I hope you’ll agree with me when I say:
Life is not possible today without a good Wireless Router. Or is it?
Well, there is only ONE problem. Finding a “Good” router isn’t an easy job.
That is why we have created a list of Best Wireless Routers of 2018. After researching online and spending hours in testing these Wi-Fi routers, I have shortlisted the top 10 routers which you can buy right now.
Best Wireless Routers 2018
Several of these routers are not for everyone because some carry a hefty price-tag.
However, these wireless routers are good enough to make it to our list of the top 10 best WiFi Routers 2018.
| Routeur Name | Weight (lb) | LAN Ports | Wireless Comm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Talon AD7200 | 4.0 | 4 | 802.11ad | |
| Google WiFi System | 0.8 | 2 | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | |
| Asus RT-AC88U Dual-Band | 2.6 | 8 | 802.11 b/g/n | |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000 Dual-Band | 3.5 | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| D-Link DIR 890L Tri-Band | 2.5 | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 | 4.1 | 6 | 802.11ac/ad | |
| Amped Wireless RTA2600 Athena MU-MIMO | 2.6 | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| Linksys WRT1900ACS DD-WRT Dual-Band | 1.8 | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| TP-Link Archer C7 Dual-Band | 1.9 | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| Apple AirPort Extreme Dual-Band | 2.1 | 3 | 802.11ac |
1. TP-Link Talon AD7200 – Latest Technology
The TP-Link Talon AD7200 Wi-Fi Router holds the credential of being the first 802.11ad router in the market.
However, that is not the only trick up its sleeve. The router packs in many cutting-edge features to ensure ultimate performance.
Although it’s not inexpensive, this router offers a few impressive features for the price! In this review, we will go into every aspect of this router and find out whether it’s worth your money.
If you thought the Nighthawk X10 is large, wait till you see this one! The TP-Link Talon AD7200 dwarfs its competitor with dimensions of 9.0 x 9.0 x 1.7 inches. This gargantuan router is one of the biggest home routers available in the market today.
While its size may be imposing, the design is understated. The smart antenna design lets you fold down all nine antennas to provide for a flat top surface. Overall, the design philosophy follows function over form.
All in all, this is a brilliant router which keeps you future-proof while being highly practical in the present times. If you are looking for the ultimate Wi-Fi performance and don’t want to spend the extra cash on a NETGEAR Nighthawk X10, then this is the router for you.
Pros
- The performance on all the Wi-Fi bands is impressive.
- Installation and management of the router are easy due to the TP-Link Tether mobile application.
- The price is reasonable, when you compare to the NETGEAR Nighthawk X10.
Cons
- The AD frequency band is supported by a handful of devices currently and the signal cannot penetrate through walls.
- The router has an enormous footprint.
2. Google WiFi – Best Range covering Wifi System
The Google Wifi is unlike any router you may have seen before. In fact, it would be wrong to call it a router.
It’s a Wi-Fi system and possibly the best one in the market today.
In this comprehensive review, we will cover all the major features of this unique Wi-Fi system and provide an in-depth understanding of how the three Google Wifi units function together to provide superior wireless connectivity.
The Google Wifi system provides an experience, unlike any other router. It’s elegant, simplistic and offers lots of versatility. If you have a large home and want superior connectivity in all parts, the Google Wifi system (3-Pack) is the one we recommend.
No router or Wi-Fi system can provide a seamless experience like this one.
Pros
- The performance on all the Wi-Fi bands is impressive.
- The subtle and compact design fits anywhere in your home.
- Other than managing and setting up the network, the proprietary app provides nifty features like controlling your smart home.
- It’s a lot lower priced than other Wi-Fi systems.
Cons
- You need to stay logged into a Google account when using this Wi-Fi system.
3. Asus RT-AC88U – The Gamers Choice
Most of the computer enthusiasts or users know of the company Asus because of their top of the line gaming hardware. However, Asus is also at the helm for creating several high ends, top of the line routers. The device we are talking about is the RT-AC88U. This router costs under $300, and it happens to be one of the best wireless routers someone can buy right now.
The wireless router offers a stylish, sleek look. If someone has used an Asus product in the past, they will find this design familiar. The router is aesthetically pleasing with its complete black construction with red accents along the antennas; it looks straight out of a gaming lineup by Asus.
Be that as it may, most of you are not here for the looks and wish to know about performance. So, without wasting any more time, let’s take a look at how the router performs.
The RT-AC88U is an AC3100 router which comes with a total of 8 Gigabit LAN ports. Do keep in mind though that these ports are capable of delivering high-speed internet without suffering from any performance issues. Also, don’t forget that it is a dual-band router that can act as a NAS as well. With that said, Asus has paid a significant amount of attention to detail even when designing the web interface as it happens to be super intuitive and easy to use. The WiFi performance of the router on both 2.4 gigahertz and the five gigahertz bands stayed faster than ever without any performance decreases.
