If you want to have a great internet connection, you need to find the best router for home use. There are lots of potential routers to select. In this roundup, I’m going to share five of the best routers and what makes them unique.
Tips for Getting the Most of New and Old Routers
For you to connect to a home internet connection, you are going to need a wi-fi router. A router is a small electronic device that connects to your home broadband line and sends data from the modem internet cable to the multiple devices connected to the internet in your home. Wireless routers are now more common than wired routers, and they usually have several ethernet ports to allow you to connect in-home gadgets like PCs to the internet.
How to Choose the Best Wi-fi Router
Let’s face it- most people don’t know the ins and outs of how this device works, let alone what to look for in a good one. There’s a lot of technical jargon in the specifications, which I have found to be difficult to interpret for the average non-tech person. That’s why I think it’s imperative that we go through some of the features to look for in a device before I present you with five of the top wi-fi routers to use in your house or at your office.
Here are some of the most important features and functions of a router. These can help you when it’s time to look for a new upgrade to your device. Some are must-haves, while others are nice-to-haves.
- You need routers that support your internet service provider.
- The device should have USB ports, at least one, with a USB 3.0 being preferable.
- The device should have several gigabit ethernet ports to connect your smart devices.
- It should be possible to integrate our device with a smart home and control it via a mobile app.
- A multi-core processor with at least 128 MB of RAM is preferable.
- Ideally, the device should be dual-band or more.
- You should be careful about the maximum bandwidth specified in the device name because very often, these values are theoretical and not indicative of the device’s actual speed.
- A real-life fast speed of the device is required.
- Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) and support for Mesh Wi-Fi are essential.
- Advanced security features such as VPN, antivirus, and firewall are required.
- Your routers should have excellent performance overall.
Pros and Cons of a Router Modem Combo
Wireless routers may exist as standalone devices, but they are also found in modem router combos. This is one device that performs the functions of both a router and a model. There are benefits and disadvantages to utilizing these types of devices, as you are going to see.
Pros:
- You only need to set up one device instead of two.
- One device saves space.
- You save money with a combination product.
Cons:
- When you want to upgrade just your router or your modem, you cannot do this without upgrading both.
So if you are wondering whether to buy a separate wireless router or get a combination of the two devices, think about the factors mentioned above.
How to Boost Your Wireless Router Performance
If your router is malfunctioning or you are simply looking for the most effective way to boost your wireless router performance, you might want to consider upgrading your device. A new router can solve many of the connectivity and poor signal issues you may be experiencing, but this is not always the case. Another justification for finding a new device with high performance is that router technology changes rapidly, so the device that functioned well a couple of years ago may become obsolete and may no longer be optimized for great signal and a strong network connection.
You can do a few other things if you feel that your device could and should have better performance. You can try restarting it. You can move it to a different part of the house, preferably somewhere more central. Another option is to try different device settings to see if you might not get a better network connection. Sometimes the only fix you need to do is something simple.
The Best Wireless Routers for Residential Use
I’ve put together a list of the top five routers for a home network. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of each.
TP-Link Archer AX6000 Wi-fi 6 Router
The TP-Link Archer Ax6000 is arguably one of the best wi-fi 6 router options. It is an 8-stream smart device with 8 Gigabit LAN ports. It also has MU-MIMO technology, 1.8GHz Quad-Core CPU, and two USB 3.0 ports. It is a dual-band router. It provides long-range wi-fi coverage, thanks to the eight external antennae system.
For the TP-Link Archer device’s processing power, there is a 1.8 GHz Quad-Core CPU and two co-processors that are useful to eradicate latency and deliver stable network performance. The advanced security features include a free lifetime subscription to TP-Link HomeCare. This program features featuring advanced antivirus, parental controls, and QoS. This router is compatible with existing wi-fi devices and new wi-fi 6 devices. Learn more about some of the pros and cons you can expect from TP-Link Archer wi-fi 6 routers
Pros:
- Compatible with wi-fi 6, the latest and faster wifi
- Wide range for a large house
- Fats internet speed
- Advanced security
Cons:
- More expensive than traditional wi-fi routers
Netgear Orbi AX6000 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (RBK853) Tri-Band
For some of the best mesh performance, consider the Netgear Orbi AX6000 router. This mesh network system is not cheap, but it comes as a pack of three. This high-end option has many great features and is worth considering. Because of this, we can say that it is more or less reasonably priced. Wi-fi 6 is also available. The router has two satellite extenders. The Netgear Orbi AX6000 has a wide coverage of up to 7,500 Sq. Ft. These mesh routers can support over 60 connected devices, and there are 13 ports available. The speed is up to 6Gbps, making this one of the fastest routers.
Pros:
- Fast internet speed
- Wide range
Cons:
- Higher price point
Asus ZenWiFi AX Mesh Wi-fi 6
If you are looking for the best wi-fi 6 mesh router, then take a look at the Asus ZenWiFi AX option. This tri-Band mesh wi-Fi 6 system (XT8 2PK) has many great features, making it one of the best routers to use for your wi-fi network. You can total coverage of a larger home of six or more rooms and up to 5,500 sq. ft. When you buy this mesh router, you get to enjoy free lifetime internet security, which means that you always have up-to-date protection. Parental controls are available. The total wireless speed is 6600Mbps. This wifi router is available as a one or two or three-pack and is one of the top wi-fi 6 routers. This tri-band router supports Bluetooth of 5GHz bands of radio-frequency.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Wide coverage for a larger home
- No wi-fi dead zones
- Budget-friendly
- Mesh system to extend network area
- MU-MIMO technology
Cons:
- Not as fast as options like the Netgear Orbi AX6000
Asus RT-AC66U B1 with Dual-Band Wi-Fi
If you are looking for an option that is easy on your pockets, you definitely want to take a look at the Asus RT-AC66U B1 wi-fi router. It makes a great gaming router. The Asus RT comes with free lifetime internet security, has adaptive QoS, and also includes parental control. This dual-band option is easy to install, has many great features, and also has good performance. The coverage area is 3,000 sq. ft. The Asus RT has integrated USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports. It can support wifi technology speeds up to 1750Mbps.
Pros:
- Most affordable
- Easy to install
Cons:
- Not the most powerful option
Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200
The NETGEAR Nighthawk is good for a large smart home. It is MU-MIMO-equipped, has a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, and is compatible with Amazon Alexa (R9000). It offers %Ghz throughput and fast speeds of 60GHz.
Pros:
- Wide network coverage
- Good performance
Cons:
- High price point
Conclusion
Searching for a new router is no simple task. You need to know your requirements as far as range and speed and also consider your budget. I gave you a snapshot of some of the best routers for a strong and reliable wi-fi signal in your place. You can connect many smart devices in your smart home when you find the best option among all the home wi-fi routers.
Besides the five best wireless routers discussed here, there are other great options like the Nest wifi, Asus ROG Rapture. As the top five winners, we chose TP-Link Archer as the winner of the best wireless routers because it had the best combination of good range, faster speeds, great performance, and moderate price point.
