Belkin vs Linksys – Which router suits your networking needs?
Whether you’re looking to set up a new home network or upgrade the existing one, you will need a good wireless router for a reliable internet connection. Belkin and Linksys are brands that have some of the best wireless routers for your home or office network.
When choosing a new router the number of devices in your home, the size of your coverage area and the type of devices you’ll be connecting to your router are important. You might not need the kind of performance from a router with advanced technology, so there’s no need of paying for features you might never use.
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What are the differences between Belkin and Linksys?
Router model |
Belkin |
Linksys (Winner) |
Antenna technologies |
Mostly uses multibeam technology |
Uses MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies |
LAN ports |
4 Ethernet or gigabit Ethernet ports |
4-8 gigabit Ethernet ports |
Router models |
N and AC models |
AC and mesh wifi systems |
Belkin vs Linksys. How do they compare?
Wireless N routers
When it comes to the capability of the wireless N routers, Belkin and Linksys have both made some good improvements. However, before you part with your hard-earned cash, you should compare what each company has to offer before you make your decision. Your final decision will depend not only on your budget but also your home networking needs.
Linksys routers are better N routers with great designs and are sturdy built than belkin.
Advanced technologies
When it comes to advanced technologies, Linksys routers have an advantage. The routers are either dual or tri-band with advanced technologies like MU-MIMO and beamforming to provide a better connection to all your connected devices, even smart connect and mesh systems that help to extend your wifi signal over a larger area.
Linksys routers are designed with advanced technologies for better connectivity.
Antennas
Most of the Belkin routers are designed with either 1-6 external or internal antennas that help to improve the router’s wifi range, but you can find a Linksys router that has been designed with up to 8 powerful external antennas that use MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies to be able to penetrate through walls and floorsin your home and improve connectivity.
Linksys routers have more powerful antennas that can penetrate their signals through many obstacles.
Speeds
Linksys routesunlike Belkin routers that have slower speeds, tend to offer faster maximum throughput speeds of up to 5.3 Gbps to eliminate any dead spots in your home and provide super-fast, reliable, and smooth internet connection for HD and 4K streaming, online gaming, and surfing.
Linksys routers are better performers with faster speeds and smoother internet connectivity.
Belkin vs Linksys. A comparison Overview
Belkin routers
Belkin has a very wide variety of wireless routers that are suitable for almost any budget. From the budget-friendly to the high performing models with dual-band capacity and gigabit speeds. Belkin routers are known for their good wifi speeds, excellent coverage, good security features, and wireless standards.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing a Belkin router
Wireless standards. The most advanced wireless protocol standard is the 802.11ac which you’ll find in most advanced wireless routers, but you will also find other standards like 802.11 a/b/g/n in most wireless routers.
Wifi speeds delivered. The wifi speeds of a router will depend on the internet connection that’s why different routers will deliver different speeds with some of the most common being 300 Mbps, 600 Mbps, 1200 Mbps, etc.
Coverage area.How you position your router is very important. It should be at a central place away from obstructions and other gadgets. The external and internal antennas will also play a part in how far the signal will reach.
Here are some Belkin routers
Belkin ac750
- Simultaneous Dual-Band with speeds up to 300Mbps + 433Mbps improve movie streaming and online gaming
- High Powered Signal with exclusive MultiBeam technology maximizes signal strength and minimizes dead...
A dual-band wifi router that can deliver speeds of up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 450 Mbps on the 5 GHz band so you can enjoy HD streaming and online gaming without any buffering. It uses the multi-beam technology that helps to maximize the signal strength and eliminate dead zones. The advanced QoS helps to prioritize heavy network traffic which allows you to connect multiple devices.
Belkin n600
- Dual band wireless router for video streaming and gaming
- Wireless speeds of up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 300 Mbps (5GHz)
A dual-band N router with wifi speeds of up to 300 Mbps on each band. It runs both bands simultaneously which reduces interference between connected devices so you can enjoy high-speed internet with maximum coverage range. It’s 802.11 b/g/n compatible and uses multibeam to improve coverage and reduce dead zones.
Belkin ac1200
- AC wireless router with dual band technology for max speed to multiple devices
- Up to 2.8x faster than Wireless N
A dual-band router with wifi speeds of up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 900m bps on the 5 GHz band for seamless streaming and gaming. It’s 802.11a/b/g/n compatible and has powerful internal antennas that have a wide range and help to reduce dead spots. The advanced smart connect helps to allocate the best bandwidth for optimal performance.
Pros
- Excellent wifi speed performance
- Good coverage range
- Compatible with 802.11 b/g/n devices
- Very easy to setup
Cons
- The wifi signal sometimes drops
Linksys routers
Linksys is a well-known brand for wireless routers for both personal and commercial use with a wide variety of options that will cater to almost all budgets. Linksys routers come with good speeds, great coverage with MIMO capabilities, and user-friendly administrative controls.
Things to consider when buying a Linksys router
Maximum speed. The maximum speed in a router is very important and this will help you find the best Linksys router that will give you a fast wifi network depending on your networking needs.
Several channels. Wireless routers have different band frequencies. You can choose a single, dual-, or tri-band depending on your environment or the wifi speeds you need.
Antennas. The number of antennas will determine the coverage range of your router. The more the antennas the larger the area your router will cover.
Here are some Linksys routers
Linksys ac3200
- Fast wireless router provides Wi-Fi coverage for your home (works with existing modem)
- Open source firmware offers advanced customization; Certified operating systems: MacOS (10.X or higher),...
A dual-band router with a tri-stream 160 that effectively doubles the 5 GHz bandwidth for faster wifi speeds for heavy-duty tasks. It operates in clear dedicated airspace using dynamic frequency selection (DFS) which has less interference when using it with other wireless devices or other nearby routers using the 2.4 GHz band. It also uses MU-MIMO for fast speeds on multiple devices.
Velop mesh router
- Apple HomeKit Enabled
- Ideal for multi-story 3-5 bedroom homes (up to 4,000 square feet)
A tri-band mesh router with one 5 GHz band used as a dedicated backhaul to ensure there’s connectivity between the nodes. The nodes work seamlessly to ensure there’s no buffering to deliver ultra-fast and flawless wifi wherever you need it.
Linksys ea9500
- This Certified Refurbished product is manufacturer refurbished, shows limited or no wear, and includes...
- Tri-Band Wi-Fi offers a third, dedicated high-speed band to eliminate buffering and lag
A tri-band router with a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor and can support MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies. It’s not the most aesthetic-friendly router but its 8 powerful antennas can provide coverage even in large homes with a total potential throughput of 5.3 Gbps. The 8 gigabit Ethernet ports will cater to all your wired connections.
Pros
- Great wifi speeds
- Excellent coverage
- Advanced technologies
- Powerful antennas
Cons
- Expensive
So, which one is better Belkin or Linksys?
Belkin and Linksys routers are well known for their advanced routers with great speeds and excellent coverage. Although Belkin routers are available almost all budgets, Linksys routers tend to be a bit expensive. However, Linksys routers are better because they come with more advanced technologies that help to improve on the wifi speeds and coverage area making your internet more stable and reliable.
FAQ
Which is better Belkin or Netgear?
If you compare similar models based on features or price, Belkin routers perform slightly better when testing over a short-range, but Netgear routers perform better over obstacles like floors or walls.
How long do Linksys routers last?
It’s recommended that you stay with your router for 3-4 years before an upgrade, but Linksys routers can last from 1-20 years with a 30-30-30 reset to fix any problems.
