Which Wifi Routers Are Best for Bright House

We're all depending on our dwelling networks to keep united states of america connected during the ongoing pandemic, and it'due south more important than ever to have a decent Wi-Fi router managing your spider web traffic. If you lot're in need of a new i, then you'll be happy to hear that routers have come a long way in the past few years or then, with a number of noteworthy advancements worth considering as y'all chase for an upgrade.

For starters, there'southward a new-and-improved version of the Wi-Fi standard chosen 802.11ax -- orWi-Fi six -- and information technology boastsfaster, more than efficient dwelling network performance. On acme of that, there'south a growing number ofmesh router options that are well worth considering, too, peculiarly since many of them are far less expensive than previous router combo systems.

Store around, and you'll also findnew Wi-Fi 6E routers capable of sending signals usingnewly opened bandwidth in the 6GHz band. Justdon't look routers like those to come cheap.

Picket this: Which router upgrade is right for you?

All of that means that you've got a lot to recollect about if yous're currently in the market for an upgrade. That's where we come in. Whether y'all're interested ingaming routers,mesh systems,Wi-Fi half-dozen routers or if yous just want something decent that won't intermission the bank, we're here to simplify things and indicate y'all in the right management so that you can find the best Wi-Fi router to manage your needs.

Expect regular updates to this mail as we continue testing networking devices throughout 2022. When we detect a new router that merits strong consideration, we'll add it to this list with links to our virtually recent test information so that yous can e'er notice the all-time router.

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TP-Link Archer AX21

Best budget router

Ry Crist/CNET

Bachelor for $100 (or less if you take hold of a sale), the TP-Link Archer AX21 is an entry-level, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router that supports height speeds of up to i,201Mbps (i.2Gbps) on its 5GHz band. It'southward nothing fancy, but information technology offered near flawless performance for small- to medium-size homes in our tests, and it's a cinch to setup and employ cheers to TP-Link'due south Tether app.

Best of all, when tested against other, similar routers from names like Asus and Netgear, the AX21 held its ain with faster download speeds, better range, and low latency, besides. Add in a functional bandsteering style that automatically steers you lot between the 2.4 and 5GHz bands within a single network, plus guest network controls and even a quality of service engine for prioritizing traffic to the most important devices on your network, and yous're looking at a decent dwelling networking upgrade that's equally elementary and affordable equally it gets.

At present's a decent time to take hold of it, likewise. Every bit of mid-January, most retailers have information technology listed for $90 -- not the all-time toll nosotros've seen information technology sell for, but still a disbelieve.

Read our TP-Link Archer AX21 review.

TP-Link Deco W7200

Best mesh router (Update: Out of stock)

Chris Monroe/CNET

For the best performance from your mesh router, you'll want to prioritize getting one with support for Wi-Fi 6, plus a tri-band blueprint that includes 3 separate bands of traffic: the usual 2.4 and 5GHz bands, plus an additional 5GHz band that the system tin can use as a dedicated wireless backhaul for transmissions between the router and its satellites. Nigh mesh routers like that cost at least $300 or even $400, but the TP-Link Deco W7200 gets you there for but $229.

That's the best deal I've seen for a tri-band mesh router with support for Wi-Fi 6 -- and sure enough, information technology'due south an excellent performer, as well. In fact, the only organization that managed to outperform information technology outright in my at-home speed tests is the AX6000 version of Netgear Orbi, which costs more than 3 times equally much (keep reading for more on that ane). On summit of that, TP-Link's setup process is most every bit like shooting fish in a barrel as it gets, with satellite extenders that automatically join the mesh as soon as you plug them in.

That makes the Deco W7200 an outstanding value, and the first mesh router I'd bespeak near people towards if they're in need of something new.

(Editor's notation, January. 13: The Deco W7200 is currently out of stock on Walmart'due south website -- in the meantime, you lot could also consider the Deco X68, which costs $280 for a 2-pack on Amazon. I haven't tested it, merely it boasts identical specs to the Deco W7200 and the same pattern, as well.)

Read our TP-Link Deco W7200 review.

Netgear Orbi (dual-band, AC1200)

All-time mesh value

Ry Crist/CNET

It isn't as fully featured every bit systems that cost more, and it doesn't support Wi-Fi 6 -- but bated from that, the budget-friendly, AC1200 version of the Netgear Orbi mesh router stands out equally a clear value pick in the mesh category. Currently down to just $92 for a three-device setup with the Wi-Fi router and two satellite extenders, information technology'southward most as inexpensive as mesh routers come, and it kept upwardly with both Nest Wifi and the Wi-Fi v version of Amazon'south Eero mesh router in our speed tests.

