September 2024
Routers: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of routers rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2024.
Summary
On 4 Sep 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 75 router endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
61 routers were endorsed in total, only 12 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 4 Sep 2024, Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed router with 2 expert endorsements. 1 expert out of 2 recommended it as the '#1 router' this month.
Brand breakdown
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TP-Link: 19 routers
(#1 is TP-Link Archer AX50)
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Asus: 11 routers
(#1 is Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8)
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Netgear: 11 routers
(#1 is Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500)
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Linksys: 3 routers
(#1 is Linksys Velop MX12600)
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Google: 2 routers
(#1 is Google Nest WiFi)
Price breakdown
At a glance - September Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Router |
Lifewire
|
Laptop Mag
|
Tom's Guide
|
Wirecutter
|
How To Geek
|
T3
|
Business Insider
|
TechRadar
|
Digital Trends
|
PCMag
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
+1 | $285 |
Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8
The Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 router is a high-performance Wi-Fi 6 mesh system with excellent speed and range, advanced features such as parental controls and QoS settings, and easy setup and management through a mobile app.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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4
|
-
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-
|
1
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-
|
-
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2
|
+1 | $549 |
Asus Rapture GT-AX11000
The Asus Rapture GT-AX11000 router is a high-performance router with advanced features for gamers and families, offering fast and stable Wi-Fi connectivity, comprehensive security features, and easy setup and management.
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4
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-
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3
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-
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-
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6
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-
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-
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-
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-
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3
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+2 | $450 |
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-performance router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 and 6E standards, offering top speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps, and is ideal for users who require high-speed internet for activities such as streaming and gaming.
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-
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-
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8
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-
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-
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8
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3
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-
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-
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-
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4
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+4 | $102 |
TP-Link Archer AX50
The TP-Link Archer AX50 router is a highly recommended Wi-Fi 6 router that offers fast and reliable speeds, supports over 40 connected devices, and has advanced features such as parental controls and antivirus protection.
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-
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3
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-
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-
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-
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-
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2
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-
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-
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-
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5
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+6 | $39 |
Google Nest WiFi
The Google Nest WiFi router is a reliable and efficient solution for families of four who frequently use multiple devices simultaneously and want fast and reliable internet speeds, with parental controls, QoS capabilities, and easy setup and management using the Google Home app.
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-
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2
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-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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-
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-
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-
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6
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+4 | $150 |
Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR1000
The Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR1000 router is a high-performance Wi-Fi 6 router with a maximum speed of 5.4Gbps, suitable for large households or small offices with multiple devices, and comes with Netgear Armor for all-encompassing anti-virus, anti-malware, and data protection.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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2
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-
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-
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5
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-
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|
7
|
+2 | Check price |
TP-Link Archer AX6600 AX90
The TP-Link Archer AX6600 AX90 router is a high-speed, Wi-Fi 6 router with Tri-Band Wi-Fi, Ultra Connectivity, Maximized Coverage, and TP-Link HomeShield security features, making it a reliable and versatile choice for any home or office.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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5
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-
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-
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2
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-
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8
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+4 | $150 |
Google Nest WiFi Pro
The Google Nest WiFi Pro router is highly praised for its speed, performance, range, features, security, ease of use, and compatibility with smart home devices, making it a top choice for streaming, gaming, and providing reliable Wi-Fi coverage in both homes and office spaces.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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4
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3
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-
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18
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+2 | $65 |
TP-Link Archer AX10
The TP-Link Archer AX10 router is a dual-band AX1500 router that offers good speed and performance for streaming and gaming, with improved wireless connection and increased transfer speeds for reduced lag and latency, making it suitable for large homes or office spaces with many users and devices.
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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4
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4
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19
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+2 | $110 |
TP-Link Deco X20
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-
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-
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5
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-
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5
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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|
20
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+2 | $379 |
Netgear Orbi 6 AX6000
The Netgear Orbi 6 AX6000 router is a high-speed, high-performance device with advanced features and strong Wi-Fi coverage, making it an ideal choice for users in need of reliable and fast internet connectivity for demanding tasks.
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5
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6
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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21
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+2 | $1150 |
Eero Max 7
|
-
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-
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6
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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-
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9
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We ranked Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 #1 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 as #1.
