Topic: The 5 top rated wireless routers
Wireless routers have advanced dramatically over the last few years and they’re now available in a wide variety of colors, designs, and prices. Some have exceptional features that other brands don’t offer.
This makes it a good time to purchase a wireless router. Wireless routers are rapidly becoming a necessity in our home and office environments. One major benefit of wireless routers is the wireless coverage of the devices that you have in your home.
Wireless routers that support 3.5GHz and 5GHz frequencies deliver wireless speeds that are much faster than traditional routers. You’ve got devices in every room of your house, you need to have a reliable wireless network to make things like streaming a Netflix movie an affordable experience, and you’re willing to shell out the cash if you’re not.
- Best excellent choice - ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 K
- Best Good performance - Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 WiFi Router
- Best overall - TP-Link Archer AX6000
We’ve seen plenty of great Wi-Fi routers over the years but what’s good today may not be good enough tomorrow. Our latest picks offer plenty of great features and help you get the most out of your wireless router experience. These are our top picks for top rated wireless routers that stand out from the pack.
| # | 5 |
|---|---|
| Image |
 
|
| Brand | ASUS |
| Frequency Band Class | Tri-Band |
| Data Transfer Rate | 11000 Megabits Per Second |
| Link | Buy Now |
Our Picks for the 5 top rated wireless routers in 2023
Top Wireless Routers Under $100
The fifth product on our top rated wireless routers list is the TP-Link Archer A8. This is our best budget wireless router and top wireless routers under $100. If you are looking for an affordable wireless router for your home computer, mobile devices, TV, and gaming consoles then the TP-Link Archer A8 might just add to your list.
It providing fast connectivity speeds and some of the best features found on more expensive routers make it a great budget option for you.
TP-Link Archer A8 comes with dual-band, high-speed, multi-user MIMO or multi-user, multiple-input, and multiple outputs. It is also known as beamforming technology. You’ll enjoy speeds of up to 1900 Mbps which is good for full HD streaming but 4K content won’t be as smooth as a high-speed router.
You’ll get good and reliable coverage with beamforming technology and 3 antennas that help focus the signal strength.
It’s being multi-user MIMO is a huge bonus. The TP-Link Archer A8 has 3 streams so you’ll get better performance when more than one device is connected. In these top rated wireless routers, you also get Gigabit ports for wired devices like computers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles but there are no USB ports that can be overlooked at this price point.
The setup of these top rated wireless routers is extremely easy and should only take a few minutes using TP-Link’s app or it can also be set up using your web browser.
Key Features
- Speed: In this, you get AC 1900 speed.
- MU-MIMO: It supports multi-user MIMO streaming.
- Port: In these top rated wireless routers you get 1WAN and 4 LAN ports.
Reasons to Buy
Features: In top rated wireless routers, this router includes multi-user MIMO, parental controls, guest Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Smart Connect, and beamforming.
Boosted Wi-Fi Coverage: The beamforming and 3 antennas of this router help in focusing the signal strength.
EASY TO USE: It’s incredibly easy to install and set up plus the app and web interface are both straightforward and easy to use.
Reasons to Avoid
Lack of ports: No USB port is provided in this router
Signal strength: The signal strength of this router is a bit low, the speed and signal passing through the walls are significantly reduced.
The TP-Link Archer A8 gives you stable performance, decent speeds, and some of the best features you’ll find on more expensive routers. The TP-Link Archer A8 is ideal for apartments or small homes making it one of the best budget options for you.
If you find that you have an internet dead zone in your home then buying a new router may not really solve your problem. A more affordable and simple option to solve the problem might be to add a Wi-Fi extender to your current router setup, for example, the Verratek DB-1200 is a great affordable option with dependable speeds of up to 1200 Mbps.
Pairing any router with a more affordable router to turn it into a one-of-a-kind mesh router setup and ensure you have great Wi-Fi throughout your home. If you can spend a little more and want something a little more high-end, the TP-Link AC2600 will get higher speeds of up to 2600 Mbps and extra features.
If you have fast Wi-Fi close to the router but there are dead zones throughout the house this may be a more affordable solution.
