you to see more information, including mesh link speeds and very detailed connection information.

The mesh has 1200Mbps for devices at 5 GHz and 600Mbps at 2.4 GHz. The remaining 2,400Mbps is for the mesh connection. You will be able to get those speeds at both the satellite and the router. If you need more device speed than that, the Orbi RBK852 is 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110

There are three open gigabit Ethernet ports in the main routers and two in the satellite. The fast mesh link allows you to achieve very fast speeds on the satellite. This package can be expanded with more satellites and the faster one. The RBS850 has a fast connection. Orbis meshes can be set up with the Orbi app or web browser.

  • Fast AX4200 Wi-Fi 6 speeds
  • Tri-band Wi-Fi for a stronger mesh
  • Advanced information available in a web browser
  • Great coverage area at 5,000 square feet
  • Easy to set up in the app
  • No multi-gig Ethernet ports
  • Only two Ethernet points on the satellite
">Netgear Orbi RBK752

The best mesh wi-fi upgrade.

The Orbi RBK752 has a satellite and a 6 speed wi-fi.

The source is Netgear.

The tri-band RAX70 with the AX6600 is a leader in the field of wi-fi 6. The 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands have 1.2Gbps and 600Mbps, respectively, and this router is ready to handle a large number of connections without breaking a sweat. Depending on the wireless congestion in your area, your devices will be able to connect to the best possible band.

The wing on either side of the main body contains the antennas. It looks nice and provides coverage, but it won't work for vertical mounting. Even with high-speed connections, you should have no coverage issues in most homes.

  • Fast Wi-Fi 6 speeds
  • Tri-band connection
  • Easy setup with the Nighthawk app
  • Fixed antennas aren't great for vertical mounts
">Netgear Nighthawk RAX70 Wi-Fi 6 Tri-Band Router

The best upgrade for a wi-fi routers.

One of the first tri-band routers with incredible speeds is the Netgear RAX70.

The source is Netgear.

The C6250 is a cable modem and wireless device. The internet connection can be reached with 16 downstream channels and DOCSIS 3.0. AC1600 speeds can be achieved at 5 GHz and at 2.4 GHz. The 1300Mbps link speed on the 5 GHz band helps it handle fast connections.

The routers stands upright in a small black housing. If you need more than a couple of wired devices, you will need to add a switch to the mix. Most cable internet providers use this modem. If you want to get your wireless devices online with as little equipment as possible, this is a good option.

You will need a faster DOCSIS 3.1 modem if you want to connect with a gigabit connection. The fastest internet speed currently available on cable is supported by the Nighthawk C7800 modem. It won't pay for itself with rental fees, but still offers great performance, including a single box.

  • Standalone internet solution
  • AC1600 speed is enough for most people
  • Single compact unit
  • Only 2 Ethernet ports make expansion a challenge
  • Modem doesn't support gigabit download speeds
Netgear C6250 Modem and Router

The best modem for wi-fi.

The C6250 combines a modem and router into a single unit to get you online without any rental fees.

The source is Samuel Contreras.

One of the fastest cable modems you can have is the Netgear CBR750. DOCSIS 3.1 has 32 downstream and eight upstream streams. The modem has a theoretical max download speed of 10Gbps, which is more than most internet service providers will offer. It is nice to know that the modem could keep up if the internet service provider was to reallocate its resources in the future.

The RBR750 is often purchased as part of the RBK752 package. If you want to expand your mesh, you must use the RBS750 or the RBS850. If you want to expand your mesh coverage with the satellites, you cannot use an RBR750 or RBR850. Up to 3,000 square feet of coverage is what Netgear expects with the single CBR750.

The AX4200 has a connection speed of 1201Mbps for the main 5 GHz band, but it has a slower connection speed of 1202Mbps for the mesh connection and 600Mbps for the 2.4 GHz band. Most people will be able to get more than enough speed for a gigabit connection. There are four ports on the back. This is set up and managed with the Orbi app and can be used with a Netgear Armor subscription for more security and parental controls.

  • Fast tri-band AX4200 speeds
  • Wi-Fi 6 and DOCSIS 3.1 compatible
  • Four Ethernet ports make expansion easy
  • Attractive design
  • Expensive
  • No 160MHz bands
">Netgear Orbi Cbr750

DOCSIS 3.1, wi-fi 6, and mesh expansion are included.

One of the fastest cable modems is the Orbi CBR750, which has four Ethernet ports and a built-in wi-fi 6 mesh expansion.

There is no need for most people to buy something with the fastest speeds. Most people will be able to get internet speeds of 1Gbps, but Eero will not be able to get those speeds. When you start adding users, the real benefits of a more powerful router become apparent. If you know you will have many people on your connection, a bigger routers will make sure each device is given as much speed as possible without dropping the other connections.

1. Do you need Wi-Fi 6?

As the prices of the routers come down, they are becoming some of the best values around. With the same amount of spectrum, even phones can connect to the internet at speeds greater than 1Gbps.

These are compatible with earlier versions of the internet. If you want to be ready for the next generation of wireless LANs or want a more consistent connection, moving up to a wi-fi 6 is worth it.

2. Who needs a mesh system?

If you are looking for more consistency and better coverage with little concern for wired connections or top speeds, a mesh solution might be the best bet for you. Multiple satellites are used to add coverage to your network. You don't need to connect to multiple wi-fi points to use this.

It's worth it to many people because of the ability to expand your coverage at any time, and the low-profile and stylish designs. A mesh system will need faster hardware to match the performance of a stand alone router.

3. Does software matter for a router?

Many people would say that they just want their routers to be a box that makes excellent wi-fi that they can forget about. One of the nicer developments to reach today is managing a routers settings and connection in an app. The latest security features and bugs can be fixed with an automatic update for many routers.

Managing parental controls can help keep your family safe. Managing devices can get complicated with a whole family connected, so having nicely designed parental controls is important. A good quality of service (QoS) solution can keep your network running smoothly even with many users, so you can be sure your teams meetings are not interrupted by poor signal even with multiple devices streaming on your router.

4. Do you still need Ethernet?

Even with the best technology, a copper wire connection will be more stable than a wireless one. If you need your connection speed to be as fast as possible at all times, an Ethernet cable is a cheap and reliable way to make sure you stay connected. Even at lengths over 50 feet, it's more resistant to interference than wi-fi.

There are a lot of options to choose from. You will have room to grow if you get a little more speed than you need. A fast network is more important than ever because people are using their home internet more than ever. Even if you aren't ready to move up to a new routers, there are still a lot of great options to improve your experience.

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Author:

Samuel spends most of his time researching computer components and trying to understand what goes into the ultimate Windows 98 computer. It is the Pentium 3.

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