7 Best High-Speed Routers in 2021 (Reviews and Guide)

 You cannot live without a good internet connection, but your life would be significantly better with the best high-speed router.

You might not be ready to hear this, but a good internet connection is a basic human need today. Don’t believe us? Try working from home without the internet or a good internet connection, and see how things will go!

A little over two decades ago, I believed that the next big thing would be a technology-driven world, space where we’d need the internet to do anything and everything from ordering food and accessing transportation to accessing medical services, making and transferring money.

Of course, some of my friends didn’t quite board my ideas, thinking that I was too radicalized, but today, these are the same people who will complain if their downloads take a few seconds longer.

Today, we can all agree that you cannot do much without the best internet connection, and if you are a serious gamer or streaming in 4K or 8K, you must invest in a high-speed router for the best experience.

Heck, you even need high internet speed for the best social media browsing/ sharing experience, not to mention school and work. Since we have been working and studying from home for over two months now, the need for stable and high-speed internet has never been this high, and you might be one of the guys shopping for a new high-speed router.

So, which are the best high-speed routers on the market today?

For starters, the best of these routers have broad coverage, advanced security features and protocols, they offer stable internet, and the wireless and wired connections are fast!

Comparison Table: Best High-Speed Routers

Best High-Speed Routers	Best For	Speed	WiFi Protocol	Price
TP-Link Archer C2300	Best Overall High-speed Router	2300Mbps	802.11ac	Check Price
Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200	Best Performance Router	7200Mbps	802.11ac/ad	Check Price
Asus RT-AX88U	Best High-End Router	6000Mbps	802.11ax	Check Price
TP-Link Archer C5400X	Best Tri-Band High-Speed Router	5400Mbps	802.11ac	Check Price
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000	Best Highest-Speed Router for Serious Gaming	11000Mbps	802.11ax	Check Price
Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 AX5400	Best Wireless Router	5400Mbps	802.11ax	Check Price
TP-Link AX6000 WiFi 6 Router	Best Long-Range Coverage WiFi 6 Router	6000Mbps	802.11ax	Check Price

 

Best High-Speed Routers: Reviews

1. TP-Link Archer C2300 – Best Overall High-speed Router

The design might not be all that, but the TP-Link Archer C2300 might be a good high-speed router for you if you need a fast and reliable router for work, school, streaming, or even gaming. It is one of the most powerful routers on the market, and it boasts high performance. And in as much as this router looks small and rather unobtrusive, it boasts several high-end features, which is why we hold this router in high regard.

For starters, it is a WiFi 5 router that runs on the IEEE 802.11ac protocol. While this would be an issue for some people thinking: ‘Wouldn’t a WiFi 6 router be a better option?’ The truth is that the peak speed of 2300Mbps is pretty good, and some of the higher-end routers might not perform as well as this router.

Its range and speed are further enhanced by the 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports that allow for wired connections, which is a huge deal if you are gaming or streaming and need dedicated and uninterrupted internet access. There is also a Gigabit WAN port, as well as USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports, which ensure faster data transfers. The router also features a dual-band design, which means a 2.4GHz band with a greater signal range and the high-speed 5GHz range. Then there are three removable antennas that further boost the range and the performance of the router.

For its performance, the router is powered by a dual-core 1.8GHz CPU, 128MB memory, and 512MB RAM.

Pros

• High peak throughput
• Excellent performance
• Comes with a 2-year warranty
• It’s inexpensive
• Wide range coverage
• Comes with built-in antivirus protection
• Trend Micro anti-malware protection for safe gaming/ browsing/ streaming
• Simple design
• QoS enhances its performance through signal optimization tools
• MU-MIMO
• According to Speedtest, this router has a maximum speed of 1625Mbps on the 5GHz band

Cons

• It runs hot

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2. Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 – Best Performance Router

You don’t want a high-speed router that only works at its best some times. What you need is a router that offers maximum coverage and the highest possible WiFi speeds to meet your heavy internet needs, and this NetGear router will deliver exactly that!

With a Tri-band design running on 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 60GHz bands running at speeds of 800, 1733, and 4600Mbps, respectively, this router supports excellent performance for up to 45 devices, and the best part is that these speeds allow for HD streaming, serious gaming, and seamless browsing.

