The best Wi-Fi 6 routers for 2022

Whereas Wi-Fi 5 routers have been round for years, and most properties in America probably will not prime out on the speeds that these routers assist, upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router comes with many alluring advantages. You can get sooner speeds — as much as 9.6Gbps — if your property web plan can assist it, higher safety, and extra manageability by with the ability to join extra gadgets to an entry level.

To reap the benefits of the most effective options of Wi-Fi 6, you may have to improve to a brand new router. Listed below are a few of the finest Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E routers that must be on the highest of your buying checklist.

Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300

Greatest all-around Wi-Fi 6E router

Why you can purchase this: The Nighthawk RAXE300 boasts a novel design that may blanket a big area with Wi-Fi 6E protection.

Who’s it for: Residence customers who do not need a mesh system or ugly antennas on their routers.

Why we picked the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300:

Netgear’s newest RAXE300 is among the many most accessible Wi-Fi 6E routers, and it replaces the corporate Wi-Fi 6-ready Nighthawk AX8 on our checklist. Introduced earlier within the 12 months at CES 2022, the RAXE300 brings Wi-Fi 6E assist, which is designed to decrease latency and enhance speeds, to a contemporary and futuristic wing-shaped type issue just like the corporate’s extra premium gaming routers, just like the RAXE500.

The tri-band router can assist switch speeds as much as 7.8Gbps, and it comes with a brand new 6GHz band, making it a well-rounded providing for properties that wish to spend money on a future-proof router. As much as eight Wi-Fi streams are supported, and the corporate claims that its sturdy wing-shaped antenna design can blanket properties as giant as 2,500 sq. toes. For wired connections, there are many ports on the again.

The easy to make use of Nighthawk app brings loads of management to the router, and non-obligatory subscription packages allow you to increase the expertise with safety packages to guard your Web site visitors. The Nighthawk RAXE300 will begin delivery this Spring.

Asus RT-AX88U

Greatest Wi-Fi 6 router

Why you can purchase this: The Asus RT-AX88U is a quick Wi-Fi 6 router designed to prioritize gaming site visitors with a easy design that is elevated with gold antenna accents.

Who’s it for: Players and streamers who fear about speeds.

Why we picked the Asus RT-AX88U:

Asus has a number of Wi-Fi 6 routers and, truthfully, we’re impressed with all of them. This specific mannequin has so much in frequent with the Nighthawk AX8, providing 6GBps speeds (round 1.15Mbps on the two.4GHz band and 4.8Mbps on the 5GHz band, the anticipated speeds on all Wi-Fi 6 fashions), plus eight LAN ports. The twin-band router additionally works with AiMesh, the Asus Wi-Fi mesh system that may hyperlink a number of routers collectively for higher, stronger protection the place crucial.

The router additionally helps each OFDMA and MU-MIMO for direct connections to gadgets for better stability and higher information streaming. Players, in the meantime, will respect the Adaptive QoS that may prioritize video games to verify there are not any slowdowns that the worst doable time. As with most trendy Asus routers, the Asus RT-AX88U’s community is guarded by AiProtection Professional, a safety filter to assist maintain your information secure.

TP-Hyperlink Archer AX6000

Greatest router for heavy streaming

Why you can purchase this: The TP-Hyperlink Archer AX6000 is made to reduce congestion and provides higher band steering management for tech-savvy customers.

Who’s it for: Players, streamers, and homes with a number of IoT gadgets making an attempt to attach concurrently.

Why we picked the TP-Hyperlink Archer AX6000:

Whereas Netgear and Asus provide top-tier ax fashions, you already know TP-Hyperlink cannot be far behind. This Archer mannequin provides as much as 6Gbps throughout its bands, 9 Gigabit LAN ports, and compatibility with each OFDMA and MU-MIMO. It comes with a 1.8Ghz quad-core processor, and two co-processors to assist handle connection high quality. By now, all this can be feeling just a little acquainted. However TP-Hyperlink has just a few distinctive options to contribute.

The “band-steering” and “airtime-fairness” software program helps guarantee that bands do not get overcrowded, whereas additionally guaranteeing that one machine does not get an excessive amount of consideration. The TP-Hyperlink Archer AX6000 additionally comes with a USB-C 3.0 port, helpful for every part from information switch to charging up your cellular gadgets — a pleasant profit in case your router is in your desktop. There’s even Alexa compatibility if you wish to give it voice instructions.

Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

Greatest premium gaming router

Why you can purchase this: The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is excessive pace for high-bandwidth purposes and could be paired with the corporate’s different mesh merchandise for a whole-home Wi-Fi system.

Who’s it for: Severe avid gamers and streamers.

Why we picked the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000:

Primarily curious about gaming? The Rapture is a Wi-Fi 6 mannequin designed for avid gamers that won’t be capable of get a wired connection however nonetheless need the highest-quality wi-fi connection obtainable. The router will prioritize gaming gadgets, gaming servers, and what it identifies as gaming information packets, dashing up the connection from starting to finish, aided by the 1.8GHz quad-core processor.

