TP-Link Archer AX6000 Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 Router Review: Mid-Range Ranger
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
TP-Link’s mid-range AX6000 offers Wi-Fi 6, 2.5Gb WAN and lots of ports at a reasonable $270. While the software is simple and 2.4 Ghz performance isn’t great, this is a solid option, if you don’t expect too much.
Pros
- +
+ Affordable Wi-Fi 6 option
- +
+ Abundant Ethernet ports
- +
+ Ease of setup and interface
- +
+ Supports Link Aggregation
- +
+ Excellent compatibility across all clients tested
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TP-Link’s Archer AX6000 Next-Gen Wi-Fi Router sits somewhere between a full-tilt gaming router like the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 and basic budget options like TP-Link’s sub-$70 Archer A7 AC1750. The Archer AX6000’s ‘middle of the road’ approach results in a router that’s larger than some, with lots of antennae (8) and gigabit Ethernet ports (8, plus a 2.5GB WAN). You also get Wi-Fi 6, though not the newer 6E that makes use of the less-cluttered 6 GHz band.
But the Archer AX6000 doesn’t feature the red accents and dancing LED’s that often adorn gaming routers. It also does not have a ridiculously high price tag. As of publication, it was selling for about $270—a far cry from flagship gaming options that often sell in the $500 range.
Is this more general-purpose approach to a router setup still perform well enough for serious gamers to take notice? Read on as we delve into the Archer AX6000’s full feature lest and performance testing to find out.
- TP-Link Archer AX6000 Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 at Newegg for $269.99
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The AX6000 takes a more subtle approach to design than its flamboyant gaming counterparts (like the flagship Archer AX11000).
While it comes with eight permanently attached antennae and a horizontal design, it goes with a black plastic exterior that looks more business than gaming. But there’s some flash here, in the form of an LED on the top center, behind a shiny gold TP-Link badge, that glows blue when all is working (and red when it isn’t). But the light is easily disabled with a dedicated hardware button—important if your router lives near your TV or in a bedroom.
AX6000 is on the larger end of the spectrum at 10.3 × 10.3 × 2.4 inches (261.2 × 261.2 × 60.2 mm), and it weighs 3.5 pounds (1.59 kg). That’s nearly as big as the Asus Rapture GT-AXE1000, at 10.4 x 10.4 x 2.9 inches and 3.94 pounds. But the Archer AX6000’s antennae are shorter than on most routers, and they come permanently attached, so all you have to do when taking the router out of the box is flip them up.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
In terms of hardware specs, the AX6000 can definitely go toe-to-toe with higher-end routers.
You get a 1.8 GHz quad-core processor with two additional coprocessors, 1 GB of RAM and 128 MB of flash storage.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Ports are also ample, with the WAN port a speedy 2.5 Gbps, plus eight gigabit LAN ports, basically giving you an integrated switch for plenty of wired connections. Link Aggregation is also supported, should you want to give extra bandwidth to a particular device. There are also a pair of two USB 3.0 ports (one Type-A and one Type-C) for connecting things like external storage to share on your network.
All that aside, the wireless department is where the AX6000 starts to show its mid-range limitations. The router is dual-band, rather than the more robust tri-band options found on higher-end gear. That means the AX6000 has a single 2.4 GHz option, rated at up to 1148 Mbps and a single 5 GHz for up to 4804 Mbps of throughput—hence (with the help of the usual rounding) the 6000 designation.
Also, this router supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), but not the newest Wi-Fi 6E spec. So your devices get to live in the more crowded and mainstream bandwidths, rather than in the newly opened (and therefore much-less crowded) 6 GHz band.
That said, the aforementioned Asus ROG Rapture router is the only model we’ve tested so far that supports Wi-Fi 6E, and there are still very few devices (aside from some new phones) that are out there waiting for a 6E router to connect to.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Setup of the TP-Link Archer AX6000 is fairly simple and took less than 10 minutes. After the requisite unboxing, we appreciate that the eight antennas come pre-attached, so just have to be rotated into their vertical position (although a few may be disappointed that they cannot be manually fine-tuned and adjusted to maximize reception).
Software setup can be done via the TP-Link app for the smartphone, or via the web browser, with the latter as our method of choice.
We were given opportunities to choose a router password, the Wi-Fi password, and upgrade the firmware. This got us dialed in right away and was a painless and efficient process.
We found the software for this router to be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, the interface is easy to use; we doubt more novice users will get confused using it. The converse for this is that compared to actual gaming routers, it’s less robust. You get fewer fine controls and not as much flexibility as some other offerings.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Quality of Service (QoS) offers a reasonable solution to allow for some adjustability. The choices include Gaming (which was used for our testing), Standard, Streaming, Surfing, and Chatting. There is also a Custom setting to allow for finer control of prioritization of traffic when your network needs don’t fit into a preset setting. There is also an option for Device Prioritization, so for example you can make sure your Gaming PC gets a higher priority than other clients on the network.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The security functionality on the Archer AX6000 also strikes a delicate balance between simple and capable. We do like that the AX6000 has integrated network security, and are glad that the subscription is included, taking it a notch above budget routers. The security is powered by Trend Micro, but the functions are limited to just three: a Malicious Content Filter, an Intrusion Prevention System, and Infected Device Quarantine. There’s also a Parental Controls function to limit screen time for younger family members.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| 2.4 GHz near | 2.4 GHz far | 5 GHz near | 5 GHz far |
|---|---|---|---|
| 132 Mbps | 76 Mbps | 789 Mbps | 301 Mbps |
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 proved to be quite stable during our testing.
