(Last Updated On: March 28, 2020)

Best Wireless Routers 2020 – Buyer’s Guide

Our dependence on the internet has increased dramatically, so it’s safe to say, that our lives are meaningless without a good Wireless router.

It is not easy to find a decent router these days, after much research and extensive testing of Wi-Fi routers a list of Best Wireless Routers has been formed for you to benefit from.

Best Wireless Routers

Some of the routers which are incorporated in our list are expensive, so they are not for our entire reading audience, but we can assure you that there increased prices comes with a great quality. So here is our list of top 10 best Wi-Fi Routers 2018

1 . TP-Link Talon AD7200

 

TP-Link Talon AD7200 has the honor to be the initial 802.11ad router introduced in the market. This router has extremely innovative features to guarantee smooth functioning. Even though this router is a bit expensive, it’s comprised of various impressive features. In this article we will discuss about this router in detail, and will see if it’s worth spending your money or not.

TP-Link Talon AD7200 performance is worth all the popularity it is receiving. This router has 450 Mbps in the 5 GHz near proximity test and 250 Mbps range of 30 feet approximately. These scores are not as extraordinary as its rival the NETGEAR Nighthawk X10, but it still is pretty good. However, if you match prices with performance among both these routers, Talon AD7200 comes out as a clear winner. Talon AD7200 has a 2.4 GHz frequency band, which provides a tough competition to Nighthawk X10. The router speeds is around 100 Mbps in the close-proximity test and 80 Mbps at a range of 30 feet. The performance of 60 GHz AD frequency band is same as the Nighthawk X10. In the close-proximity test, the Talon AD7200 managed to take the prize by scoring an average of 950 Mbps! The only downside to this is 60 GHz frequency can’t enter through the walls; so only your router’s line-of-sight devices will work perfectly.

To sum it up it is an excellent router which is extremely practical yet futuristic. For all you people who are skeptical on investing in the expensive NETGEAR Nighthawk X10, then this router would be the perfect choice for you.

2 . Google Wi-Fi

The Google Wi-Fi stands out in innovation and individuality. This is not just a router it is a Wi-Fi system. Today we will discuss its features in depth and will tell you how the three Google Wi-Fi units perform together to bring impressive wireless connectivity to you.

Design

The design of this router is impressive and it has the capability to look good if placed in various environments. It comes with three similar looking units, and has the diameter of 4.1 inches and a height of 2.7 inches, making it a bit smaller than other routers.

The router is white and is partitioned with an inconspicuous LED light which gives it a very sophisticated vibe. All in all, the design is outstanding and will not look out of place in modern homes.

Features

The Google Wifi system has countless exclusive features in store for you. Some of them are:

• It has 2 high-speed Gigabit Ethernet ports.
• It is well suited for a big home
• It has simultaneous dual-band Wifi (2.4GHz / 5GHz) which supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards.
• It can be controlled through using Alexa and Google Home voice commands.
• It has a 710 MHz quad-core processor paired with 512 MB RAM, to provide you with remarkable network performance.
• It is antenna-less.
• The network can be expanded by buying another Google Wifi unit.
• The two ports work as a LAN and WAN port on the primary unit, while on the secondary units both the ports are able to perform the functions of LAN.

Wi-Fi App Benefits

The Google Wi-Fi system’s has a superlative mobile application; some of the features are given below:

• Is capable to control smart lights and Nest systems.
• It times your Google Wi-Fi system to put the connection on hold automatically.
• It gives an in-depth statistics for all devices.
• It can give preference to a specific device, and makes sure it functions on the chosen bandwidth

Installation

The installation is a very easy and simple process. You have to download the free iOS or Android app and scan the QR code on the unit connected to your modem and power.

When the scanning process is done, the application will help you in providing steps to configure your network username and password. Lastly, you have to pair the secondary units and label them in the app for future references.

Performance

Don’t let its size be a judgment factor of its impressive performance, as it can give tough competition to the giants in the market as AD7200 along with Nighthawk X10.

It has a same room 5 GHz frequency band of near proximity test; the Wi-Fi system showed greater than 450 Mbps. Talon AD7200 displayed a similar rating, which displays outstanding performance by this router.

It also functions exceptionally well in the long-range test, and has a speed of 200 Mbps. This speed is of individual unit and not the entire system. The whole unit has a 2.4 GHz frequency band. The speeds of 100 Mbps for the close-proximity test and 70 Mbps for the long range test are impressive if compared to much expensive routers.

