GoKawiilCompare 9 Top Wi-Fi Routers
Other Routers We Have Tested
I have tested many other models and have several more in the queue. These aren’t as great as the picks above, but they are worth considering.
Photograph: Simon Hill
TP-Link Archer BE6500 (GE400) for $220: This dual-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming router is a solid performer. At close range on the 5-GHz band, it can go toe-to-toe with most of the devices on this list. It also offers dedicated gaming features, though some of them require subscriptions. I was disappointed by the limited range, and the comparable TP-Link BE6500 (BE400) is currently on sale for a lot less. You also don’t have to spend much more to get the far superior, tri-band Archer BE9700 (BE600) listed above, giving you the full 6-GHz Wi-Fi 7 experience. For gamers who live alone in apartments or small homes, this router could still be a decent buy.
TP-Link Roam 7 (BE3600) for $120: This dual-band, Wi-Fi 7 travel router was my pick, but the Asus RT-BE58 Go above is a slightly better performer for around the same money. This is still a good, portable device, capable of keeping you online in your hotel room or modest apartment. It also supports mobile tethering, VPN, and can serve as a Wi-Fi range extender. There’s a USB-C for power that works with portable chargers, and a USB-A for file sharing or backup.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 for $190: The curvy spaceship design in matte black is a little more stealthy than your average gaming gear, but those wings contain antennas for a strong signal throughout your home. The Nighthawk RAXE300 is a tri-band router with Wi-Fi 6E support, covering the 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz bands. It served seamless, speedy Wi-Fi during two weeks of testing, with zero issues while handling a revolving mix of four simultaneous gaming and video streams. A single 2.5-Gbps WAN/LAN port, five gigabit LAN ports, and a USB-C 3.0 port will be enough for most folks. The Nighthawk app is excellent and offers band splitting, guest network options, and a host of analytical tools. While both the Premium Smart Parental Controls ($8/month or $70/year) and Netgear Armor ($100/year) are comprehensive and slick, the extra expense is hard to swallow when many competitors offer cheaper or free alternatives with similar features.
Asus RT-AX57 Go Photograph: Simon Hill
Asus RT-AX57 Go for $96: This 5-inch, white, plastic square comes with a wee stand. It’s a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with gigabit WAN and LAN Ethernet ports that you can plug into a modem, the port in your hotel, or any other internet source. It can even connect to public Wi-Fi, or you can plug your phone into the USB 3.2 port and use the RT-AX57 Go as a hotspot to magnify your cell connection (it doesn’t have a SIM slot of its own). Asus includes its usual security software, parental controls, and VPN support. It even has AiMesh support, so you can also use the RT-AX57 Go as a mesh node. Its successor, the RT-BE58 Go listed above, is better and doesn't cost much more.
TP-Link Archer BE5000 (BE260) for $125: This dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) Wi-Fi 7 router runs close to our top pick on performance and is a solid alternative. This router offers a slight upgrade over the BE230 (BE3600) below, with improved 5-GHz performance, an extra antenna, and a coverage boost up to 2,400 square feet. It also sports a 2.5-Gbps WAN, a 2.5-Gbps LAN, three Gigabit LAN, and a USB 3.0 port. Throw in EasyMesh support and a relatively low price, and the BE260 is a tempting option. But if you want enhanced security and parental controls, you have to subscribe, which takes the shine off the value.
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