Installation, Configuration, and Performance
The installation process of RT-AC88U is a piece of cake, thanks to the fantastic web interface. When you connect it to the PC and the internet for the first time, the Asus Web Interface will automatically launch and give you two options to configure the router after you power up the PC. You can then continue with the wizard or set it manually.
The Quick Internet Setup wizard will check your internet connection and configure your router as a Dynamic IP, Static IP or PPPoE, depending on your connection type selection. After that, it allows you to set a name for each SSID, and then create a network encryption key for each band. With that complete, it’s setup.
When it comes to performance, the Asus RT-AC88U provides multi-client MU-MIMO data streaming, works extremely fast on both bands (2.4 Gigahertz and 5 Gigahertz) plus file reading/writing and transfers were great.
In short, the router is perfect if you are willing to spend money on it. The phrase, “you get what you pay for,” fits nicely.
Pros
- The router comes with 8 Gigabit LAN ports that can easily handle the fastest possible internet
- The Wi-Fi performance happens to be one of the best we have used in a long, long time.
- Asus’ has given us one of the best web interfaces we have used on a wireless router. It’s simple, easy to use and highly intuitive.
Cons
- The placing of the USB 3.0 isn’t the best we have seen.
- Once coupled with an external hard drive and used as a NAS, the router manages to give the only mediocre performance for the price you are paying for it.
4. NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000 – AC1900 Dual-Band Router (best inexpensive option)
The next up is another dual-band router. Although, the offer is from none other than the famous Netgear. For those who don’t know, the company is known for creating a plethora of top of the line wireless routers that have become increasingly famous over time. Netgear is a company that has dedicated itself towards providing top of the line, unparalleled networking hardware, including their brilliant wireless routers.
The product that we are bringing you today is called the Netgear Nighthawk R7000. As the name suggests, the router looks nothing less of a stealth fighter jet. The Nighthawk R7000 is AC1900, with 1,300 Mbps speed in the five gigahertz band and 600 Mbps speed on the 2.4 gigahertz band.
I like R7000 more than R8000 because it’s affordable and much easier to install.
During our testing, it became apparent that the R7000 may be the best Netgear wireless router we have used till date. Curious yet? Let’s find out.
During our testing, it became apparent that the R7000 may be the best Netgear wireless router we have used till date. Curious yet? Let’s find out.
Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 is an impressive router that offers a lot for the price you are paying for it. Sure, it’s bulky and has some performance issues on the 2.4 gigahertz band. But considering the price to performance ratio, the Nighthawk AC1900 may be one of the best routers you can buy in the market right now.
Pros
- The Nighthawk gives an incredible, unparalleled performance on the five gigahertz band.
- It has a slew of features that you usually won’t expect from an affordable router.
- The router looks and feels amazing. It also has a great build quality.
Cons
- The amazing build quality comes at a cost of added bulkiness that might not allure everyone.
- Although the performance is good, the 2.4 gigahertz band suffers to deliver as good as the competition.
- The software features are a nice addition, though they need proper finishing.
5. D-Link DIR 890L – Best Range Wireless Router
The next up on our list is one of the top tier wireless routers from D-Link. For those who don’t know, the company has a long history of providing some of the best networking products and the AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi DIR-890 isn’t here to tell a different story. It’s perhaps one of the most stylish looking wireless routers we have encountered. Where the Nighthawk resembled a stealth jet, the DIR-890 looks like race car enthusiasts built it. But looks aren’t everything, right? Let’s find out how this router fairs in things that matter.
The DIR-890 is a fantastic router regarding speed and functionality.
Testing revealed that the router is fast, easy to setup and use. It also has a good speed/range when using this device for Wi-Fi. Another great thing about this router is that it comes with the ability to be doubled up as a NAS by adding an external hard drive.
Do keep in mind that the DIR-890 is a tri-band router, and if you happen to be a general consumer who just wants a router for regular use, then this one will be overkill for you.
Whether you love the unique and sharp design of the router or some features it comes with; the DIR-890 by D-Link is perhaps one of the best routers on the market that prefer style over substance but manages to give you a respectable performance.
Pros
- Incredibly fast and problem free Wi-Fi with decent range.
- Stellar build quality and amazing aesthetics.
- The router is easy to setup and use.
Cons
- The antennas can’t be detached.
- The price might be an issue for some.
6. NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 – Expensive yet Powerful
The NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Smart Wi-Fi Router is for those looking to have the best VR gaming and 4K video streaming experience. It doesn’t come cheap though. This behemoth of a router will make your pockets lighter by over $400!