We connected a variety of clients to it, including laptops with Intel chips, an iPhone, and multiple Android smartphones. All devices connected easily and consistently to the AX6000.
Throughput testing with an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 chipset showed decent, although unexceptional Wi-Fi 6 speeds. At the time that this router was introduced the speeds were quite solid, but given newer Wi-Fi 6E gear and the significantly faster speeds offered, the AX6000 feels more mid-range than it did in 2019. While the 5 GHz near speed of 789 Mbps is certainly solid, the throughput on the 2.4 GHz of 132 Mbps when close, and 76 Mbps on the far test offered no significant advantage over even older 802.11ac routers.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Testing Configuration | QoS | FRAPS Avg | Max | 8K Dropped Frames | Pingplotter Spikes | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethernet | no | 123. 7 |
158 | n/a | 0 | 235 |
| Ethernet + 10 8k videos | no | 96.8 | 121 | 34.90% | 3 | 259 |
| Ethernet + 10 8k videos | yes | 119.4 | 146 | 28.80% | 2 | 259 |
| 5 GHz | no | 127.3 | 149 | n/a | 0 | 249 |
| 5 GHz + 10 8k videos | no | 119.3 | 147 | 14.10% | 0 | 275 |
| 5 GHz + 10 8k videos | yes | 120.7 | 140 | 49. 90% |
1 | 257 |
| 2.4 GHz | no | 123.6 | 156 | n/a | 0 | 68 |
| 2.4 GHz + 10 8k videos | no | 45.2 | 91 | 16.30% | 9 | 156 |
| 2.4 GHz + 10 8k videos | yes | 88.8 | 123 | 47.20% | 11 | 306 |
Again, the AX6000 showed its strengths and weaknesses in our testing. We did obtain some definitely fast gaming scores on our test game of Overwatch, such as 123.7 fps when wired, and an even slightly faster frame rate of 127.3 fps when connected via 5 GHz, both with nothing else running.
From a gameplay standpoint, when connected via 5 GHz, the fps were well maintained, both without the QoS at 119.
3 FPS, and a slightly faster, and close to wired speed of 120.7 fps with the QoS activated with our ten 8K videos streaming in the background.
We also had some concerns, such as the high latency on all of the wired connection testing situations that went as high 259 milliseconds. The 2.4 GHz gaming score with background video congestion without QoS dragged to a much slower 45.2 fps. While activating the QoS improved the frame rate to 88.8 fps, we were disappointed to see how much the video streaming got sacrificed as the dropped frames went from 16.3% to a stuttering 47.2%.
A strong point of this AX6000 is the pricing. At a suggested retail price of $299, it’s an affordable way to acquire a robust higher-end Wi-Fi 6 router. And street price seems to consistently hover at $269 at the time of this writing, dropping this router more solidly into the mid-range category in terms of pricing.
Conclusion
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The TP-Link AX6000 is a decent mid-range router, offering good value for the dollar.
We like the solid 5 GHz throughput speeds, the high fps gaming scores when connected via Ethernet or 5 GHz, the integrated 8 port switch, and the included security subscription.
But there are some shortcomings, including slower 2.4 GHz throughput (at this point only really an issue with older devices), the high dropped frame rate on video streaming with QoS activated for gaming, the simplified interface, and the lack of tri-band. Overall, for a general-purpose, mid-range router, there is plenty to like about the AX6000, including decent overall gaming performance.
But if maximum gaming speed is your priority and your network is often congested by lots of people and devices vying for bandwidth, you may want to spend more on something that handles this better, with less latency and frame drops. TP-Link’s own Archer AX11000 performed better on that front for about $100 more, while also delivering an extra 5 GHz band to ease congestion. But that router also suffered from a fair amount of dropped frames in our congestion testing.
Jonas P. DeMuro is a freelance reviewer covering wireless networking hardware.
TP-Link Archer AX6000 Review: A Well Balanced Router
It’s a bit of an irony to call the TP-Link Archer AX6000 well-rounded, but that’s true. The router has a lot to offer.
With eight Gigabit LAN ports and a sub-$300 price tag, the Archer AX6000 intends to compete against the Asus RT-AX88U. And in my testing, it proved to be a formidable contender, with excellent performance and a good set of useful features.
Just like its rival, though, the Archer AX6000 is far from perfect. Without a Multi-Gig LAN port, it can’t deliver actual Wi-Fi 6 speeds locally. It’s also super bulky and not mesh-ready, at least for now.
But for the price, the Archer AX6000 has everything covered. It’s an excellent standalone router for those living in a medium home with a high-speed Internet connection.
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 router
Table of Contents
1
TP-Link Archer AX6000: A square box of power
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 reminds me of the Archer C5400X in more ways than one, though it’s more subdued, coming in brown instead of bright red.
But compared to the budget-minded Archer AX3000, it’s still hugely impressive, no matter which way you look at it.
Massive squarish design, wall-mountable
And you won’t need to look very hard. The Archer AX6000 is a massive 10.3-inch (26.1 cm) wide square box that stands 2.4-inch (6 cm) tall. It’s also quite heavy at 3.5-lbs (1.6 kg).