Best Wireless Mesh Routers
The fourth product on our top rated wireless routers list is Google Wi-Fi (2020). This is our best wireless router for mesh networks. Google Wi-Fi (2020) can be used as a wireless router, but its big selling point is that it can be used as a Wi-Fi mesh system. You’ll want to broadcast it from multiple locations around your home when you have consistently high-quality Wi-Fi coupled with additional units to provide you with wide coverage.
Google Wi-Fi (2020) is great for those who want the convenience of expanding their Wi-Fi coverage as needed. You may only need a router if you have a small space and you can opt to get a 3 pack if you already know you need extended coverage.
Google Wi-Fi (2020) has a minimalist design. It looks like a big white hockey puck but is still quite discreet. Its setup is very simple. This might be one of the best-selling features for non-techies, especially as some routers are too intimidating to set up.
All you need to do is download the Google WiFi app and it does a great job of taking you through the steps. When you’re ready to add more Wi-Fi points, all you have to do is scan their QR codes and integrate them into your setup.
You won’t need to worry about dual-band as keeping it very simple. Google WiFi does a great job of always giving you the best possible connection in the background.
Key Features
- MU-MIMO: It supports multi-user MIMO streaming.
- Speed: This gives the speed of AC 1200.
- Ports: It has two Gigabit Ethernet ports along with one WAN and one LAN.
Reasons to Buy
Mesh System: Its modular design can be used as part of Google’s Mesh system to increase seamless coverage.
Beamforming: It offers beamforming both implicit and explicit for dual bands.
Ease of use: It is extremely simple to set up and use, even for beginners.
Updates: Google pushes frequent updates automatically to improve performance.
Reasons to Avoid
Lacks Advanced Features: This router may be found lacking in advanced features. It lacks some advanced features and customization for those who want to optimize their WiFi network.
No USB: There is no USB port provided in this router.
Requires a Google Account: You need a Google Account and a mobile device for setup and management.
Google WiFi is extremely easy to set up which makes it ideal for less tech-savvy people. Those who want an affordable wireless router for small spaces or if you are later looking to set up a mesh system for full home coverage, then you can consider this router.
Best Wireless Router For Large Home
The third product on our Top Rated Wireless Router list is the TP-Link Archer AX6000. This is our best value Wi-Fi 6 wireless router and the best wireless router for a large homes. This router comes with as many devices with Wi-Fi 6 capabilities.
If you want a wireless router that offers more future-proofing than most wireless routers that only currently offer Wi-Fi 5, then the TP-Link Archer AX6000 router may be one of the good options for you.
In top rated wireless routers, The TP-Link Archer AX6000 is one of your best options in the range offering next-generation Wi-Fi connectivity with great performance.
This is a dual-band 8 stream router with 4 streams on each band using the latest 802.11AX technology also known as Wi-Fi 6.
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 is ideal for those who have higher bandwidth requirements. You’ll get more capacity, more efficiency. TP-Link router will be able to connect up to four times more devices with OFDMA and AX Multi-user MIMO technology while many wireless routers struggle with streaming 4K content with the TP-Link Archer AX6000.
You will also be able to enjoy online gaming of 8K movies with incredible speed and even experience some cool VR.
Key Features
- Wi-Fi 6: This router supports the latest wireless standard 802.11 AX.
- Speed: The TP-Link Archer AX6000 speeds up to 4804 Mbps (5GHz) and 1148 Mbps (2.4GHz) at 5GHz and 2.4GHz, respectively.
- Antennas: This router has 8 external antennas for added strength and coverage.
- Multi-user MIMO: This router supports multi-user MIMO streaming.
Reasons to Buy
Ports: This router comes with 8 Gigabit LAN, a 2.5 Gigabit per second WAN, a USB Type-A 3.0, and a USB Type-C 3.0.
In and out options: This gives you a lot more input and output options than most routers.
NAS Speed: This router has extremely fast attached network storage transfer rates.
Security: In this, you get a free antivirus module powered by Trend Micro.
Reasons to Avoid
Security: This router doesn’t currently support WPA3 which prevents it from being officially Wi-Fi 6 certified but everything else including performance is still there, you’ll have to watch for firmware updates in the future.
App: This router’s companion app is a bit limited.
If you need a router to handle a lot of traffic at high speeds for work, streaming, or gaming in a large home with multiple users then the TP-Link Archer AX6000 is one of your best options. Especially with its Wi-Fi 6 performance and speed.