In all fairness, this router does offer an awful lot for the price! In addition to supporting three Wi-Fi bands (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz, and 60 GHz), it has 7 Gigabit Ethernet ports (6 LAN, 1 WAN) along with a 10 Gigabit SPF+ LAN port. On top of that, it features Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, and 160 MHz Wi-Fi technology which doubles the Wi-Fi speeds to mobile devices.
In this comprehensive review, we will explore all these stellar features and find out whether the Nighthawk X10’s high price is justified.
Simply put, the Nighthawk X10 is one of the best home routers you can splurge on right now. However, this router has many features that are yet to be supported by devices. Most devices don’t support the 160 MHz Wi-Fi, and very few PCs are available with 802.11 AD network cards.
To sum it up, the Nighthawk X10 is like an electric car. It’s the future, but in today’s limited infrastructure, it will not perform to the highest potential.
Pros
- The performance on all the Wi-Fi bands is impressive.
- The 10 Gbps LAN SFP+ port is fantastic if you use high-end NAS servers.
- The installation and management of this router are extremely easy due to the proprietary applications provided by NETGEAR.
Cons
- As of now, the AD frequency band is supported by only a handful of devices and the signal cannot penetrate through walls.
- It’s priced a little on the higher side.
7. Amped Wirelss RTA2600 Athena
Next on the list is the Amped Wireless RTA2600 Athena router. As long as you don’t confuse it with the Greek goddess Athena, the router will not disappoint you. Although not expensive, the router is for network enthusiasts. It might not have the bling of the other routers that we have reviewed, but it comes with plenty of features that should be enough for both the average consumer and people who are looking to have some more.
The router managed to fare pretty well in almost all the testing we did. Although, the router doesn’t have an awful lot of features like some of the other ones. However, the ones it has are properly polished and don’t require you to spend countless hours trying to figure out what is what. The router control panel is incredibly responsive, and very easy when it comes to setting up.
The router also comes with powerful hardware that should keep it afloat without giving any performance issues. One thing we love about this router is how nicely everything fits into a compact design. Yes, unlike some other routers, this isn’t an absolute behemoth. With that said, the performance on all fronts was respectable enough, and there were no disconnections during our test run. You can even connect multiple devices via Wi-Fi, and the performance will remain stellar. Perhaps, that is one of the major selling points of the RTA2600 Athena.
Conclusion
The wireless router is easily one of the best we’ve used and makes it to the best wifi routers of 2018 list. While this might not be the number one pick for hardcore network enthusiasts, it’s more than enough to keep things in order without making too much of a mess.
Pros
- The wireless router surprisingly gives a terrific performance.
- The performance over Wi-Fi is even better regardless of the number of devices connected to it.
- Setting up the router is a breeze and can be done with anyone who has a little knowledge about networking.
Cons
- Lacks some of the features that are available in competitors.
- Price may not allure everyone.
8. Linksys WRT1900 AC – Best DD-WRT WiFi Router
The next up on our list is a dual-band wireless router from Linksys. This router comes with the support for the AC1900 standard support. That means the five gigahertz band has a speed of 1,300 megahertz and the 2.5 gigahertz band has a speed of 600 megahertz. But is this router capable enough of holding against most of the top tier routers that we have already listed? Let’s find out.
As soon as you set your eyes on this router, you will remember the classic design and color scheme that has been gracing the routers from Linksys for quite some time. If you are thinking about putting this router on a work desk, you may have to clear some space as this is probably one of the largest routers we have seen in a while.
The router has four antennas and the firmware it ships with can be replaced by a completely custom firmware from a user. As soon as you take the router out of the box, you will experience that the router happens to be one of the fastest routers available in the market. It’s easy to set up and loaded with features. Linksys was also kind enough to add a full capability of doubling up this router as a NAS. However, that’s not the greatest thing about this device. The best thing about this router is that the NAS performance is unsurpassed when compared to all the other wireless routers we have been testing. Not to mention that it also supports UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and DLNA. Last, the performance on both bands is incredible. This router performs without any hiccups.
Even the Experts are in love with this wireless router. You can read the article by Samara Lynn on PCMag. It’s rated as excellent and got a 4.5 rating.
Conclusion
So is this router perfect? Apart from some minor subjective flaws like a massive, bulky design, there isn’t much to write bad things about for this product. The router emerged victorious in almost all the testing we have done and managed to perform without crashing on us. The software experience might confuse those who are not experts and at the same time, might be lacking for network enthusiasts. With that said, if you have the money, and you’re looking for a capable router, this one’s your best bet.
Pros
- The router comes with incredibly powerful hardware.
- Wi-Fi range is fantastic and delivers excellent speed.
- The NAS performance is probably the best we have seen.
- The design is retro and will please those who do it for the aesthetics.
Cons
- Price might be a bother for some.
- The default software is confusing for the newcomers, and lacking for the enthusiasts.
