Best Wireless Routers for Home Use
Getting the best wireless router for home use can be a bit tricky. Especially when manufacturers like to use fancy words and technical jargon to sell their products, it can be a bit complicated. Thankfully, we are straight up going to tell you that you don’t need to look into that at all.
What you need to do is know why you need a wireless router for home use. Do you browse the Internet a lot? Maybe streaming some Netflix is your jam? Or you love to game all night long online? There are great wireless routers for almost everything. But here’s the secret, a wireless gaming router can also be used as a great streaming router, so you don’t need to get a specific router for home usage at all. Almost all of them will provide you with a great experence.
A wireless router is going to connect you to the Internet in a stable and consistent way. However, if you’re looking for a wireless router and modem combo, there are other options available on the market. This article is about the best wireless routers for home use and will provide you with detailed information about each of the product on the list. This way you can make a conscious decision and make sure your money goes to a product that is perfect for your usage.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Wireless Router for Home Use
Almost every wireless router does exactly the same thing; connect you to the Internet. And yes, while they do provide a similar service, there are several factors that can impact their usage. Some wireless routers for home use come with advanced features that provide extra bang for your buck.
Here are a few things you should consider when buying a wireless router for home usage:
Wireless routers measure speed in megabits per second Mbps. The oldest wireless routers offered 11 Mbps, then came 802.11g that provided 54 Mbps. Then came 802.11n that ranged from 150 to 600 Mbps. Lastly, the 802.11ac routers provide over 1 Gbps speeds.
One thing to be kept in mind is that the speed on the router description/packaging is never going to be achieved in real life situations. The actual speed you get will be far lower than the advertised one because those speeds don’t factor real-world scenarios. That doesn’t mean that they are not going to provide you with amazing download speeds as well as stable gaming experiences. Another thing to keep in mind is that an expensive wireless router may not be able to speed up your Internet, especially if your Internet provider is at fault.
Many wireless routers for home use deploy radio signals at 2.4 GHz. Some offer dual-band connectivity and offer 5 GHz as well as 2.4 GHz. One thing is pretty much clear here, each and every wireless router for home usage will come with 2.4 GHz frequency.
For the sake of simplicity, imagine 2.4 GHz to be a long wave. A longer wave has better penetration and range. On the other hand, 5 GHz has a shorter wavelength and can provide better and faster connections but at a cost of range. So for gaming, we highly recommend that you use the 5 GHz frequency because not only it will be faster but also there will be less interference because not many routers use it. However, if your PC is placed far away, you may not be able to connect to the router on the 5 GHz frequency.
The effective range can vary from product to product. And it is quite important if you want full coverage of your house. You can get an expensive router but discover it is not projecting the Wi-Fi connection to the furthest bedroom. Sure, you can then use a wireless repeater to boost the signal but why spend more when you can simply purchase a better router right now.
So make sure you know what kind of range you need. If you have a large house, you’ll probably need to invest in a longer-range wireless router for home use. However, if you live in a small apartment, investing in a longer-range wireless router is quite useless, in fact, is not recommended at all. Make sure you’re clear about your range needs before you push the purchase button.
This one is the most important one. Your personal usage should take precedence over everything else. If you need a fast wireless router for online gaming, you’ll need to invest in one that provides essential features. Getting an expensive gaming wireless router for everyday browsing is not the best way to spend your funds. A less expensive wireless router can do the same job.
Same goes for streaming, if you are interested in streaming online content all the time, you may need a wireless router that facilitates streaming. Sure, any wireless router can easily stream media, but when it comes to 4K content that is also HDR, the speed matters a lot. Investing in a good quality streaming router will help you consume media at your own pace without any loading screens.
if you’re looking to future-proof your wireless network at home, the Google WiFi System is one of the best options available right now. It is not a traditional wireless router because it deploys a wireless mesh network for connectivity. One of the best things about the Google WiFi System is how easy it is to expand. You don’t need to install a couple of wireless range extenders if you have a large area to cover. The Google WiFi System can do that automatically for you.
