Alexandra Ramirez
Best Wireless Router 2018
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In this guide, we will look at some of the best routers on the market, from the best ac router, best modem router combo, best wireless router 2017, best dd-wrt router, best tri-band router and a host of other specialized routers.
Finding the best router for your needs is not a comfortable ride for most first time buyers, and the truth is with the number of reviews that are available out there, it can get confusing for most people. Sometimes, you wonder why the best router 2016 differs from another study that looked at the best wifi router.
Different Perspective
The truth is that most reviews might seem to be different, but the only reason why that is so is that we all see differently.
Some ‘best home router’ review might praise the Netgear R6700 while the other review titled ‘best home wireless router 2016’ might give valid reasons why the best router for them is the Google WiFi Mesh Network Set.
None of these is entirely wrong which is why we decided to structure our review into features and speciality. That way you can purchase what you need at the price you can afford.
Some questions that our readers have been asking that we answered in this report includes:
- Which wireless router has the best range?
- Who has the best Internet service?
- Which router is best?
- What is the 802.11 ac?
How the Best Wireless Router Review is Structured.
This wireless router review is structured into two different parts.
A.) Specialty
The first part categorizes the routers based on what they are good at.
This is where you will find the:
- best home router
- best gaming router 2016
- best router under 100
- best budget router
- best wireless ac router.
b.) Brands
The second part looks at some of the famous brands and what makes them stand out from the competition.
This is where we have the:
- Netgear nighthawk ac1900 review
- Netgear nighthawk x6 ac3200
- Netgear nighthawk ac1750 smart dual band wifi router (r6700)
- Tp-link tl-wr841n wireless n300 home router.
Quick Jump
- Best Wireless Router for Home: Linksys WRT1900ACS
- Best Router for Gaming: Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming Wi-Fi Router AC2600
- Best Wireless Routers Under $100: TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Router
- Best AC Router Overall: Asus RT-AC88U
- Best AC Mesh Router: Netgear Orbi
Why Should you trust our Review?
This review is a culmination of hundreds of hours spent poring over research papers, infographics, review videos and also taking out time to test these products. We have links to all the sources that were used in this review below. There are already tons of reviews out there with long descriptions and all. We won’t do that here. Our review is straight to the point, and it delivers the results you need.
Our Wireless Router Reviews
In this review, we will be looking at the best wifi router you should have for your home or office, the most affordable router for this year, how to find the best router for gaming, how we test for speed and when you need to purchase a 802.11 ac router.
There is a bonus chapter for some of the Netgear routers we admire at the end of this guide.
1. Best Wireless Router for Home: Our Overall Pick is Linksys WRT1900ACS.
Featuring a high throughput and extensive monitoring system, this home router can connect devices ranging from smartphones to tablets and TV.
The Linksys WRT1900ACS has everything needed to be crowned the best wireless router for large homes as it uses a beamforming technology to better direct wireless signal in your home.
It’s range is perfect, and it has lots of ports for making wired connections.
Promising Review:
“WOW! So glad I got this router. 1.6Ghz cpu really does perform. If you have more than a 40mbs internet circuit, this router definately performs! The X6 this router just replaced could not get the full internet speeds. i’m very happy now.
I’m an experienced user, so I just went thru the manual setup and configured my networks. The Parental controls make this router very good, I like setting times when kids can access internet and block other times, along with OpenDNS to block adult sites and other not good for kids sites. The settings compared to the X6 are much more reliable and actually work.
Update Nov 9 – Still completely happy! I have gone thru a dozen routers over the last 4 years, this WRT1900ACS does the job very well. Kids aren’t complaining about WiFi. This router just works! On the Network map shows 33 devices – Computers, Laptops, Phones, iPods, iPads, Surface Pro’s, NetTV, Ruku, etc” — Spamhater007
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a.) Netgear R6120 Router
Another wireless router for home is the Netgear R6120. This best home wifi router is not as strong as the Linksys WRT1900ACS and it costs less also. Featuring external ports, a switch for turning off wireless transmission when not in use, plus this router can also push through more data than other routers available.