The Google Wi-Fi system offers such a great performance, that it leaves its users in awe. It is sophisticated, easy to use, and can adapt well in different settings. For big home, in need of a powerful connectivity, this is the router best suited for your needs as no other Wi-Fi system comes close to it in providing an exceptional experience.

3 . Asus RT-AC88U

Asus is well known to manufacture top quality gaming hardware. They are now trying their best to create top-notch routers as well. This Asus RT-AC88U is priced $300, and is also labeled as the best router one can buy at this exact moment.

It has an elegant yet trendy design, but it’s no different than any other Asus product introduced in the past. This black router with red lining on the antennas is a treat to the eyes and gives a straight out of a gaming lineup feel. Well, not everybody is impressed with good design, they need good performance.

So, the RT-AC88U is an AC3100 router has 8 Gigabit LAN ports, which are able to provide high-speed internet without any performance glitches. It is a dual-band router that can transform into an NAS. They have spent a great deal of time in creating a web interface which is extremely instinctive and user friendly. The performance of the router on 2.4 gigahertz and five gigahertz bands was performed well without facing any performance setback.

Installation, Configuration, and Performance

This router brings you the easiest installation, all because of its first-rate web interface. Follow the following steps to begin the process:

1. Connect it to the PC and the internet initially
2. Asus Web Interface will open up
3. It will provide you with two options to configure the router after you turn on the PC.
4. You can choose wizard or set it manually.

The Quick Internet Setup wizard will determine your internet connection and will configure your router as a Dynamic IP, Static IP or PPPoE, conditional to the type of your connection. Then, it will permit you to name every SSID, and set up a network encryption key for all bands. That’s it you are done.

The Asus RT-AC88U gives a fabulous performance, through a data streaming of multiple clients of MU-MIMO, which works lightning fast on 2.4 Gigahertz and 5 Gigahertz bands. It also has good capability of transferring, reading and writing files.

Dimensions

Asus AC3100 RT-AC88U (Distance from Router vs Speed Test on Lenovo Yoga 14)2.4 GHz5 GHz5 GHz (#2)010020030040012 Feet (Within Sight) 45 Feet (Within Sight) 39 Feet (Out of Sight) 14 Feet (Out of Sight)2nd Story Speed in Mbps (Longer Bars are better)

This router will be seamless for you if you want to invest some money, as it is a high quality router with great features.

4 . NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000

Netgear, a renowned company for manufacturing finest wireless routers has now released Nighthawk R700, which is also a dual-band router. Through constant hard work and dedication Netgear have managed to produce top quality networking hardware over the years.

This router is designed as covert fighter jet, and should be looked at least once, and we guarantee that you would not be disappointed. This router is AC1900, and has a 1,300 Mbps speed present in five gigahertz band and 600 Mbps speed on the 2.4 gigahertz band.

This version of the router is better than R8000 because it’s easy on the wallet as well as installation. According to research it has been found out to be the greatest wireless router released by Netgear till now.

Design

Like mentioned before the design is amazing to look at, it is simplistic but classy. The color of the router is black, and has three detachable antennas. The only downside to this design is that the router is pretty huge, sturdy and heavy, which would require some place when placed on a surface. It isn’t that bad if you don’t mean to move it to different places.

Performance

The performance of Nighthawk is remarkable and it’s seen as one of the fastest routers present in the market. It has both five gigahertz and the 2.4 gigahertz bands and their performance is quite impressive. In the complete testing process no hindrances or glitches were found. This router is also capable to function on a variety of ranges. The bands present are the main reason of the routers impeccable performance if compared to a regular Ethernet connection.

Features

Nighthawk AC1900 comes with many features, and it also provides support for DD-WRT.  This means that it is perfectly able to run 3rd party firmware on Linux. OpenVPN, and OpenDNS both are supported as well, and because of DNS parents can rejoice as there is also a parental control package present. The most exciting part is that you can control the internet’s connection upstream and downstream all because of QoS (Quality of Service).

All in all, the Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 is quite an extraordinary router which offers high quality service for more than you paid for. The heaviness and some performance problems of 2.4 gigahertz band can be ignored, as the price to performance ratio is quite splendid and it is surely one the best routers out in the market currently.

