You can also cheaply add more satellites to the system at a later date, allowing you to slowly improve coverage and spread the cost rather than paying a huge fee upfront. The eight antennas can be rotated to optimize the signal depending on the layout of your home and placement of the router (they are replaceable if you want to upgrade them later). The same goes for the software, which doesn't have the same extensive customization options you’ll find from a gaming router or even our top recommendation, the TP-Link Archer C2300. Fortunately, the close-range performance was fantastic. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, The added bonus is that you get a built-in Nest Mini equivalent speaker in the router and any additional access points for both smart home interactions and music playback. It’s pretty much just focused on delivering the fastest performance across the widest coverage, and with that, it delivers. That said, we’re confident parental controls will eventually arrive with future software updates, which could boost this mesh system right to the top of this ranking at a later date. The relatively small size and pleasantly rounded fabric design of the Nest Wifi are additional points in its favor. “Routers and modems are usually separate devices, but there are combined devices that simplify the setup process,” he says. Beyond that, it also includes a three-year subscription to Bitdefender Total Security, a comprehensive security suite that, by itself, would cost over $200. By clicking continue below and using our sites or applications, you agree that we and our third party advertisers can: this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The Netgear Nighthawk RAX200 is the fastest router we’ve ever tested, featuring 12 streams of Wi-Fi 6 spread across three network bands. Are you particularly security conscious? Andrew Myrick and Samuel Contreras. Best Wi-Fi router for the security-conscious, Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Dual-Band | Max Data Transfer: 2.3Gbps | Antennas: 3 | Size: 11.2 x 7.3 x 2-inches | Ports: 4 1-Gbps LAN, 2 USB Type-A. By Sean Riley 02 November 2020. Buying the best router possible is important for getting the most out of your broadband package, whether you fancy blazing speeds for gaming or enough coverage to provide constant signal across your four-bedroom house. The TP-Link Archer C2300 can cover up to about a 3,500 square foot home with enough bandwidth to support multiple users streaming HD or even 4K content, surfing the web, or gaming online. Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Dual-Band | Max Data Transfer: 1.3Gbps | Antennas: 3 | Size: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.3-inches | Ports: 4-Gbps LAN, 1 USB Type-A. We’ll always tell you what we find. Are you a hardcore gamer or looking to be able to stream 8K content? Please refresh the page and try again. The more data intensive tasks you are running and the more users you have the higher you want this number to be. Tell us what you think – email the Editor, Formerly the Staff Writer at Stuff Magazine, Ryan's been writing about tech since he graduated from Cardiff University. Learn More. Best balance between price and performance. While the run-of-the-mill appearance and basic specs of the TP-Link Archer C2300 aren’t going to jump off the page at you, this is one of the best routers on the market, offering fantastic performance at an affordable price. Released at the very end of 2019, the TP-Link AX6000 is an excellent Wi-Fi 6 router that comes in at a reasonable price given the performance and years of use it should provide. For those with larger homes, you’re better off opting for a mesh system instead. But since you don’t get any satellites bundled in, the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 is only really worth using in small homes and flats. While not everyone is probably ready to jump on the Wi-Fi 6 bandwagon just yet, gamers are one category of buyers that can’t wait to take advantage of the speed and latency advantages available via a Wi-Fi 6 router. This can manage the rest of your smart home devices and act as part of a whole home speaker system with other Nest or Google Home speakers. The biggest issue with Wi-Fi 6 routers right now is their price, often costing £400 upwards. Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Dual-Band | Max Data Transfer: 1.3Gbps | Antennas: 5 | Size: 4.7 x 1.2-inches | Ports: 2 1-Gbps LAN. For those with larger homes, you’re better off opting for a mesh system instead. Wood routers are mainly used to hollow out an area in a piece of wood. Combining the modem and router … At £400 it’s still undoubtedly expensive, but undercuts the £450 Netgear Orbi Wi-Fi 6 (RBK752) to make it the best value router currently available. New York, You can also use it to cut fancy patterns, grooves, and edges. It’s not the fastest router, and lacks features such as parental controls and the security found with pricier alternatives, but it still gives you access to the Wi-Fi 6 standard for boosted speeds and more reliable connections without having to pay over the odds. The Netgear Nighthawk Mesh WiFi 6 System is a very tempting option then, as it costs a far more reasonable £230. The Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 can be a confusing option because it's a solid, mid-range router with a price closer to what you would expect for a mesh network or a high-performance router. We gave you an option for that. Fortunately, the AX8 makes up for that with incredibly fast network speeds. While it doesn’t have an integrated speaker like the Nest Wifi, you can control the system with voice commands from either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. If you are already bought into the Google Home or Nest ecosystems, then the Nest WiFi is an easy recommendation. collects data to deliver the best content, services, and personalized digital ads. With an original retail price of £700, the Orbi is far more pricey than its rivals, even after recent price cuts. Larger homes will need to consider a more powerful router and those with especially large or unusual layouts will probably be best served by a mesh option to cover every corner of your space. Thank you for signing up to Laptop Mag. The arrival of Wi-Fi 6 makes it a great