When you do discover an association that permits for a wired connection, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 has a devoted 2.5G port for gaming gadgets. AiMesh lets you join a number of Asus gadgets, whereas AirProtection offers a pleasant safety filter. There are additionally loads of choices to customise connection monitoring and prioritization so you’ll be able to inspect the standard of your connections at any time. Oh, and it makes port ahead further, with the power to select your sport and machine and activate open NAT in seconds.

TP-Hyperlink Deco X60 WiFi 6 AX3000

Greatest price range Wi-Fi 6 mesh community

Why you can purchase this: TP-Hyperlink’s Deco X60 comes with a horny, minimalist design that may complement your property decor, and the mesh system can blanket giant areas.

Who’s it for: Residence customers or small enterprise house owners.

Why we picked the TP-Hyperlink Deco X60:

TP-Hyperlink’s Deco was a powerful mesh system to start with, designed to unfold a number of items all through your constructing for superior protection and no lifeless zones. However because of its 2020 improve, Deco is healthier than ever. The brand new items can cowl as much as 7,000 sq. toes, making them appropriate for just about any giant area you will have. In addition they present as much as 3 Gigabits per second (Gbps) speeds for as much as 150 gadgets, so it’s sooner than ever, too.

The router is a great selection if you happen to take pleasure in video chatting, streaming, or gaming. Anticipated upgrades like OFDMA and MU-MIMO are right here, however notice that the TP-Hyperlink Deco X60 additionally helps WPA3 encryption — quickly to change into the brand new required commonplace — together with the TP-Hyperlinks suite of safety instruments. The preliminary setup is easy, too. Simply comply with the method outlined within the Deco app. Deco is the mesh system to select for the brand new decade.

Netgear Orbi RBK852

Greatest Wi-Fi 6 mesh community

Why you can purchase this: Netgear’s Orbi delivers sturdy Wi-Fi 6 indicators and quick speeds with its tri-band design, and every node comes with Ethernet ports for extra versatility.

Who’s it for: Residence customers and 4K streamers.

Why we picked the Netgear Orbi:

A mesh router system contains satellite tv for pc fashions that perform as repeaters, strengthening and rebroadcasting the Wi-Fi sign at completely different factors to cowl rather more floor. This specific model provides each the first router and one extender to cowl a complete of 5,000 sq. toes, however you’ll be able to add extra satellites for protecting an excellent better space, if crucial.

Along with Wi-Fi 6 speeds (as much as 4.2Gbps throughout the three bands supported by the router), this mesh system can deal with greater than 40 gadgets and contains Gigabit Ethernet ports on every machine for wired connections. The Orbi app additionally will get a nod for being significantly straightforward to work with, an vital issue when organising a extra difficult mesh system.

Whereas such a high-end mesh community will not be for everybody, the Netgear Orbi is a superb selection for giant properties, companies, and public areas the place plentiful protection is vital. You possibly can select a number of completely different varieties if you wish to search for a distinct value!

Linksys Atlas Max 6E

Greatest compact Wi-Fi 6E mesh community

Why you can purchase this: Linksys’ Atlas Max 6E comes with Wi-Fi 6 assist and boasts speeds as much as 8.4Gbps.

Who’s it for: Players, 4K streamers, and small places of work that want quick speeds and sturdy protection.

Why we picked the Linksys Atlas Max 6E:

Regardless that Linksys’s Atlas Max 6E wi-fi mesh networking system is without doubt one of the priciest choices on our checklist, it brings superior Wi-Fi 6E assist to those that want the newest and biggest expertise. Promising speeds as much as 6.5 instances sooner than Wi-Fi 5, the Atlas Max 6E is a superb device for these with gigabit web or sooner and anybody who desires to stream video games for the bottom of latency connections. The Atlas Max 6E provides in a 6GHz band and helps the identical 4x channel of present methods, permitting extra gadgets to hook up with your community for speeds as much as 8.4Gbps.

The Atlas Max 6E advantages from the identical options of most trendy mesh networks, together with a smartphone app to entry the settings, the power to arrange a separate visitor community and parental controls, and firmware updates that occur robotically within the background. The system comes with 12 inside antennas that ship tri-band protection on the two.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz spectrums. Powering the entire thing is a 2.2GHz quad-core processor, and Linksys claims {that a} community with two nodes can blanket as much as 6,000 sq. toes of area. WP3 safety is supported on all bands.

Eero 6

Greatest Wi-Fi 6 mesh community for learners

Why you can purchase this: Eero guarantees a easy setup expertise and expandable protection with non-obligatory nodes for a whole mesh community.

Who’s it for: Residence customers who worth simplicity.

Why we picked the Eero 6:

Eero is without doubt one of the first firms to enter the mesh networking area, and the corporate’s new Eero 6 mesh router is an iterative replace that brings huge enhancements. The Eero 6, as its title implies, helps the brand new Wi-Fi 6 commonplace, although extra superior customers may look to the Eero Professional 6 for sooner speeds befitting of gigabit web plans. Eero sells the Eero 6 in a number of configurations that may blanket as much as a 5,000-square-foot residence with speeds as much as 500Gbps.

