Best Wi-Fi Router 2023: Popular Wireless Routers Available Now

Nowadays, everyone needs a reliable and powerful wifi connection, which can only be provided by the best wireless router. As we know that our life is fully dependent on smartphones, smart TVs and other mobile devices, it’s more essential than ever to set up your office or home with the best router that can manage the growing demand for WiFi connectivity. As the best wireless router gives you better connectivity, it also offers more than that. By offering great speed, covers your whole home, it also comes with such features that can make it easy to manage your home network.

Aside from offering a supreme and reliable connection to several devices in your home, the best router has some useful traits like boosting connectivity for specific apps like games and covering larger areas. Whether you are playing games or watching your favorite movies or doing office work, the best wifi router assures that there will be no interruption to your service.

A lot of internet users don’t know that purchasing the best router of their own can lower their monthly bills and get good wifi in their home but still, they use the combined modem and router gateways which are provided to them by internet service providers. So, by installing their service at home, it limits the capacity of their whole home network and also leaves them behind the curve of current technologies.

Take a look at our list of best wifi routers that are available in 2023 and choose the best one for your home or office. Today’s wifi routers are ideal for homes and offices which are full of connected devices like smart TVs, home products, and mobile devices. These routers also offer fast connectivity, a good range, and will give you faster wifi experience throughout the house.

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Editor’s Top 3 Picks

NETGEAR Orbi

Specs: Tri-band | 512MB
Parental Control: Strong
Ports: 3 x LAN, 1 x USB-A

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Synology RT2600ac

Specs: Dual-band | 512MB
Parental Control: Strong
Ports: 4 x LAN, 2 x USB-A

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Asus AC1900

Specs: Dual-band | 256MB
Parental Control: Medium
Ports: 4 x LAN, 2 x USB-A

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Choosing the Best Wireless Router

Everyone uses their cellular network to connect with the digital world while they are traveling. But when they are at home, their wifi network is certainly the core of their digital life. That’s why it is important for you to find the best wifi router that not only meets your expectations but also lasts for a few years before it needs to be replaced.

Buying a new router is not that easy because there are a lot of things to consider like the size of your coverage area, the number of clients to be connected, types of devices that will connect to the router, and one last but important thing is the design of your house or office. Some people may not need the type of performance which the latest models offer and they don’t need to pay for the features which they do not use. But if you have several members in your family or a lot of clients in your office then a new router can make a huge difference and can change your digital life.

Since there are so many things that need to be considered before purchasing a new router, we have put together this useful guide. Read this guide, so that you can make the right decision about buying a new wifi router.

Radio Bands

These days there are two types of routers: dual-band routers, and tri-band routers. The dual-band router offers two radio bands. One is 2.4GHz and the other is a 5GHz band. The 2.4GHz band works on lower frequency than the 5GHz band and delivers a good signal range since it is able to perforate through walls of the house. But when it comes to speed then the 5GHz band is of higher speed than the 2.4GHz band. Because there are plenty of other devices in the house that uses the same frequency like Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens, and wireless phones as 2.4GHz which lower its speed. However, it is entirely good for web surfing and other social media services. Also, if you are watching movies online or playing games online on your PCs or laptops then the 5GHz band provides maximum throughput with less signal interference. But you don’t need to worry about the speed because majority of the dual-band routers permit you to assign a band to particular clients and applications and thus maximizing the speed by dividing the load on both bands.

A tri-band router is the best choice for you if you have a busy network with multiple clients. It consists of one 2.4GHz radio band and two 5GHz radio bands for load balancing. Due to these three radio bands, there will be very less load on each band. Because you can assign one of the 5GHz bands for video streaming and downloading and the other 5GHz band for playing online games and the 2.4GHz band for web surfing and other applications that don’t require more bandwidth.