Buy it on Amazon
b.) Amplifi HD Router
If you live in a large house and you want the best router that can cater to your needs, you need to take the Amplifi HD router and set it up for your home. The Amplifi is a router with a pair of extenders to fill every nook and cranny in your house.
Based on the 3X3 MIMO technology, you will still get a high performing router that comes with two wireless extenders.
Promising Review:
“So it’s been about 2.5 months and I am really happy with this mesh router. I usually do about 3 months of research before purchasing something this vital.
Pros
1. I have a 4400 sq foot double storied home and this thing blankets it with wifi. I have about 9 iPads, 5 iPhones, 3 apple TVs, 1 Roku 4K ultra, 1 PS4 and a couple of laptops which one is a gaming one, and we have not experienced any lags even on weekends when we are all connected.
2. Unlike range extender/repeaters, this doesn’t set up a separate network so you only need one login.
3. Amazing speeds (see comparison photos). I am getting more than double the speeds from my FiOS gateway router.
4. Beautiful design for both the router and the mesh points
5. Setup was a breeze. I am quite technically advanced so that may be why I didn’t have issues. I have seen reviews where people are having issues connecting. I did not.
6. Intuitive app. Usually updating a routers firmware is quite involved. Not here. A few taps on your phone and voilà. You are up and running.
Cons
1. So far the one con I have is that the connectors to the mesh points are very delicate and you need to wiggle it to get it to where it can power on and then hope no one knocks it accidentally or plays with it as this will disconnect it and power it off. Having said that, in the 2.5 months, I’ve only had to reposition only one mesh point once.
Bottom line, this is so worth the money.” — Tim
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- Best Wireless Router for Home: Linksys WRT1900ACS
- Best Router for Gaming: Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming Wi-Fi Router AC2600
- Best Wireless Routers Under $100: TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Router
- Best AC Router Overall: Asus RT-AC88U
- Best AC Mesh Router: Netgear Orbi
2. Best Router for Gaming
Finding the best gaming router is crucial for any gamer. You need your virtual world to be up to speed.
A slow, outdated wifi router for gaming just won’t cut, and sometimes the router you use could be the difference between whether or not you win or lose.
Internet service providers keep getting better each day, and you need to step up your gaming sessions by upgrading the gaming router you use.
Even if you don’t play games often, using the best routers can guarantee you get enough bandwidth that is being provided by your ISP.
a.) Overall Best Wireless Router For Gaming: Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming Wi-Fi Router AC2600
The Netgear Nighthawk Pro AC2600 is a gamer’s delight, and it has stood the test of time. It featured on many lists for best gaming router 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Today, it’s still here going from strength to strength. This gaming router delivers allocated bandwidth that is prioritized for gaming.
You also get a dashboard where you can manage your connection, VPN features, dual-core 1.7GHz processor and an insane capability for 4K streaming.
The Netgear Nighthawk Pro AC2600 has insane speed, going at a crazy 2.6Gbps which can be divided and allocated as you wish. This is important if you want to reduce any lag spike that might occur during gaming.
The best benefit for us is the amount of control it provides. You can see everything from the dashboard to know how much bandwidth each connected device is taking up to where you’re connected to. It’s simply amazing.
Promising Review:
“I just moved to Fairbanks, Alaska and surprisingly they had fiber internet intown! I had a cheap router I bought here for like $90 while I was still living in Arizona. It worked when I moved here but I could only get about 110mbps speed on each device. Plus I was getting 15ms jitter on my old router. This one is amazing! My jitter dropped down to 1.7ms and I get 700mbps speed while my entire family is connected! We have about 12 device logged into it ranging from 3 iphones, 2 apple 4K TVs, 1 smart tv, 2 iPads, 2 laptops, home security system and a PS4.