time to invest too, offering increased speeds and improved efficiency when provisioning for multiple compatible devices. The Nest WiFi is a mesh Wi-Fi router that can be purchased individually or with multiple extensions depending on the size of your space. Not every device supports Wi-Fi 6 right now, but the majority of modern laptops and smartphones now benefit from the new technology, so it’s advisable to ensure your router is future-proofed. New MacBooks will run iOS apps — but these important ones could be missing, PS5 expandable storage is a no go for launch — here's what we know, Best PS5 Black Friday deals 2020: What to expect, Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals 2020: Bundles and games to look out for, Best Buy Black Friday ad 2020: Shop early deals right now. Netgear also offers lots of satellites so you can improve the coverage at a later point. packs in an additional satellite which makes it the superior option for larger homes. This means the Nest Wifi doesn’t offer the fastest speeds and is the least adept here at handling multiple devices simultaneously. Not only that, but it features a robust app and web-based customization tool to optimize your network, set parental controls, utilize the included Trend Micro antivirus protections, and other advanced settings. NY 10036. First of all, it’s important to point out the, Best Router 2020: Top eight wireless routers you can buy. Still, a standalone WiFi 6 router for plus £400 is very expensive, so you should only really consider buying the Netgear Nighthawk RAX200 if you need the absolute best speeds possible, whether you’re a gamer or frequently download lots of files. Mesh Wi-Fi routers and smart home tech have both been popular product categories over the last several years and Samsung has brought them together in the affordable SmartThings Wifi. The limitations with the TP-Link Archer A7 are the overall range, which is probably sufficient for a roughly 2,500-square foot home and multiple users hitting the network hard with taxing activities like 4K streaming or gaming. The app and web-based customization tools are easy to use and let you set a variety of options to optimize your network for specific activities. Our only significant criticism is the cluttered smartphone app used for tweaking settings and setting up the mesh system, but it’s a very minor blemish. These are best Wi-Fi routers available today. Extensive customization and optimization for gamers via software, Also serves as a SmartThings smart home hub, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. Unlike other sites, we thoroughly review everything we recommend, using industry standard tests to evaluate products. “I recommend Motorola MG7550, as it is the best choice for internet speeds of 250 Mbps to 300 Mbps. We rank the best router options in 2020, including the top wireless picks with Wi-Fi 6 support, parental controls and long-range network speeds We may get a commission if you buy via our price links. If you go for the spare-no-expense model of tech purchasing, then let me introduce you to the Netgear Orbi 6 AX6000, a Wi-Fi 6 router that offers the best speeds of any mesh network option on the market. Shares (Image credit: TP-Link) Best value Wi-Fi 6 router for small homes and flats. We’ll give you a specs breakdown on each Wi-Fi router, then offer a deeper dive into why we think it’s a great router for a given category of users. © While the white and silver design of the Netgear Orbi 6 AX6000 isn’t offensive by any means, you might not want it to be a  part of your room decor. If you’re going to buy a router right now though, we still think it’s worth future-proofing for the inevitable influx of Wi-Fi 6 compliant gadgets. With a 742.14Mbps average throughput at a two-metre range, it absolutely decimated the widely respected Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 (RBK852). But if you want to benefit from the new Wi-Fi 6 standard while paying as little as possible, the Netgear Nighthawk Mesh WiFi 6 System is your best bet. If you want the best speeds possible throughout your house, then this router may not be the best choice. Extras aren’t really a big part of the experience with the Netgear Orbi 6 AX6000. Be sure to bookmark our Black Friday page for this year’s exclusive deals. Add higher-end features, like mesh networking, smart home support, and Wi-Fi 6, to the mix of new router features and it’s easy to get lost in a sea of options. You will receive a verification email shortly. However, compatible Wi-Fi 6E routers and devices likely won’t start arriving until 2021, so it’s understandable if you don’t want to wait that long. Depending on where your Wi-Fi router needs to be located, the physical size of the TP-Link AX6000 could be a concern for some. Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ax/Tri-Band | Max Data Transfer: 6Gbps | Antennas: 8 | Size: 10 x 2.8 x 7.5-inches | Ports: 4 1-Gbps LAN. The standard two-pack is rated for up to 3,800 square feet, so it should be plenty for most homes. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The router also has a nice collection of ports, including four 1Gbps LAN ports and two USB Type-A ports, meaning you should have no problem getting any smart home or other connected devices up and running. A new batch of routers with the newest Wi-Fi 6E standard that can take advantage of the faster 6Ghz band are also on the horizon. Welcome! Black Friday 2020 kicks off Friday, November 27 and we expect to see tons of deals on today’s best tech gear. For those with complex networking needs, the Nest WiFi may fall short as it doesn’t offer some more advanced options, but if you want an easy-to-use solution, the Nest WiFi is one of the best. It’s not quite as fast as it’s cloest rival, the Netgear Orbi Wi-Fi 6 (RBK752), but the inclusion of parental controls makes it a more complete package. It’s also worth noting that the antennas are removable and could be replaced with high-gain or amplified antennas if you need a bit of a signal boost. These are best Wi-Fi routers available today. The numerous LAN and USB Type-A ports along with the powerful browser-based customization will be sufficient for even demanding users, while the setup process is simple enough for those that just want to plug it in and get up and running.