5 .  D-Link DIR 890L

D-Link has impressed its customer over the passage of time by providing the finest networking hardware and AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi DIR-890 is upholding its reputation as well. This router takes the prize in the best looking routers, and resembles the built of a race car. Let’s stop with the looks appraisal now and dive into its functionality.

The speed and functionality both are extraordinary. Testing results say that installation is simple and the router is pretty fast and has a good range. It is also capable to be doubled up as a NAS by pairing it with an external hard drive.

For all those users who just want a regular router, this is not a good choice for you, as it is a tri-band router and offers so much, more than you’ll ever need.

Design

This red router with black lines certainly holds its own when it comes to looks. If you have a black/red colored computer then this router is a perfect match!

It has D-Link DIR 890L of 2.4 GHz5 GHz. 5 GHz (#2)010020030040012 Feet (Within Sight) 45 Feet in sight and 39 Feet out of sight, 2nd Story Speed in Mbps.

Range

If you reside in a huge house and are in need of plenty Wi-Fi devices that needs connection to the internet, then this router would be the most suitable for you, as it is incorporated with 6 un-detachable antennas and impressive range. Testing showed that the range of the router is quite good.

LAN Ports

DIR-890 comes with only 4 LAN ports, so if you want a router with many ports you should certainly look for other routers which offer up to 8 LAN ports.

If you enjoy good design along with some features it offers, then this DIR-890 by D-Link is definitely a strong contender.

6 . NETGEAR Nighthawk X10

If you are in need of good VR gaming and impeccable 4K video streaming experience, then look no further NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Smart Wi-Fi Router is your best option. Although it has a heavy price tag of $400,it also provide many features making it worth the money. AD700 has three Wi-Fi bands (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz, and 60 GHz), it has 7 Gigabit Ethernet ports (6 LAN, 1 WAN) along with a 10 Gigabit SPF+ LAN port. In addition to that it has Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, and 160 MHz Wi-Fi technology which aims to increase the Wi-Fi speeds of mobile devices to a double. So now we will discuss all its features in detail and decide whether it is worth the money or not!

Design

Dimensions: 8.81 x 6.61 x 2.91

This router is not at all small and weighs greater than a 15-inch MacBook Pro! If we leave the apple comparison and compare it to TP-Link Talon AD7200, then this router doesn’t look too intimidating. Even though it has considerable size, it is designed in such a way that it doesn’t look too ostentatious. It also comes with four external antennas which has a stitched pattern of blue LEDs along the side, pretty cool looking I say!

Features

As we mentioned before the features offered in this routers is immense, so let’s waste no time and take a look at it:

• This router comes with four dual-band antennas alongside high-powered amplifiers so range and throughput can be increased.
• It has a total Wi-Fi speed of 7.2 Gbps (Band 1: 800 Mbps @2.4GHz, Band 2: 1733 Mbps @5GHz, Band 3: 4600 Mbps @60GHz).
• It has a NETGEAR genie app which is fully capable to control, manage and repair your home network.
• This router incorporates 802.11ac Quad-Stream Wave2 Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO, which assists in providing high-speed Wi-Fi to several devices, that too at the same time.
• It is able to comprehend Amazon Alexa commands, and has an Amazon drive backup.
• 2 Gbps speed is attained through pairing of two of the Gigabit Ethernet ports.
• The 1.7 GHz quad-core processor helps in excellent gaming and 4K streaming performance.
• The router comes with two speedy USB 3.0 ports.
• The 10 Gigabit LAN SFP+ port permits fast Network-attached Storage (NAS) access.
• Double Wi-Fi speed is provided to the mobile devices through 160 MHz Wi-Fi.

Installation

With a long list of features one would say that it would be difficult to install, but on the contrary it’s quite easy. All you need to do is connect the PC to your router and internet service. Then log on to www.routerlogin.net and open up the Setup Wizard which will step by step take you till completion of the installation.

There is also an alternative to the installation process by using the NETGEAR Up app. This app will guide you through setting up, configuring and updating your router in absolutely no time.

Performance

So is this router rightfully appraised? We think yes, as it passed the entire performance tests with flying colors. It had 550 Mbps in the 5 GHz close-proximity in the same room, which is a lot more than its rival TP-Link Talon AD7200. It had 400 Mbps in 5 GHz band at a distance of 30 feet. The 2.4 GHz band performance was impeccable it displayed 100 Mbps in the close-proximity test but just lessened by 25% at 30 feet length.