Now for the gaming part… I’ve been playing fortnite battle royal since it came out last year. I have 3 solo wins and 12 squad wins. I noticed immediately after I installed this new router my shots were hitting 2-3 times more frequently then with my old router. The 15ms jitter I was getting with my cheap router was making my aim off enough to give me a great disadvantage. This router has made fortnite on my ps4 so much easier to eliminate opponents then before. Plus I was able to prioritize my ps4 to throttle down all my other devices when my router detected a gaming packets passing through it. If you’re a serious gamer such as myself, it may be a big investment but it’s worth it! Should have bought this when it first came out! May the force be with you all and live long and prosper! 🖖” — Michael J. Snow
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b.) Runner-up: Asus AC5300 Wireless Tri-Band
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The Runner-up in our list of best wifi router for gaming is the Asus AC5300 Wireless Tri-Band. This is another super fast gaming router that can cover a home up to 5,000 square feet wide.
Featuring a data rate of 5.3Gbps and insane security features to keep your data safe, the Asus AC5300 gaming router should be considered, if you can’t purchase the Netgear Nighthawk Pro AC2600.
One area where it shines is during online multiplayer games. The Asus AC5300 has an inbuilt game acceleration that optimizes routes to the game servers especially those with low ping times, so you don’t lose out while competing with others online.
c.) Super Fast Gaming Router: Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200
Some of our readers have told us that speed is their primary concern when they are shopping for top gaming routers. If you’re reading this and you’re super interested in the fastest router on the market for gaming, then you need to check out the Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200.
The Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 is built for speed. This beast offers a speed of up to 4.6Gbps and a combined speed of 7.2Gbps. For internet connectivity, the Nighthawk X10 uses both 802.11ac and 802.11ad for fast wireless connectivity which is beneficial for gaming as well as 4K streaming.
This super fast router for gaming has a 1.7GHz quad-core processor that it uses to allocate fast bandwidth speed either through the WAN or LAN connections. You will enjoy the MU-MIMO as well as the included 160MHz which doubles your mobile Wi-Fi speed.
There is no doubt in our mind that the best overall router for gamers is the Netgear Nighthawk Pro AC2600. It comes with everything but you if you feel speed is the primary concern for you, the Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 is the router you should choose.
c.) Gaming Router for Large Houses: Asus AC5300 Wireless Tri-Band Router
If you live in a big house, you will probably need a router for gaming and 4K streaming, for other members of the family, the Asus AC5300 Wireless Tri-Band will do justice to your needs.
It can cover as much as 5,000 square feet wide. These routers don’t come cheap as they cost well over one hundred and fifty. For a budget gaming router that works, you should check the Card-King Wireless Router. It’s a quality router with a speed of 1,200 Mbps and functional connectivity. It’s not as fast as some of the other guys up here, but it gets the job done as well.
3. Best Router Under 100
When searching for the best router under 100, you need to be sure your router has some of the most important features that ensure you don’t end up losing money on the long run while trying to save it.
Some of the features that you will find with a router under 100 include a 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard which is for newer devices created after 2014.
The minimum speed of the router should be considered as well. You want the best cheap router, but it’s no use if it doesn’t deliver different speeds at both bands.
A good router, irrespective of the price should be capable of delivering 300+ Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps or more on the 5GHz band network. Having the perfect cheap router with dual bands ensures you can reduce network congestion during usage.
a.) Overall Best Wireless Routers Under $100: TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Router
The TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Router, also known as the ‘highly efficient router’ features incredible network coverage and speed with a 75Mbps on the 2.5GHz band and 500Mbps + on the 5GHz band which makes it ideal for HD streaming and moderate gaming.
For sharing, the Archer C7 router supports network attached storage with the two USB ports for sharing devices like scanners over the network as well as streaming directly to any device.
There are three powerful external and internal antennas on this router for improving the speed of sharing media as well as regulating bandwidth.
For us, the best wireless router under 100 has to be the TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750.
b.) Best AC Router Under $100: Netgear R6080-100NAS-AC1000
The Netgear R6080-100NAS-AC1000 is the clear runner-up for the best budget wireless router. It has transfer speed of up to 1000Mbps which allows for multiple access points via the Wi-Fi band technology. Perhaps, the most important feature with the Netgear R6080 is the Wi-Fi range.
It is suitable for both home and office use thanks to its adjustable external antennas which can be directed to face any direction you want. It can also be controlled remotely.
The Netgear R6080-100NAS-AC1000 is our best ac router under 100, and you can upgrade it anytime you want to support new AC devices.
