Best Routers 2020

TP-LINK Archer C6 works in two bands and supports MU-MIMO with Beamforming technology. So, it transmits a high-speed signal to several devices at once and directs it exactly according to their location in the house. The signal is boosted by four external antennas for 5 GHz networks and one internal antenna for the 2.4 GHz band.

What are the criteria for choosing a quality wi-fi router?

Before you buy a router, you should first make sure that the way in which the Internet is connected to the router suits you.

To keep your connection stable while several devices are connected to your router, it would be ideal if your router could work on both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies. The price of such routers will be much higher, but, at the same time, their efficiency will be higher.

The higher the speed, the better. Inexpensive routers usually have speeds of up to 150 Mbps. If several devices are connected to the Internet at this speed, downloading files and surfing the Internet on them can become uncomfortable.

For comfortable use of the Internet speed, the Wi-Fi router must have a transmission speed of 300 Mbit/s or more.

The distance the router will be able to transmit data depends on the number and power of its antennas. The more antennas the router has, the better, the greater the distance the router will be able to transmit the Internet. The optimum power of one antenna of the Wi-Fi router is 5 dBi. Do not forget that the antenna range in the router may be reduced by the obstacles in the path of the antenna signal.

The main difference between data transmission protocols is the power of the Wi-Fi stream. Data transmission standard was developed back in 1996. Subsequently, only its modifications appeared. Modern Wi-Fi routers support virtually all data transfer protocols. When choosing a router, it is important to consider whether or not the devices that will connect to it support a particular protocol.

5th place: Huawei B525s-23a

This Wi-Fi router can connect to the Internet as with a SIM-card via 3G/4G network, and cable through the LAN / WAN connector.

Understands most data transfer protocols, works in the frequency range from 2.4 to 5 GHz.

The maximum wireless connection speed with this router – 1300 Mbit / s.

There are 4 LAN ports. This is not much, but we have already discussed earlier that the number of ports is not an indicator of the quality of the router, but only determines the number of devices that will be able to connect to the router by wire.

The cost of this router at the beginning of 2021 is almost 10,000 rubles.

In general, the device works steadily, and there are no special complaints to the router. When connecting to the Internet with 4G, sometimes an additional external outdoor antenna and, accordingly, a cable from the antenna to the router may be needed due to a weak signal.

What to look for when choosing a router for your home?

What you definitely shouldn't do is blindly buy either the cheapest or the most expensive router. Quality doesn't always match price, and multiple antennas may not actually solve Wi-Fi problems.

Processor and RAM

Hardware matters, especially the processor and amount of RAM. Wi-Fi is used for streaming video, downloading files, backing up data, online gaming, etc. So to ensure high performance, you need to consider the processor and its frequency when choosing.

A 900 MHz processor is less powerful than 1.2 GHz, and the higher the number of cores, the faster the device runs. The router should have at least a dual-core processor (this will allow it to handle a lot of data and users) and at least 128 MB of RAM. The ideal is 256 MB or more.

Actual speed

The speed indicated in the characteristics of the device is significantly different from the actual speed, because the manufacturer shows the result, which was obtained in a specialized laboratory with ideal network equipment. Therefore, it is recommended to study the reviews of real users.

Another point to consider: if the user has chosen a 50 Mbps tariff and lives in a two-room apartment, there is no point in buying a router with eight antennas.

Range

The router transmits a wireless signal on two frequencies (if it is dual-band) or more (if it is tri-band or higher). One such frequency is the 2.4 GHz band, which works with older wireless standards (Wi-Fi 4 – 802.11 n) or newer ones (Wi-Fi 6 – 802.11 ax, Wi-Fi 5 – 802.11 ac).

The advantage of the 2.4 GHz band is that it is compatible with older network devices and has a wide coverage area. But at the same time it is slow, and congestion is always an issue, especially in apartment buildings and office buildings where everyone has Wi-Fi on this band.

Top 5 routers for the home

Below are the best routers for the home that offer excellent value for money.

TP-Link Archer AX1800.

Main features: Wi-Fi 6, dual-band, 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB 2.0, 4 antennas.

Maximum speed: 1200 Mbps at 5 GHz, 574 Mbps at 2.4 GHz.

The TP-Link Archer AX1800 supports WPA3 security algorithms, and the 1.5GHz quad-core processor ensures smooth software operation. There is a USB port, although the speed is limited to 2.0. But it is still enough for streaming HD-video.

The Archer AX1800 retains the traditional TP-Link style. This model can not boast of a beautiful design, but is characterized by reliability, stability and wide coverage area.

It is controlled via the Tether app on Android or iOS.

TP-Link Archer A7

Main features: Wi-Fi 6, dual-band, 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 3 antennas, OneMesh.

Maximum speed: 1300 Mbps at 5 GHz, 450 Mbps at 2.4 GHz.

Wireless router with excellent speed for streaming HD and watching video simultaneously on multiple devices, despite the lack of MU-MIMO option. Not suitable for connecting a large number of smart home devices.

Provides an excellent signal for a three-bedroom apartment. But if you need to extend coverage in the future, there is no need to replace the TP-Link Archer A7 with another model. The OneMesh option allows you to connect other TP-Link routers with OneMesh.

This model supports basic QoS features and parental control. It is controlled via the Tether app on Android or iOS.