Best Wireless Router For Home
The second product on our list of top-rated wireless routers is the Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 WiFi Router. This is our best overall wireless router and best wireless router for the home. If you’re looking for a premium Wi-Fi 6 wireless router for multi-devices and don’t want to sacrifice performance, the Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 WiFi Router can be one of the best tri-band wireless router options.
The high-performance enhanced security and incredible speed of this router make it one of the best tri-band wireless router options for you. Like the previous TP-Link Archer AX6000, the Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 WiFi Router is also a Wi-Fi 6 wireless router with 8 streams. It also offers similar performance.
In fact, you will find the same chipset inside both the routers but what sets the Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 WiFi Router apart is that apart from its sci-fi looking design it offers TP-Link’s dual-band vs Tri-Band connectivity.
Since only one client can connect to your router using one band at a time, bandwidth can be shared if you have two devices at once. The Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 WiFi Router gives you 3 dedicated Wi-Fi bands which means less network congestion and device interference.
So that you and your entire family can simultaneously enjoy more speed and efficiency, including 4K and 8K UHD streaming, lag-free gaming, and interruption-free browsing. The Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 WiFi Router also makes it ideal for small offices that rely on constant online access that requires top speeds or heavy local Wi-Fi network usage.
Key Features
- Wi-Fi 6: This router supports the latest wireless standard 802.11 AX.
- Speed: It comes with 1.2 and 4.8 Gbps plus 600 MB per second with 8 stream connectivity.
- Tri-Band: It has the feature of Tri-Band, which consists of two 5 GHz bands and one 2.4 GHz band.
- MU-MIMO: Its Wi-Fi capability allows up to 4 devices to stream content at the same time.
- Beamforming: Beamforming enhances speed reliability and range of Wi-Fi connections with 160-MHz channel support.
Reasons to Buy
Ports: This router comes with 5 Ethernet ports and one USB 3.0 port.
Strong signal: The signal for this router is strong. The Signal can punch through walls and floors about 30% better than the TP-Link Archer AX6000.
Security: You get advanced cybersecurity. In this, advanced cybersecurity powered by BitDefender keeps your network and personal data safe from online threats.
Reasons to Avoid
Overkill: The Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 WiFi Router may be overkill for average homes.
If you are looking for one of the best-performing Wi-Fi 6 wireless routers then the Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 WiFi Router can be a good choice for you. It delivers more throughput than other Wi-Fi 6 routers making it ideal for large families who like to stream or play games online and office or home creative studios that need network backup file sharing, photo, and Video editing requires more local bandwidth.
Best Wireless Router For Gaming
The first product on our Top Rated Wireless Routers list is the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000. This is our best wireless router for gaming. If you are looking for one of the best wireless routers for gaming then the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is a beast in terms of gaming and one of the best options for you.
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is really big. Not only does it have a huge footprint, but it also delivers big performance which is hard to beat. This is a 12 stream ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 tri-band router that delivers up to four times better in dense or congested Wi-Fi environments with about 40% faster than AC peak data rates.
It’s four times more efficient so your devices will use less battery. The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi gives you up to 11000 Megabits per second. If you are not a gamer then there are really a lot of things to like.
If you are a gamer then you are going to love this. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Tri-Band GT-AX 11000 may sound expensive, but it combines powerful hardware specs, fast connectivity and a ton of features to enhance your gaming experience.
Key Features
- Triple Level Game Acceleration: It provides triple level game acceleration to boost game traffic, reduce ping rate and reduce game latency for better gaming experience.
- Speed: Its speed is up to 11000 Megabits per second throughput.
- Wi-Fi Coverage: Its Wi-Fi coverage is quite good. It gives excellent signal coverage suitable for very large homes.
- Mesh Wi-Fi: This router is compatible with Asus AiMesh.
- Ports: This router has 2.5 Ethernet ports, 4 Gigabit LAN and 2 USB 3.1 ports.
- RGB Lighting: This is a gamer's wireless router, so it must have lighting.
Reason to Buy
Game Boost: This router analyses network traffic and prioritizes gaming packets giving the game another level of acceleration for the best possible performance with just one click.
Built-in GPN Support: It has GPN support which powered by WTFast. It provides private, optimized, private networks, other game servers and internet connection to gamers.
GameFirst V: This router supports GameFirst V which optimizes ROG devices. Gaming packets are given top priority on these devices. That’s why your gaming packets are always at the top of the internet queue.