The design is unusual. I’m not sure how to take it. Eight non-removable antennas are coming up from the four corners. You can swivel them 90 degrees up or down.
They blend in with the router’s sides, adding about an inch to its circumference when folded down.
So the Archer AX6000 is a large square when in operation. But when you fold down its antennas to, presumably, keep it less bulky, it’ll become an even larger square.
And as if you needed to be reminded of how particular the router’s shape is, on its top, there’s a small rectangle LED status light right in the middle that holds the TP-Link’s logo.
On the underside, the Archer AX6000 has four little feet to stay put on a surface, but it also comes with holes for wall-mounting.
Multi-gig WAN port, eight Gigabit LAN, USB-C
Looking from one side, you’ll note the router’s eight Gigabit LAN ports and a 2.5 Gbps WAN port. The latter means the router is ready for multi-gig Internet, something the RT-AX88U doesn’t offer.
Unfortunately, though, like the case of the Asus RT-AX88U, there’s no multi-gig LAN port, so the fastest local speed you’ll get from it is likely 1Gbps.
Likely because if you have a server that supports Link Aggregation, you’ll get faster speed than that. Indeed, the router allows you to combine its LAN 2 and LAN3 ports into a 2 Gbps connection.
On another side, the Archer AX6000 has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) ports. One is a regular USB-A, and the other is the first USB-C I’ve seen in a Wi-Fi 6 router. You can use either of these USB ports to host a storage device.
TP-Link Archer AX6000 vs Asus RT-AX88U: Hardware specifications
Despite the completely different designs, the TP-Link Archer has a lot in common with the Asus RT-AX88U in terms of specs.
| Name | TP-Link Archer AX6000 | Asus RT-AX88U |
| Wi-Fi Technology | Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 AX6000 | Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 AX6000 |
| Chipset Manufacturer | Broadcom | Broadcom |
| 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Specs | 4×4 Wi-Fi 6: Up to 1148 Mbps | 4×4 Wi-Fi 6: Up to 1148 Mbps |
| 5GHz Wi-Fi Specs | 4X4 Wi-Fi 6: Up to 4833 Mbps | 4X4 Wi-Fi 6: Up to 4833 Mbps |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| AP Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Mesh-ready | No | Yes (AiMesh) |
| 160MHz Channel Support | Yes | Yes |
| Gigabit Port | 8x LAN | 8x LAN, 1x WAN |
| Multi-Gig Ports | 1x 2. 5 Gbps WAN |
None |
| Link Aggregation | Yes (LAN 2 and LAN 3) | Yes (LAN 1 and LAN 2) |
| Dual-WAN | No | Yes (WAN + LAN/USB) |
| USB | 1 x USB-A 3.0 1 x USB-C 3.0 (Storage) |
2 x USB-A USB 3.0 (Storage, modem, printer) |
| Mobile App | TP-Link Tether | Asus Router |
| QoS | Yes (Good) | Yes (Excellent) |
| Parental Control | Yes (Excellent) | Yes (OK) |
| Processing Power | 1.8GHz quad-core CPU, 128 MB Flash, 1 GB RAM |
1.8 GHz quad-core CPU, 256MB Flash, 1GB RAM |
| Built-in Online Protection | Antivirus (Powered by Trend Micro) |
AiProtection (Powered by Trend Micro) |
| Dimensions | 10. 3 × 10.3 × 2.4 in (261.2 × 261.2 × 60.2 mm) |
11.8 x 7.4 x 2.4 in (300 x 188 x 60.4 mm) |
| Weight | 3.5 lb (1588 g) | 2.1 lbs (945 g) |
Hardware specifications: TP-Link Archer AX6000 vs. Asus RT-AX88u
One thing is for sure; the Asus is superior thanks to the fact it’s mesh-ready. The Archer AX6000 can only work as a single standalone router for now.
(In the future, it might get updated to become part of TP-Link’s OneMesh ecosystem. Even then, note that Asus’s robust AiMesh is far superior in both flexibility and performance.)
TP-Link Archer 6000’s detail photos
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 comes in a nice box.
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 is a massive square with eight relatively short antennas.
Each antenna can open go up or down 90 degrees.
When all folded down, the antennas turn the TP-Link Archer AX6000 into a larger square.
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 has eight Gigabit LAN ports and a 2.
5 Gbps WAN port.
The router has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one being the first USB-C on a Wi-Fi 6 router.
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 has a WPS button and switches for its LED and Wi-Fi.
The massive router is wall-mountable. Here’s the view of its underside.
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 is huge compared to the Archer AX 3000.
The TP-Link Archer AX6000 is next to its main rival, the RT-AX88U from Asus.
TP-Link Archer AX6000: Familiar feature set
The Archer AX6000 shares the same web interface as previous TP-Link routers, including the Archer 5400X and Archer 3000. As a result, it has a similar setup process and feature set.
Standard setup, responsive interface
Setting up the Archer AX6000 is like that of any advanced router, thanks to the web interface.
Point a browser on a connected computer to 192.168.0.1 (or tplinkwifi.net) and log in with the default admin password, and the rest is self-explanatory. You can find out in detail via this interface emulator.
You’ll also learn from the interface how the Archer AX6000 offers all standards network settings and many common features, such as Dynamic DNS, VPN server, Guest networking, IP reservation, port forwarding, and so on.