Wireless Protocols

Wireless Ethernet networks use 802.11 protocols for transmission of data. Among many wifi protocols, the 802.11ac wifi protocol is used on a large-scale. Theoretically, it permits the highest data rates up to 5400Mbps which works on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. 802.11ac also uses MIMO technology to improve performance. Furthermore, 802.11ac routers are labeled as AC1750, AC3200, AC5400, and so on. These labels show the theoretical maximum speed of the router. Like, AC1750 can give a maximum speed of 450Mbps on 2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band. A tri-band AC5400 router is capable of speeds up to 1Gbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2.1Gbps on each of the 5GHz bands.

The most recent wifi protocol is the 802.11ax, which is also known as WiFi 6. It can maximize the speed up to 4.8Gbps. But this protocol is not implemented on a large scale.

Multi-core Processor and at least 128MB RAM

What makes a router better is its processor and RAM. Every person uses wifi for playing online games, video and file downloading, video streaming, and other activities. Due to this, your router needs more processor power. When you want to buy a router, you should know whether it has a single-core, dual-core or quad-core processor. So, if you need a fast network then you should buy such a router that has a dual-core processor.

Besides this, your router also needs a faster RAM that can process everything in no time. So for that, your router should have at least 128MB or 256MB RAM.

Should have a Smartphone App

Fortunately, the router manufacturers have developed smartphone apps for the new routers. It will be easier for people to set and manage their wifi routers through this app. So, before buying a router, check whether it has the smartphone app or not.

Smart-home Integration

Most houses or offices have installed smart devices and sensors. To manage these in a good way, it will be better for you if you buy a router that is integrated with Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant or with task automation services. By having such integration of your router, it helps your apps and devices work in new ways like through your voice command which is sent to Alexa, you can prioritize gaming traffic and other things.

Should have a USB port

The best wireless router is the one that has at least one USB port. It will be easier for you to connect all types of USB devices in your homes like printers, USB modems, and external hard disks to your router. That’s why before buying a new router for your home, you should check that it has at least one USB port and preferably USB 3.0.

Support for Mesh Wifi

Nowadays Mesh wifi systems are well-known for their speed. Mesh wifi systems offer a simple way for covering the wireless dead zones in your house without any range extenders, additional wiring or access points. So, if your house is large and has two or more floors then you need to consider the Mesh wifi system for better range and speed.

Parental Controls

If you are concerned about your children, how are they using the wifi network then make sure that your new best home wifi router has parental controls. It allows parents to limit network access for their children to certain time and days. It also allows them to keep a check on their child’s online gaming and social media activities. Other wireless routers provide basic parental controls like website blocking and access scheduling options.

QoS (Quality of Service)

QoS lets you manage, which apps and clients get network priority. With these settings, you can give priority to one client over the other and also you can prioritize the applications. Hence, before purchasing a new wireless router, make sure that it has advanced QoS services.

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Best Wireless Routers 2023

1. NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band

A tri-band mesh wifi

NETGEAR Orbi is one of the fastest and most powerful routers even without its mesh extension. The Orbi RBK50 AC3000 mesh router system is known for its solid and reliable performance and speed, that you can easily access the network in every corner of a house. If your house is large enough then Orbi is the best choice for you because it has a range of covering 5000 square feet and connects with 25+ devices at a time. The oval shaped Netgear Orbi host and extensions are big towers and have color-coded LEDs on top. When it glows white, the Orbi device is starting up. When it glows blue, everything is fine. If your connection is weak then it glows amber. But if it is magenta then your connection is gone.

Netgear Orbi features a tri-band wifi system, in which one is 2.4GHz band and the other two are 5GHz bands. You get a speed of 400Mbps on 2.4GHz band and 866Mbps over the 5GHz band. While the third 5GHz radio band is exclusively dedicated to the backhaul channel to transmit the data between the Orbi router and its Orbi satellites. Due to this third band, you get maximum wifi speed in every corner of your house. On the back of each Orbi’s unit and router, you will find a variety of ports. Each Orbi’s unit has an on/off button, power input, and 4 gigabit Ethernet ports and USB 2.0 port. While the Orbi’s router has buttons for reset and synchronization, one yellow port to connect with a broadband modem, three LAN ports, and USB Type-A port. This speed and ports make it the best home router for anyone that has several devices and also needs a wired connection for some of them in their home or office.

