Other Routers We Have Tested
I have tested some other routers and have several more in the queue. These aren’t as great as the picks above, but are worth considering.
Photograph: Simon Hill
AVM FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro for £374: While AVM has dominated the German router market for years and still has around a 50 percent market share, it's now expanding across Europe and the UK, so I tested the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro. AVM’s range is distinctive in white and red plastic, but there's a focus on functionality. This tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router boasts a 2.5-Gbps WAN/LAN, four gigabit LAN, and a USB 3.1 port. It’s fast, scoring mid- to high-table results in my tests, and it proved reliable. It also has DSL or fiber-optic modems, an integrated DECT base station for cordless phones, built-in storage (NAS), and support for Zigbee to connect smart home devices. You don’t need an account to set it up or configure it. There’s a firewall and guest network option in the straightforward web interface (you can use the mobile app if you prefer). AVM’s routers are developed and manufactured in Europe, making them an interesting, privacy-focused alternative to routers from China or the US. The company also has a strong track record of supporting its products for years after release. Folks in the UK and Europe looking to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 should consider this router. My fingers are crossed that AVM expands into the US next.
TP-Link Archer BE3600 for $99: This is the lowest price I’ve seen for a Wi-Fi 7 router. The basic design sports four antennas, a 2.5-Gbps WAN, a 2.5-Gbps LAN, and three Gigabit LAN ports. It is dual-band (2.4-GHz and 5-GHz), so there’s no 6-GHz option, and it’s only 2 x 2 MIMO, so the maximum bandwidth is 688 Mbps and 2,882 Mbps, respectively. Sadly, I found the range on the 5-GHz band to be limited, and the band steering was disappointing, often dropping my phone onto the much slower 2.4-GHz band. Throughput was so-so, and file transfers were mid-table in my results. The BE3600 finished below our top pick in every test. It could be perfect for a small apartment, as it was impressively speedy at close range on both bands, but dropped off quickly with distance, making it tough to recommend for larger properties. The subscription required for enhanced security and parental controls is also a hard sell on a router this cheap.
Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro Photograph: Simon Hill
Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro for $800: While I am keen to add a 5G router and mobile hot spot to this guide, and the Nighthawk M6 Pro is an excellent performer, it is simply too expensive to recommend for most folks. (I plan to test cheaper models in the coming weeks.) That said, the M6 Pro is easy to use and might suit business folks with an expense account. Pop a 5G SIM in there and you have a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router (2.4-, 5-, and 6-GHz) with a sturdy design, a handy 2.8-inch touchscreen, a 2.5-gigabit Ethernet port, and a battery that’s good for up to 13 hours of use. You can connect up to 32 devices via Wi-Fi and expect a range of around 1,000 square feet. You can also use the Ethernet port as a WAN connection or employ the M6 Pro as a secure Wi-Fi repeater. It’s versatile, but configuration can be a chore, speeds are limited if you want to extend battery life, and it’s too expensive.
Asus RT-BE86U for $260: The new Wi-Fi 7 version of the Asus RT-AX86U listed above, this dual-band (2.4- and 5-GHz) router is similar to the Asus RT-BE88U below. It lacks the 6-GHz band but brings all the other improvements that Wi-Fi 7 offers, from MLO to better security. The RT-BE86U proved reliable in my tests and performed extremely well on the 5-GHz band, matching the slightly more expensive RT-BE88U. It is slightly smaller but still has one 10-Gbps and four 2.5-Gbps Ethernet ports, alongside a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 port. It also offers all the usual benefits of an Asus router, including onboard security, parental controls, AiMesh and VPN support, and a host of configuration options. It’s perhaps a little pricey at the moment, but when this router starts to drop, it will be a solid choice for many homes and may well claim a place above.
TP-Link Archer GE800 Photograph: Simon Hill
TP-Link Archer GE800 for $350: This stunning tri-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming router came very close to a place above. The angled design with customizable RGB lighting screams Vader’s castle but also provides room for antennas to ensure extremely fast performance across the board. You also get a 10-Gbps port for your incoming internet connection, a further two 10-Gbps and four 2.5-Gbps Ethernet LAN ports, and a USB 3.0 port. The Tether app is solid, with some gaming-specific options, but separate subscriptions are required for extra security and parental controls. Despite the blazing fast results, the GE800 couldn’t quite match our top Wi-Fi 7 gaming pick above on the 6-GHz band, and it produced quite a lot of heat and audible fan noise, though it is significantly cheaper.
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