It’s worth noting that the way the Archer’s AX6000’s interface works is not as intuitive as that of the Asus counterpart.
For example, you can’t just select a connected client if you want to add a client to the IP reservation list. Instead, you’ll have to enter its MAC address manually, which is a pain. However, future firmware updates will likely improve on this front.
To make up for that, the Archer AX6000 has a decent amount of Wi-Fi customization. You can change in-depth settings for each of its two bands and combine them into a single SSID via Smart Connect. Also, you can make a band work inclusively with a certain Wi-Fi standard.
In all, if you have worked with a router that has a web interface before, you’ll have no problem getting the router up and running.
If you haven’t, well, here’s the post for you to get started.
Alternatively, you can also use the TP-Link Tether app. The app requires an account with TP-Link to work and has little access to the router’s setting.
Powerful HomeCare feature suite
Most noteworthy about the Archer AX6000’s features is the HomeCare suite that includes Parental Controls, AntiVirus, and QoS. I tried them all out and was quite happy with the experience.
Excellent Parental Controls
This feature of the Archer AX6000 gives you almost all that you’d need in web-filtering. You can block one or a group of computers from categories of sites based on age or any individual site.
The TP-Link Archer AX6000’s Parental Controls feature allows for blocking any website.
You can also set up time limits for Internet access or manually pause the connection at any time.
The only thing missing is the fact you can’t schedule the filtering. For example, you can’t allow John to access Facebook at certain hours and block him for the rest of the day.
Flexible QoS
The Archer AX6000’s QoS feature prioritizes the Internet by the types of content or connected device. You can quickly pick a type to prioritize just it, or you can choose to Customize and use the sliders to adjust the bandwidth for multiple types.
The TP-Link Archer AX6000’s QoS feature is quite flexible and easy to use.
However, there are only four types of content to choose from, including Gaming, Streaming, Surfing, and Chatting, and it’s not clear which of those includes real-time audio and video communication. So if you work from home and want to make sure you get the best connection, it’s a better idea to prioritize your device (or devices) instead.
Another thing is there’s no way to turn off QoS. But it seems if you choose “Standard,” that would mean QoS is now no longer in effect.
Effective Antivirus
The Antivirus feature is very similar to that of the Asus RT-AX88U but more simplistic. There are three distinct protection categories — Malicious Content Filter, Intrusion Prevention System, and Infected Device Quarantine — and all you can do is turn them on or off.
TP-Link Archer AX6000’s AntiVirus feature is somewhat simplistic but effective nonetheless.
Nonetheless, it proved to be effective in my trial. Filtered (blacklisted) websites were indeed automatically blocked, in my testing, with a warning.
TP-Link Archer AX6000: Excellent performance
The Archer AX6000 did well in my testing. My 2×2 test clients were able to connect to it at 2.4 Gbps. Without a multi-gig LAN port, though, the router can’t beat those that do in my testing methodology. But it was still quite impressive.
Fast Wi-Fi speeds
At a close range of shorter than 10 feet (3 m), my Wi-Fi 6 client was able to sustain at 911 Mbps. When I moved to more than 40 feet (12 m) away, it averaged some 850 Mbps. Both were a hair faster than that of the RT-AX88U.
It’s worth noting that I tested the RT-AX88U almost a year ago, so it’s a bit unfair since the Archer AX6000 had the latest firmware for this review. Nonetheless, both routers’ Wi-Fi seemed to max out the Gigabit connection to my test server.
Wi-Fi 5 clients enjoyed a similar performance. At a close distance, my 4×4 client capped at 850 Mbps. And at 40 feet away, my 3×3 device registered 730 Mbps. This time around, though, the TP-Link was a tad slower than the Asus counterpart.
The Archer AX6000 did well on the 2.4 GHz “backup” band, too, registering faster than 190 Mbps and almost 150Mbps for close and long ranges, respectively.
The router also passed my three-days stress test with no disconnection. I also used it as my main router and was generally happy with it.
It’s impossible to measure a router’s coverage precisely, but if you live in a home of around 1800 ft² (167 m²), the Archer AX6000 can cover it with fast Wi-Fi speed throughput when placed in the middle.
Decent NAS performance
The TP-Link Archer did quite well as a mini NAS server when hosting a portable drive, considering it has no multi-gig LAN port.
I used the Micron X8 to test this function, and via a Gigabit network connection, the router registered sustained copy speeds of more than 80 MB/s for writing and over 112 MB/s for reading.
Other than file sharing, the router also supports Time Machine backup and media streaming. With this type of performance, you can expect a decent network storage experience. Just make sure you get a fast external drive.
By the way, the router USB-C port delivered the same speed as its USB-A one. But the support for USB-C does mean you have more options in terms of which storage device to use with the router.
Performance
8.5 out of 10
Features
8 out of 10
Design and Setup
7.5 out of 10
Value
8.5 out of 10
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance
2.5 Gbps WAN port with eight Gigabit LAN ports
160 MHz channel bandwidth support
Excellent QoS and Parental Control features
Robust web user interface, helpful mobile app
USB-C ready, wall-mountable
Cons
No multi-gig LAN port
Bulky design
Not mesh-ready
Certain functions of the interface could use some improvement
Mobile app requires a login account
Conclusion
For the cost, the TP-Link Archer AX6000 is an excellent buy.
It’s a reliable router capable of delivering full Gigabit Internet to a few clients at the same time.