What makes Orbi the best wifi router is the powerful specs. Each Orbi device sports Qualcomm’s IPQ4019 wifi control chip and radio, 512MB RAM, 710-MHz quad-core ARM-based processor, and 4GB of solid-state storage space. Along with these powerful specifications, it supports MU-MIMO technology which means that it is impossible to slow it down by connecting too many devices. It also supports Smarthome integration, provides better parental control and security system. You can easily set up the Orbi router from your mobile through Orbi mobile-app in no time. All these specs, functions, and controls make the Netgear Orbi the best router and you will not find a better wireless router than Orbi in today’s 2023 market.

2. Synology RT2600ac

Quick, Long Range

RT2600ac wifi router is a great upgrade by Synology to its previous RT1900ac. It is not only one of the fastest wifi routers but also comes with a good set of features. The RT2600ac gives you fast wifi speed, long-range, and a lot of particularities. One of the good features is that it works as a network storage server (NAS) by connecting an external hard drive and so you can share data and stream it to local as well as remote clients. The slightly edgy styling and black plastic finish RT2600ac router has a range of 3000 square feet and can connect multiple devices at a time. So if your house is large and has multiple devices then you should look for RT2600ac which is the best router for its robustness, secure and non-compromising home network.

Synology RT2600ac router comes with a dual-band wireless system, where the 2.4GHz band gives a maximum speed of 800Mbps and the 5GHz band gives a top speed of 1700Mbps. What distinguishes it from others is its firmware or operating system called Synology Router Management (SRM). Unlike other router’s firmware that is managed through a web page, SRM works similar to Windows or macOS. This web interface lets you easily customize your home network. The best feature that SRM has is the Package Center, where you can install applications and add more functions to your router. Also if you don’t want to use the web interface then you can use its free DS router app both for Android and iOS. RT2600ac has a variety of ports like 4 gigabit LAN ports, 1 USB 3.0 port, 1 USB 2.0 port, a dedicated WAN port, an SD card slot, and a WPS button.

Despite the RT2600ac is a dual-band but still, it has efficient specs, dual-core 1.7GHz processor, 512MB RAM, and 802.11ac circuitry that supports AC2600 dual-band Wi-Fi and the latest Wave 2 technologies including MU-MIMO data streaming, beamforming, and band steering. With all these excellent specs and features, it also offers parental control and traffic control settings, basic wireless settings and guest networking, and many more, which you can easily control locally or remotely.

3. Asus AC1900

An easy to set up router

Professional users will find the Asus RT-AC68U dual band wireless AC1900 to their liking due to its faster wifi technology, powerful hardware, performance, solid build and other useful features. However, it’s a bit expensive and not well wall-mounted, still it is the best router for home and small businesses. With three external detachable antennas, it offers excellent wifi coverage, fast wired speed and enough power to work as a home router. In addition to this, it also offers unique features like Dual-WAN, built-in VPN and the advanced network tools makes it the best router.

The AC1900 dual-band consists of Broadcom’s new BCM4709 wifi chipset, which encompasses the proprietary TurboQAM technology. Due to this, it offers 802.11ac up to 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band and 802.11n up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. But to get better performance from the 2.4GHz band you need TurboQAM compatible wifi devices. You can easily set up the router and do many customization through its robust web interface. You can easily find many features including Parental Control, Traffic Manager, QoS, Network Map, management of the router’s USB ports, and many more. You can also use the AiCloud app to handle the connected USB drives via iOS or Android devices. Coming towards the design of ports, RT-AC68U includes 4 LAN ports, 1 WAN port, 1 USB 2.0 port, and 1 USB 3.0 port.

Asus AC1900 contains Broadcom BCM4709 wifi chipset, 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU, and 256MB of DDR RAM. With these high-end specs, it also offers Parental controls, Guest Network, QoS, firewall, security, beamforming, and data steering but lacks the MU-MIMO technology. Hence, if you want something fast and robust, the AC1900 is second to none.

4. Linksys Tri-band AC2200

Good Specs though short range

Linksys AC2200 is the best home router by offering quality coverage for medium size-houses, top speed and a lot of customization options at an affordable price. It also brings the newest features like MU-MIMO and Alexa integration. AC2200 simultaneously connects more than 15 devices and covers an area of 1500+ square feet. With this range and connections of devices, it is quite good for medium houses with limited devices. It has four external adjustable antennas, in which two are dual band and two are single band which ensures that this router can give maximum wifi speed.

AC2200 is a tri-band 802.11ac router that operates two independent networks on the 5GHz bands. It’s capable of supporting the data rate up to 867Mbps each and the 2.4GHz band gives a speed of 400Mbps. As you know that it has MU-MIMO technology, which allows multiple devices to connect at the same time at their maximum speeds. But to efficiently use the MU-MIMO tech, the client devices also need to have this technology. Another function of this best router 2023 is its band steering which allows the router to select the best band for optimal performance. You can easily set up the Linksys AC2200 router through their web interface or its “Smart wifi app” which is available for android and iOS devices. There you can view the Parental Controls, Guest Access, Media Prioritization, Airtime Fairness, Network Map, Wifi Traffic Optimizer, Security, External storage, Speed Test, and general settings.

The best wireless router is armed with quad-core 716MHz processor, 256MB RAM, and storage space for firmware and settings. Along with these powerful and efficient specs, it has a good array of ports. You will have 4 LAN ports, 1 WAN port, 1 USB 3.0 port, a WPS button, and a reset button.

5. ASUS ZenWiFi AX Tri-Band

Fast Transmission under load

In fact you would be confused about the term Mesh Wi-Fi, It simple refers to a connection where all the satellite nodes and modules etc. with a modem is connected directly to that of a main router. Each connected node share the same password and SSID. The Mesh Wifi ensures fast and secure data transmission and for a reason is being used mostly in defense sides where data security is given supreme importance.

ASUS ZenWiFi AX Tri-Band implementing mesh topology is a worthy wifi router that great ensures a fast and secure data transmission across each connected device. The ASUS ZenWiFi dispatches equally strong signals to each house corner that delivers fast data at a rate of 6600Mbps. The Next generation Wifi 6 technology used in this amazing wifi router ensures stable connections with fast data transmission even though when greater number of devices are connected. The devices is exceptionally easy to install and then controlled by a user friendly smartphone application.

The Asus ZenWifi Ax Tri-Band comes with a Quad-core Broadcomm BCM6755 processor, 256MB flash memory. Holds amazing ports that includes, 2.5GB WAN, three Gigabit Ethernet, and one USB 3.1 port.

6. TP-Link Wifi 6 AX1800

Capable yet Cheap

TP-Link has been manufacturing networking devices including routers for ages. TP-Link AX1800 is a Wifi 6 router which is popular for its fast speed, coverage, performance, powerful processing and network connectivity. As it is a wifi 6 technology router which supports MU-MIMO tech along with the OFDMA. The best wifi router 2023 can connect 35+ devices at a time which makes the best wifi router for medium houses and offices having multiple devices. Considering its speed, performance and range coverage, the TP-Link is an ideal choice for people who want an affordable product.

TP-Link AX1800 is a dual-band wifi router that supports the existing wifi standards. It transmits data up to 1200Mbps on its 5GHz frequency band and 574Mbps on the other 2.4GHz band. Apart from that, it also supports beamforming and band steering technology. Moreover, AX1800’s installation and configuration are not that much difficult. You can do it through a web browser or its TP-Link Tether app. Through the app, you can control and personalize all the settings including Guest networks, Parental controls, QoS, security, etc.