Then there are 6 Gigabit Ethernet ports that allow for wired and more reliable connections for your gaming console, computers, streaming, etc. It also comes with one 10Gibit SFP+ port, as well as the best advanced technological features such as a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, four amplified antennas, MU-MIMO, Beamforming+, Dynamic QoS, as well as Amazon Alexa voice controls. It features parental controls too.

Pros

• Broad coverage of up to 2500sq.ft
• Powered by a 1.7 quad-core processor
• 6 Ethernet ports
• MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies
• Dynamic QoS allows for traffic prioritization
• Excellent gaming and heavy streaming capabilities
• 10G SFP+ Fiber LAN port ensures the fastest Network Attached Storage access
• Link aggregation for faster streaming
• Easy to set up and control
• It works with Alexa
• Supports VR gaming
• No buffering
• High internet speeds of 7200Mbps

Cons

• It won’t work very well in large and extra-large homes

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3. Asus RT-AX88U – Best High-End Router

With high speeds of AX6000, this WiFi 6 router makes one of the best high-end routers on the market, and you might like it if you are looking for one of the most powerful routers on the market.

With the most adaptive QoS system and next-gen 802.11ax WiFi system, 4 antennas, 8 Ethernet LAN ports, and a 1.8GHz quad-core processor, this router offers impressive capabilities.

But that is not all – this router supports link aggregation, which helps in reducing lags, and the AsusWRT interface allows for granular control in just about all settings you can think of. There also is the adaptive QoS, WTFast, and Trend Micro antivirus, all designed to boost the performance of this route.

Its 4×4 dual-band design has the 2,4GHz band, which ensures wider coverage, albeit at a slower speed, and the higher-speed 5GHz band, which supports super-high internet speeds for targeted activities like gaming and streaming. It offers bandwidths of 160MH and 1024 QAM, with a maximum top speed of 6000Mbps, broken into 1148Mbps for the 2.4GHz band plus 4804Mbps running on the 5GHz network.

It further boasts an 8-stream design, and the best bit is that the WiFi 6 system is backward compatible with all the other previous WiFi versions. Its compatibility with Asus’AiMesh system enhances the performance of this router, allowing tor seamless internet connection throughout the house.

Pros

• Adaptive QoS ensures prioritization of game packets, hence smoother games
• WTFast seeks out for the most secure and the shortest paths between your gaming device and the game’s server, hence minimized lag and game pings
• 8 LAN Ethernet ports for wired connections
• Secure system thanks to Trend Micro
• AiMesh ensures whole-house coverage
• AiProtection
• Easy setup
• High 5GHz speeds
• Advanced Next-Gen WiFi 6 system
• Link aggregation
• Excellent gaming and streaming performance

Cons

• It is expensive
• The 2.4GHz speed is lower than expected

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4. TP-Link Archer C5400X – Best Tri-Band High-Speed Router

Made with cutting-edge technologies, this TP-Link Archer C5400X takes the spot for the best tri-band router. Although it costs more than you might have bargained for, it makes up for the high price tag with its top-performance features and high-speed connectivity. And if you are looking for an excellent gaming router, the price notwithstanding, this might be the best option for you.

Some of the drivers of this router’s excellent performance include its 1.8GHz 64-Bit quad-core processor and its 1GB RAM that ensures an acceleration of the bonding process. It also sports 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports plus one Gigabit WAN port, which ensures the best wired connections, as well as link aggregation. It further allows you to aggregate two of the Ethernet ports together for double-speed connections.

The tri-band system is made up of one 2.4GHz band with speeds of 1000Mbps and two 5GHz bands at 2167Mbps each. With this setup, you can easily dedicate one of the 5GHz bands to gaming, hence uninterrupted internet access.

The other features include AirTime Fairness and MU-MIMO, which maximizes the router’s total throughput plus response rates, RangeBoost for strengthened reception, and Beamforming for the dispatch of targeted WiFi signals to specific devices, over larger distances.

Its security functions include the TP-Link HomeCare system that boasts the next-level antivirus system, QoS, and some of the most robust parental controls. QoS plays a crucial role in prioritizing traffic and the elimination of latency.

