Best Wi-Fi Routers Windows Central 2021

There isn't a single best Wi-Fi router since all of our needs are different. Between PCs, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, streaming devices, and IoT gadgets, home networks have more connected devices than ever before and we're asking more of our routers than usual as we try to work from home. Still, whether you need something with a ton of power for gaming and streaming or just want consistent coverage with a mesh, there are more options than ever.

Amazon Eero 6

Best Mesh: Eero 6

Promoted Pick

Eero makes building a Wi-Fi 6 network as easy as possible with the compact and powerful Eero 6. Three Eero 6 routers are a great fit for most homes and the AX1800 connection will easily support internet connections up to 500Mbps. If you already have an Eero mesh, you can use your older Eeros to add more coverage as well.

TP-Link Archer AX6000

Best Wi-Fi 6 Upgrade: TP-Link Archer AX6000

Staff favorite

The TP-Link Archer AX6000 has all the features a serious tech enthusiast needs, including a fast dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connect capable of AX6000 speeds. It also has eight Ethernet ports for wired devices, as well as a fast 2.5Gbps uplink. It also has a USB-C port making it easy to connect a fast external SSD to share files quickly.

Asus RT-AX55

Best Family Value: Asus RT-AX55

If you're trying to get the whole family online, you need plenty of speed and capacity plus great content control and security software. The RT-AX55 Wi-Fi 6 router from Asus has Wi-Fi 6 speeds plus AiProtection Classic which includes security by Trend Micro as well as parental controls with content filtering and profile controls.

TP-Link Archer C7

Best Value: TP-Link Archer A7

The TP-Link Archer A7 is a reasonably fast Wi-Fi 5 router with four Ethernet ports and even a USB port. The AC1750 speeds break down to 450Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1300Mbps at 5GHz. While the older tech won't support as many devices as a Wi-Fi 6 router, this will be more than enough for most families.

TP-Link Archer AX10

Best Budget Wi-Fi 6: TP-Link Archer AX10

The Archer AX10 from TP-Link is the most affordable way to get Wi-Fi 6 connectivity in your home with support for 1201Mbps at 5GHz and 300Mbps at 2.4GHz. Four Ethernet ports make wired connections a breeze, and four antennas offer coverage for a three-bedroom home. For most people, this router has more than enough speed.

Asus ZenWiFi XT8

Best Wi-Fi 6 Mesh: Asus ZenWiFi XT8

If you're looking to take your mesh Wi-Fi performance to the next level, the Asus ZenWiFi XT8 offers AX6600 speeds with a tri-band connection. This pack comes with one router and node with a fast 2.5Gbps WAN port and 3 LAN ports each. This is a great option for improving coverage in a home office or even an entertainment center.

Asus RT-AX82U

Best Gaming Router: Asus RT-AX82U

The sleek RT-AX82U from Asus is one of the best gaming routers you can get with a dedicated gaming port for your PC and plenty of Wi-Fi 6 capacity for your mobile devices. Asus includes its great gaming software to keep your connection optimized as well as included internet security and mesh support with other AiMesh Asus routers.

Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

Best Gaming Router Upgrade: Asus ROG Rapture GT- AX11000

The Asus ROG Rapture Rapture is one of a few AX11000 Wi-Fi 6 routers and it's total overkill. Even so, if you're looking for the best possible router for gaming, this router will have no trouble keeping up with you. With super-fast Wi-Fi 6 speeds, a 2.5Gbps gaming port, and Asus' gaming optimized software, lag will be a thing of the past.

Nest Wifi

Best Mesh Upgrade: Nest Wifi

Nest Wifi from Google is one of the easiest ways to improve your Wi-Fi coverage thanks to plenty of expansion options with Nest Wifi routers, points, and even older Google Wifi routers working with the mesh. AC2200 speeds from the main router will be more than enough for most home networks with the capacity for plenty of connections.

If we're making some suggestions

There are hundreds of good routers on the market, including more mesh options than ever before. While this is not a comprehensive list of every great Wi-Fi router out there, all of these routers are outstanding performers that can serve any home network well. Our pick, based on all-around performance for gaming, streaming, and range is the TP-Link Archer AX6000. It takes advantage of Wi-Fi 6 to deliver up to 6Gbps combined with its dual-band connection. It also has eight Ethernet ports for wired devices, a 2.5Gbps WAN port, and even USB-C.

The TP-Link Archer A7 is a great value with solid AC1750 speeds and four Ethernet ports. With up to 1300Mbps possible at 5GHz, this router should be able to keep up with a small family as long as they don't have too many wireless devices. If you need to get online quickly and easily without a need for advanced settings or mesh capabilities, this is a solid option.

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