This fast router comes with great specs. It has a 1.5GHz quad-core processor. Unlike the auspicious specs and other features, it offers a limited array of ports like 4 LAN ports, 1 WAN port, 1 USB 2.0 port, and a WPS button.

7. Google WiFi

Strong Coverage, Simple Setup

Google wifi is the easiest to install and the most affordable router. Although it does not offer specific controls, it’s exceptional simplicity is worthy enough. A single set of Google Wifi unit can cover up to 1500 sq. feet area, which are pretty good for small apartments with limited devices. You will have strong wifi coverage and fast speed at a lower cost compared to its competitors. But it has two shortcomings, first, as we have already mentioned is the lack of control, and second is that it has one LAN port so you won’t be able to add more wired clients.

This sleekest designed wifi router is a dual-band. The 2.4GHz band offers a data rate up to 400Mbps and the 5GHz band offers 867Mbps. You can set it up conveniently through the Google Wifi app. For this, you just need a Google account, android or iOS device, and an internet connection to configure it. The app delivers useful but limited settings like monitoring the network, Speed test, prioritizing bandwidth, security and controls the connected smart home devices. That’s it, no more settings and customization but still, it is the best router.

Google wifi has mighty and effective specs. It includes quad-core ARM 710MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, and 4GB eMMC storage. The beamforming technology makes it even more effective and worthy. Apart from all the good, the ports array is limited. It holds 1 LAN port, 1 WAN port, and 1 USB Type-C port.

8. NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000 (AC1900)

Good Quality of Service

The Netgear Nighthawk provides fast speed, better performance and excellent set of features at an affordable price. Its 1GHz dual-core processor and outstanding performance on the 5GHz band makes it the robust 802.11ac router among the competitors. The best wireless router covers up to 1800 square feet area and connects 30 devices at a time. The speed, performance and connection of devices is quite enough for medium houses and offices at this price range. As the Nighthawk is bulky but its Netgear Armor unique feature safeguards your internet and connected device from internet threats as it has best antivirus, anti malware and data protection.

Nighthawk AC1900 is the fastest dual-band router that supports all the existing wifi standards. When working with the 802.11ac clients, it offers 1.3Gbps wifi speed on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps wifi speed on the 2.4GHz band. Moreover, you can set up the router through Netgear Genie Web Interface or Netgear Genie mobile app ( both Android and iOS). The web interface is more comprehensive and you can do a lot of customization, but the mobile app lets you do limited customization. Apart from that, it also provides extremely good features like built-in Open VPN server, Open DNS-based Parental controls, better QoS, Beamforming, Web filtering, Guest Network, Firewall, DoS, and security.

The R7000 router comes with remarkable hardware components like 1000MHz dual-core CPU, 128GB of storage space, and 256MB of DDR RAM. On top of that, it offers a good set of ports for secondary connectivity including 4 LAN ports, 1 WAN port, WPS button, 1 USB 2.0 port, and 1 USB 3.0 port.

9. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

Best Gaming WiFi Router

The GT-AX11000 is the wifi 6 router which is solely designed for gamers and large houses. So if you are a gamer or your home is large and budget is not an issue then this best wireless router 2023 is for you. As the GT-AX11000 has an AiMash wifi system, so you can create a mesh network from other Asus routers and in return you will get fast speed at each and every corner of your house. As it may not provide that much security like its competitors but its Security Scan can hunt down all the vulnerabilities and protects your network and connected devices from malicious attacks. The ROG Rapture has the latest wifi 6 technology and supports all the wifi standards, the devices which lack this technology will not take much advantage though.

