Who it's for: Anyone wanting to expand their network on a budget. Why you should buy this: Few routers can compete with the TP-Link Archer C1200 at this price. You can get the points in white, Mist, and Sand colors. You can buy a combo pack with the Google Nest WiFi and one point for $269 or the router and two points for $349. This also means you can't wire the router and point together for better throughput. The $149 points do not have an Ethernet port, so all wired devices must reside near the router. The $169 router unit includes two Ethernet ports tucked away in a compartment on the bottom - one for the modem and one for other wired devices, like a switch or desktop. More than that, each Google Wi-Fi unit also functions as a Google Assistant smart speaker that can play music and control smart home devices. Unlike many other routers, Nest WiFi makes setting up and managing a home network extremely simple. The real selling point is its ease of use. It's ideal for large spaces or homes that struggle with heavy interference and dead zones. The router alone covers 2,200 square feet, but you can bundle it with either one or two "points" to cover up to 5,400 square feet. Google's Nest WiFi is an excellent example of a mesh network router, where multiple nodes link together to form a wireless network with bigger, better coverage. Who it's for: Anyone who needs a large, uniform network. Why you should buy this: It creates a powerful mesh network, perfect for larger homes. It's a great fit for home offices or small businesses, or for anyone who has a lot of wireless devices and wants them all performing at the top of their game. Many router manufacturers already offer Wi-Fi 6 models, but the TP-Link Archer AX6600 is particularly versatile. There's Alexa compatibility, too, so you can perform basic network management actions with voice commands.
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The router includes proprietary technology as well, like software that moves devices between bands if one band gets too crowded. There are also nine Gigabit Ethernet ports for many wired connections if you prefer even more reliability. It's compatible with important new technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO and provides a USB-C port for charging and high-speed data transfers. The Archer AX6600 is an excellent dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router dishing out speeds of up to 4,804Mbps on the 5GHz band and up to 1,148Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.
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Like our first pick, this model supports Wi-Fi 6 - but offers a performance upgrade for those who want to push their routers to do even more. Who it's for: Those ready to invest in the latest Wi-Fi technology. Why you should buy this: It offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity without compromising performance.
If you're interested, the RAXE300 ships later this quarter. Like other members of the Nighthawk family, the Nighthawk RAXE300 can be controlled via an app, and optional subscription plans bring greater control and security for those who need it. Those in larger homes can also pick up one of Netgear's extenders to create a whole-home mesh networking solution. Netgear boasts that its wing-shaped antenna design helps to cover your home with a reliable Wi-Fi signal while not being as aggressive as competing routers. Thanks to a new 6GHz band, the router can efficiently handle traffic, reduce congestion, and minimize latency, which will be great for lag-free game streams, buffer-free 4K and 8K video streaming, and uninterrupted sessions of video conferencing. Designed for robust connectivity, the Nighthawk RAXE300 can handle speeds up to 7.8Gbps and cover homes as large as 2,500 square feet. Why we chose the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300:įreshly announced early at CES 2022, Netgear is looking to bring the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology into more homes with its Nighthawk RAXE300 router, which sports the same futuristic wing-shaped antenna design as the company's more premium Nighthawk RAXE500 offering. Who it's for: People wanting the best new router for their homes. Why you should buy this: It's fully featured with Wi-Fi 6E support, priced competitively, and provides great speeds.