Pros

• 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports
• It works well with Alexa
• QoS integration reduces latency
• Eight external antennas for range enhancement
• 1GB RAM, 64-bit 1.8GHz triple processors for top performance
• It’s easy to setup
• High internet speeds on a tri-band system
• Elegant Bluetooth connection
• It supports intelligent prioritization of traffic
• VPN access
• 8 LAN/ Ethernet Ports
• Threat protection and parental controls

Cons

• It is expensive
• It has a large footprint
• The file transfer speeds are not as high as you’d expect from a USB 3.0 router

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5. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 – Best Highest-Speed Router for Serious Gaming

Nothing says beasty better than this AX11000 tri-band router with 8 solid antennas, a Quad-core 1.8GHz processor, and the WiFi 6 design. With two 5GHz bands each running at 4804Mps and a single 2.4GHz band running at 1148Mbps, this router promises to make your gaming or 4K/ 8K streaming experience impressively seamless.

This router has been designed with the best of the gaming class features in mind, including robust hardware that looks as good as it works, as well as ports and software systems that ensure the best performance.

It makes use of the advanced WiFi 6 technology, which promises top performance, and a dedicated 2.5-gigabit base-T port that delivers a higher bandwidth. Fast internet speed is further made possible by wired connections through the 4 gigabit Ethernet ports, which allow for easy connection to your computers, TVs, or gaming console.

The other features of this router include DFS bands set up to prevent interference, integration of WTFast and VPN Fusion for maximum throughout, Games Radar for easy monitoring of the game servers, and minimization of latency, as well as the dynamic QoS feature which ensures prioritization of gaming traffic. Aura RGN adds colorful flair to the router.

Pros

• The speeds from this router are quite impressive
• AiMesh for large home coverage
• Tri-band design for enhanced performance
• WTFast integration
• Ultra-high throughput
• Advanced QoS system
• Reduced gaming latency and lags

Cons

• There are only 4 Ethernet/ LAN ports; could be more
• It is expensive
• It’s bulky

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6. Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 AX5400 – Best Wireless Router

If you are planning to upgrade your router/ WiFi system, this wireless router system would be a good option for you, especially if you are a sucker for top speeds and if you don’t want to break the bank for the best router. This NetGear router is competitively priced, and it offers everything you need in the best high-performance, affordable router.

A WiFi 6 router, this device boasts excellent performance, and it comes with some of the most advanced features to ensure that you enjoy the best gaming, streaming, and browsing experiences.

Some of the features that boost the performance of this router include Smart Connect and Beamforming technologies that prevent dead zones, OFDMA for enhanced signal efficiency, triple-core 1.5GHz processor for reliable performance, and an efficient dual-band networking system. The 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports offer solid and stable wired connections for gaming and streaming, and the USB connections allow for fast data transfers.

The other features that make this router one of the best wireless routers on the market include its maximum top speed of 5.4Gbps, its 6-stream WiFi system, as well as its large coverage design for medium and large homes. The dual-band system allows for the breakdown of these devices speeds into 600Mbps for the 2.4GHz band and 4800Mbps for the 5GHz band.

NETGEAR Armor enhances the security level of this router. The other security features of this router include its firewalls, VPN, Guest WiFi access, and DoS.

Pros

• WiFi 6 system offers faster speeds, more capacity, and it is SmartHome-ready
• It’s 100% backward compatible
• Large device capacity for over 25 devices
• Fast internet speeds for HD streaming and gaming
• Dual-band design for enhanced performance
• High efficient thanks to technologies like OFDMA, Beamforming+, and Smart Connect
• It works with Alexa
• Easy to setup
• It has 6-streams
• 4 Ethernet ports for wired connections
• Secure connections

Cons

• No MU-MIMO
• It is expensive
• No parental controls

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7. TP-LinkAX6000 WiFi 6 Router – Best Long-Range Coverage WiFi 6 Router

Beautifully designed, I fell in love with this WFi router just because of its super cool design. Of course, there is more to a good router than its design, but the elegant design of this router is simply an add-on for this router.