In fact, of those three systems, Netgear Orbi clocked in with the fastest boilerplate top speed at close range -- and when we put that range to the test with smart devices at the CNET Smart Home, it edged those ii Wi-Fi systems out with a faster router speed once once more. I even similar the design, with clever contours on top that vent out heat in style.

Read our Netgear Orbi review.

Netgear Orbi (tri-band, AX6000)

Best mesh functioning

Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Starting at $700 for the two-piece setup seen here, the AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi is far more than expensive than the dual-band version listed higher up, but it's also a lot more powerful. With a second 5GHz band serving as a dedicated backhaul for system transmissions between the router and its satellites and total support for Wi-Fi half dozen, the arrangement is withal our pinnacle-tested mesh router, with the best scores in both our lab-based top speed tests and our calm mesh coverage tests.

In the latter round of tests at my home, where my cobweb internet connection tops out at 300Mbps, the Orbi AX600 returned average speeds of 289Mbps to Wi-Fi v devices and 367Mbps to Wi-Fi 6 devices, including speeds at the farthest point from the router that were 95% as fast as when connecting upwardly close. That's a about perfect event, and i that no other mesh system I've tested has been able to match.

Is that sort of speedy functioning worth $700? I think most volition find better value with something less expensive -- and you've got a growing number of solid options that fit the nib. However, if you're buying correct now and you want elite mesh operation, price exist damned, then this is the system to get.

Read our Netgear Orbi 6 review.

Asus RT-AX86U

Best gaming router

Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Gaming routers promise loftier performance and depression latency for die-hard gamers, and it isn't uncommon to find them selling for $300 or even $400. At about $250, the Asus RT-AX86U dual-band router isn't cheap either, but it's a stiff value relative to routers like those -- and the operation it delivers as a gaming router is flat-out great.

Almost noteworthy is the router's latency direction. In fact, it leads all of the routers I've ever tested, gaming or otherwise, with the lowest average latency across all of my tests, which online gamers will definitely capeesh. Something else you'll capeesh: An splendid mix of app-based controls and features, including a mobile heave mode, that lets you prioritize gaming traffic to your telephone at the touch on of a button.

Gaming features aside, the RT-AX86U offers full support for Wi-Fi 6, with strong, stable speeds and practiced range. If you demand additional range, yous can add other Asus "AIMesh" devices to your abode network to make it the centerpiece of a mesh.

That checks off all of the boxes that nearly people desire from a good gaming router, and it gets you at that place at a price that isn't too painful for us to recommend. Even if you aren't a gamer, this is still one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers y'all tin can buy right now.

Read our listing of the best gaming routers.

Spotter this: Ways to speed up your Wi-Fi

Router FAQs

I'll mail service the answer to unremarkably asked router questions below -- if you have any others, feel free to achieve out on Twitter (@rycrist), or by clicking the picayune envelope icon on my CNET profile folio. Doing and so will let you ship a message straight to my inbox.

What does a Wi-Fi router practise?

You demand to be connected to your modem in order to send and receive information from the web -- your router lets you do that without need for a wire. It'southward basically a big, fancy antenna for your modem that lets you lot connect with it wirelessly, over Wi-Fi. Yous tin can also use that local Wi-Fi network to connect with other devices at home, like printers or remote storage servers.

How much should I spend on a router?

It depends on what you need and how many people and devices demand to connect, simply a small-scale- to medium-sized home or apartment can probably become by with a well-tested dual-band router in the $100 range. If your habitation is larger, then it's probably worth spending more than on a mesh organization that can spread more consistent speeds from room to room. And if you lot're working from dwelling house, gaming online or sharing bandwidth with multiple housemates or family members, upgrading to something like a high-speed tri-band router is probably a good investment, as well.

How do I ready a Wi-Fi router?

The old-fashioned mode is to plug the thing in and connect information technology with your modem via Ethernet cable, then type its IP address into a browser's URL bar to begin the setup. The easier, more modernistic way is to use the router's app, which will typically walk you through setup in about 5-10 minutes. After setup, you tin also apply either approach to admission the router'due south settings or modify your Wi-Fi password.

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Source: https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/best-wi-fi-router/