Table of Content
Just make sure your router supports whatever antennas you buy, or you'll probably wind up with decreased performance. If you're looking to test the waters with a mesh network, the Google system is an excellent place to start. It's one of the simpler systems to set up and works in tandem with a companion app that provides an easy way to control and monitor use, set up parental locks, etc. The R6700 is longer though not quite as wide as the R6320, but still won't take up much space.
There’s no HomeShield or HomeCare support with this router, but most people don't need those extra services. If you don’t care about online gaming performance or have tons of smart home devices, and your home is 1,600 square feet or smaller, you likely don’t need to spend more than this. The best wireless routers deliver top-notch range and speed for households of all sizes—and all the devices and users in them. The best wireless routers aren’t just for power users, either—they’re easy and intuitive to set up thanks to accompanying smartphone apps, so anybody can get one up and running on their home network in no time at all. In our first round, we set up all of our contenders in a 2,000-square-foot house.
A Solid Alternative to the Asus GS-AX5400
There's almost nothing that can be done these days without some sort of internet connection. Whether its streaming the latest season of Luke Cage on Netflix or pulling up work email on your phone, a good internet connection has become essential. However, if you want to achieve backward compatibility and higher speeds with slow networks, the ‘ac’ network types best. It has to be in a central location, kept away from other obstructions and gadgets. Even with a great positioning, there will still be some places in your home where the wireless signal cannot reach.
The WiFiman app can also help you test your Internet speeds, signal strength, and latency as you move around your home; it’s a great tool for diagnosing your home network. The AX21 has a single USB 2.0 port on the rear for network-accessible storage. Even if they do, USB 2.0 is old and slow compared to USB 3.0, which we typically find on new routers nowadays. To set one up, you'll need to connect one of the devices in the system to your modem using an Ethernet cable, just like your current router.
Other mesh routers we've tested
The Asus RT-AX86U is a Wi-Fi 6 powerhouse that delivers great speeds and killer gaming features, as well as awesome customization options. With high-end performance and lifetime protection against intrusions and malware, it's also a great option for securing your entire home network, providing long term protection without a subscription fee, and carrying a two-year warranty. The TP-Link Archer AX50 is an affordable midrange Wi-Fi 6 router that delivers speedy throughput and comes with lifetime malware protection and parental controls. The TP-Link AX11000 is one of the fastest Wi-Fi 6 routers we've tested, and it's loaded with features, too, including a gamer-centric user interface, numerous ports, multi-gig WAN support, and anti-malware tools. We loaded up the WiFiman app on each smartphone and ran upload and download tests to come up with a preliminary ranking.
The units are also a little bigger than the Google Home, but still won't take up that much space compared to a normal router. And with an AC3200 rating, the Linksys WRT router definitely delivers that power. The WRT serves as a good compromise for those who want a general router but want extra power to support plenty of devices or connection needs.
Best for multigig home internet plans
We like that the AX21 supports TP-Link’s OneMesh system which, like Asus’ AiMesh, lets you set up your own DIY mesh Wi-Fi system by cobbling together other compatible TP-Link routers and extenders. It’s a great way to reuse older gear and get a mesh system that can intelligently hand off devices to the best access points. However, OneMesh won’t let you connect your mesh nodes back to your primary router via Ethernet cables. It’s a wireless connection or nothing, which will be slower than Asus’ solution. Just about every new router, mesh or otherwise, will come with a convenient companion app that'll walk you through the setup process in a matter of minutes.
The RG-E5 is easy to install and manage and gets you into a Wi-Fi 6 network without spending a bundle. If you require multi-gig ports and parental control software, be prepared to spend significantly more money for a router like the TP-Link Archer AX11000. And while it may only be a two unit system, it doesn't skimp out on network speeds.
But in 1999, Wi-Fi was introduced, giving people a new way to connect their devices without cables. The Wi-Fi router you rent from your internet service provider is not your only option — here are some of the best routers to consider right now. 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 performance, price be damned, then this is the system to get. Expect regular updates to this post as we continue testing networking devices periodically. When we find a new router that merits strong consideration, we'll add it to this list with links to our most recent test data so that you can always find the best router.
It's also fully backward-compatible with previous-gen Google Wifi setups, which is a smart touch. Among dual-band mesh routers, I'd much rather have a top-of-the-line Wi-Fi 5 system than an entry-level Wi-Fi 6 system, and even among new competition, the Nest Wifi mesh router fits that bill. Part of the appeal of Asus routers is the excellent app, packed with features for tinkerers but easy enough for anyone to navigate.
The end effect is that your speeds should be more consistent throughout your home, with fewer dead zones where coverage drops out altogether. There are a number of other factors that we take into consideration whenever we test a mesh router. I run each of my speed tests to the same server, which gives me a good, comparative look at how quickly each one is able to send and receive data. Most of the mesh routers I'm testing these days do just fine, with average latency usually coming in between 15ms and 20ms per ping, but some systems will see latency spikes when they're routing your connection through a satellite extender. That means connecting to a mesh system at range might not be the best bet for gamers, or for anyone else particularly concerned with latency.
Using the latest Wi-Fi 6E technologies, it offers access to four radio bands—including the newly liberated 6GHz band—and is equipped with numerous high-speed networking ports, including two 10GbE ports and one 2.5GbE port. It delivered speedy data rates in our performance tests, but its 5GHz signal range could be better. We live in the day and age of mobile, internet-connected devices that depend on fast and reliable internet access to function as intended. Understandably, older WiFi standards haven’t been designed with our current needs in mind, so it’s only natural that wireless routers that support nothing but them are now essentially obsolete. Like many other wireless routers, the WRT32X has device prioritization technology, but it takes it a step forward.
With a mesh router, I can still hit triple-digit speeds in those back rooms, which are about as fast as when I'm connecting closer to the router. Consistently delivering a stable high-speed Wi-Fi connection, the Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 mesh system tops our Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers guide and is ideal for large homes or houses with dead spots. This system performed well in tests, offering great coverage and close to maximum speeds at close-, mid-, and long-range. I encountered a slight issue during setup that was resolved with a factory reset and firmware update.
However, it’s also the company’s firstmesh Wi-Fi system, so it’s not something you’re expected to hide somewhere in your basement. Chances are you actually will have one or more of these units in your living space, so looks are important here. We spoke to experts to break down how Wi-Fi routers work and whether you should buy your own router. They outlined how to choose the best router for your needs — including whether it’s worthwhile to lay out the extra cash to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 or the even faster 6E. We also offer some options to improve your existing wireless signal using mesh Wi-Fi system and range extenders, which could keep you from having to buy a new router at all. Gaming features aside, the RT-AX86U offers full support for Wi-Fi 6, with strong, stable speeds and good range.