One other limitation of the usual Eero 6 in comparison with the Eero Professional 6 is that the non-Professional mannequin tops out with dual-band assist. Nonetheless, until your property is loaded on IoT gadgets otherwise you want the very best speeds to stream or sport, going with the non-Professional mannequin will likely be greater than satisfactory and can prevent cash in the long term. The Eero 6 is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, and it additionally comes with built-in Zigbee assist for good residence peripherals. Sadly, the extra common Z-Wave commonplace is not supported right here. Eero’s extraordinarily minimalistic setup implies that you may get discrete, enticing nodes, however until you purchase a combo pack with a number of routers, you are not going to seek out Ethernet ports on the add-on satellite tv for pc items.

TP-Hyperlink Archer AX50

Greatest price range Wi-Fi 6 router

Why you can purchase this: You are on a price range and wish to improve to a Wi-Fi 6 router.

Who’s it for: Any residence Web person.

Why we picked the TP-Hyperlink Archer AX50:

TP-Hyperlink’s Archer AX50 is a stable buy for properties that require a succesful Wi-Fi 6 router to ship quick speeds for a mess of customers. The Archer AX50 can assist fundamental streaming and gaming, workplace and work calls, and normal Web browsing with out breaking the financial institution. It is also loaded on options, together with 4 Ethernet ports on the rear, 4 exterior antennas supporting two Wi-Fi bands, and assist for extra superior capabilities, like beamforming, hyperlink aggregation, MU-MIMO, and QoS, making it nice for properties with fundamental and even superior customers.

The very best half about buying a TP-Hyperlink router is that you just get entry to a lifetime subscription of extra superior safety features, which might have value an additional subscription on routers from rival manufacturers. This makes it straightforward — and inexpensive — to improve to a succesful Wi-Fi 6 router on your residence.

Analysis and shopping for suggestions

• Are Wi-Fi 6 routers value it?
• Do Wi-Fi 6 routers have higher vary?
• How do I test if my router helps Wi-Fi 6?
• Can my present router be upgraded to Wi-Fi 6?

Are Wi-Fi 6 routers value it?

Sure. A router is not a tool that is changed fairly often. Not like a smartphone, it tends to take a seat in a single spot and do its job for a number of years or so. Whereas Wi-Fi 6 is just beginning to present up on newer gadgets (as we talked about, it first appeared in the marketplace in late 2019), inside a few years, it’s going to change into the anticipated commonplace, the best way 802.11ac was thought-about commonplace. Getting a Wi-Fi 6 router now is not simply good future-proofing, it is actually the one choice if you need a router that will likely be helpful for longer than a 12 months or two.

Do Wi-Fi 6 routers have higher vary?

Not innately, no. Wi-Fi 6 will enhance your connection high quality and eradicate lifeless zones, however your router will nonetheless maintain its authentic technical vary. When you want a bigger technical vary, mesh routers are most likely the best choice. The massive advantages of Wi-Fi 6, additionally designated by the moniker Wi-Fi 802.11ax, embody higher throughput speeds, decreased latency, and the power to attach extra gadgets to the identical entry level. These advantages will likely be nice for purposes that require responsiveness, reminiscent of gaming, augmented actuality, and digital actuality, to call just a few. This makes Wi-Fi 6 routers nice gaming routers. To profit from Wi-Fi 6’s assist for sooner speeds, you may want a quick broadband connection, and that is one thing you may have to debate together with your web service supplier (ISP).

How do I test if my router helps Wi-Fi 6?

It’s often fairly apparent, however you’ll be able to all the time search for your router mannequin on-line. Suitable routers will state clearly they use Wi-Fi 6 or 802.11ax, which each imply the identical factor. When you’ve had your router for greater than a 12 months, it most likely received’t use Wi-Fi 6.

Do not forget that it’s additionally vital to see if any of your new gadgets assist Wi-Fi 6. You’ll have to verify each your router and the linked machine are Wi-Fi 6 suitable in order that they will work with none disruptions.

Producers are already beginning work on the following era of Wi-Fi expertise, known as Wi-Fi 7. Wi-Fi 7 is also called 802.11be and the usual guarantees even sooner speeds than the present Wi-Fi 6. It should take a number of years earlier than Wi-Fi 7 start to hit the market, and the primary gadgets and routers supporting this new expertise aren’t anticipated till 2024.

Can my present router be upgraded to Wi-Fi 6?

Sadly, a easy improve isn’t doable. Wi-Fi 6 requires new elements which are solely obtainable in newer routers. The identical isn’t essentially true of your linked gadgets, although. In case you are comfy modding your laptop, you could possibly add a brand new PC Wi-Fi card that helps Wi-Fi 6. Sooner or later, if you happen to’re upgrading your smartphone, pill, or laptop computer, you should definitely test to see if these gadgets assist Wi-Fi 6 — Intel-powered gadgets will likely be labeled as Wi-Fi 6 Gig+. Along with Wi-Fi 6, a revised commonplace known as Wi-Fi 6E is beginning to make its solution to the market.

When you’re out there for a Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E router improve, you should definitely try a few of our guides:

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