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The pandemic triggered a surge in home internet use, with millions of Americans working remotely from home in instant to their kids spending all day indoors. All of that made it more essential than ever to have a dependable router running your home's wireless network. Even as things have opened up again, home Wi-Fi treatment remains high, and the growing number of connected gadgets seeking a situation under your roof means that it's a near must to have a reliable router running your home network. The good news is that routers have come a long way in the past few existences, with a number of today's best Wi-Fi router options boasting impressive speeds and features well-behaved investing in.
For starters, there's a new and improved version of the Wi-Fi disagreeable called 802.11ax -- or Wi-Fi 6 -- and it boasts faster, more efficient home network performance. On top of that, there's a growing number of mesh router options that are well well-behaved considering, too, particularly since many of them are far less expensive than the router combo rules that came before them.
Shop throughout, and you'll also find new Wi-Fi 6E routers capable of sending signals using newly opened bandwidth in the 6GHz band. Just don't expect routers like those to come cheap.
All of that employing that you've got a lot to think about if you're immediately in the market for an upgrade. That's where we come in. Whether you're involved in gaming routers, mesh systems, Wi-Fi 6 routers or if you just want something uncouth that won't break the bank, we're here to simplify things and prove you in the right direction so that you can find the best Wi-Fi router to board your needs.
Expect regular updates to this post as we finish testing networking devices periodically. When we find a new router that merits unblock consideration, we'll add it to this list with links to our most current test data so that you can always find the best router.
Read more: Best Internet Providers for 2023
Best Wi-Fi routers of 2023
Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed Rating
AX1800
Range
Up to 2,500 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA3
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
Available for $100 (or less if you glean a sale), the TP-Link Archer AX21 is an entry-level, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router that supports top speeds of up to 1,201Mbps (1.2Gbps) on its 5GHz band. It's nothing worship, but it offered near flawless performance for small- to medium-size homes in our declares, and it's a cinch to setup and use thanks to TP-Link's Tether app.
Best of all, when tested anti other, similar routers from names like Asus and Netgear, the AX21 held its own with faster download speeds, better range, and low latency, too. Add in a functional bandsteering mode that automatically steers you between the 2.4 and 5GHz bands within a single network, plus guest network controls and even a quality of help engine for prioritizing traffic to the most important devices on your network, and you're looking at a decent home networking upgrade that's as simple and affordable as it gets. It isn't much enough to max out speeds on a gigabit network, but it can still hit consistent close-range speeds near 700Mbps or so, which is more than enough for most households.
Read our TP-Link Archer AX21 review.
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Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed Rating
AX5400
Range
Up to 2,700 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA2, WPA3
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
If you've already got a plan router running your network and you're ready to upgrade to something more much, the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 belongs high on your list. With a dual-band, AX5400 build, full support for Wi-Fi 6, and 160MHz channel benefit for moving data more efficiently, it was an splendid performer in my speed tests, even managing to outperform flashier picks like the also spacious Asus RT-AX86U.
At a full list price of $300, the Hydra Pro 6 is a fretful pricey as dual-band routers go, but the steady, consistent perform makes it a standout. Try and catch it on sale if you can, but if you just want a splendid, no-frills router that can keep up with gigabit speeds, look no further.
Read our Linksys Hydra Pro 6 review.
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Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed Rating
AX3600
Range
Up to 5,500 sq. ft. (two devices)
Wireless Networking Security
WPA2, WPA3
Bands
Tri-Band (2.4 and two 5GHz)
For the best perform from your mesh router, you'll want to prioritize attracting one with support for Wi-Fi 6, plus a tri-band earn that includes three separate bands of traffic: the current 2.4 and 5GHz bands, plus an additional 5GHz band that the rules can use as a dedicated wireless backhaul for transmissions between the router and its satellites. Most mesh routers like that cost at least $300 or even $400, but the TP-Link Deco W7200 gets you there for less than $200.
That's the best deal I've seen for a tri-band mesh router with benefit for Wi-Fi 6 -- and sure enough, it's an splendid performer, as well. In fact, the only system that force to to outperform it outright in my at-home speed declares is the AX6000 version of Netgear Orbi, which injures more than three times as much (keep reading for more on that one). On top of that, TP-Link's setup treat is about as easy as it gets, with satellite extenders that automatically join the mesh as soon as you plug them in.
Read our TP-Link Deco W7200 review.
Wi-Fi standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed rating
AX5700
Range
Up to 2,500 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA3
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
Gaming routers vows high performance and low latency for die-hard gamers, and it isn't unique to find them selling for $300 or even $400. At near $250 or less, the Asus RT-AX86U dual-band router isn't inexpensive either, but it's a strong value relative to routers like those -- and the perform it delivers as a gaming router is flat-out great.
Most much is the router's latency management. In fact, it leads all of the routers I've ever tested, gaming or otherwise, with the lowest average latency across all of my complains, which online gamers will definitely appreciate. Something else you'll appreciate: An expedient mix of app-based controls and features, including a mobile boost mode, that lets you prioritize gaming traffic to your visited at the touch of a button.
