If you are like many families nowadays, a typical evening at home might look something like this: one of your kid’s gaming upstairs, you catching up on the latest made-for-Netflix series in the living room, and your spouse uploading a vacation’s worth of photos on Flickr in the kitchen. And therefore, I have created a list of top 10 best wireless routers in this article.
A router is the magic box that allows you distribute your Internet connection to a variety of devices throughout your home or office, laptops, including desktop computers, smartphones, smart TV sets, tablets, and streaming media devices such as Google Chromecast, Roku, and Apple TV.
Essentially, wireless routers convert broadband connections and broadcast signals around a local area. The wireless functionality works in the same way as a cordless telephone. Wireless routers turn existing internet connections into wireless signals that tablets and laptops can use to connect to the internet.
You are better off with a wireless connection if you need to move around your house or home compound, using laptops or other mobile devices. Wireless also eliminates the mess up that cables bring.
Wireless routers power public Wi-Fi in many libraries, restaurants, and other such places, making it possible to connect to the internet within these locations.
Because of our spreading Internet-centric culture, wireless routers have become a crucial part of any household or business. In this article, we shall cover some tips on how to choose the best wireless routers for you.
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING THE WIRELESS ROUTERS
It is a brilliant idea to buy a wireless router, especially if you use a laptop. It will give you the opportunity to connect to the Internet without using cables and get an increased wireless security. Further on you can read some advice which you can take when buying a new router for your laptop if you a beginner in computing and networking.
You need three basic things: a laptop, an internet access and basic knowledge of your operating system.
1.Before you buy a wireless router, you must know what operating system is running on your laptop. You should also verify if the laptop has a wireless card, but this is often the case unless you have an old laptop model.
2.Browse an online store or take a trip to the local computer store and look at the variety of available routers. The newest routers will offer you a better transfer rate and coverage area. For best performances, look for a wireless N router, but if you want something cheaper you can get a wireless G router with a speed booster function.
3.Find the N or G router that suits your budget and look at the box. If you are using Windows Vista, know that there still are routers that are not compatible with Vista. This thing might still be valid if you use Linux or Mac. Do not forget to check the compatibility before you check any other router functions. You should also ask the worker in the store if they know any problems that router has with various operating systems.
4.Look at the router specifications. For example, N routers are good if you use to play online or watch movies from the internet. They can also offer better coverage than the older wireless router versions.
5.Even if most routers have in their box a Cat5 cable which you will use to set up the router at home, check the box first. If the cable is not there, but one from the same store, they should have those for sale there as well.
6.Choose according to price, needs, and compatibility. Buy the router, bring it home and install it according to the instructions on the box. If you cannot set up the wireless network alone, ask for help from a friend. However, if the router is compatible with your laptop, you should encounter no problems at this point. Remember to plug into the router the internet cable, so that you access the wireless internet because this is why you have bought it.
Therefore, you should do all your research before you set out to buy one. Also, ensure to go with a good brand and that it comes with a decent warranty so that your investment in computer routers in protected. These warranties are just for one year. Sometimes, additional extended warranties can be purchased through the store that you are buying the product from.
1. TP-LINK ARCHER AC1750 – BEST BUDGET WIRELESS ROUTER
This is the best budget wireless router on the market today. It has two 2.0 USB ports to share media and files with networked devices. This router has an IP-based bandwidth control. It helps to control the bandwidth of devices connected to the router. The total available bandwidth for this router is 1.75Gbps. The bandwidth includes 1300Mbps at 5GHz and 450Mbps at 2.4GHz.
This super wireless router supports 802.11ac. The TP-LINK Archer AC1750 has an external antenna. The antenna provides the ability to connect a higher gain antenna if it becomes necessary. The Easy Setup Assistant makes the installation process of this router easy. The AC1750 has a WPS button on the WPA wireless security encryption. It also has a limited two-year warranty and unlimited customer support.
- Very fast.
- Excellent range.
- Three external antennas.
- Good built-in web user interface.
- Sleek, smart design.
- Good price.
- There is no logout button of the browser interface.
- A lot of bright blinking blue lights on the front.
2. TP-LINK ARCHER AC1200 – BEST ROUTER UNDER 100$
The TP-Link AC1200 is the best router under 100$. The router has great network USB 2.0 ports that efficiently share data between computers. This wireless router is easy to setup and manages using the Tether App. The application is freely available for download for iOS and Android devices. The application allows one to manage their network settings easily.
It uses the powerful 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology that is super-fast and highly efficient. With this kind of technology, you can enjoy HD video streaming. It also offers free online gaming on the 5GHz bandwidth. Its 2.4GHz bandwidth is used for other daily tasks like web browsing.