This cheap wireless router will guarantee high-quality performance for streaming or gaming anytime you put it to use. The Wi-Fi range and the adjustable antennas it comes with makes it a must-have for most homes or offices.
4. Best AC Router
Solving the problem of internet congestion in the home is a problem for most people.
You have multiple smartphones, pcs and streaming devices connected to your wireless router which makes it essential to have a router that can handle the pressure. A 802.11ac router runs solely on the 5Ghz band which makes it faster than its predecessor (802.11n router).
a.) The Best AC Router Overall: Asus RT-AC88U
The Asus RT-AC88U is a powerful ac router, with its futuristic design and dual-core processor, there is no gainsaying why we chose this as the best ac wifi router. With a 1.4GHz dual-core processor and 1024-QAM technology, you will enjoy blazing speed way faster at 5GHz up to 2100 Mbps and 66 percent faster at 2.4GHz of up to 1000Mbps.
The MU-MIMO feature that is included in the Asus RT-AC88U allows each device connected to the router to have its dedicated WiFi connection, so they don’t slow down the network. Installation is comfortably simple, and the coverage within the home is incredible.
b.) Runner up for the Best AC Router: Asus AC1900 RT-AC68CU
The runner-up for the best wireless ac router is the Asus AC1900 RT-AC68CU which is a cheaper option that comes with a dual-band 3X3 antenna technology with the ultra-fast speed of 1300Mbps on 5GHz 802.11ac band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz 802.11n band.
With the Broadcom TurboQAM technology, you won’t have a problem with 4K HD streaming with this router. The runner-up to the best ac router 2017 also comes with extended wireless coverage with AiProtection through Trend Micro as an added layer of protection.
c.) Best AC Mesh Router: Netgear Orbi
If mesh networking is your thing, you might want to check out the Netgear Orbi. This Wifi system replaces WiFi range extenders and offers a secure and fast signal connection. If you live in a 2,000 – 4,000 square feet home, you will find this easily covers the entire area without much fuss.
Setup is fast, and the beamforming and MU-MIMO technologies produce the best possible signal you could ever ask for in a home connection.
Conclusion
Most of the routers on our list for the best wireless ac router would set you back by a couple of hundreds. The best budget ac router will be the TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750. It’s functional, setup is easy, but it lacks beamforming and MU-MIMO technology which could be a deal breaker for a lot of people.
- Best Wireless Router for Home: Linksys WRT1900ACS
- Best Router for Gaming: Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming Wi-Fi Router AC2600
- Best Wireless Routers Under $100: TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Router
- Best AC Router Overall: Asus RT-AC88U
- Best AC Mesh Router: Netgear Orbi
Popular Netgear Routers We Admire
1. Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 Review
In this review of the Netgear Nighthawk AC1900, we will be looking at some few things briefly including speed, security, unique features and the setup.
Good:
You will get a top-notch performance at an affordable price with this router. Suitable for home users. The Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 has an in-built OpenVPN server for Broadcom TurboQAM. The setup is a plug and play. The Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 dual band wi-fi gigabit router (r7000) has in impressive hardware feature.
It contains the new Broadcom BCM4709 Wi-Fi chip and the TurboQAM which allows the 2.4GHz band to deliver up to 200Mbps rather than the 150Mbps. You can manage the downstream and upstream as well with the new quality of Service feature (QoS)
Bad:
Expensive, ridiculously bulky and requires a lot of space to place it and plug its large power adapter into. Its performance on the 2.4GHz band is not fast enough when compared to its competitors.
2. Netgear Nighthawk X6 Review
The Netgear Nighthawk X6 ac3200 is built for speed and security. This premium router is a tri-band router, and it doesn’t come cheap.
Being a tri-band router means it has a 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands. Please note that being a tri-band doesn’t mean the router will be faster than other dual-band routers here.
Good:
The Netgear Nighthawk X6 ac3200 has powerful hardware features and excellent wifi coverage on the 5GHz band.
This premium router also doubles as a NAS serve.
Bad:
The 2.4Ghz band is buggy coupled with the short wifi range.
It’s way more expensive than other AC1900 routers from Netgear. In the end, we consider this a luxurious purchase. One, we don’t encourage.