The router’s Home Care feature suite will also come in handy for those needing security, web-filtering, and especially internet prioritization. It’s an excellent investment for those working from home.
But if your home is large, or if you want even more features, also consider the Asus RT-AX88U.
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How to choose the best Wi-Fi router • Oki Doki
How to choose a Wi-Fi router?
Best Answer: A low-cost legacy Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) or Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) router with a wide wireless range is ideal for most homes. Wi-Fi 6E routers are still relatively new, so early adopters won’t see the benefits unless they have cutting-edge technology, and most networking jargons won’t generally affect a novice user. nine0005
Why buy a specific router?
TP-Link Archer A20 Wi-Fi Router
Because of its important role in the connected home, choosing the best Wi-Fi router is more important than ever.
Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will provide you with an additional wireless router—often in combination with a cable or DSL modem—and some might assume it’s about as good as it gets. It connects your devices to the internet, so why bother? nine0005
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In some cases, the router provided by your Internet provider will serve you well, and you will be happy with yes, especially if it is loaned to you as part of a subscription package. For years, I lived in a small open space that quickly received my multiple devices with a single antenna, and when I needed to reach top speed, I used an ethernet cable. nine0005
However, if you need to rent a router from your ISP, or if it’s older than the devices you use at home, you might be able to take advantage of an upgrade.
A poor quality router will become even more evident now that many can work from home due to the recent pandemic and a general change in work environment.
A reliable home network is now more of a necessity than a family convenience. nine0005
What types of Wi-Fi are there?
Wi-Fi uses a global standard, so devices can connect without problems, and manufacturers must comply with some specifications. This standard is known as 802.11, and the letters a , b , gram , n , ac and the new ax following it designate the version. The versions are backwards compatible, but connecting to an earlier version means your device will run at a slower speed. nine0005
With the release of the Wi-Fi 6/6E 802.11ax standard, a new naming method has been introduced to help distinguish older versions of Wi-Fi. They are now denoted as follows:
- 802.11b is now Wi-Fi 1
- 802.11a is now Wi-Fi 2
- 802.11g is now Wi-Fi 3
- 802.11n is now Wi-Fi 4
902.11 Wi-Fi 5
- 802.11ax is now Wi-Fi 6
What is Wi-Fi 6 and 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E certified phone
Wi-Fi continues to evolve, and AX is currently the latest version, although N- and AC-version devices and routers are still relevant and quite common.
Buying a new 802.11n router usually doesn’t make as much sense, at least as an 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 5 router, primarily because of how much they’ve dropped in price.
Routers like the TP-Link Archer GX90 use the 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) standard, and it’s smart to look to the future. Wi-Fi 6 has significant advantages over the old Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). Wi-Fi 6E expands on the latest standard with a tri-band setup that includes the 6GHz band on top of the regular 2.4GHz and 5GHz, reducing wireless traffic congestion. nine0005
Wi-Fi 6E still uses Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax antenna technology and not many devices fully support it yet. The Wi-Fi Alliance (the standards body that controls Wi-Fi technology) lists the following four key benefits of Wi-Fi 6:
- Higher overall transfer speeds to and from devices many connected devices
- Less device battery consumption when connected
Wi-Fi 6 is much better suited to handle large crowds and can operate at much higher theoretical speeds, up to about 9.
6 Gbps (about three times the current theoretical limit WiFi 5). As people shift to high-definition streaming, intense gaming, and many other connected devices, Wi-Fi 6E will show even more benefits. nine0005
If you’re interested in future-proofing your Wi-Fi network and already have a few Wi-Fi 6E devices to connect to your shiny new router, check out our roundup of the best Wi-Fi 6E routers. If you don’t have anything at home that can take full advantage of it, consider using a cheaper Wi-Fi 6 alternative.
Dual-band, Tri-band, what’s the difference?
Netgear 9 WiFi Router0005
Wireless communication takes place over radio channels (also called bands), which can be thought of as the roads that your data travels on. While routers up to and including 802.11g operated exclusively on the 2.4GHz band, support for 5GHz bands was added to 802.11n and moved to 802.11ac and 802.11ax from 6GHz to Wi-Fi 6E. Why? The 2.4 GHz band was getting crowded, resulting in a rush hour scenario when traffic jams arose.
Devices that can only use the 2.4 GHz radio frequency are called single band devices, while dual band devices can use the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio frequencies. While low frequency radio has a lower rate limit and is narrower, the 5GHz and 6GHz bands are much wider and have a much higher rate limit.
The 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands have disadvantages. Higher frequencies mean the signal loses more strength when it hits walls, furniture, and other obstacles. However, modern routers have a feature called beamforming that sends the signal in the direction of the device rather than just spraying the signal into a sphere around it. However, the increased speed and wider road means it’s perfect for HD video streaming and gaming. nine0005
Typically, your router will be dual-band or tri-band. Dual-band routers have a 2.4GHz band and a 5GHz band, while tri-band routers add a second 5GHz or 6GHz band. Using more than one lane frees your devices from congestion and prioritizes them based on their distance.
Does internet speed matter?