The most standing out feature without a doubt it its 60 GHz AD frequency band. The Nighthawk X10 ripped across the proximity test with a speed of 950-960 Mbps! The long-range test didn’t work as well as the 60 GHz frequency as it was unable to pass right through the wall.

Generally speaking, the Nighthawk X10 puts all other routers to shame and is one of the best home routers you can find, even though some of its features are not supported by devices as of yet. A lot of devices are not capable enough to support the 160 MHz Wi-Fi, and only a handful of PCs comes with 802.11 AD network cards.

To wrap it all up Nighthawk X10 is a glimpse of the future, whose full potential has not been unleashed yet.

7 .  Amped Wireless RTA2600 Athena

All you network enthusiasts; it’s your turn now, as Amped Wireless RTA2600 Athena router is affordable and will perfectly cater to your needs. This router is not the most appealing to look at but it has some pretty impressive features that are made for average customers and those who are in need of more as well.

This router showed decent performance in the carried out tests. However, the feature count is not much if compared to other routers, but the one it offers are made to perfection, and it doesn’t even require a genius to figure it out. The router control panel is exceptionally responsive, and it also doesn’t require much effort to set up.

The hardware of the routers is extremely powerful and didn’t suffer any problems of performance. The performance overall was commendable, with no disconnections taking place when the tests were held. The best thing about this router is that multiple parts fit snugly into its small design. Through Wi-Fi, several devices can be connected without the performance getting varied or slow, which is the most appealing aspect of RTA2600 Athena.

Final Word

Without a single doubt, it can be declared that this is one of the finest routers in the market, which is why it is included in the best Wi-Fi 2018 list. Although this might not be the first router option for network geeks, but it’s definitely a strong contender.

8 . Linksys WRT1900 AC

This dual-band wireless router from Linksy has AC1900 standard support, which means five gigahertz band has a speed of 1,300 megahertz and the 2.5 gigahertz band has a speed of 600 megahertz. So let’s look at all its other aspects and see if it’s giving a tough competition to its competitors.

The color and design of this router is not much different from other routers introduced by Linksy. This router is so huge, that it requires a considerable amount of empty space to be placed; it’s safe to say it’s one the largest router available in the market.

This router comes with four antennas and the firmware included can be replaced by a new custom firmware by as user. This router is very simple to set up and has a ton of useful features embedded in it. Linksy has also incorporated the ability to double up this router as an NAS, a huge bonus indeed! Along with that, the NAS performance of this router is incomparable in front of all its rivals. It also has support for UPnP and DLNA. Both band show stellar performance, without any glitches.

Final Word

We can’t give this router even a slightest bad review, because it doesn’t gives enough reason to, apart from some small issues like heavy design, everything about this router is perfect. During the testing phase, the routers performance was flawless, and didn’t even crash once. The software might be a bit tricky for beginners. If you are ready to invest in this router, then a thumbs up is guaranteed from us.

9. TP-Link Archer C7

If you are on a tight budget but still wish to have a good performance router, thank the existence of TP-LINK Archer C7 AC1750 as it is under $100, unbelievable right? This router will be the best option for people who are gamers and love streaming as it has a whooping combined speed of 1.75 Gbps.

The router is pleasant to look at, and its performance is incredible. Since this router is at beginner level, the build quality isn’t great and looks a bit fragile. With that said, the router has quite a big footprint, which means it requires some space to be placed.

This dual band router is made of 6 antennas, 3 external and others internal. The numerous antennas helped in increasing the Wi-Fi range. The speed is also incredibly fast. However, the NAS capability is not the best.

Even though the price tag is extremely affordable, but still the features are quite less for the price. With that said the sole purpose of manufacturing this router is because it is budget friendly and is targeted at beginners who just want to have a wireless router with a good performance.

10 . Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station

Last but certainly not the least we have Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station on the list. Yes, you’ve heard it correct Apple has a wireless router, and it’s pretty good. Why? Let’s take a look.

The design of this router is very conventional; it looks like its manufacture by Apple because it’s just like the other gadgets they have introduced in the market. This dual band router displays an impressive performance and supports the latest Wi-Fi standards as well. When the tests were carried out, the router showed extremely fast performance. The Wi-Fi is pretty stable, and to be honest Apple did a really good job with this router.

The only disadvantage is that it hasn’t much evolved if compared to Apple’s previous router releases, but this factor is definitely not strong enough to stop you from making its purchase.

Final Word

Apple has hit gold with this router, it is their best yet. The router is stable, fast and functions pretty smoothly without any problems.

