Deeper Dive: Our High Examined Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
Dec. 20, 2024: The Wall Avenue Journal studies that the US Commerce, Protection, and Justice Departments are investigating routers from TP-Hyperlink with an eye to a possible ban on gross sales within the US. For now, we retain our suggestions for the TP-Hyperlink merchandise listed right here, however we’ll reassess their standing pending additional developments.
Finest Gaming Router General
Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Professional
- Wi-Fi 7 with 320MHz channel bandwidth
- 10GbE port, plus a number of extra multi-gig ports
- Blazing throughput efficiency
- Gamer-friendly community customization
- Community safety and parental controls
The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Professional combines top-shelf parts, the most recent Wi-Fi 7 applied sciences, and a number of gamer-friendly options to ship the quickest 6GHz efficiency we have seen up to now. In case your gaming PC is in the identical room as your router, the GT-BE98 Professional shall be a wonderful alternative regardless of your connection sort. Want wired? Use the devoted 10GbE sport port. Wi-fi? We measured speeds in extra of three,000Mbps by way of a 6GHz connection. Nonetheless, notice that 6GHz sign energy will probably drop considerably as you progress additional away from the router, a downside that every one Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6E routers share.
The Rapture GT-BE98 Professional is greatest for players who wish to future-proof their networks and have the price range to take action. It is now cheaper than its authentic $800 MSRP, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a tricky promote for everybody else. If you would like 6GHz information transmissions however do not wish to spend a bundle for a Wi-Fi 7 router, contemplate a Wi-Fi 6E router as a substitute.
Wi-fi Specification
802.11be
Wi-Fi Pace (Whole Rated Throughput)
BE30000
Variety of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
6
Variety of USB ports
2
Variety of Antennas
8
Variety of Bands
4
Wi-fi Networking Safety
WPA2, WPA3
Study Extra
Finest Wi-Fi 6E Gaming Router
Netgear Nighthawk Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router (RAXE500)
- Speedy throughput and file switch efficiency
- Makes use of 6GHz radio band
- Multi-gig LAN/WAN
- Hyperlink aggregation
- Helps 160MHz channel bandwidth
- Costly
- Netgear Armor safety requires subscription
- Restricted parental controls
- No QoS settings
The Netgear RAXE500 was the primary Wi-Fi 6E router to succeed in our labs. We have seen loads of others since, however are nonetheless impressed by the Nighthawk’s 6GHz radio transmissions and high-speed networking by the use of a 2.5GbE port and 5 1GbE ports with hyperlink aggregation. This futuristically designed tri-band router delivered very quick throughput and glorious sign vary in our efficiency checks, although its $600 sticker worth might put some off.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a stable alternative for deep-pocketed players who demand quick throughput and wish to future-proof their networks with Wi-Fi 6E know-how. Along with a quad-core CPU that is optimized for 8K video streaming and designed to deal with heavy community masses, the RAXE500 affords speedy file switch efficiency and is simple to handle utilizing an internet console or cellular app, although you may have to pay additional for community safety software program.
Wi-fi Specification
802.11ax with 6E
Wi-Fi Pace (Whole Rated Throughput)
AXE1000
Variety of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
5
Variety of USB ports
2
Variety of Antennas
8
Variety of Bands
3
Wi-fi Networking Safety
WPA2, WPA3
Finest Wi-Fi 6E Gaming Router Below $300
Acer Predator Join W6 Wi-Fi 6E Router
- Straightforward to configure
- Stable throughput and file switch efficiency
- Helps 6GHz transmissions
- Lifetime community safety and parental controls
- Expensive
- Middling sign energy efficiency
- Cellular app affords restricted performance
With its backlit LEDs, smooth grillwork, spectacular {hardware} specs, and a beautiful sub-$300 worth, Acer’s Predator Join is clearly designed with mainstream players in thoughts. The Predator makes use of Intel’s Killer Prioritization Engine and Acer’s Hybrid High quality of Service options to let players give bandwidth precedence to units and functions on the similar time. You may additionally discover an Nvidia GeForce Now setting that gives optimized bandwidth settings for purchasers of that on-line gaming service, plus a Max Throughput setting that reinforces throughput with NAT acceleration and no bandwidth limitations.