How To Geek
Best Mesh Router
|
Wi-Fi 6
5500 square feet of coverage
QoS for traffic prioritization
|
More expensive than mesh systems without Wi-Fi 6
Not as simple to configure as Google Nest Wifi
|
TechRadar
The best Wi-Fi router overall
|
Great Wi-Fi performance
Good security features
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Expensive
Limited to two routers
|
We ranked Asus Rapture GT-AX11000 #2 in September 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
Lifewire
Best for Gaming
|
Advanced Wi-Fi 6 Support
Extremely fast performance
Cutting-edge game-centric QoS
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Large footprint
Pricey
|
Tom's Guide
The best Wi-Fi router for gaming
|
Performance improves with distance
Plenty of customization options
Impressive 2.5Gbps WAN port
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Very large in size compared to other routers
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T3
A top wireless router for power users and gamers
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Support for Wi-Fi 6
Powerful software control
Eight Wi-Fi antennas
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Expensive
Large
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Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend routers.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of routers, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for September 2024 ranking
Lifewire
Laptop Mag
Tom's Guide
Wirecutter
How To Geek
T3
Business Insider
TechRadar
Digital Trends
PCMag
We ranked Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 #3 in September 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best Wi-Fi 6E router
|
Top speeds with 6GHz band
Very customizable
Security software built-in
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Throughput declines quickly with distance
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T3
The best Wi-Fi router if you have a big budget
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Absolutely packed with features
High-end Wi-Fi 6E support
Lots of customisation options
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It's going to cost you
|
Business Insider
Best Wi-Fi 6E
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Supports Wi-Fi 6E, excellent Wi-Fi performance, performance holds up at range, as a 2.5 Gigabit LAN port
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Large, could use more Gigabit LAN ports for its size
|
We ranked TP-Link Archer AX50 #4 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Best Wi-Fi 6 router for most people
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Affordable for performance
Solid coverage for single unit
Advanced security options
Reduces battery drain on connected devices
|
Limited USB ports
Max data transfer not as high as some
|
Business Insider
Best budget
|
Good performance at long range, simple setup process, attractive design, compact size
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Maximum Wi-Fi speeds could be higher
|
We ranked Google Nest WiFi #5 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Best mesh Wi-Fi router system for most people
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Excellent, reliable coverage
Easy to set up
Built-in Google Home speaker
Smart home functionality
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Limited ports
Lacks advanced configuration options
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Business Insider
Best budget mesh
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Easy to set up and manage, router and points are small and attractive, access points double as smart speakers. reliable performance at range, attractive pricing
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Wi-Fi 6 upgrade is sorely needed
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We ranked Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR1000 #6 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
T3
The best premium wireless router
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High speed, low ping
Handles congestion well
Automatic optimisation
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On the expensive side
|
Digital Trends
The best gaming router
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Solid Wi-Fi 6 performance
Options catered towards gamers and streamers
Malware protection included
Excellent coverage
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No multi-gig port or port aggregation
Relatively pricey
|
We ranked TP-Link Archer AX6600 AX90 #7 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
T3
A mid-range wireless router with loads of smart features
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Improves Wi-Fi speed and capacity
Easy to use and manage through the app
HomeShield is free and protects your devices
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The 2.4GHz channel could be faster
You have to create an account
There’s a subscription fee for the advanced security features
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Digital Trends
The best high-performance router
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Wi-Fi 6 support
Multi-gig Ethernet ports
Solid performance
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Relatively expensive
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We ranked Google Nest WiFi Pro #8 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
TechRadar
The best mesh router that's more affordable and offers wide coverage
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Easy to setup
Appealing design and looks
Good Wi-Fi performance and coverage
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Smart speaker functionality has been ditched
Not backwards compatible with old Nest WiFi devices
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Digital Trends
The easiest wireless router to use
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Easy to set up
Fairly well priced
Wi-Fi 6E
Google Home, Matter support
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Ethernet port limited to 1Gbps
Requires Nest Cloud services
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We ranked TP-Link Archer AX10 #9 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
Digital Trends
The best budget wireless router
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Affordable price
Four Gigabit LAN ports
Alexa support
Great performance
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Limited design for coverage
No USB ports
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PCMag
Best Budget Wi-Fi 6 Router
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Affordable
Good 5GHz throughput and signal range in testing
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Doesn't support 160MHz channel width
No anti-malware tools
Lacks USB and multi-gig LAN ports
So-so 2.4GHz performance in testing
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We ranked TP-Link Deco X20 #10 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best budget mesh Wi-Fi system
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Inexpensive
Excellent range
Extra security
Small router and satellites
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Lack of customization options
No dedicated backchannel for data
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How To Geek
Best Budget Mesh Router
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Low-budget Mesh networking
Supports Wi-Fi 6 and earlier devices
Easy to set up and configure
Provides good network coverage
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Lacks a dedicated backhaul channel (for the 2-pack)
Network speed could be better
|
We ranked Netgear Orbi 6 AX6000 #11 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
Lifewire
Best Splurge
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Blazing fast performance
Excellent range
2.5Gbps WAN port
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Pricey
No USB ports
|
Laptop Mag
Best high-end mesh Wi-Fi router
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Excellent range and expandable
Easy to set up
Smart speaker integration
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Expensive
Overkill for most users
Large footprint
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We ranked Eero Max 7 #12 in September 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best routers” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best mesh Wi-Fi system for large homes
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Simple app
Small AC adapter
Good performance up close
Uses 320MHz ultra-wide data channels
Two 10Gbps and two 2.5Gbps networking ports
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Performance falls off quickly at distance
Extra security, parental controls and networking stats cost $100 a year
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PCMag
Best Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System/Editor's Choice
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Fast performance
Strong signal coverage
Easy to install and manage
Supports Thread, Matter, and Zigbee protocols
10GbE and 2.5GbE ports
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Pricey
Lacks USB connectivity
Parental controls and network security software require a paid subscription
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