Routers have long ceased to be exotic, in 2021 there is at least one such device in almost every apartment. Many people approach its choice not very seriously, buying the first model that caught their eye. All from an unwillingness to understand the question and the nuances of solutions. Fortunately there is us, prepared for our readers article best router WiFi 2021 price quality. It collected the best models based on real customer reviews.
Rating TOP Cheapest Routers for Apartments in 2022-2023 Up to 1000 Rubles
I am sure that the new year will bring us new interesting models of inexpensive routers, which we will definitely try to get to our review. Well, today, based on expert reviews, we have prepared for you a useful rating of the best routers for the apartment, costing up to 1000 rubles. The emphasis was not only on their price, but also on the fact that they can be purchased in 2022-2023, without waiting for parcels from China, but simply by going to a domestic digital goods store.
When ranking the top routers, I took into account the following mandatory parameters:
- Official sale in Russia.
- WiFi speed up to 300 mbps
- The cost of less than 1000 rubles
- Operation at a frequency of 2.4 GHz (5 GHz does not fit into this price range).
- Support of all most common types of Internet connections (PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP).
In addition, we took into account our experience with routers. So no offense, but a bit of subjectivity, as in any author's post, will be present.
What's the best router for 2021-2022?
In my opinion, the best choice for beginners who have decided to set up a wireless network in their home would be to choose a dual-band wifi router with 5 GHz network support. However, these models are significantly more expensive than those featured in today's ranking. No wonder why the cheapest single-band (2.4 GHz) routers are still hugely popular. People just want to save money. Well, let's help them choose the best examples from the large number on the market.
Mercusys MW325R.
Our today's rating is headed by a very smart Mercusys MW325R for this price segment. It is obviously more powerful than other representatives of its class – it has four antennas but one less network port. On the whole, it is quite an "adult" router in terms of the number of settings. And in general, in our price range of up to 1000 rubles, it fits in literally at the last moment. This means that this model is also perfectly suitable for the home and has a full range of options without discounting its budget.
TP-Link WR-820N
Let's move smoothly to TP-Link. In this price segment and with the obligatory technical characteristics we have stated in this company, today I would like to mention a novelty – the best inexpensive router TP-Link WR-820N. Given the popularity of the brand and availability in stores, this router makes a clear bid to become a bestseller. Also, as in the case of Mercusys, it can't be called something shorter in its feature set than the older models without the USB port. Guest networks, IPv6, parental control, traffic filters and various other smart aides for competent building of local network are undoubted advantages of TP-Link. Although, there are only 2 LAN ports, which gives away its focus specifically on wireless connections.
Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4A
The budget Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4A stands out against competitors in this price group with its pleasant design, as it comes in a white case made of matte plastic. On the front panel there are LED indicators that indicate the current status of the device and the activity of the Internet connection. On the bottom there are ventilation holes that effectively cool the system. On the back wall, there is one WAN port and two LAN ports. For home use this is quite an adequate set, as 1 LAN can be used for distributing internet on the computer and another one for connecting a TV set-top box or a game console.
The initial setup of the device before use is very simple. To do this, you need to do the following:
- Download the Mi Fi-Fi app from the app stores for your OS (AppStore or Google Play).
- Connect to the network that the device automatically creates.
- Open the settings section and click on the "Configure new router" tab.
- Check the quality of the connection.
- Wait for the application to automatically establish a connection.
- On the next item, specify the "region", set the wireless connection name and password.
In addition, you can configure Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4A right from the browser, using a convenient admin panel.
The router is equipped with a 2-core MediaTek MT7621A MIPS processor with up to 880 MHz, which has a positive effect on its functionality and distribution of network resources. According to the manufacturer, the Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4A can connect up to 128 devices simultaneously. This is not unimportant when setting up a smart home system. The coverage area reaches 80-120 m², which makes the device effective for both an average apartment and a small private home.