When you’re on the lookout for a tri-band router that helps the comparatively uncrowded 6GHz frequency (and your gaming PC helps it), the Predator Join is an efficient alternative. It is also the perfect match for wired connections underneath 1Gbps, since whereas it lacks multi-gigabit ports, one in all its LAN ports robotically provides bandwidth precedence to gaming consoles, PCs, or no matter system is utilizing it to connect with your community.
Wi-fi Specification
802.11ax with 6E
Wi-Fi Pace (Whole Rated Throughput)
AXE7800
Variety of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
4
Variety of USB ports
1
Variety of Antennas
6
Variety of Bands
3
Wi-fi Networking Safety
WPA2, WPA3
Study Extra
Finest Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router Below $300
TP-Hyperlink Archer GX-90 AX6600 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router
- Straightforward to put in
- Robust throughput and sign efficiency
- Lifetime community safety and parental management software program
- Multi-gig connectivity
- Gamer-friendly settings
- Expensive
- Non-adjustable antennas
Armed with Wi-Fi 6 circuitry, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, eight antennas, and three radio bands, the Archer GX-90 racked up excessive scores in our throughput checks and did a very good job of offering sturdy Wi-Fi alerts all through our check house. You get some good options resembling a 2.5GbE LAN/WAN port, a 1GbE LAN/WAN port, three 1GbE LAN ports, and a pair of USB ports, to not point out OneMesh compatibility that permits you to use the router to create a seamless mesh community.
The Archer GX-90 is a good match for players seeking to cut back latency whereas competing on-line. It affords quick efficiency and a user-friendly gaming dashboard with optimization instruments resembling Recreation Accelerator to assign bandwidth precedence, Recreation Diagnostics to carry out connectivity checks, and Recreation Protector, which makes use of TP-Hyperlink’s HomeCare software program to maintain your community secure from malware and guarantee secure searching for members of the family.
Wi-fi Specification
802.11ax
Wi-Fi Pace (Whole Rated Throughput)
AX6600
Variety of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
4
Variety of USB ports
2
Variety of Antennas
8
Variety of Bands
3
Wi-fi Networking Safety
WPA2, WPA3
Finest Wi-Fi Mesh System for Gaming
Asus ROG Rapture GT6 Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Mesh System
- Multi-gig WAN with sturdy broadcast sign
- Smooth design
- Speedy throughput efficiency
- Plenty of game-friendly options
- Included anti-malware and parental management software program
The Asus ROG Rapture GT6 is without doubt one of the few mesh techniques we have seen designed with players in thoughts. The Rapture is not low-cost, however its superior efficiency, strong gaming options, and anti-malware instruments make it value each cent. Recreation-centric settings embody a cellular sport mode and QoS settings that present additional bandwidth for on-line play. In the meantime, a Recreation Radar diagnostic utility helps you determine the connection high quality of servers for particular video games. The GT6 simply earns our Editors’ Selection award for gamer-centric Wi-Fi 6 mesh techniques.
With a cool-looking design and Aura RGB lighting results, the Rapture GT6 is clearly meant for players. When you’ve been trying to find a whole-home Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that provides lots of the options of a devoted gaming router, Asus has your quantity.
Wi-fi Specification
802.11ax
Wi-Fi Pace (Whole Rated Throughput)
AX10000
Variety of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
3
Variety of USB ports
1
Variety of Antennas
9
Variety of Bands
3
Wi-fi Networking Safety
WPA2, WPA3
Finest Router With Devoted Gaming Band
Reyee E6 AX6000 Gaming Router
- Multi-gig connectivity
- Speedy efficiency
- Gamer-friendly options
- Mesh-ready
- No USB port
- Lacks anti-malware instruments
A dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router designed for hardcore players, the Reyee E6 AX6000 does not supply something notably distinctive or modern, nevertheless it has all of the fundamentals you could serve up snappy play with out an excessive amount of fiddling. Maybe its most helpful function is a built-in separation between gaming and different makes use of: Once you first set up the E6, it creates not solely the same old 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks but in addition a 5GHz Recreation community that you may dedicate solely for wi-fi gaming. The router additionally packs multi-gig connectivity, gamer-centric QoS settings, and a devoted gaming LAN port to assist deliver your on-line expertise up to the mark.
If you need the necessities—class-leading throughput speeds and game-enhancing settings—with out too many flashy extras, that is the gaming router for you.