Ethernet ports on the router
Each Wi-Fi standard contains classifications that determine the actual performance you will get. You may see a router advertising an AC1200 or AX6000 line speed, but that doesn’t mean you’re getting a top speed of 1200Mbps or 6000Mbps. This number is a combination of the speeds of all available ranges. For example, an AC1200 router would most likely have a 2.4 GHz band with a maximum speed of 300 Mbps and a 5 GHz band with a maximum speed of 867 Mbps (rounded to the nearest hundred). nine0005
Even these speeds are theoretical and you probably won’t get close to this number in real life. Similarly, if you see a Wi-Fi 5 router labeled something like AC5000, it doesn’t magically go up to 5000Mbps. Instead, you get one 600Mbps 2.4GHz band and two 2166Mbps 5GHz bands.
With the AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 router, which can triple the speed on the radio, you get theoretical speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps on the 2.
4 GHz radio and 4.8 Gbps on the 5 GHz radio. So it can be tempting to go out and buy the biggest and most expensive router, but paying for something you don’t need can be a big disappointment. nine0005
For example, if you’re paying for a 50 Mbps internet plan with your ISP and live in a one-bedroom apartment, it doesn’t make much sense to buy an AC5000 router with eight antennas. Your Internet may only be as fast as the slowest connection point, which in this case is probably provided by your ISP.
What area do you need to cover?
TP-Link Deco XE75 and Deco X55 Wi-Fi Mesh
Living in a big house can be a challenge when it comes to providing Wi-Fi to all your devices, especially when using the 5GHz band. For small apartments or houses, one router with powerful antennas will surely do the job, and it doesn’t hurt to check everything before buying something too expensive. Reading reviews is a great way to get an idea of the range of a router. nine0005
If you know you’re going to have trouble reaching enough space and don’t want to buy one big router, you can always look into mesh Wi-Fi kits.
These systems work in unison to deliver Wi-Fi over a large area, often covering thousands of square feet of indoor space.
They are extremely easy to install and are becoming an increasingly popular choice even for small spaces. We’ve rounded up the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems to help you buy the right one for your space. nine0005
How many devices do you connect?
Wireless Collection
If you live alone and have only a few devices connected at the same time — console, phone, laptop, TV streaming device — you don’t need to worry about too much load on the router. While you should never reach the point where you can no longer connect devices (unless you provide Internet for the entire block), the more connections you have at the same time, the slower the speed. nine0005
If you have a 2.4 GHz router with a theoretical maximum speed of 300 Mbps and 10 devices connected at the same time, each device will receive an average of about 30 Mbps. A high quality dual band router is the best choice for those who live in a crowded home where multiple devices are connected at the same time.
If your family can’t stop streaming Netflix, a tri-band, dual-band 5GHz router is worth considering. nine0005
In this regard, pay attention to the number of Ethernet ports on the router. Do you have many devices for which you want to provide a wired connection? Start counting. Similarly, check for USB ports if you plan to add an external drive or other network devices such as printers to your home network.
What is MU-MIMO and do you need it?
Linksys
Wireless Router
Most new routers have multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) technology to complicate matters with more network jargon. While the more traditional single user, multiple input, multiple output (SU-MIMO) technology delivers data to individual devices one at a time, MU-MIMO delivers data simultaneously. nine0005
SU-MIMO is suitable for most purposes, and round trip delivery is so fast that you usually don’t notice it. However, if someone is streaming video at home and you’re trying to play online games, MU-MIMO can come in handy by offering a seamless stream of data to both devices.
If you mostly use older devices, MU-MIMO won’t be that important, but if you keep your hardware up to date, you can certainly take full advantage of this feature. nine0005
How important are safety features?
Parental controls for online gaming
If you want to have complete control over everything that goes through your router, choose a router with advanced firmware and a decent firewall. Any additional features you may need or advanced third party firmware such as DD-WRT (Open Source Router Operating System) can provide these features. nine0005
If you’re worried about your kids getting inappropriate content online, choosing a router with built-in parental controls might help.
Some routers even allow you to allow or restrict Internet access for your children based on time slots and offer guest access for your visitors so you don’t have to give them your master Wi-Fi password.
How to choose the best Wi-Fi router for you
TP-Link Archer A7 Wireless Router
Now that we’ve bombarded you with all these terms and acronyms, let’s recap a bit. An 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E) router is your best bet for reliable future connectivity, although an AC (Wi-Fi 5) router can be purchased very cheaply and is probably fine if you’re not paying for a high-speed connection from your internet -provider. If you’re paying for a high-speed connection, make sure you invest in a router with multi-gigabit Ethernet ports that can support it. You want to extend that speed to all your devices, whether it’s a dual-band or tri-band router. nine0005
Consider how much space you need to cover and plan accordingly. Some high-end routers can handle a pretty hefty piece of real estate, but you might have to invest in a mesh Wi-Fi system to get to that bottom corner of a basement.
If you have enough space, you may have many people trying to connect their devices at the same time. If so, investing in a 5GHz dual-band router for Wi-Fi 6 or 6GHz for 6E is not a bad idea, and using something with high speed could come in handy if you decide to upgrade your ISP’s internet. package in the future. nine0005
Finally, select a router with the appropriate settings. If you want to tweak a lot of options, make sure it makes them available to you. If you instead just plugged it in and didn’t worry about it, you’d probably have a much easier time shopping.
This TP-Link Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 Router covers all the basics of today’s wireless technology and tops our pick of the best overall routers. With MU-MIMO and support for multi-gigabit Internet speeds, it’s ideal for almost any home network. nine0005
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The best wireless routers in 2022 for accessing high-speed Internet!
