What kind of router should i buy

In addition to solid performance and features, the Archer A7 also has a very easy setup process and useful parental controls, with an app that lets you monitor and control network use from anywhere. It may not be loaded with customization tools, but it offers parental control and Quality of Service QoS software that ensures better than average performance.

It's the best value Wi-Fi router we've tested. The TP-Link Archer CX is the gaming router to beat, with some of the best performance you'll see in any single home networking device.

It offers best-in-class tri-band performance, delivering 1Gbps over its 2. It also has impressive coverage, with more than feet of superb coverage that will blanket most homes in strong, clear Wi-Fi signal. The spider-like 8-antenna design and red-on-black color scheme are sure to turn heads, but the real selling point is the collection of optimization and security features that will satisfy any power user. With excellent bandwidth-allocation controls to let you use the massive throughput as you wish, this router puts incredible performance into the user's hands, for gaming or anything else.

For a truly customizable router, we recommend the Linksys EA Max-Stream, which is not only a great tri-band router, it's also loaded with tools to tweak and customize your router for optimal performance. The small black EA Max-Stream can move lots of data, though it will do best in smaller homes.

Whether you're allocating bandwidth to prioritize gaming or media streaming, or just setting up parental controls, you can automate many features, make manual adjustments on the fly, and monitor it — all from your desktop or smartphone. Maybe you're finding your current Wi-Fi coverage to feel slower than it used to, have been dogged with spotty reception, or maybe you just need something that can better handle the demands of an increasingly wide range of smart devices in the average home.

If you've got any of the above irritations, a new router should fix these common problems. It's also worth upgrading if you're using older hardware. If you still have an old Wireless-N or Wireless-AC retroactively renamed Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5, respectively router in your home, you should definitely think about getting something current. Not only will these newer standards offer faster connectivity, you'll see other benefits, too.

Your smartphone battery will last longer thanks to more efficient device management, and your connected home gadgets will all feel faster and snappier with the more capable standards. The other big reason to upgrade your router is if you've been paying a monthly rental fee for a gateway device from your ISP. Just don't forget to pair it with one of the best cable modems to free yourself entirely from the extra costs that often come with broadband internet packages.

When it comes to choosing the best wireless router, it's easy to get lost in the complexity of networking jargon and obscure technology standards. But all you really need to know is how to answer two key questions: What speed do you need for your internet connection?

And what sort of coverage do you need in your home? Speeds and standards: The internet speed you need for your router will generally be determined by the speed you get from your internet service provider and what speed is supported by your modem. For most people, a standard With average broadband speeds sitting right around Mbps, most wireless AC routers will be able to handle the job with ease.

The latest technology for routers is called Wi-Fi 6, which is a newer, faster standard that's better suited to the many devices found in homes today. Newer Wi-Fi 6 routers are available, but Wi-Fi 6-enabled devices, like laptops and phones, are still few and far between.

Unless you're using a dozen devices at once, you likely won't see much benefit from Wi-Fi 6 at this time. See our article Wi-Fi 6: What it is and why it's better to learn more.

Coverage range: The other part of the wireless equation is coverage area. A basic standalone router will generally offer 50 to feet of range, ably covering the majority of apartments and small homes. If you have a house of 3, square feet or more, however, you will want to consider a mesh router, which uses multiple devices to provide Wi-Fi signal throughout a larger home.

These are especially helpful in multistory houses, or in homes with dead spots where the Wi-Fi signal drops out. Ports: Though wireless connectivity is the main thing you want from a Wi-Fi router, you'll also want to think about wired connections. Ethernet offers faster connectivity for devices like game consoles and smart TVs that use more bandwidth, and USB ports are handy for attaching a printer or storage to your network.

Input is another issue, especially is you live in an area with Gigabit speed internet. With a Gig-speed connection, an older router can be a bottle neck, slowing down your entire home. Some routers can even aggregate two inputs for even faster connectivity. Price range: Current New routers using the Wi-Fi 6 standard previously known as Keeping up on everything happening in the router world is difficult, so check out our helpful guides to the latest technology, like What is a mesh Wi-Fi router, and do you need one?

Or get the latest advice on how to fix your router's security problems, from simple steps to advanced protections. From router security to in-depth explanations of Wi-Fi 6 and the new Wi-Fi 6e , we're always providing the latest info about the newest products and innovations. We test every router we review to measure performance and range, in addition to hands-on use to evaluate the ease-of-setup and quality of settings and features.

Throughput describes how much data the router can move back and forth over its wireless connection. We measure this at a 5-foot distance without obstructions, so that we can gauge the maximum amount of data that the router can move. Higher throughput will serve you better in data-heavy uses, like streaming video, gaming, or connecting multiple users at once. Range measures the furthest usable distance for the router. Longer ranges are better for larger homes, where rooms are spread out at a distance.

We measure how much data a router can move at 5, 50, 75 and feet, so that you can also choose the best model for smaller homes and apartments, where short-range performance may be the priority.

The fastest AC routers, for example, might boast up to 5, Mbps of blazing-fast speed. If you need a new router now, you can either get an affordable AC router as a stopgap before upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E down the line or grab an early Wi-Fi 6 router now. If you can, I'd recommend waiting until when Wi-Fi 6E will be fully baked. Having both allows you to get the best connection no matter where you are in the house. Looking for the perfect gift? Previously, he was the editor-in-chief of Lifehacker and How-To Geek.

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Follow Select. By Whitson Gordon. Shopping Best smart locks to shop this year. Shopping Expert shopping: Light alarm clocks. Best Buy. And if you just need something to provide wireless access and your home internet speeds are as low as 20Mbps or 30Mbps, you can save yourself some serious cash by opting for a less pricey router.

Fiber is becoming more common around the nation, but in no way is it commonplace yet. Even more scarce are Gigabit 1,Mbps speeds. That doesn't mean you don't need a router that can reach a Gigabit, though. In other words, get a Gigabit router for future-proofing purposes.

You may need it before your next upgrade. Wireless routers work on two different frequency bands -- 2. The 2. The newer 5GHz band is typically less cluttered and provides a faster connection. A dual-band router offers both 2. Choosing between a single-band and dual-band router is quite simple. If you live in a crowded neighborhood or a densely populated area, you're better off with a dual-band router. If you don't need faster wireless speeds and you don't have any nearby neighbors whose wireless network might interfere with yours, a single-band router will do the trick.

The positioning of your router is extremely important. It should be in a central location, away from other gadgets or obstructions and, ideally, high up on a shelf. Still, even with great positioning, you're likely to run into dead spots inside your home, places where the wireless signal just can't reach.

Using heat map software can help you maximize your wireless coverage, and buying a more expensive router might give you better range, but it still doesn't mean the signal will reach the far corner or your basement.

In most cases, buying a more affordable router or two and a couple of power-line adapters will do the trick better than just about anything. Power-line adapters use the existing electrical wiring in the walls to extend your network.

They're relatively affordable and work wonders when it comes to extending your network to hard to reach places in your house. Just take note of the speed limitations of the power-line adapters, as well, since they're not all made the same. Speaking of extending your network, just because it may be time to upgrade your old router doesn't mean it's time for the old router to be retired.

If it's still in working condition, you can turn it into a wireless bridge to extend your network with about half the original throughput or an access point using the aforementioned power-line adapters.