Wi-fi Specification
802.11ax
Wi-Fi Pace (Whole Rated Throughput)
AX6000
Variety of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
4
Variety of USB ports
0
Variety of Antennas
8
Variety of Bands
2
Wi-fi Networking Safety
WPA2, WPA3
Study Extra
Finest Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router With 10Gbps Port
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Professional
- Blazing throughput speeds
- Vast sign protection
- 10Gbps LAN/WAN
- Lifetime parental management and community safety software program
- Plenty of gamer-centric settings
- Costly
- Giant footprint
The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Professional could also be dear, nevertheless it’s additionally some of the succesful routers we have ever seen for those who plan to attach your gaming PC by way of Ethernet cable. Filled with lightning-fast wired ports, this router affords a 10Gbps LAN/WAN port, a 2.5Gbps WAN port, and 4 1Gbps LAN ports. If these screaming speeds aren’t sufficient on your wants, the GT-AX11000 Professional additionally helps hyperlink aggregation, providing the potential for really large bandwidth and future-proofing. You may additionally discover a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port and a USB 2.0 port. The router is powered by a 2GHz quad-core CPU, 256MB of flash reminiscence, and 1GB of DDR4 RAM, serving to it ship ship scorching wi-fi throughput in our efficiency checks.
When you crave a high-end router with the most recent and biggest know-how, look no additional. This Rapture will set you again one thing of a bundle (MSRP is $450, although it’s possible you’ll discover it discounted barely), however that money buys you superior efficiency and a slew of high-speed networking ports. It additionally comes with lifetime parental controls, superior QoS settings, and community safety software program, all bundled right into a slick, gamer-friendly interface.
Wi-fi Specification
802.11ax
Wi-Fi Pace (Whole Rated Throughput)
AX11000
Variety of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
5
Variety of USB ports
2
Variety of Antennas
8
Variety of Bands
3
Wi-fi Networking Safety
WPA2, WPA3
Study Extra
Finest Wi-Fi 6E Gaming Router With 10Gbps Port
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000
- Quick throughput speeds in our checks
- Help for Wi-Fi 6E
- Three multi-gigabit ports
- Comes with network-security and parental-control software program
- Will be expanded right into a mesh system with extra items
- Gamer-friendly settings
- Very costly
- Big footprint
- Middling file switch and 5GHz sign vary efficiency
The Rapture GT-AXE16000 is an efficient improve decide over the GT-AX11000 Professional for those who want multi-gig networking ports for gaming PCs and consoles, but in addition need Wi-Fi 6E to future-proof the wi-fi portion of your property community. In any other case, the 2 routers are very comparable, each providing a number of multi-gigabit ports for wired connections, built-in community safety instruments, help for mesh networking, and loads of gamer-centric settings.
Asus’ GT-AXE16000 is much more costly than the pricey GT-AX11000 Professional, so this router solely is sensible for those who’re contemplating the latter however know you wish to add Wi-Fi 6E functionality to your community.
Wi-fi Specification
802.11ax with 6E
Wi-Fi Pace (Whole Rated Throughput)
AXE16000
Variety of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
6
Variety of USB ports
2
Variety of Antennas
8
Variety of Bands
4
Wi-fi Networking Safety
WPA2, WPA3
Study Extra
Finest Gaming Router With SFP+ Port
TP-Hyperlink Archer GE800 BE19000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router
- Wonderful 2.4GHz and 5GHz efficiency
- Wi-Fi 7 know-how with 6GHz transmissions
- A number of high-speed networking ports
- Plenty of gamer-centric options
- Smooth design
- Costly
- Giant footprint
- Middling 6GHz efficiency
The TP-Hyperlink GE800 BE19000 is a tri-band router designed for players, with Wi-Fi 7 tech to ship speedy throughput and a beneficiant assortment of gamer-friendly options. One notably noteworthy function is the SFP+ port, a rarity on shopper routers. It isn’t essentially higher than the multi-gigabit Ethernet-only ports that lots of the different routers on this checklist supply. Nonetheless, this area of interest jack supplies extra flexibility for wired connections, particularly for those who’re one of many growing variety of players who subscribe to fiber-based web plans with speeds in extra of 1Gbps.
The Archer GE800 is an efficient alternative for those who’re a gamer in one in all two particular conditions: you need Wi-Fi 7 now and do not wish to spend greater than $600, otherwise you need the flexibleness that an SFP+ port supplies.
