If you are in search of a new Wi-Fi router, you may be overwhelmed by all the different options. Let’s take a look at some of the best Wi-Fi routers that you can get today. There will be a high-end gaming router as well as a few home and office use routers.
D-Link DIR-615 Wireless-N300
Features
This is a very simple router without much modern tech. It does have one notable feature, though, which are the two huge external antennas. They will provide you with great coverage and signal strength despite the router’s small size.
The router can handle up to 10 devices at once and claims to have a coverage area of up to 450 Sq. ft. Another surprising feature in this price bracket is the support for multiple access point modes, i.e. you can use it as a repeater.
You also get a 3-year warranty with the device. The device is compatible with RJ 45, but not RJ-11, so bear that in mind.
Design; Quality
This router is what springs to mind when you think of a basic router it is a simple black box with two large antennas. You only get three LED lights on the front and the D-Link logo. The I/O is simple too and it’s nice to see a WPS reset button on it.
Performance
Despite its price and size, the router is pretty decent. You only get a 2.4 GHz band that goes up to 300 MBps. The router claims that it has fast Ethernet ports for computers too. Thanks to the large antennas, the coverage should be fine for most people.
Pros; Cons
The price, small size, two large antennas, access point mode, and decent Ethernet performance are the upsides.
The downsides are its very basic functionality, no support for newer wireless tech, no 5 GHz band, and low bandwidth.
TP-link N300 WiFi Wireless Router TL-WR845N
Features
Just like the D-Link router from above, this TP-link router is very basic. It does, however, have three antennas that can provide very good coverage even if your house is a bit larger. You also get bandwidth control so that you can choose which device gets the most bandwidth.
Managing and encrypting your wireless signal is also easy thanks to the TP-Link Tether app which works with this router. The router is also compatible with IPv6.
Design; Quality
The design is simple, minimalistic, and elegant. The router is made of glossy white plastic that looks nice when clean. However, it can get scratched easily and any dust particles are quite visible. The three antennas are not huge but they work well. The I/O is fairly standard with 5 Ethernet ports, power, and two buttons for reset and WPS.
Performance
You can get up to 300 Mbps with this router on 2.4 GHz. There is no 5 GHz band, but it is not expected at this price point. You get three powerful antennas so the coverage is excellent.
Pros; Cons
The pros are the price, esthetic, three antennas for great coverage, easy setup, bandwidth control, and good encryption.
The cons are the lack of a 5 GHz band, only goes up to 300 Mbps, and the white plastic shows any imperfections and dust.
TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router
Features
The AC1750 has a Qualcomm chipset that makes your connection more stable and better than what you’d get with a cheaper router. It also has dual-band Wi-Fi so the speed that you get thanks to 5 GHz is incredible. It also has 3 external antennas for amazing coverage, a USB port, and several working modes including access point mode.
Design ; Quality
The router is made of black plastic and the body is separated into three sections at the top. You get a ton of different LED lights for Ethernet, power, USB, etc. at the front of the device. The three antennas are sleek and not too large or too small. The overall design and quality are average.
Performance
The performance that you get from a dual-band Wi-Fi router is hard to beat. It has support for both 2.4 GHz up to 450 Mbps and 5 GHz up to 1300 Mbps at the same time. The three antennas provide great coverage and signal strength too which is further amplified thanks to the Qualcomm chip.
Pros; Cons
The pros are the value, dual-band Wi-Fi, 1.75 Gbps available bandwidth, great chipset, great range, a USB port.
The cons are the lack of newer tech such as MU-MIMO and beamforming.
TP-Link Archer C1200 Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Cable Router
Features
The C1200 supports Dual-Band WiFi just like the AC1750, but the maximum bandwidth speed is a bit lower. You also get the same three antennas. This router, however, uses a Broadcom chip and it has support for beamforming, which is a big selling point for many people that rely on excellent wireless stability for work or gaming.
Design; Quality
The design and quality are identical to that of the AC1750 from above.
Performance
The router supports dual-band Wi-Fi. You get 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and around 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The three antennas are great for coverage and signal strength and beamforming further boosts it.
Pros; Cons
The pros are beamforming, good dual-band Wi-Fi, three antennas, USB port
The cons are no Qualcomm chip, no MU-MIMO, lower bandwidth compared to AC1750
Netgear Nighthawk XR500 Pro, AC2600 Dual Band Gaming WiFi Router
Features
This is a high-end gaming router from a famous brand, so it has all the basic functionality of all the aforementioned routers. It has tons of features oriented toward both mobile and wired gamers. You get a VPN, a gaming dashboard, a network monitor, and even a blacklist.
Design; Quality
The design is unique – it looks more like a spaceship or sports car than a router. Only the four antennas give it away. Thankfully, there are no accent colors that would look odd. You get gorgeous white LEDs at the front that are labeled with acronyms rather than symbols.
Performance
The performance is incredible. It supports up to 2.6 Gbps of bandwidth and you get all the latest tech that makes your gaming experience incredible and stable.
Pros; Cons
The pros are the speed, the latest tech, great features for gamers, and four antennas for excellent signal strength and coverage.
The only downsides are the price and only four Ethernet ports, polarizing design.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a basic router, the first two will do the job just fine. If you want something a bit more advanced for gaming and working without breaking the bank, the TP-Link Archer C1200 and the AC1750 are awesome. And if you are a serious gamer or need the best possible connection for work, the Nighthawk XR500 Pro is one of the best that you can get.