9. TP-Link Archer C7 – Best Budget Wireless Router 2018 (Under 100 Bucks)
TP-LINK Archer C7 AC1750 is the best budget wifi router out there (Under $100).
The router is perfect for people who want to enjoy internet gaming and streaming because it has a combined speed of 1.75 Gbps.
The router is stylish and performs incredibly at every task thrown at it. For those who are looking at the perfect price and performance ratio, this router is a fabulous choice.
Considering how it’s an entry level router, the build quality isn’t all that good, and the router seems flimsy. Even though the build quality appears to be average at best, the router has a large footprint. So make sure that where you place the router, it has enough space for itself.
Moving on to the thing that matters, keep in mind that it happens to be a dual-band router. The router has a total of 6 antennas, and 3 of them are external while the remaining ones are internal. The increased number of antennas are perfect for giving you a respectable amount of Wi-Fi range, and the speed happens to be acceptable enough. The router also comes with average NAS capability.
What’s lacking is that despite the price you are going to pay for the router, you won’t be getting an awful lot of features. Then again, TP-Link aimed this router towards the entry level and budget oriented consumers who just want to have a good wireless router that has decent enough performance when it comes to streaming and online gaming with ease.
Pros
- Excellent price to performance ratio
- Respectable performance on both the bands
- Good performance with streaming and online gaming
- NAS capability is a good addition
Cons
- Average build quality (All Plastic)
10. Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station – Elegant and Unique in Looks
The last in our list is all the way from Apple.
For those who are wondering if this router made it here by accident, it didn’t. Apple has a wireless router, and it’s decent. The router is unconventionally named AirPort Extreme Base Station. So, how does this router fair against other routers in the list? Well, let’s find out.
Let’s start off by how this router looks. Why? Because this is something coming out of Apple’s very own helm, and you should know that the router looks exactly like something made by Apple. Looks apart, the router is very capable and performs well. Do keep in mind that it’s a dual band router and supports the latest Wi-Fi standards as well. The router performed incredibly fast with all the tests thrown at it. Another great thing about this router is the amount of Wi-Fi stability and speed it provides. To be honest, Apple truly outdid themselves with this router as it has everything in the right spot.
As for the downsides of this router, there are none that will make you reconsider your decision of buying this router. The only complaint we have is that the router could have been a decent upgrade over its predecessors. Although it’s fast and fantastic, the upgrades seem subjective.
Final Verdict
The router is probably one of the best routers from Apple till date. It offers fast and stable performance and doesn’t create any issues.
Pros
- The router is a definitive looker.
- The performance it offers is speedy and impeccable.
- Very easy to set up and even easier to use.
Cons
- All the upgrades over the predecessor happen to be subjective.
Wireless Router Buyer’s Guide
If you keep the before points in mind, you can easily go out to the market and buy a wireless router, right? No!
For those who don’t know, wireless routers come with several things you need to consider before you spend hard earned money. They have different available speeds as well as different WiFi standards and support for multiple bands.
What is the technology behind a wireless Router?
A wireless router is a device that allows you connect to your modem and the gadgets you have at the home, office, or outdoors through wireless connections to the Internet at the same time.
A wireless router serves you more benefits than just connecting your many gadgets to the web all at once. You need up-to-date information about wireless router just before getting one because there are additional features you need to consider.
Below is complete information about the standard features of your wireless router and how they are of advantage to you.
To make things easier for you, below is the list of “Factors” you will encounter in the market along with their brief descriptions.
What to do now?
Now you have all the facts. Here is a quick review of what to look out for before getting that router.
- Make sure your router has a comprehensive coverage. A minimum range of 4572cm (150ft) for indoor use is good enough.
- Ensure your router has a dual band (broadband).
- Your router should be able to broadcast 802.11n as well as older versions.
- The router should be WAP2 secure.
- Should have a USB functionality as well as wired port.
- A suitable antenna type is a requirement. Preferably, an external antenna.
- Must support IPv6.
Jay from Tactical Being wrote this buyer’s guide.
If you’re looking for tips, guides, tricks, and reviews all in the name of camping, Tactical Being is the place to be as they offer reviews and recommendations on just about every gear you need when you go hiking or camping.
Final Words – Wrapping it up
Considerably, the market of wireless routers has a lot of saturation, and finding the perfect wireless router is not easy. That’s when lists like these come into play. This top 10 list of routers kept in mind things such as the needs of a customer and how much they are willing to spend on a wireless router.
We hope the list helps you pick the best wireless router according to your budget. Keep in mind, there’s no such thing as a “perfect” component, which is why each router is built for the needs of different consumers. Within the list, there are routers for budget oriented consumers and for networking elites. In case you think we missed a good router, let us know.
Top Rated WiFi Routers
Last update on 2018-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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