Wi-fi Specification
802.11be
Wi-Fi Pace (Whole Rated Throughput)
BE19000
Variety of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
5
Variety of USB ports
1
Variety of Antennas
8
Variety of Bands
3
Wi-fi Networking Safety
WPA2, WPA3
The Finest Gaming Routers for 2025
Evaluate Specs
Shopping for Information: The Finest Gaming Routers for 2025
Gaming Router vs. Common Router: What is the Distinction?
Among the many greatest variations between a gaming router and a typical shopper router is the way it handles high quality of service (QoS) or bandwidth prioritization duties. Virtually all routers supply some type of QoS. This may be as primary because the generic Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) extensions that robotically prioritize community packets carrying information obligatory for voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing apps. Alternately, QoS controls might be as granular as drag-and-drop prioritization that permits you to assign a better precedence to particular units linked to the community, making certain they expertise higher efficiency than different units.
Gaming routers go a step additional by providing prioritization for particular gaming techniques and packages and letting you resolve how a lot bandwidth every consumer is entitled to. That may be particularly vital in case you have a number of on-line players in the identical family, all competing for the feed from the identical pipe. For instance, some gaming routers have firmware that robotically provides community precedence to units outfitted with the Intel Killer Prioritization Engine. When the router detects a tool fitted with Killer networking {hardware}, it supplies that system with the lion’s share of bandwidth to make sure clean, lag-free on-line gameplay.
Many gaming routers additionally use a modified administration console with a gamer-friendly consumer interface that makes it straightforward to assign bandwidth priorities on the fly. Many Netgear gaming routers, for instance, run DumaOS, an interactive working system developed by Netduma. It has a sleek-looking dashboard that permits you to see what is going on on along with your community at a look, with graphs displaying real-time CPU and bandwidth utilization, at the moment put in apps, visitor networking standing, and Wi-Fi and web standing.
(Credit score: Netgear)
DumaOS additionally has a Geo-Filter function that may assist cut back lag by limiting the gap to the host servers you play on. By setting your property location on the map and specifying a distance vary, you’ll be able to stop gamers and servers exterior your vary from internet hosting your sport.
You can too use custom-made software program to boost on-line gaming efficiency. Utilizing firmware from sources resembling OpenWRT, DD-WRT, and Tomato, you’ll be able to unleash your router’s full potential to enhance total sign energy, monitor real-time utilization, and prioritize bandwidth utilization. To do that, although, the router should help open-source firmware upgrades. Be sure to have a good suggestion of how routers and firmware work collectively earlier than you resolve to go this route.
How Many Radio Bands Ought to a Gaming Router Have?
Any gaming router value its salt will supply a minimum of two Wi-Fi radio bands. The two.4GHz band is essentially the most broadly used and tends to get extra crowded than the 5GHz and 6GHz bands. You may additionally get significantly better vary on the two.4GHz band, however it could possibly’t match the speeds you get with 5GHz or 6GHz. Each router that comes via PC Labs is thoroughly tested throughout all bands, however it’s best to know that totally different bands impression efficiency.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
The 5GHz and 6GHz bands will present the perfect throughput in case your gaming system is close to your router. When you’ve got quite a few units connecting to your community, a router with three or extra bands is your greatest guess, particularly for those who additionally make use of range extenders to succeed in the far corners of your property.
Tri-band routers add a second 5GHz band that you may dedicate to particular units or functions. For instance, you’ll be able to reserve a whole 5GHz band simply for gaming (so long as your gaming PC or console helps 5GHz Wi-Fi) and use the opposite 5GHz band for high-bandwidth apps resembling video streaming, large file transfers, or torrent downloads. This frees the extra crowded 2.4GHz band for on a regular basis duties resembling internet browsing and connecting to smart-home units resembling lights, cameras, locks, and safety techniques.
Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7: Which Is Finest for Gaming?
Most gaming routers as we speak are members of the (802.11ax) Wi-Fi 6 generation, an evolution of 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) know-how. It affords elevated throughput speeds (as much as 4.8Gbps), much less community congestion, higher consumer capability, and higher vary efficiency courtesy of a number of new and improved wi-fi applied sciences, together with Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and Goal Wake Time (TWT).