First, having one of the most mind-blowing wireless routers in your home is an essential part of today’s online life. However, this is the easiest way to update your home network. What’s more, the new router can make every laptop, smart TV, game control center and doorbell camera in your home faster. nine0005
Not only will you get a faster Wi-Fi connection, but a lot of the latest wireless routers also have network security built in. In addition, they also have app-based settings interfaces and easy-to-use parental controls.
We recently saw several new wireless Wi-Fi routers at CES, including one whose antennas move to focus signals. So be sure to check out our list of the best home wireless Wi-Fi routers. nine0005
However, with so much of our lives spent online, from school and work to gaming and streaming, there’s no real substitute for the top-notch performance that the best wireless Wi-Fi router offers.
So here are the best wireless Wi-Fi routers you can buy today.
What you’ll see here:
- What are the best wireless Wi-Fi routers?
- Asus RT-AX86U
In comparison, the more expensive Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) Wi-Fi 6 Switch beats most competing routers. However, the more modern wireless standard offers the best throughput we’ve ever seen and will easily handle an entire home loaded with the right gadgets.
What’s more, for larger homes, you want coverage that extends further and extends to different floors depending on the situation, and that means having a trellis router. nine0005
However, if the price is nothing to complain about, the Netgear Orbi WiFi 6e is the fastest network router system we’ve ever seen, and arguably the fastest router. But just know that its cost is calculated in four figures.
Asus RT-AX86U
The Asus RT-AX86U is a reliable Wi-Fi 6 that delivers blazing speeds, amazing gaming experiences and great customization options. With very good performance and life insurance against crashes and malware, it’s also a great choice for getting your entire home network, long-term security with no monthly fees, and a two-year warranty. nine0005
In any case, the main draw of the Asus RT-AX86U is the performance approaching the mysterious 1 Gbps mark to provide fast and easy access to all your devices. What’s more, with superior range and incredible performance — even through walls and between floors — the RT-AX86U is a balance of general purpose routers and top-notch gaming routers, and the range of features and ports it offers contrasts with some of the most efficient gaming hardware out there. nine0005
Specifications:
Wi-Fi: Dual band Wi-Fi 6.
Antennas: Detachable 3 antennas.
Ports: 1 WAN/1 Multi-Gig WAN/4 LAN Gbps, 2 USB 3.0.
Peak rate: 929.7Mbps.
Size: 9.0 x 6.7 x 3.1 inches.
Reason for buying:
Excellent speed and performance.
Security software with lifetime updates. nine0005
Multi-gigabit input and port aggregation.
Reasons to avoid:
Need advanced game features like geofencing and ping heatmap.
Buy Now for £249.99* (UK/EU)
Buy Now for $279.99* (US/Canada/Mexico)
Nest Wi-Fi Router
cross-section, and given that all of them will cover your home with a remote signal, our favorite has to be the Nest WiFi. What’s more, created by Google, Nest WiFi doesn’t interfere with searches all that much and is pretty enough that you don’t have to. However, the true appeal of minimal grid blocks goes beyond astounding performance. In addition, Every Nest WiFi platform has a built-in Google Home speaker, giving you one of the most incredible voice assistants around your home, along with a strong remote signal.
Specifications:
WiFi: Dual band 802.11ac.
Antennas: 4 antennas.
Ports: Two 1 Gbps LANs.
Peak rate: 653.2 Mbps.
Size: 4.3 x 4.3 x 3.6 inches.
Reason for purchase:
Excellent presentation.
Integrated Google Assistant.
Easy to set up.
Reason to avoid:
Short range.
fewer configuration options.
Buy now for £109.94* (UK/EU)
Buy now for $118.85* (US/Canada/Mexico)
Netgear Nighthawk AX8
With the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) Wi-Fi 6 Router, superior performance and enhanced security go hand in hand, consolidating bandwidth that breaks the gigabit barrier every second, with malware insurance and the Disney Circle app to block inappropriate content and control over the use of the family network. What’s more, with the brilliant performance of the Nighthawk AX8 baffles and ceilings, it will perform just as well in the real world as it does in the lab. nine0005
However, this can be costly — like most Wi-Fi 6 routers. However, the RAX80 offers a simple layout and allows you to design your router exactly the way you need it. It also has a 90-foot range, but offers better performance at 50 feet, making it more suitable for medium-sized homes. However, in almost any case, the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) is a Wi-Fi-6 router that should think twice about speed and security. nine0005
Technical characteristics:
Characteristics Wi-Fi: Two-band Wi-Fi 6
Antennas: Removable 8 Antes
9000 Peak Speed: 1.389 Gbps
Size: 12.0 x 8.0 x 6.3 inches
Reason for Buying:
Incredible performance.
Comes with malicious applications. nine0005
Good configuration options.
Reason to avoid:
It’s expensive and performance decreases with distance.
Buy Now for £282.30* (UK/EU)
Buy Now for $274.99* (US/Canada/Mexico)
Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E Wireless Router
Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E ) is the world’s fastest network router structure and also the most expensive. However, if you have the money to consume, gigabit broadband from your ISP, and a huge house, then at this point, this is likely the mesh for you. nine0005
In addition, Orbi WiFi 6E can hide 9,000 square feet. However, add a third satellite and you can increase the area to 12,000 square feet. At 6ft 6-GHz, the router’s link carried over a gigabit per second of throughput, which is the main network switch in our tests.