On top of its elegance, this router boasts super-high internet speeds of 6000Mbps, delivered in a dual-band network system, and it also boasts a high degree of efficiency.

Some of the features of this router include its high-speed design that gets a boost from the 1024QAM system, which allows for the delivery of high wireless speeds of up to 4804Mbps on the 5GHz band and remarkable speeds of 1148Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. There’s also an OFDMA option that boasts its average throughput up to 4 times, specifically in the high-density scenarios, while allowing for multiple device usage.

It has a long-range coverage, and the eight external antennas boost its range and prevent dead zones. The BSS color system allows for stable and seamless internet connections thanks to their ability to minimize signal interference, while the RangeBoost and Beamforming technologies allow for the delivery of even stronger networks with a larger range. Driving all these are two quad-core 1.8GHz processors, which also stabilize the performance of the routers while enhancing the network’s stability. It further sports a 2.5Gbps WAN port and 8 Ethernet ports for wired connections, plus two USB 3.0 ports in Types A & C.

Other features include TP-Link HomeCare that features an advanced antivirus system, QoS, and the most robust parental controls.

Pros

• It is compatible with all existing WiFi systems
• It offers the most stable wireless performances
• Easy setup
• It looks good
• Ultra-level connectivity
• Powerful processing
• Reduced latency
• Far-reaching range thanks to RangeBoost and Beamforming technologies
• 11ax WiFi System with 160MHz and OFDMA channel supports, 1024 QAM, and MU-MIMO
• Blazing high speeds for gaming and 4K streaming up to 6Gbps
• Reduced signal interference
• Superior hardware boasting 2.5Gbps WAN port and a USB-C ports

Cons

• It is expensive
• Not a tri-band system
• It lacks a default Admin account

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Buying Guide for The Best High-Speed Routers

What do you need to look for when buying a high-speed router?

• Latest/ Future Tech

One of the technological features of routers that stands out the most today is WiFi 6. WiFi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is regarded as the future of WiFi technologies, and it boasts the highest speeds.

While it hasn’t made its way to the latest gadgets on the market, and you still have the option of using the 802.11ac system, investing in WiFi 6 is a good idea (if you can afford it) because that is where the tech world is now headed and it would be nice to have a good headstart, especially if you are a heavy gamer.

• Internet Speeds from Your ISP

It would be counter-intuitive for you to buy a router that offers the highest speeds if your ISP’s speed isn’t even half of what the router can offer. At the end of the day, the router’s maximum speed will depend on the package you have subscribed to from your ISP.

• Number of bands

Avoid single-band routers because these do not deliver the high speeds you need for serious gaming or 4K streaming. Opt for dual-band or tri-band routers because they come with a 5GHz band, which allows for a dedicated, high-speed channel for gaming and streaming.

• Features

There are several features that you need to take into consideration when buying a router because they determine the overall performance of the router. These include MU-MIMO, beamforming, QoS, parental controls, or OFDMA. These features are important because they help traffic controls and security of your network.

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FAQs

What is the role of QoS?

QoS is an important feature in gaming routers as it allows for bandwidth prioritization, which simply means that the router will prioritize data packets to your gaming device.

What is WiFi 6?

WiFi 6 represents the latest protocol for wireless internet connections, also called 802.11ax or High-Efficiency Wireless. It is an evolution of the 802.11ac wireless system that promises higher throughput speeds, a bigger client capacity, reduced network congestion, and a greater range and performance. This system boasts the use of technologies like OFDMA or Target Wake Time for improved maximum Throughput and reduced power consumption, respectively.

Why Choose Routers with More Ports?

Having more ports, say 4, 6, or 8 Ethernet ports is a huge win for high-speed routers because it allows for the best wired connections for different devices, including printers, gaming consoles, PCs, and desktops, etc. More ports mean added flexibility.

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Conclusion

The best high-speed routers run on WiFi 5 or WiFi 6 systems, they are dual or tri-band, they have multiple ports, and feature advanced technological features like Beamforming, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, Wider Channels, parental controls, etc. The routers we’ve reviewed above are among the best high-speed routers on the market, and you wouldn’t go wrong with any of them, depending on your needs.