OFDMA improves total throughput by breaking Wi-Fi channels into subchannels, permitting as much as 30 customers to share a channel concurrently. Goal Wake Time (TWT) reduces energy consumption by permitting units to find out when and the way usually they are going to get up to start sending and receiving information. TWT tech is anticipated to increase the battery lifetime of cellular units resembling smartphones and tablets, in addition to battery-powered good house units resembling safety cameras and video doorbells.
All these capabilities make Wi-Fi 6 good for Wi-Fi mesh networks, that are quick turning into the preferred alternative for house networking total.
(Credit score: René Ramos; Wi-Fi Alliance; Getty Photos/LIORIKI)
Other than its suitability as a mesh protocol, Wi-Fi 6 takes benefit of beforehand unused radio frequencies to offer sooner 2.4GHz efficiency and makes use of refined uplink and downlink bandwidth administration to boost QoS. It additionally affords uplink and downlink MU-MIMO streaming. (In contrast, 802.11ac helps solely downlink MU-MIMO.) As with 802.11ac, 802.11ax is backward-compatible and works with units that use 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi radios.
Many dearer gaming routers help the even newer Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 specs. The previous is identical as Wi-Fi 6 relating to software program and options, nevertheless it provides entry to the 6GHz band. That gives an enormous bandwidth enhance, so it helps with bandwidth-hungry apps, particularly video games, in addition to power connection issues as a result of congestion in additional crowded environments like house buildings. Nonetheless, your Wi-Fi 6E-enabled gaming system should be positioned in the identical room (or very close to) to connect with a Wi-Fi 6E router utilizing the 6GHz band, as 6GHz sign vary is way shorter than 2.4GHz vary.
Along with opening up entry to the 6GHz band, Wi-Fi 7 helps just a few extra options, together with 320MHz channel bandwidth and multi-link operation (MLO), which lets units concurrently ship and obtain information over a number of radio bands. Whereas a number of gaming routers can be found with Wi-Fi 6E know-how, Wi-Fi 7, whose specs had been solely finalized in 2024, remains to be reasonably in its infancy from a router perspective.
Extra to Know: Ports, Safety, Entry Controls
Most gaming routers use the identical {hardware} inside as conventional Wi-Fi routers, however you may usually have the ability to inform the gaming fashions aside from the remainder on sight. They normally sport a considerably totally different chassis design than their general-purpose counterparts. Store round, and you might even see uncommon aptitude, resembling a classy finned enclosure or LED illumination.
On a extra sensible stage, at a minimal, it’s best to search for a router with a minimum of 4 gigabit LAN ports to supply wired connectivity to close by gaming consoles, PCs, and printers. Many gaming routers additionally supply a multi-gigabit WAN port and a minimum of one multi-gigabit LAN port, which is helpful for those who subscribe to web speeds higher than 1Gbps. A minimum of one USB port, ideally supporting USB 3.0 or greater, is helpful for attaching peripherals you wish to share throughout the community, resembling moveable hard drives and flash drives. A router with two or extra USB ports affords additional flexibility.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
Parental controls are additionally important, particularly in case you have youthful kids. These instruments help you block entry to particular websites (suppose grownup content material), restrict on-line gaming or total community entry to particular hours and days of the week, and monitor community utilization for every consumer. A guest-networking function can also be value on the lookout for for those who usually have digitally savvy home company, because it allows you to present restricted wi-fi entry to your community utilizing a separate SSID and password. This manner, your company can entry the web however cannot see different community belongings resembling folders, information, printers, and the identities of different linked purchasers. (Plus, you’ll be able to assign company to a radio band that will not intervene along with your gaming!)
(Credit score: Asus)
All routers, in fact, supply some sort of safety. Wi-Fi Protected Entry (in WPA and/or WPA2 flavors) is the most typical, requiring that every consumer use a password to entry the community. Help for Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) can also be frequent and really handy, because it permits you to add WPS-compatible purchasers to your community with the push of a button. For extra strong safety measures, although, search for a router that helps WPS-Enterprise or Distant Authentication Dial-In Person Service (RADIUS) authentication.
Able to Purchase the Proper Gaming Router for You?
We belief our recommendation and picks have set you in your method; in spite of everything, no single router is greatest for each sort of gamer. This information can assist you discover the appropriate mannequin on your house and price range. After you’ve got chosen one, you may additionally wish to see our suggestions for setting up your router and boosting your Wi-Fi signal.