Easy Port Forwarding: In this router, NAT can be easily opened in 3 steps.
Simultaneous gaming and
VPN: This router lets you run a VPN and a simple internet connection simultaneously.
AI Protection Pro: In this router you get lifetime free commercial grade network security.
Reason to Aovid
Expensive: This router may be overkill for non-gamers.
Ports: It has only 5 LAN ports.
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is an ultimate Wi-Fi router for hardcore gamers with incredible speed, gaming-focused features and enhancements that make it one of the best gaming wireless routers for gamers.
What is the difference between a wireless router and a WiFi router?
A wireless router is what is generally referred to as a wireless access point (WAP) or wi-fi router. A wireless access point (WAP) allows a wireless network to be accessed from multiple wireless devices that do not have a Wi-Fi device.
A WiFi router is a wireless router that uses Wi-Fi signals to provide wireless signals to wireless devices. The number of devices connected to a Wi-Fi router can vary from two to dozens.
A WiFi router, or wireless router, is recommended for devices that will not only receive wireless signals from other wireless devices but will also do so from Wi-Fi signals that will allow a device to connect to the internet.
What kind of wireless router do I need?
your router should not have less than 1.5Mbps of upstream bandwidth and 1Mbps or less of downstream bandwidth.
You must be using a wireless router capable of delivering both 1.5Mbps upstream and 1Mbps downstream with an RF throughput of between 100Mbps to 200Mbps. Wireless routers are rated by the maximum bandwidth, so make sure you get a wireless router that can deliver an appropriate speed to suit your setup.
Do I need both a modem and a router?
This is an obvious question, but for every set of wireless routers, there are thousands more connected to regular phone lines. This is one set of devices that often overlap with the base. But because of the proliferation of wireless routers that include ports for connecting via WiFi to a modem, a router isn’t necessary to get wireless coverage on a standard phone line.
Routers and modems have different radio technologies. Routers are based on wi-fi technology that focuses on transmitting internet data over radio waves. Many laptops and smartphones, including some top-of-the-line devices such as the Google Pixel, use standard wi-fi adapters for adding wireless access to a laptop or smartphone that does not have a wireless router attached.
However, with today’s technology, you don’t need a separate modem and separate router for wireless internet.
How do I choose a wireless router for my home?
Choosing a new router can be a difficult process, particularly if you’re only looking for a wireless router, not a home entertainment system. On the wireless router front, there are a variety of top-rated routers from leading brands on the market. And, it’s important to note, the rankings don’t always match up, even if we rate them as top-rated.
- Budget: A router depends mostly on your budget, so you have to find a model that fits your current needs. If you’re not connecting wirelessly right now, then stick with the first recommended option above for wireless routers that you’ll have to upgrade, at least once. If you’ve got wireless routers in your home already, then you can consider upgrading to one of the best wireless routers for a couple of reasons.
- Compatible with your ISP: Because your wireless router is wireless (i.e., one that connects to your home network wirelessly without having to connect a cable line to it) it will work in many situations, such as in your bedroom (where your ISP’s router may be too slow to even function), or in the bathroom (where an old router won’t work).
- Easy to install: Wireless routers aren’t complicated, they’re pretty straightforward. All you have to do is download the required software (or wait until your wireless router manufacturer releases it to you) and then install it on your router.
- Rated top for speed: Although this is mainly a recommendation to add an additional speed to your internet connection, the reason to upgrade to a top-rated router for speed is that it has the best specs in terms of speed.
- Router Range: This feature is especially important if you have a lot of people or devices using your wireless network. Wireless routers work in wireless networks (the same way Wi-Fi works in your home), so they’re rated for their range.
- Monitoring your internet use: Wireless routers don’t require a cord, and thus you don’t have to worry about plugging the router in. They also provide monitoring for your internet connection and depending on what wireless router you have; you can monitor the speed or other usage of that internet connection.
Will a better router increase Internet speed?
A new router can speed up wireless speeds by about 25 percent, according to a review by Consumer Reports. Many people won’t notice a difference in speed but those who purchase the top rated router wireless routers will see the biggest difference. They receive a top-rated rating for top-rated routers that typically can deliver speeds of 5,300 Mbps (megabytes per second) with no loss of speed.