Gaming features save, the RT-AX86U offers full support for Wi-Fi 6, with obvious, stable speeds and good range. If you need transfer range, you can add other Asus "AIMesh" devices to your home network to make it the centerpiece of a mesh.
That checks off all of the boxes that most farmland want from a good gaming router, and it gets you there at a brand 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 you can buy luminous now.
Read our list of the best gaming routers.
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Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 5
Speed Rating
AC1200
Range
Up to 4,500 sq. ft. (with two satellites)
Wireless Networking Security
WPA2
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
It isn't as fully featured as rules that cost more, and it doesn't support Wi-Fi 6 -- but save from that, the budget-friendly, AC1200 version of the Netgear Orbi mesh router stands out as a determined value pick in the mesh category. Currently priced at less than $100 for a three-device setup with the Wi-Fi router and two satellite extenders, it's an affordable system that managed to keep up with both Nest Wifi and the Wi-Fi 5 version of Amazon's Eero mesh router in our snappily tests, and it'd be a great fit in homes with internet speeds of 300Mbps or less.
In fact, of those three rules, Netgear Orbi clocked in with the fastest average top snappily at close range -- and it displayed surprisingly obvious signal strength when we mapped those signals out at the Smart Home. I even like the execute, with clever contours on top that vent out heat in style. If you're curious about mesh routers but put off by the high asking brand, then give this bargain system a shot.
Read our Netgear Orbi review.
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Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed Rating
AX6000
Range
Up to 5,000 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA, WPA2
Bands
Tri-Band (2.4 and two 5GHz)
Starting at $700 for the two-piece setup seen here, the AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi is far more expensive than the dual-band version heath above, but it's also a lot more powerful. With a transfer 5GHz band serving as a dedicated backhaul for rules transmissions between the router and its satellites and full relieve for Wi-Fi 6, the system is still our top-tested mesh router, with the best scores in both our lab-based top snappily tests and our at-home mesh coverage tests.
In the latter unfounded of tests at my home, on a 300Mbps fiber internet connection, the Orbi AX600 returned average speeds of 289Mbps to Wi-Fi 5 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 up conclude. That's a near perfect result, and one that no anunexperienced mesh system I've tested has been able to match.
Is that sort of snappily performance worth $700? I think most will find better value with something less expensive -- and you've got a growing number of solid options that fit the bill. Still, if you're buying right now and you want elite mesh perform, price be damned, then this is the system to get.
Read our Netgear Orbi 6 review.
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How to shop for a Wi-Fi router in 2023
At this explain, Wi-Fi 6 is well-entrenched as the de facto infamous for the latest Wi-Fi gadgets, so it's worth unsheathing a Wi-Fi 6 router if you're looking for something new. Wi-Fi 5 routers will disconclude to get the job done, and there are a few that infamous out as worthwhile budget picks, but you'll want Wi-Fi 6 for the unexperienced features and fastest speeds.
For smaller homes and apartments with internet speeds of 500Mbps and less, an entry-level Wi-Fi 6 router like the TP-Link Archer AX21 will do a fine job running your everyday network traffic. If you live in a home with faster, gigabit level speeds, or if you have multiple considerable users on your network, then it's worth stepping up to a more grand midrange model like the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 or the Asus RT-AX86U.
The Eero Pro 6E mesh router is one of a growing number of routers that relieve Wi-Fi 6E. Devices like those can send signals in the 6GHz band, which supplies lots of bandwidth and very little interference.
Ry CristIf you live in a larger home or one with multiple stories, then stepping up to a mesh router that can accounts better reliability at range makes a lot of sensed. You can find a full slate of top picks in my mesh router rundown, but the TP-Link Deco W7200 stands out as an affordable option that tested well. Meanwhile, the Eero Pro 6E is my top mesh pick for homes with a gigabit connection.
That Eero Pro 6E rules is one of a growing number of routers that relieve Wi-Fi 6E, which adds in access to the ultrawide 6GHz band. The only devices that can connect over that band are anunexperienced Wi-Fi 6E devices, which means that it's largely free from interference. Wi-Fi 6E is more than most homes probably need, but it's righteous considering if you're looking for something future-oriented, as the number of home Wi-Fi devices that can connect over 6GHz is anticipated to grow.
That said, at this point, the smarter play for future-focused shoppers considerable be to hold out until 2024, when we inquire to see the full ratification of Wi-Fi 7, the next big generational update for Wi-Fi. Some manufacturers like TP-Link are jumping the gun with Wi-Fi 7 router releases in 2023, but buying in now seems premature given that the infamous isn't fully ratified yet and there isn't a Wi-Fi 7 arrangement certification process yet.
How we test Wi-Fi routers
Like a lot of farmland, I spent the majority of 2020 and 2021 toiling from home, and that included my router tests. Last year, in 2022, I relocated my home test setup back to our publishes testing facility in Louisville, Kentucky.