Google has created a wireless mesh system that is not expensive and is also super simple to set up. For a vast majority of home Internet users, this is the best solution. You don’t need to do a lot either, simply place the units wherever you feel like and scan the QR code. That said, the focus of Google WiFi System is to make expansion and maintenance easier for everyday users.
Although the upfront cost of purchasing a pack of 3 units is a bit higher than most people are willing to spend, but once you’ve seen what the Google WiFi System has to offer, it is hard to go back to anything else. Of course, you can also opt to purchase a single Wi-Fi point to test out how it works but we highly recommend that you go for the 3 pack. Google claims that the 3 point Wi-Fi mesh can cover up to 4500 ft.² in a home.
The first thing you’ll notice about the units in the Google WiFi System is the design. The Google Wi-Fi unit is a small-sized and compact cylinder that comes with a sophisticated white LED band in the center. All of them are capable of providing the exact same functionality. So this means that any of the units can be your primary router and the others will automatically start working as secondary ones. There is also a USB type C connectivity that powers all 3 of them.
There are so many features that come with the Google WiFi System that it will take around 2 more pages to explain them. But we really love how Google integrated app usage with the Google WiFi System. The app not only gives you full control of the devices but also gives you stats about network usage. There is also the Google Wi-Fi network check feature that tests multiple devices and give you stats about any bottlenecks.
Overall, the Google WiFi System is a highly recommended wireless router for home usage. It can stream, it allows you to play lag-free video games and it is amazingly easy to set up.
What makes Google Wifi System a Good Choice?
- Is compact and easy to handle.
- Very easy to set up.
- The app is a great addition.
What’s bad about it?
- Can be a bit expensive.
Looking for a more traditional wireless router for home use? Then the Linksys AC1900 is certainly made for you. If you live in a crowded home with multiple devices, you’ll appreciate Linksys AC1900 thanks to its affordability as well as the ability to connect to up to 12 devices simultaneously. Sure, many other wireless routers offer the same functionality, but Linksys AC1900 doesn’t skimp on quality at all.
The Linksys EA7500 AC1900 also comes with a very modest design. It is made of matte black plastic and has a slightly curved shape to it. It is not imposing and is going to look right at home anywhere you place it. Is a very powerful device and comes in a big package, but that is to be expected from a device of this caliber.
We would’ve really liked a few additional ports and buttons on the front but at this price point, we’re not going to complain. A front-facing USB port would have been a great addition to an already good product.
The Linksys EA7500 AC1900 is also a dual-band wireless router and can provide blazingly fast performance. Using 5 GHz channel, we were able to hit around 35 MB/s in the next room. Which is quite respectable. Moving up the floor lowered the speed further but it was also usable. The 2.5 GHz performance is a little lacking but you won’t have any trouble streaming high-quality videos at all.
This wireless router for home use is an excellent overall performer that is great for those who have a lot of devices at home. With the ability to connect to 12 devices and beamforming, the Linksys EA7500 AC1900 provides a lot of bang for your buck. It is also one of the cheapest routers available that come with Mu-MIMO capability. However, if you have a small household with a couple of devices, you can check out other great wireless routers on this list to save a little bit more.
What makes Linksys EA7500 AC1900 a Good Choice?
- Highly powerful performance.
- Has MU-MIMO and beamforming technology.
- Great for large households.
What’s bad about it?
- An additional USB port would have been great.
While it may seem like a gaming-centric wireless router, the ASUS AC2900 Gaming Router is much more than that. It provides solid streaming capabilities, stable online gaming experience, and comes with superb security features. It is an all-rounder in almost everything it does and it does most of them brilliantly. The ASUS AC2900 Gaming Router exceeds our expectations in our real life, as well as performance tests we conducted in the office.
The ASUS AC2900 Gaming Router provides embedded network protection against suspicious content and malware. Speaking of the design, while it is not as extravagant as some of the other top-of-the-line gaming routers, it does has that gamer aesthetic.
The black and red color scheme and sharp angular design make it stand out among other routers on the list. One thing to note here is that the router must be placed vertically at all times because it is permanently mounted on a stand. This also means that there is no option of mounting it on a wall or even lay it down.