Each device has 12 antennas and four Ethernet ports (one rated at 2.5 Gbps), and the system provides channels in the 2.5, 5 and 6 GHz bands, as well as a fourth 5 GHz port for data transfer between devices. nine0005
Technical characteristics:
Characteristics Wi-Fi: Four-Diapasic Wi-Fi 6e 6e
Antennas: Antennas 12
9000 LAN (satellites)
Peak speed: 1.009 Gbps
Size: 11.1 x 7.5 x 3.0 inches
Reasons for buying:
Easy to install and set up. nine0005
parental controls and additional security software.
Reason to avoid:
Extremely expensive.
Only 90 days of free technical support.
Buy Now at £371.00* (UK/EU)
Buy Now at $1,959.99 * (US/Canada/MX)
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000
First of GT-RAX-RAPture Asus6 of the 11000 Wi-Fi enabled gaming routers we’ve tested. Gamers will love it with long range speeds, low inactivity, and all the elements gamers have come to expect. So putting it all together, most other gaming routers are currently in second place. nine0005
What’s more, the GT-AX11000 is huge, with a gigantic base, eight rotatable antennas and a monstrous 10.8Gbps maximum throughput. This wireless router has a huge number of connections. That’s because of its tri-band plan and four downstream Gigabit LAN ports, a single 2.5G Base T Ethernet connection, and two USB 3.0 ports.
In addition, integral customization and game-oriented improvements give you more control, and you can even match it with other Asus network system administration routers to cover a large home. However, the $450 is expensive, but the is still the best wireless router for gamers who need internet access.
Specifications:
Wi-Fi Specifications: Tri-band 802.11ac
Antennas: Detachable 8 Antennas
Ports 0: 1 Wan, 4 LAN 1 Gbit/s, 1 LAN 2.5 Gb/s, 2 USB 3.0
Peak speed: 731. 4 Gbit
Size: 9.4 x 9.4 x 2.8 inches
Causes of purchase:
Lots of customization options.
Excellent wired 2.5Gb/s connector.
Performance improves with distance.
Reason to avoid:
Too big
Buy now at £392.38* (UK/EU)
Buy Now for $431.07* (US/Canada/Mexico)
TP-Link Archer AX6000 Wireless Router
Wi-Fi 6 routers are not cheap, but you should check out our TP-Link Archer AX6000 router, our favorite Wi-Fi 6 switch. It may fall behind in performance and achieve but offers Wi-Fi 6 speeds, $100 less than competing Wi-Fi 6 models. In conclusion, consider the Archer AX6000 a smart router for original Wi-Fi 6 gadgets . nine0005
However, with the eight wired system ports and the ability to link two together To create a 2 Gbps data stream, the TP-Link Archer AX6000 router paves the way for Wi-Fi 6 routers that are comparable to wired gadgets like and with Wi-Fi. Incorporating router-based security, the Archer AX6000 remains the single arguably best router you can get, at a price that’s hard to beat.
Specifications:
Characteristics Wi-Fi: Two-band Wi-Fi 6
Antennas: Removable 8 Antins
Ports : 1 Wan/8 LAN Gigabit per second, USB 3, USB C
Peacal speed: PIE 884.4 Gbps
Size: 10.3 x 10.3 x 2.4 inches
Reason for Purchase:
Consists of 8 LAN ports.
Relatively very economical.
Supplied with additional protection. nine0005
Reason to avoid:
Disconnecting LAN wires is difficult.
Very limited applications.
Buy now for £174.99* (UK/EU)
Buy now for $266.88* (US/Canada/Mexico)
TP-Link Archer C2300
however, don’t be fooled — this is one of the most impressive wireless routers you can buy. 0190 and offers the best range of any router on this list.
What’s more, it’s a dominant performance champ that pumps out nearly a gigabit of data every second on our standard runtime tests and effortlessly crawls through walls and rooftops. Not only is the Archer C2300 the fastest router we’ve seen, but it’s also small, unpretentious, and packed with very high-quality features.
In addition, Archer C2300 accompanies well-established enhancement tools such as antivirus, QoS, and parental controls that are regularly found in more expensive contenders. At $120, that’s not exactly 50% of the value of qualifying contenders, and comes with a long-term warranty. The TP-Link Archer C2300 is basically the best low cost Wi-Fi switch you can buy today.
Specifications:
Wi-Fi Specifications: Two -band 802.11ac
Antennas: Removable 3 Antennes
Ports : Four ports LAN 1 Gbit/s, 1 Port USB 2. 0, 1 Port USB 3.0
Peak speed: 939.6 GBIS
Size: 8.5 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches
Reason for Purchase:
Top Performer.
Very cost effective.
Built-in antivirus protection.
Supplied with 2 years warranty. nine0005
Reason to avoid:
Runs hot.
Buy Now for £127.90* (UK/EU)
Buy Now for $102.50* (US/Canada/Mexico)
Conclusion
Finally, the best wireless router for your home will depend on many factors , including how much you want to spend, the number of devices in your home, and whether you’re looking for a range extender. However, we have provided you with a list of features that should make it easier for you to choose the right wireless router for your needs. However, if you are looking for an inexpensive wireless router that can also provide better performance, you can choose the TP-Link Archer C2300.