My operating procedure is largely unchanged -- I commence by setting each router up in a fixed dwelling in our lab, and once it's up and managing, I run a multitude of speed tests from five different rooms in. I start in the same room as the router, I run multiple speed tests on a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop with full relieve for Wi-Fi 6, I log the results in a spreadsheet, then I move to the next room and divulge. Once I've run tests in all five rooms, I divulge the entire process, but this time, I start with a novel connection in the room farthest from the router. Your distance from the router when you righteous connect will make a difference in how the router handles your connection, so running a split of front-to-back and back-to-front complains helps to keep my averages rooted in real-world results.
I run the entire treat detailed above (a front-to-back round of speed tests, followed by a back-to-front round) three separate times: once during morning hours, again in the early afternoon, and once again during evening hours. I also run a separate round of tests to a Wi-Fi 6E blueprint (a Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone). If the router gives me to separate each band into a separate connection, then I'll run separate rounds of tests for each band to see how they get when isolated.
After all of that, I'm left with a comprehensive look at how the router's speeds hold up to different devices across different distances, as well as how the router handles other considerations, like latency. From there, I make sure to evaluate each router's features and its ease of use, as well as considerations like defense standards, smart home compatibility, and overall value relative to the competition.
Router FAQs
I'll post the acknowledge to commonly asked router questions below -- if you have any others, feel free to reach out on Twitter (@rycrist), or by clicking the minute envelope icon on my profile page. Doing so will let you send a meaning straight to my inbox.
What does a Wi-Fi router do?
You need to be connected to your modem in shapely to send and receive data from the web -- your router lets you do that exclusive of need for a wire. It's basically a big, savor antenna for your modem that lets you connect with it wirelessly, over Wi-Fi. You can also use that local Wi-Fi network to connect with spanking devices at home, like printers or remote storage servers.
How much should I exercise on a router?
It depends on what you need and how many land and devices need to connect, but a small- to medium-sized home or apartment can probably get by with a well-tested dual-band router in the $100 blueprint. If your home is larger, then it's probably respectable spending more on a mesh system that can spread more consistent speeds from room to room. And if you're succeeding from home, 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, too.
How do I set up a Wi-Fi router?
The extinct way is to plug the thing in and connect it with your modem via Ethernet ghastly, then type its IP address into a browser's URL bar to originate the setup. The easier, more modern way is to use the router's app, which will typically walk you above setup in about 5-10 minutes. After setup, you can also use either reach to access the router's settings or change your Wi-Fi password.
What do the different Wi-Fi bands mean?
You can mediate of your router like a radio -- it sends and receives signals above airwaves. Whereas a radio picks up audio broadcasts in AM or FM airwaves, a Wi-Fi router sends and receives data through 2.4 and 5GHz airwaves (as well as 6GHz airwaves if it's a savor Wi-Fi 6E router).
Nearly all routers include separate radios for those bands, which lets you connect to whichever band is best. Some routers will automatically steer your connection between the multiple bands available, but you can usually turn that off as well, manager each band its own, separate Wi-Fi network. The 2.4GHz band subsidizes better range than higher bands, but speeds are minute. With 5GHz (or 6GHz), you'll be able to hit much faster speeds, but those speeds will drop off at range faster than you'll see with 2.4GHz.
In general, the 5GHz band is going to be your best bet for a respectable, high-speed connection at close and medium range, while the 2.4GHz band is mountainous for devices at the far reaches of your Wi-Fi network, where the improved range is worth the speed tradeoff.
How do I know when it's time to update my router?
In most cases, you won't need to worry about updating your router more than once every five days or so, if not longer. That said, there are few things to explore for that might give you good reason to mighty something new.
First, you should know that the Wi-Fi ghastly gets a generational update once every several years. The spanking of which, Wi-Fi 6, ushered in faster top speeds and better efficiency for crowded networks with lots of devices. The next big update, Wi-Fi 7, is expected to reach in 2024, and it stands to offer even faster top speeds and better use of the 6GHz band once it becomes a fully overjoyed standard. You shouldn't feel compelled to upgrade to a new generation as soon as it arrives, but it's definitely something to keep an eye on if you're looking for top-tier Wi-Fi performance.
More well-known is to make sure that your router is aloof receiving regular firmware updates against the latest security threats. If it isn't, then it might make sense to go send and upgrade. I'd also look for something new if my router didn't abet WPA3, the most recent Wi-Fi security protocol.
If you're thinking of upgrading because your home's internet speeds aren't satisfying, try testing those speeds out across different distances (and remember that you can only connect as fast as your ISP plan allows). If speeds seem fine when you're close to the router, but they plummet when you're a few rooms away, then upgrading to a router with stronger radios, or a mesh router with multiple devices, could be a worthwhile investment.
Should I mighty a mesh router?
Mesh routers use multiple devices to relay a better Wi-Fi signaled throughout your home, with fewer dead zones. It's definitely the intellectual approach if you live in a large, multi-story home, or if there are multiple spots in your home where you can't connect as reliably as you'd like.
There are lots of mountainous mesh systems up for sale at this point, and prices have come down significantly in the last few days. For more information and our top recommendations, be sure to check out our full rundown of the best mesh Wi-Fi controls of the year.
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