It comes with 8 LED light indicators on the front, 3 removable and adjustable antennas, four LAN ports, two USB 2 ports, and a USB 3.1 port. Overall it is a very robust collection of ports and buttons that will serve almost every purpose. The USB 3.1 port will allow faster data transfer and even faster printing capabilities.
Inside the ASUS AC2900 Gaming Router, you’ll find a 1.8 GHz dual-core processor as well as 512 MB of RAM. The router uses modulation technology to deliver great speeds up to 750 Mbps on the 2.5 GHz channel and 2167 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. There is also Multiuser Multiple Input Multiple Output or MU-MIMO on board. That combined with beamforming, which beams data directly to the devices, the ASUS AC2900 Gaming Router becomes a powerful wireless router.
What makes ASUS AC2900 Gaming Router a Good Choice?
- Lag-free gaming.
- Solid streaming capabilities.
- Brilliant prioritization controls.
What’s bad about it?
- Comes with a vertical mount only.
If you have some extra cash and want the best of the best in the market, the TP-Link AC5400 is certainly one of the best you can buy right now. While it may seem like it is designed for enthusiasts alone, it can easily appeal to beginners as well thanks to its easy to use interface. Make no mistake though, the TP-Link AC5400 is a powerful wireless router for home use that comes with some highly advanced features.
The TP-Link AC5400 is made for those who are already tech-savvy and use voice assistant at home. If you have Amazon Alexa playing all your tunes, the TP-Link AC5400 comes with a number of different smartphone features. You’ll able to connect Amazon Echo, Phillips Hue light bulbs and a number of different smart gadgets with ease.
On the design side, you’ll find the straight lines of the TP-Link AC5400 pleasing to look at. When the antennas are closed, it almost looks like a box. But pop them up and the TP-Link AC5400 really shines. The large black enclosure has vents on the top side as well as 8 antennas that can be opened and positioned to have good Wi-Fi coverage. On the back side, you’ll find for LAN ports, a WAN port, a USB 2.0 port, and a USB 3.0 port for faster file transfers and printer sharing features.
Taking a look inside the hood will reveal the dual-core 1.4 GHz ARM processor. There are also there coprocessors that handle data, two for the 5 GHz channels and one for 2.4 GHz one. This means that even if a large number of devices are connected to the wireless router, it will be able to handle the tasks at an optimum speed.
When it comes to speed, the TP-Link AC5400 provides exceptional numbers in real life usage. Setting up the router is simple and easy, there are a lot of features to make use of, and there are plenty of ports for connectivity. Furthermore, the Wi-Fi signal is brilliant and Alexa integration is a well thought out feature.
What makes TP-Link AC5400 a Good Choice?
- Superb performance.
- 8 antennas provide exceptional range.
- Super easy to set up.
What’s bad about it?
- It is a bit on the expensive side.
Not a lot of people are keen on spending almost $200 on a wireless router for home. And for the vast majority of Internet users, it is a reality. Thankfully, TP-Link AC1200 provides some really sweet features without wiping your wallet clean.
The TP-Link AC1200 Archer is an affordable wireless router that offers all the basic features you’ll need at home. It is not amazing at anything but is fairly good at almost everything. The TP-Link AC1200 Archer comes at a very low price and has support for almost all the latest wireless technologies so you don’t feel left out.
If you’re looking for a wireless router that is not expensive but provides dual-band connectivity, the TP-Link AC1200 Archer is a great option. We were surprised to see how well it performed on the 5 GHz wireless network. Design wise it is a simple design with 3 antennas that provide an exceptional range for the price.
However, the glossy surface of the router makes it a fingerprint and dust magnet so you’ll need to regularly clean it out. It can also be mounted vertically on a wall thanks to its great design.
It also comes with a companion app that can only work when you are connected to the Wi-Fi it is broadcasting. There are also USB ports on the back so you can easily connect a printer. Streaming 4K content was handled surprisingly well by the router but we did notice some dips in performance while playing video games.
What makes TP-Link AC1200 a Good Choice?
- Has good range.
- Dual band capability.
- Great performance on 5 GHz wireless network.
What’s bad about it?
- The glossy finish can get messy.
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