It comes with three external antennas allow you to maintain high speed over longer distances. This makes it convenient for use in large offices or large homes. You can comfortably use this router at any point within your compound.
Archer AC1200 has four internal Ethernet ports. These ports enable this router to provide fast and reliable connections to all your wired devices. Some of these devices include DVRs and game consoles.
- Cheap.
- Fast internet connection.
- Wide area network coverage.
- Usable with several devices.
- It has way less Wi-Fi coverage.
- It loses the signal after a short while.
- Does not work efficiently with an ATT modem.
3. NETGEAR NIGHTHAWK R7000 – BEST ROUTER UNDER 200$
The Netgear Nighthawk (R7000) remains the best router under 200$. These remain the best wireless routers Netgear has made for home users, to date. Despite its relatively low price, its quality is not compromised. Its dual-core processor runs at 1GHz. It is among the fastest routers you can find on the market today. It is the fastest wireless router from Netgear. This router offers unique features including an internal Open VPN server, support for third-party firmware, and support for Broadcom TurboQAM for an efficient Wi-Fi speed up to 600Mbps.
The Netgear R7000 has a ReadySHARE and ReadyCLOUD USB to access the USB disk anytime. This router is compatible with a Time Machine on all Mac devices. It has three detachable external antennas. These antennas make it give strong network signals and extend your Wi-Fi coverage. The router has a plastic chassis housing case. This makes it more resistant to physical damage.
The R7000 comes with a preset Wi-Fi network. The username and password of the network are printed on a label on its bottom. The R7000 has 2 USB ports (USB 3.0 port and USB 2.0 port) plus Five 10/100/1000 Mbps (1 WAN & 4 LAN) Gigabit Ethernet ports.
- Perfect for Gigabit LAN connection.
- Has a unique feature – USB 3.0 and 2.0.
- Wide range coverage.
- 1GHz dual-core processor.
- Accessible at a distance.
- Requires a large space.
- Delayed response from email support.
- Poor connectivity.
4. ASUS RT-AC88U – BEST DUAL-BAND GIGABIT GAMING ROUTER
Being the best Wi-Fi router to buy in this year, the AC3100 dual-band wireless router has a 2.4 GHz band and a 5.0GHz band. You may get some tri-band AC3200 in the market, but a dual-band router is enough for a few devices. It has a high download speed (up to 1.8 Gbps) compared to other wireless routers of its quality. The network range is quite good for large houses. The signal can be quite efficient in the first two or three floors in a story building. This router has a powerful 1.4 GHz dual-core processor. It offers super-fast USB data transfers up to over 100 Mbps.
The browser interface has unbeatable options that are easy to navigate. The interface has features like prioritizing traffic, guest-mode Wi-Fi, configuring WOL, and many others. ASUS is the best dual-band routers on the market. It is lowly priced like a flagship router though its quality is not compromised. This router is right for pro users who want granular control over their home networks.
ASUS is among the few wireless routers that come with eight LAN ports. Hence, it becomes a plus for those who have many wired devices. The 4T4R antenna design on this router reaches a wide coverage up to 5000 SqFt. The wide range coverage on this router makes it notable among the best wireless router.
- Extremely fast Wi-Fi speeds-(1024-QAM technology).
- Excellent range.
- Tons of settings.
- Easy to use browser interface.
- Guest-mode Wi-Fi.
- Can get hot.
- Large footprint.
- A bit expensive.
5. NIGHTHAWK X6 R8000 – BEST ROUTER FOR GAMING AND STREAMING VIDEO
There has never been a wireless router like the Nighthawk X6 Router with a Tri-Band Wi-Fi technology. It was built to offer the strongest internet connection to all the devices in your home automatically and simultaneously. Tablets, Laptops, phones, game consoles, TVs, music streamers, and Wi-Fi enabled cameras to go well with this router.
The Nighthawk X6 is the best router for gaming and streaming video. It offers a powerful combination of features including its super-speed up to 3.2Gbps, Smart Connect intelligence, three Wi-Fi bands, and Dynamic QoS. All these features guarantee every device is connected to the fastest possible optimized Wi-Fi connection for the highest speed.
The powerful amplifiers and six high-performance antennas deliver maximum range throughout your home. This great machine from Netgear has a 1GHz dual-core processor that has three offload processors to enhance performance.
You have no more excuses when taking on the online gaming world. This Nighthawk is the gamer’s choice for best in class Wi-Fi with the latest AC3200 performance. The tri-band end game lag by delivering the intensity of uninterrupted, immersive online gaming.
- Tri-band Wi-Fi network.
- Perfect video streaming.
- Smart Connect feature.
- Unbeatable range coverage.
- Web-based interface unresponsive or unreachable (via the LAN).
- Expensive.
- Fails after a short while.
6. LINKSYS AC1900 – BEST DD-WRT ROUTER
The Linksys WRT1900AC dual-band router is engineered to deliver the best networking performance. This Wi-Fi router offers an unmatched Wi-Fi coverage and user experience. It is the first Linksys’ router to feature four external adjustable antennas that ensure your Wi-Fi signal is always at maximum strength, keeping everyone simultaneously downloading, gaming, and streaming without delay. The antennas also enhance the dual wireless bands’ performance simultaneous for a strong, reliable Wi-Fi signal even in multistory homes. It has a powerful 1.6GHz dual-core ARM to provide an excellent signal range to support multiple devices simultaneously.
It also has a unique dual eSATA/USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 port to connect several devices conveniently and experience lightning-fast data transfer speeds. The WRT1900AC also features Smart Wi-Fi software to control your network anywhere and anytime. It is the first Linksys’ wireless router to offer the Network Map smart tool. This tool provides an intuitive at-a-glance view of your entire network.
This router is open source ready. Users have access to customize the router for better compatibility. The antennas can be detached for future upgrades. All these features make it the best DD-WRT router.
- Detachable antennas for easy upgrading.
- Network Map smart tool.
- Exceptional signal range.
- Data loss if not connected to Ethernet.
- Inconsistent performance.
7. SECURIFI ALMOND TOUCHSCREEN – BEST ALL IN ONE ROUTER
The Securifi Almond is the first wireless router that has come with the touch technology. The highly intuitive touchscreen enables users to set up their routers easily and avoid cumbersome Mac/PC-based setup that is common with traditional routers. This router is a multipurpose device and can be used as a range extender, a router or wireless to wired Ethernet Bridge.
Almond helps you to extend the range of another router with a poor range wirelessly. It is compatible with most routers from Netgear, Cisco, Belkin, Apple, Asus, Verizon, AT $ T, etc. The Almond can be used as a full-featured Wireless router with a high speed up to 300Mbps. It’s the best wireless router on the market today. You should connect it to a Fiber modem and follow the on-screen instructions to set it up.
Securifi takes the security of your router very seriously. Almond is secure out of the Box, unlike other routers. The Almond ships with a random name and password set by the manufacturer. Almond’s default SSID’s ‘nomap’ tag secures your router from being recorded in tracking databases. The Almond is the best all in one router.
- Short set up time
- High speeds up to 300 Mbps
- Range extender
- High compatibility
- Very secure.
- Weak Wi-Fi signal
- Fails to obtain the IP address
- Creates a 2nd wireless network.
8. D-LINK AC3200 DIR-890L/R – BEST RANGE WIRELESS ROUTER
The DIR-890L is the D-Link’s flagship consumer wireless router. The DIR-890L comes with six external antennas to achieve up to AC3200 speeds. It is a monster of a machine regarding specifications and has a price tag to match. It is the best range wireless router.
The D-Link DIR-890L is all about its super performance. It’s six antennas allow for simultaneous supply of two 5GHz bands at up to 1,300Mbps and a 2.4GHz band at up to 600Mbps. This router can maintain high delivery speeds to several devices at the same time.
At least one of your gadgets should have the capability to send/receive at the highest rated speed to get the unbeatable experience with the DIR-890L. With this router, you can enjoy online gaming and 4K/HD video simultaneously with 3 x 3 data streams.
Its advanced SmartConnect feature allocates the best band for maximal performance while the Advanced AC SmartBeam helps to track your connected devices for enhanced Wi-Fi speed.
- Reliable Wi-Fi connection.
- Good selection of extra features.
- Fast Wi-Fi performance.
- Web interface lacks power-user options.
- Printer sharing software isn’t great.
9. D-LINK DIR-880L – DUAL BAND GIGABIT ROUTER
With the D-Link DIR-880L, you can game online and stream in HD with data speeds up to 1900 Mbps on a dual-band (600N+1300AC Mbps Speed). This is the best dual-band gigabit router. On this router, you can set up parental controls, create guest networks, and manage users.
The DIR-880L has an advanced AC Smart beam that tracks your devices to eliminate dead zones. It keeps your signal strong at all points around the house. The QoS technology allows you to send bandwidth where it is needed most. You can choose which task needs stronger connection among for your connected devices.
It’s three high-gain antennas enable the router to cover large ranges. mydlink SharePort app helps you to access your files from different devices. This application allows you stream and share videos, photos, and more across your network. This router offers lag-free video streaming with the strong Wi-Fi signal. It gives you a super gaming experience.
You can easily secure your information on this wireless router with WPA/WPA2 and WPS encryption and double firewall (NAT and SPI) features.
D-Link Wireless AC1900 has in Ethernet and USB connections to allow you connect multiple wired devices to your network and wirelessly attach media, printers, and more with one Internet WAN port, 1 USB 2.0 port, and one USB 3.0 port.
[twrap] [tlc]- Benchmark wireless performance.
- The unrivaled value for money.
- Smart, cohesive design.
- Intuitive setup and stylish UI.
- Fairly large.
- Requires Premium app to access all mobile features.
10. APPLE AIRPORT EXTREME (MD031LL/A) – BEST LOOKING ROUTER
The Apple 5th Gen AirPort Extreme Base Station is one in its world. It is completely unbeatable. This is the best-looking router on the market today. Apple AirPort Extreme is a bit expensive, but you take home what you pay for. It has a stable operation. It maintains strong connectivity all through. This could is the easiest wireless router to setup. You can have two of them bridged top strengthen/extend the Wi-Fi signal to your house and compound. The MD031LL/A are the best wireless router for bridging purposes.
It is small in size and not a huge “tower” like some routers and lays flat. It offers dual-band Wi-Fi and strong access and security controls. On this router, you can easily share files through the USB port. You can print without cables when using this router.
[twrap] [tlc]- Great wireless and connected connection speeds.
- Secure access.
- Dual-band Wi-Fi.
- Wireless printing.
- It isn’t AC capable.
- Not perfect is with Windows.
ADVANTAGES OF LATEST WI-FI ROUTERS
The best wireless routers are great assets to have in your home or office nowadays. They are easier to handle than traditional routers and have greater capabilities. There are many benefits to using wireless routers. The obvious one is that you will not fumble with cables or wires anymore. Best wireless routers hook up with the nearby nodes automatically. They do not require any physical connection, hence the name “wireless”.
Unfortunately, some computer models do not automatically synchronize with routers. However, any computer can connect to a router if you install a wireless NIC. Either a wireless or a wired router can work in the same setting. You can connect individual devices to either of the router types. Any router will perform excellently no matter what kind of network is used. In addition to desktops and laptops, any networking device can successfully be added to a network.
A wireless router works when it is connected to a modem the same way as their traditional counterparts. Routers make the process of connecting to a network simple. Wireless routers enable you to connect several computers or laptops while efficiently maintaining a constant speed. Some of the routers on the market are expensive but have amazing speeds and capabilities. However, these are not necessary for basic functions, and should only be bought if needed.
FAQs ABOUT THE WIRELESS ROUTERS AND ANSWER
1.Can I change the router login username?
No, the login username cannot be changed. You can only change the admin password.
2.How do I change the admin password on my router?
-Log into your router using your username and the password you wish to change.
-Under the Maintenance menu, select Set Password.
-Enter the old and new password.
-Click on Apply option to save your changes.
3.How do I secure my router network?
For wireless network security assistance, use WPA2 to select Securing your wireless network.
4.Do I need to register my router to start working?
No, you do not have to register your router to work but to receive technical support.
5.How many devices should I connect wirelessly to a router simultaneously?
You may connect any number of devices wirelessly to the router; however, performance might decrease with each additional device.
CONCLUSION
Wireless routers have become popular in the recent past due to the many advantages they offer compared to the traditional wired counterparts. The difference between routers occurs in the range and strength of the signal broadcasted. In many cases, this difference can be negligible although it is something worth bearing in mind if a home is extremely large, or spread over some different floors. Ideally, placing the router in the center of the house will result in the widest access for all residents.
Having gone through the above review on the best wireless routers, it is my hope that you will get yourself the best of all. Powerful and reliable routers are necessary for our daily internet use. As you search around for the best router that suits your needs, consider going for the best wireless routers to save your cash on cables or wires. The price of the router should not compromise its quality. Remember cheap is expensive. You had better pay dearly for a router that will serve you for years than a buying cheap dead router.
Before taking a router home, consider all the factors that are necessary to qualify it. Look at the number of ports depending on your intended use, know the Wi-Fi speed, range coverage, signal strength, upgradeability, and so on. Always get the value for money from what you exchange with your notes.
Wonderful post with clear outlines. These are the best wireless routers.
Quite Surprising Review. Because According to These Reviews Linksys is the best Router out there.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us. This blog is very interesting and informative. Keep writing and spreading knowledge with us.
Choosing the right router brings happiness to lives. As internet is important now a days everything goes down if internet is down so yeah! Thankyou for helping us in finding the best router.