GT-AX11000 is one of the fastest tri-band routers which offers 4.8Gbps on each of its two 5GHz transmission bands and 1.2Gbps on its 2.4GHz band. The best feature of this router is that you can set one of the 5GHz bands just for gaming. Those gamers who prefer fast ethernet wired connection, the router has a 2.5G base LAN port which gives a maximum throughput of 2.5Gbps. But few gaming computers can support this standard. For setting up the router, you just need to download the Asus Router App on your device. The app lets you do customization from basics to advanced settings. Apart from a gaming router, it can also be a good home router because it offers better QoS, security, and Parental controls.

As this router has the latest tech, it is also armed with great specs including quad-core 1.8GHz processor, 1GB RAM, and 256MB storage for firmware and settings. Just like the specs, ports are equally admirable. It includes 4 LAN ports, 1 WAN port, a 2.5G LAN port, and 2 USB 3.1 ports.

10. D-Link AC3000

Good router for parental control

D-Link is a mesh technology router that gives speedy performance, outstanding parental controls and malware protection. AC3000 is a mid range device which is suitable for small or medium houses. As it uses mesh technology so you will have better wifi speed in your whole home and there will be no dead spots. The good feature of this best router is that it has built-in McAfee’s Secure Home Platform that secures your network and clients from malicious attacks and viruses. Along with that, it also offers voice assistant compatibility for Google Assistant and Alexa to control your network through voice commands.

This tri-band router transmits maximum data rates of up to 866Mbps on one 5GHz band, 1733Mbps on the second 5GHz band, and 400Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. By supporting the Wave 2 technology due to the 802.11ac circuitry, it includes MU-MIMO tech, band steering, and beamforming. AC3000’s installation and management are very simple. You just need to download the D-Link Wifi Mobile app, create an account, and add new devices. From the app, you can configure and customize all the settings including McAfee’s Parental control, QoS settings, Guest Network, Security, clients, Cloud service, and so on.

The D-Link has great specs under its hood including an 880MHz dual-core processor, 256MB RAM, and 128MB flash memory. Aside from that, it has an excellent set of ports including 4 LAN ports, 1 WAN port, 1 USB 2.0 port, and 1 USB 3.0 port.

11. ASUS RT-AX88U AX6000

Powerful Gaming Router

Asus RT-AX88U is one of the fastest Wifi 6 routers which presents powerful features and astonishing specs. This expensive router has the latest 802.11ax circuitry, it gives ultrafast speed of upto 6000Mbps and excellent performance. With its AiMash wifi system, the best router covers your whole home. Among other features, it has 8 LAN ports to connect multiple wired devices at the same time and AiProtection, that guards your network from security threats. Since this router features the 802.11ax technology, you’ll need a client devices having such a technology to take good advantage of its performance and other features. Still, its 802.11ac performance is robust.

The RT-AX88U is a dual-band router that is capable of transmitting data rates of up to 1148Mbps on its 2.4GHz band and 4804Mbps on its 5GHz band while connected to wifi 6 devices. Furthermore, it supports Mu-MIMO tech, beamforming, Smart Connect, and 160MHz channel bandwidth. Apart from this, its installation through a web browser is very easy. The web console lets you configure and customize all the settings like Parental controls, Guest networks, QoS, AiCloud settings, security, Airtime Fairness, and much more advanced settings.

RT-AX88U is backed by solid specs. It includes 1.8GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM, and 256MB flash memory. Other than the specs, its set of ports is also praiseworthy including 8 LAN ports, 1 WAN port, 2 USB 3.1 ports, and a WPS button.

Conclusion

Well, today’s market is saturated from different types of wireless routers, and finding the best wifi router is not that much easy. That’s where a list like this one comes in hand. We have created this list of best routers after doing a lot of research by keeping in mind the needs of users and their budget.

We wish that this list will help you to pick the best router according to your budget. Keep in mind, that each router offers different functionalities and is built for the needs of different users. Here, you will find some routers which are budget-oriented, some are gaming-oriented and others are networking-oriented routers.