Keenetic Start (KN-1111)
The Keenetic Start (KN-1111) router will make access to the Internet as easy and fast as possible because it can distribute network traffic to the entire room via a dedicated ISP line, regardless of the type of connection. Compared to the previous version KN-1110, this release wins with more flash memory – 32 MB against 16 MB, as well as extended functionality and such useful options as Mesh. The device provides full speed when using the tariff plans of the operator up to 100 Mbit / s. At the same time, the speed characteristics remain stable regardless of the chosen type of connection and load level of the router. You can set the Internet access via a PIN-terminal or a modem with the Ethernet port. By the way, it is possible to use a carrier or private wireless hotspot.
To make the broadcasting area as wide as possible and not to lose speed, Keenetic Start (KN-1111) has two powerful antennas with the gain of 5 dBi. Coverage is protected from interference by an auto-selection system of the optimal channel. The device also automatically scans the air and adjusts to the recommended parameters. As the encryption protocols used is proven WPA2 with a unique key for breaking (it is preserved even when reflashing the equipment).
For signal enhancement powerful antennas are provided. They significantly improve the quality of Wi-Fi connection and look superior to the compact repeaters with integrated antennas. You can select the mode of operation through the admin panel for the browser.
Keenetic Start (KN-1111) is slightly more expensive than the representatives of this class from other companies, but its price tag is fully justified. This is a reliable and functional network equipment, which pays for itself by offering a stable and stable Internet connection within a spacious room.
Determine the characteristics of the Wi-Fi router
Connection speed – The first thing the buyer pays attention to, but it should be noted that this is a very misleading parameter, since the theoretical maximum speed of even the most inexpensive budget Wi-Fi routers is quite decent 150-300 Mbps, while most providers under the contract can provide no more than 100 Mbps, and very often in reality – even less. Besides, you should take into consideration the fact that a stable 10 Mbps for online video in good quality is enough, and also that at peak periods of the day due to high load many websites with multimedia content give it out much slower than they could, so it becomes clear that tempting phrases like "up to 1300 Mbps" in real life mean that in most cases there will be almost no difference in speed between expensive and cheap Wi-Fi routers when working on the Internet.
802.11n or 802.11ac? More and more modern routers can additionally work in the standard 802.11ac, the main advantages of which are much higher theoretical speed and high noise immunity. But since the coverage area of 802.11ac is not higher than 802.11n, and the speed of Internet access is often limited by your provider to 100 MBit/sec, it makes sense to buy a router with 802.11ac support only if there are a lot of other Wi-Fi devices that disturb each other (office or apartment building).
Also note that almost all devices before 2015 release are not at all capable of working in the standard 802.11ac, and at the present time (first half of 2023) support this standard have not all modern smartphones and laptops.
Range – It would seem that here everything is simple, because usually indicate the distance outside and inside the premises, everything is clear and understandable. But these values are very relative, especially indoors, as a couple of good reinforced concrete walls will negate the signal of even the most powerful router, so the following three characteristics are really important.
#2 – Xiaomi AIoT AX3600
Silver goes to the top router from the Chinese with a catchy design and 7 external antennas. Needless to say, this arsenal allows the device to cover large areas with a signal and break through several walls. At the same time, the speed can reach up to 3000 Mbps, which no other representative of the selection can boast of.
As befits a modern router, there is support for Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5 GHz, as well as the modern Wi-Fi 6 standard. Mostly users complain about the size of the device. And indeed it is quite a massive router, but its specs and functionality completely negate this point.
Anyone who did not like the model and who does not know which router is better to buy for home in 2021, we advise to go to the winner of the selection.
#1 – Keenetic Ultra KN-1810
The Keenetic Ultra KN-1810 is definitely the best router on the market right now. With vital features everything is at the top level here: 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi with the maximum speed of 2533 Mbps, 4 external antennas for wide coverage (the signal completely covers two floors of your house) and a quartet of Gigabit LAN-ports.
There are a couple of USB 3.2 and 2.0 slots for connecting modems and USB flash drives, and it is also possible to write files to HDD drives. Other trumps include: Wi-Fi Mesh support, easy setup, reliable build quality and user friendly interface. In addition, there is an application for your phone, where you can see the speed of each connected device, limit it or even prohibit access. Once again, the Keenetic Ultra KN-1810 is the best home router of all the solutions on the market in 2021.
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