Asus RT-AC66U

Key features: Wi-Fi 6, dual-band, 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 2 USB ports (including 3.0), 3 antennas, AiMesh and AiProtection Pro software.

Keenetic City (KN-1511)

Keenetic City (KN-1511) is an inexpensive dual-band Internet center; what makes it different from the ordinary routers is the ability to connect additional software modules (FTP-server, a network drive, etc.).

In the model settings there are various network connection options, work with IPTV, backup connections, servers and VPN clients, proprietary service for secure remote access. The device supports seamless 802.11 k/r/v roaming – if you combine it with other routers, you get Internet without "dead zones" (relevant for large apartments). Among the disadvantages of the device users note only the ports at 100 Mbit/s and the lack of USB.

TP-LINK Archer C5400X

TP-LINK Archer C5400X is a tri-band 5 GHz gaming router with eight Gigabit ports. The router creates three Wi-Fi networks: two for 5 GHz and one for 2.4 GHz. One of the networks can be used for games, for example, and the other two for other tasks.

Despite the relatively high price, the device is popular among customers. It's praised for its strong signal and speed – the maximum is 2167 Mbps for each of the 5 GHz bands and 1000 Mbps for 2.4 GHz. Eight removable antennas are used for amplification.

The device also differs from other models in appearance – the device is made in an aggressive gamer style in black and red colors. Of the additional features is the Smart Connect function, with which the router itself determines the best range for each of the connected devices.

Review of the best router models 2020-2021.

Below is a list of the best router models for 2020-2021 that we have found in various online stores. All of them are of sufficient quality and functionality to work effectively. In addition, each of the following models has overwhelmingly positive reviews from real users and customers.

HUAWEI E5172

We begin our router review with a not bad and quite powerful model WEI E5172, which supports the 802.11n communication standard. The device is perfectly suitable for installation in an apartment house, at the cottage and even in the office, providing fast and reliable wireless data transfer. In addition, it supports mobile network technologies like 3G and LTE, so this device can easily be used out of town.

Installation of the router is easy, because it is fully automatic. The back side of the case has all the necessary ports and connectors for connecting the related devices. Another nice feature of this router is the presence of built-in battery, which can power the device even in the absence of electricity in the network.

Ubiquiti NanoStation M5

A good access point router from the little-known manufacturer Ubiquiti. The device is capable of organizing wireless access to the Internet at speeds of up to 150 Mbit/sec. Among the undeniable advantages of this model stands out a wide coverage and signal stability, which does not lose its strength, even in the presence of thick and poorly passable walls.

Model Ubiquiti NanoStation M5 has a fairly straightforward setup process that comes down to simply following the instructions in the installation wizard. Of course, for advanced users there is the possibility of manual and more precise adjustment of all settings of the router.

Conclusion

The modern world is impossible to imagine without Internet technology, so a high-quality router with the function of a router is necessary for a wide range of users. With this type of device, you can easily and quickly connect various devices to Internet services and do not worry about the quality of communication.

All router models in our review have been tested by users and have overwhelmingly positive reviews. Despite the price range, they all do an excellent job and provide the most stable and high-quality Internet connection. Well, if you have any questions or reviews about certain models, feel free to share them in the comments!

How to Choose a Home Wi-Fi Router

When choosing a router for your home, you will be faced with a lot of technical characteristics. First of all, pay attention to the following:

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency.

These are the two bands in the radio frequency spectrum that Wi-Fi technology uses to transmit signals. The 5 GHz band is much faster in speed, but it has difficulty penetrating walls and other obstacles. The 2.4 GHz band loses less speed as it encounters an obstacle, but it suffers from a more congested wireless transmission environment.

Many devices, such as baby monitors, also use 2.4 GHz, and this can cause interference with the router. So choose a model that has both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. And checking which of these bands works best in your home can only be done empirically.

Two bands or three bands

Tri-band routers cost a lot more than dual-band routers because they can broadcast three signals at once: two on the 5 GHz band and one on the 2.4 GHz band.

LAN ports.

Most modern routers will have "gigabit Ethernet" ports for wired connections. Expensive routers can have up to 8 ports, while inexpensive models usually have 4 ports each.

USB ports

Rating of best routers in 2020

10. ASUS GT-AC5300 Rapture

One of the fastest tri-band routers on the market has 8 removable antennas, allows you to connect a 3G modem and LTE modem, and has 2 USB 3.0 ports at once. Two of the 8 LAN ports can be connected for link aggregation, which provides 2 Gbps of speed. This pair automatically gets network priority to make sure your gaming console gets the lion's share of the bandwidth. Another option that gamers are sure to appreciate is the ability to analyze the network and prioritize gaming traffic for the Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii and 3DS, or Microsoft XBox One game console.

This router also offers built-in support for the WTFast Gamers Private Network (GPN). It provides a private and secure connection to game servers and offers low ping and optimized performance for over 1,000 compatible games.

This model has its own VPN server and built-in anti-virus, and allows you to monitor Wi Fi signal from other devices. This allows you to track interference and congestion in a certain range. However, many users complain that the claimed function only works for 2.4GHz.

Pros of: high bandwidth, 8 LAN ports, stylish futuristic design, lots of settings for gamers.

ConsCons: expensive, cumbersome, no third-party firmware, a very complicated interface with which at first it will be difficult to understand.

9. NETGEAR R7000

This mid-priced router has three removable antennas and provides simultaneous operation in two bands – 2.4 / 5 GHz.

Read More: