Introduction to Gaming Routers
When the term ‘gaming’ gets associated with any device or gadget, expectations begin to touch the roof. That said, with the growth in technology and networking, even routers have entered the gaming realm featuring all the latest technologies. Don’t worry, we will be discussing the best gaming routers with you in this article.
But, before you make your final decision, the basic rule of thumb to pick the router always remains the same. As a customer, you must be looking for a feature-rich router that is compatible with your internet plan. In fact, it should have multiple bands, good internet speed and coverage area, and a few more enhancing features like Beamforming, MU-MIMO, etc.
List of Best Gaming Routers You Can Buy
1. ASUS WiFi 6 Gaming Router
Anyone would agree that this router is solely designed for gamers by looking at its spaceship-like design and the Aura Sync RGB lighting at the front. What’s even more attractive is that this WiFi 6 (802.11ax) gaming router offers you 2x faster speeds, and almost double the range as offered by the previous generation WiFi routers. Speaking of speeds, it can easily reach up to 5400 Mbps with this router, thanks to the faster 160MHz channels.
In fact, it offers extremely good coverage, thanks to the 4 high-gain antennas, and you can even create a flexible home mesh network by connecting it with other AiMesh compatible routers.
Apart from PC or console gaming, even mobile gamers can have a fantastic experience with it since its Mobile game mode helps reduce the latency and minimizes lag with the tap of a button in the Asus Mobile app. Speaking of ports, it gets a dedicated gaming LAN port, and 3 extra LAN ports also. Moreover, it even comes with a USB 3.2 Gen1 Port at the back.
Best Features
- Wi-Fi 6 Technology
- Speed up to 5400 Mbps
- Dedicated gaming LAN port
Reasons to Buy
- Aura Sync RGB lighting
- AiMesh Compatible
- Fantastic Coverage
Our Take: High value-for-money Wi-Fi router equipped with all the latest technologies and features.
2. TP-Link Smart WiFi Gaming Router
When it comes to a budget-friendly router, there’s no other brand than TP-Link that could provide you with more features. Speaking of these AC1750 routers, you can pretty much guess that it’s a Wi-Fi 5 router with dual-band speed up to 1750 Mbps.
But, as long as you need a router for your personal needs, especially for gaming, this router is perfectly ideal for one’s usage. Despite its cheap pricing, it features 3 long-range antennas giving you coverage up to 2500 sq. ft.
Speaking of connectivity, there are 4 Gigabit LAN ports for setting up a wired connection, and even a USB port that can help you share content from any USB driver over the network. In fact, features like QoS, parental controls, TP-link Tether app, allow you to use this router conveniently in whichever way you want.
Best Features
- Speed up to 1750 Mbps
- Features MU-MIMO and QoS
- Comes with 4 Gigabit LAN ports and a USB port
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Highly affordable
- Good Coverage
Our Take: One of the best affordable Wi-Fi routers ideal for all gamers out there.
3. ASUS WiFi 6 Gaming Router
The Wi-Fi 6 routers are truly changing the way we look at WiFi connections as they are becoming more and more reliable for gaming. With this router, you get to experience fantastic Wi-Fi speeds up to 6000 Mbps, thanks to the new 802.11Ax Wi-Fi standard. Like all other Asus routers, this one also offers you commercial-grade security by AiProtection. Although the coverage of this router is already amazing, you can even extend it further using the AiMesh Wi-Fi system by pairing it with similar other routers.
It comes packed with two USB 3.1 Gen1 ports which can be used to set up media servers. Moreover, it also has a total of 8 Gigabit LAN ports which are good enough to set up connections for your entire squad in the boot camp. The main reason why it performs well is because of features like the 4×4 MU-MIMO, OFDMA, 1024-QAM, and 160MHz Bandwidth that keep this router working strong and steady in every situation.
Best Features
- 8 Gigabit LAN ports
- Speed up to 6000 Mbps
- Comes with advantages of the latest Wi-Fi 6 Technology
Pros
- Adaptive QoS helps boost the performance
- Lifetime security by AiProtection
- Setup is simple and straightforward
Our Take: Premium dual-band gaming router that comes with plenty of LAN ports.
4. NETGEAR Nighthawk Cable Modem with WiFi 6 Router
In case you are looking to upgrade both the modem and router at your home, this combo from Netgear will surely please you. With a fantastic vertical design, it looks amazing wherever you place it.
Looking at the features, it boasts the latest DOCSIS 3.1 standard modem which is compatible with all the class-leading ISPs such as Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, etc. In fact, it supports cable plans up to 6Gbps and comes with an in-built WiFi 6 Router (CAX80) to handle it wirelessly.
Speaking of its router’s performance, it offers fantastic coverage of up to 3000 sq. ft. which is good enough for businesses and large homes too. Antennas on this modem cum router are hidden to give it a cleaner look. In case you are concerned about the connectivity ports, it features a total of 4 Gigabit LAN ports, 1 dedicated 2.5G gaming port, and a USB3.0 port for USB media drives.
Best Features
- Latest DOCSIS 3.1 Standard
- Coverage up to 3000 sq. ft.
- Dedicated 2.5G LAN port
Pros
- Compatible with most popular ISPs
- Design is elegant
- Modem and Router combo
Our Take: High-quality modem-router combo with an excellent set of features and coverage.
5. TP-Link WiFi 6 Router
Since TP-link routers are most loved for their high efficiency and ease of use, there’s a premium option that you would definitely like to check out. As the name implies, AX6000 signifies it’s a Wi-Fi 6 router with up to 6000 Mbps speed which is good enough for anyone’s gaming requirements. Thanks to its 8 powerful high-gain antennas and OFDMA technology, you won’t experience any wireless dead zones within its coverage area.
Apart from that, 1024QAM efficiently enhances the dual-band wireless performance of the Wi-Fi and helps it deliver almost 2x better speeds than Wi-Fi 5 routers. In fact, the router is specifically designed for heavy users as it comes equipped with a 1.8 GHz Quad-Core CPU and 2 co-processors.
You do get adaptive QoS, MU-MIMO, and robust parental controls as well. Moreover, there is a 2.5Gbps WAN port, 8 Gigabit LAN ports, and 2 USB 3.0 in Type A and Type C configurations.
Best Features
- 1.8GHz Quad-Core CPU
- Adaptive QoS
- Speed up to 6000 Mbps
Pros
- Uses 1024QAM to deliver fast speeds
- Highly efficient throughput
- Plenty of connectivity ports
Our Take: Offers an elegant and efficient solution to everyone’s heavy internet usage needs.
6. ASUS ROG Rapture WiFi 6 Gaming Router
In case your internet requirements are too high, the Asus ROG Rapture is the best pick for you since it comes with a powerful 1.8 GHz quad-core chipset that is designed to handle immense loads. That said, this router works on the latest Wi-Fi 6 Technology and has an amazing Tri-band coverage with speeds up to 10 Gbps.
This speed is good enough for gaming and streaming 4K videos on multiple devices at the same time. Well, you can experience the best speeds using the dedicated 2.5G LAN port which is present along with 4 other Gigabit LAN ports, and 2 USB 3.1 Gen1 ports at the backside.
The design is pretty attractive as it’s surrounded by a total of 8 powerful antennas which help this router to offer up to 80% better (up to 1800sq. ft.) range than conventional WiFi 5 routers. Apart from that, it also features OFDMA, TWT, MU-MIMO and works using 160MHz channels to provide you with the best Wi-Fi experience. In fact, there’s a triple-level game acceleration feature that helps you prioritize bandwidth for selected devices. In addition, the support for AiProtection and AiMesh compatibility is also present on this router.
Best Features
- Speed up to 10Gbps
- Up to 1800 sq. ft. coverage
- Dedicated 2.5G Gaming Port
Reasons to buy
- Comes with 2 USB ports
- Ideal for heavy usage
- Attractive design
Our Take: Best-in-class Tri-band router fit for anyone’s heavy usage needs.
7. TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router
If you are looking for a decent portable router option, this Portable Nano Travel Router from TP-Link is just made for you. The best part about this router is surely its pricing as it’s the cheapest among all the routers present on this list. Despite being priced so low, it boasts features of Wi-Fi 5 and offers an overall dual-band bandwidth of 750Mbps.
Since it’s highly portable, you can easily pack it in your bag and travel without any worries. Although it has a single WAN/LAN port that is capable of handling speeds up to 100 Mbps only, it’s still a good enough option if you want to have a quality Wi-Fi experience in hotel rooms or other places where you travel.
Best Features
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
- Speed up to 750Mbps
- Compatible with TP-Link Tether app
Pros
- Highly affordable pricing
- Compact and travel-friendly design
- Delivers strong Wi-Fi connectivity
Our Take: The most compact and travel-friendly router that’s super-easy to set up and use.
8. Linksys Dual-Band Open Source Router
In case you are worried about your privacy, and looking for a router that comes with the support of a VPN, the Linksys WRT3200ACM is the best in its class. Being based on open-source firmware, the security offered by this router is top-notch.
However, it’s just a Wi-Fi 5 router with speeds up to 3.2 Gbps. It’s still being loved because of its VPN features as no other WiFi 6 routers are that great in this particular aspect yet.
Thankfully, Linksys has used a 1.8GHz dual-core processor in this router that manages to connect with multiple devices at the same time and treat them with equal interests. For the gamers out there, the performance of this router is just optimal as it uses Tri-Stream 160 technology, MU-MIMO, which makes the overall Wi-Fi experience quite satisfactory. On the other hand, it has about 4 Gigabit LAN ports, a USB 2.0 port, and an eSATA port as well.
Best Features
- Dual-band coverage
- Speed up to 3.2 Gbps
- Compatible with Linksys mobile app
Why to buy this
- Fast speeds with 160 Mhz channels
- Offers VPN connection to all the connected devices
- Efficiently handles multiple connected devices
Our Take: If you make use of VPN connectivity for security, it’s the best available pick for you.
9. ASUS ROG Rapture WiFi 6E Gaming Router
As you might know, Asus really loves making flagship models of every product that interests gamers. We have yet another router that comes with the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology. Although its pricing will make you think twice, the tech-enthusiasts will surely love to lay their hands on this one.
With an aesthetic design, the Aura Sync RGB lighting lights up the ROG logo, and the 8 powerful antennas make it look even more advanced.
Speaking of features, it beats down every other router on this list with the availability of a 6GHz spectrum and 11000 Mbps speeds. While you play games, its quad-core CPU keeps everything under control and makes sure to provide you with the best experience possible by using features like Triple-level Game Acceleration, 1024QAM, MU-MIMO, etc.
Speaking of connectivity ports, it’s loaded with 4 Gigabit LAN ports, 2 USB 3.2 ports, and a 2.5G WAN/LAN port, specially dedicated for gamers.
Best Features
- Features the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology
- Speeds up to 11000 Mbps
- Offers Triple-level Game Acceleration
Pros
- Aura Sync RGB lighting
- Multiple connectivity ports
- Has a powerful quad-core CPU
Our Take: One of the most premium options specially engineered for tech enthusiasts.
10. TP-Link WiFi 6 Smart WiFi Router
Lastly, we have the TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 router to discuss that lets you enjoy the latest Wi-Fi 6 speeds, at a highly attractive and inexpensive price point. We personally like its design as it’s quite simple and has a low profile. Since it comes with an Intel dual-core CPU, this dual-band router faces no issues handling over 40 devices at the same time and provides an overall bandwidth of 3000 Mbps from its 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands combined.
It even boasts dynamic QoS and the revolutionary OFDMA technology that makes the bandwidth distribution among devices more efficient according to the device’s requirements. In fact, the TP-Link routers are extremely good at minimizing lags and reducing latency to offer an overall satisfactory gaming experience on all connected devices. For wired connectivity, it features a USB 3.0 port and 4 Gigabit LAN ports.
Best Features
- Comes with OFDMA
- Offers the features of Wi-Fi 6 technology
- Compatible with the TP-Link tether app
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Affordable cost
- Wide Coverage
Our Take: The best budget-friendly option gaming router that comes with the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology.
Buying Guide to Pick the Best Gaming Router
If you are going to purchase a gaming router for the first time, you should read this buying guide thoroughly. If you want to know about all the features that you should consider checking out before buying a new router, you will find that all in this simple buying guide.
Wireless Standard
There are different kinds of wireless standards proposed by IEEE on which Wi-Fi routers are generally based on. As of now, the two most popular wireless standards are 802.11ac and 802.11ax, which we also know as WiFi 5 and WiFi 6, respectively. In general, the WiFi 6 routers are the latest ones and offer the best coverage, and speeds and are better than any other standard in every way possible.
Tri-band and Dual-band
Depending on your internet usage requirements and budget, you can choose to pick between a dual-band or tri-band router. In general, the tri-band routers have one extra 5GHz band apart from the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands that you get on dual-band routers. That said, tri-band routers offer more bandwidth. Hence, if you use around 10+ devices at once, with heavy internet usage, a tri-band router is a good choice.
Speed
The above-mentioned two aspects actually decide how much speed your router will provide to you. Since Wi-Fi 6 routers are designed to handle wireless speeds up to 10 Gbps, this amount of bandwidth can only settle in tri-band routers only. However, with dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers, you will experience lesser speeds like 6 Gbps. Whenever you pick a router, just make sure the router is capable of handling the speed that your ISP offers you.
Coverage
Most routers come with their coverage mentioned in the spec sheet. Hence it should be a hard task to pick a perfect router for your home or office. Usually, routers with WiFi 5 or WiFi 6 technologies have decent enough coverage ranging from 1500sq. ft. to 3000 sq. ft. In fact, modern routers even come with the support of mesh networking, so increasing the coverage of your wireless network is not at all a big issue.
Connectivity Ports
Although most routers come with 4-8 Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections. There are several gaming routers that even come with dedicated 2.5G ethernet ports, which can help you receive much better speeds from your router. Moreover, you can look for USB ports in case you need to share content from any USB drive over the network, or centralize a printer, scanner, etc., in your office or home.
Advanced Features
Speaking of advanced features, there are dozens of new technologies that can enhance the wireless network and make your overall WiFi experience even better. You should always be looking for features like 160MHz channels, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, 1024QAM, Beamforming Technology, etc., as they highly enhance the Wi-Fi network and help the router deliver a better experience to the users.
Apart from that, if the router is compatible with a dedicated mobile application, the setup process becomes a lot easier, and you even get the benefit of features like advanced QoS and parental control.
Concluding Words on Gaming Routers
In this crowded market where every brand is trying to offer its best to get one step ahead of others, these were the 10 Best Gaming routers that you can pick to experience the top-class Wi-Fi experience. Although playing games is preferred on wired connections, these latest Wi-Fi routers are crafted to offer you a similar experience even on wireless connections. Hence, depending on your budget, and requirements, you can simply pick anyone you like.
However, if you ask us to pick one, we feel that the ASUS AX6000 WiFi 6 Gaming Router (RT-AX88U) has the best set of features according to its pricing. It offers an exceptionally good Wi-Fi experience and access to high speeds up to 6 Gbps, thanks to Wi-Fi 6 and other features like Adaptive QoS, MU-MIMO, etc. Moreover, it’s super-easy to set up and also offers lifetime internet security by AiProtection.
Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!
Share Your Views: