5 best wi-fi routers (2024)
If you are looking for the best wi-fi router on the market to get faster internet and wider coverage, this article may help you make a choice. Earlier this year, the launch of wi-fi 7 was a significant landmark in the history of wireless networking. Apart from veteran brands like TP-Link, D-Link, ASUS, NETGEAR, and Google, newer competitors like Fortinet, Linksys, and Synology have also joined the race to make the best wi-fi routers.
Given so many options, it has become harder for buyers to choose the router that best fulfills their needs. With that in mind, we have curated a list of the best wi-fi routers in the market from different price ranges and for different usages.
Note: This article is subjective and solely based on the author's opinion. The entries are arranged in no particular order.
5 best wi-fi routers to buy in 2024
1) TP-Link Archer AX55 ($87.99)
The TP-Link Archer AX55 takes the crown for the best budget choice on our list. It is a wi-fi 6 router with modern connectivity and encryption technologies. Its OFDMA technology alongside 4 wi-fi antennas allows simultaneous fast data transmission between more devices.
The Archer AX55 is powered by a dual-core Qualcomm CPU and 512 MB RAM. It has one gigabit WAN port, four gigabit LAN ports, and a USB 3.0 port for data circulation from external storage. It has all the standard security measures like real-time IoT protection, DDoS prevention, and a malicious site blocker. TP-Link HomeShield users can also easily access some handy features, like the home network scanner, parental control, bandwidth priority, and more.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Great coverage
- Advanced security measures
Cons:
- Some add-on security features cost extra
- Bad mid-range throughput performance
2) Linksys Hydra Pro 6 ($179.99)
The Linksys Hydra Pro 6 is one of the best wifi 6 routers in the market. It comes with OFDMA technology, 160 MHz channel bandwidth, dual-antenna, and high-power PAs, resulting in a faster 4804 Mbps maximum speed at the 5 GHz band.
The Hydra Pro 6 is based on Qualcomm Immersive Home 216 platform, with 512 GB RAM, and 256 MB flash storage. It also has an Encryption SPI firewall and gets automatic security updates. Users can easily control and customize the wi-fi settings via the Linksys App.
Pros:
- Fast bandwidth
- Great coverage
- Advanced security measures
Cons:
- No support for wired inputs faster than 1 Gbps
- Slightly expensive for a wi-fi 6 router
3) TP-Link Archer AXE95 ($259.00)
The TP-Link Archer AXE95 is one of the best routers in the wi-fi 6E category. It is a tri-band wi-fi router with the latest 6 GHz band. It can handle high-quality video streaming, online gaming, and large file downloads, all at once. Unlike several other routers in this price range, it has a stable 6 GHz connectivity.
The Archer AXE95 is powered by a 1.7 GHz quad-core CPU and 512 MB RAM. The i/o module includes a 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, a 1 Gbps WAN/LAN port, three gigabit LAN ports, and two USB ports (2.0 and 3.0). It also supports TP-Link HomeShield software service.
Pros:
- Stable 6 GHz connectivity
- Fast throughput
- 2.5 Gbps and 1 Gbps WAN/LAN support
Cons:
- File transferring is a bit unstable
4) ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro ($799.99)
Entering the premium range, we come across the ROG Rapture GT-BE98. This BE3000 series wi-fi router is based on wi-fi 7 and has four bands. Like other ROG products, ASUS has specifically designed this router for gamers, and they made no compromises.
Wi-fi 7 natively comes with the widest 320 MHz bandwidth. When combined with 4K-QAM data transmission and Multi-Link Operation technologies, this provides the ultimate low latency performance simultaneously on multiple devices. The router is powered by a 2.6GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB RAM, and 256 gigs of flash storage. Its high-speed connectivity options include 10 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN connectivity options, and a USB 3.2 port as well.
Pros:
- Fast and stable 6 GHz connectivity
- Tons of ports including 2x10 Gbps ports
- Extra features for gamers
Cons:
- Heavy and bulky
- Expensive
5) NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series BE27000 ($2,251.99)
The Orbi 970 Series BE27000 is one of the best wi-fi routers in the market for mesh wi-fi networks. Currently, this is the most powerful model in the NETGEAR Orbi series. The latest wi-fi 7 technology introduces several new features like quad-bands and dedicated backhaul, resulting in seamless connectivity from the rooftop to the basement.
On the hardware side, the Orbi 960 has a quad-core 2.2GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, 4GB flash storage, and 12 internal antennas with high-power amplifiers. Powered by Bitdefender, the NETGEAR Armor provides an automatic security shield for all of your connected wireless devices.
Pros:
- Great coverage
- Tons of 10G ethernet ports, that you can set up at your convenience
- Advanced security features
Cons:
- Very expensive, overkill for personal usage
- Lacks USB ports
Wi-fi routers and wireless networking systems are evolving at a tremendously fast pace. Some of the high-end models even seem like overkill for personal use. Nevertheless, these were our top 5 picks among the best wi-fi routers to buy in 2024.
Check out more on wireless networks at Sportskeeda:
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- How to test your WiFi speed on PC and phone?
- How to setup a wireless network card in your PC?