Wireless Router Buyer’s Guide

So with all the routers discussed, we have definitely covered all your bases, we hope that we helped you make a very quick and easy decision.

All you beginners out these you need to keep in mind several points before you go out and make a heavy purchase. Routers come with various speeds, ranges, standards etc.

What is the technology behind a wireless Router?

What is a wireless router? It is a device which helps you connect your other gadgets to the internet simultaneously via a wireless connection. Besides doing that it performs many other useful functions as well. You must have complete information about the router and the features it comes with to make a sound decision.

We have shared with you all the necessary features you need in your routers and their benefits down below.

Range

Range is the distance the signal can reach when measured from the router. The range is tested by manufacturers in a proper setting, but the real testing occurs when they are used at offices and home, which usually is expected a bit less. This occurs because of many reasons like an intrusion from the mobile signal, walls or other obstacles, presence of radio waves, baby monitors etc. Usually, under normal circumstances, a wireless router has up to 4572cm (150ft) indoor and slightly less in outdoors. The strongest impact made on the range is by the type of antenna used in broadcasting signal from the router. If taken a look at Asus RT-AC88U Dual-Band, router range is approximately 90144cm (300ft) indoor in an ideal scenario of absolutely no interference.

We will now move on to antenna types and how they affect the range and signal of the wireless router.

Single Band, Dual-Band or Tri-Band

A, B, G, N, AC

Security of Wireless Routers

USB Functionality

There a few routers that have USB port(s) incorporated in them for direct connection to be established and wireless network can be utilized through a USB cable. Nighthawk R8000 Triple Band router incorporates USB port which establishes a connection among the router and device. This function allows file sharing using NAS (Network attached storage) among devices with the help a wireless connection. It is also frequently used to give a wireless internet connection to printer. However, this factor is not people’s top most priority, but it is good to get a router with this feature, you never know when you might be in need of it.

Wired Port

Almost all the routers have a wired port which helps in making a wired connection to a computer. The biggest benefit of this feature is that it is uninterrupted as the connection is directly through a wire, which means a greater transfer speed and impeccable reliability. It would be even better if the router has a LAN (local area network) port because even if the connection is congested it will be secure. Typically routers have four wired ports, but Asus RT-AC88U Dual-Band is way ahead of everyone having a total of 8 LAN ports.

If a router doesn’t have a wired ports, it is said to be just like access point who give a wireless connection but not directly give an internet connection itself. They are used to connect devices to the router to provide internet connections. However, it will only be functional if there is a router present in the close vicinity, which will send the signal from the router.

You need to carefully check whether your router comes with a wired point, otherwise it would be called an access point and not a router.

Antenna Type

It is very vital to see the antenna type of the routers. There are two kinds of antennas, external and internal. The external antenna comes out of the device whereas the internal antenna is enclosed within the router. The internal antenna is usually encased to give the router a contemporary look. With that said, it is the external router which is responsible for a signals longer range. NETGEAR Nighthawk R8000 Tri-Band router should be chosen if you want a router with an excellent range.

MIMO

The newest addition to a wireless router is Multiple in multiple out (MIMO) technology. It aids in a longer signal range and a very fast data transfer. It permits the inflow and broadcast of several signals simultaneously. If you are in search of a router with MIMO technology than Amped Wireless RTA2600 Athena MU-MIMO router is the perfect option to consider.

IPv6

With the rapid expansion of internet and its users, it is no surprise that many IPv4 (internet protocol version 4) available addresses will soon run out. So it’s better to get a router who supports IPv6 before making a heavy investment. The TP-Link Archer C7 is an affordable option with ipv6 support.

What to do now?

We have provided you with all the information we possibly can. Here’s a summary of what aspects you need to consider before making the purchase.

• It should be WAP2 secure
• It should support IPv6.
• It should have a wired port with USB functionality
• It should have considerable amount of range
• It should have an external antenna
• It should have a dual band
• It should be able to broadcast 802.11n along with previous versions.

Final Verdict

To sum it all up, the market is filled with numerous router choices so choosing one among them all can be a bit intimidating, which is why we have compiled a list for you to look at. So this top 10 list of best routers should be considered when you have a certain need or a fixed budget. We sincerely hope that our list has made your decision a lot easier. One should keep in mind that no router is perfect, each of them are designed to cater to a specific audience, you just have to identify which one matches your needs the best.