6 Best Routers for Apartment in 2021 (Reviews and Guide)

Can you imagine living in an apartment with the worst or the slowest internet connection, either because you purchased a router without thinking much about its features and capabilities or because your wired system is not as reliable? Well, I can’t, and I know that you cannot either.

The world today runs on the internet, and whether you have a side hustle, work from home a few days a week, or are a serious gamer, you need to make sure that you invest in a good router. The wireless routers ensure the best internet connection for all your devices, and this flexibility is pretty much unmatched by wired routers.

With this in mind, the router you choose should make it possible for you to complete your relevant tasks with ease, but the most important bit is that it must offer great internet connectivity for the entire apartment, with no dead zones. Also, make sure that the router is within your budget; the good news is that there is a router for every budget and every apartment.

In this review, we’ll look at some of the best options you could try. To help you make the best choice, how about you take this trip with me and look at some of the best WiFi routers that would work best for your apartment?

Comparison Table: Best Routers for Apartments

Best Routers for Apartments	Best For	Speed	WiFi Protocol	Coverage Area	Price
NETGEAR N750 WNDR4300 Dual-Band WiFi Router	Best Overall Router	750Mbps	802.11n	Medium-large	Check Price
Apple AirPort Express	Simple Browsing and Streaming Router	300Mbps	802.11n	Small Apartment	Check Price
NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (R7000)	Best Streaming Router	1900Mbps	802.11ac	1800sq/ft.	Check Price
Securifi Almond Touch Screen Wireless Router	Best Touchscreen Router	300Mbps	802.11bgn	Small apartment	Check Price
TP-Link Archer A7 AC1750 Smart WiFi Router	Most Affordable Router	1750Mbps	802.11ac	2500sq/ft.	Check Price
NETGEAR Nighthawk AX4 AX3000 WiFi 6 Router (RAX40)	Best WiFi 6 Router for Apartments	3000Mbps	802.11 ax	1500sq/ft.	Check Price

 

Best Routers for Apartments

1. NETGEAR N750 WNDR4300 Dual-Band WiFi Router – Best Overall Router

NETGEAR is one of the biggest brands of routers on the market today, and if you are looking for a good WiFi router for your apartment, then this router would be one of the options you want to take a bite at. It promises a very reliable network connection, no interference, and if you are big on streaming, you will be happy to know that the router will make it easy for you to stream higher-quality videos.

Some of the features behind the high-performance and the reliability of this router include its excellent range, great speeds, and excellent connections. It offers high speeds of 750Mbps running on the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz bands at 300Mbps and 450Mbps, respectively.

And to boost its performance, it comes with Ethernet ports that offered wired connections to your gaming console, laptop, printers, etc. If you are gamer looking for an affordable router with great video-streaming capabilities, this would be a good option.

On top of all these features, this router comes with Advanced QoS function, which allows for bandwidth prioritization, hence performance enhancement during gaming or HD streaming.

This router also comes with remarkable sharing solutions, including the DLNA media server for easy connection to video and gamers servers, as well as the ReadySHARE USB that makes it easy for you to connect to different USB devices, including hard drives and printers.

You might also like its Time Machine-compatible function that ensures the easy creation of backups for Mac devices. The other advantage of ReadySHARE is in cloud data access since this cloud solution makes it easier for you to access any data stored on hard drives remotely.

The other reason why you might like this router is that it is quite easy to set up and configure. And its security functions like network security, guest access, and parental controls ensure the highest levels of security.

Pros

• High speeds
• Great range in medium and large apartments (Over 3500 Sq.Ft)
• Wireless data access and media sharing
• IPv6-Compatible
• Future-proof
• The apps (NetGear Genie) ensures easy management and control
• Dual-band system reduces interference and improved connections
• Great sharing functions
• Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections
• Advanced QoS ensures bandwidth optimization for smooth gaming and streaming

Cons

• No modem included
• Issues with warranty

View Price on Amazon

2. Apple AirPort Express – Simple Browsing and Streaming Router

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If affordability, ease of use, simple, compact design, and great internet speeds are some of the things you are looking for in a router, then this Apple AirPort Express WiFi router could be a great option for you. It offers a great range for apartments, and it’s great for video streaming.

Thanks to the design of the router, it boasts an easy setup as it works with most of the common operating systems, and it also comes with a manual to guide you in the setup process.

One of the best/ most interesting features of this router has to be its music streaming function. You get to stream music easily, and you can connect just about any speaker as you streaming music from any of your preferred music stores. The app makes all this easier.

The music aside, you might also like this router because it boasts and great wireless internet range, and its dual-band design boosts its performance. The 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands allow for automatic device connection and the subsequent use of the best/ fastest/ less congested band by the connected devices. This option for selecting the band is the reason for the top performance of this router.

The only catch is that this router doesn’t run on the latest WiFi protocol. It runs on the 802.11N protocol, which means that if you need more speed, you might have to look for advanced options.

Pros

• Good security functions
• Wireless printing
• Reliable music airplay
• Easy setup – just reset to factory settings before use
• Great audio sync
• Works best with Apple devices
• Easy configuration
• Ideal for small and medium-sized apartments

Cons

• It runs on 802.11N protocol, and it isn’t the fastest router
• Not ideal for gaming
• Only works with Apple-configured devices

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3. NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (R7000) – Best Streaming Router

With a capacity for a maximum of 30 devices, top WiFi speeds of 1900Mbps, and outfitted with some of the latest and the smartest technological features, this Netgear Nighthawk R7000 is one of the best gaming/ HD streaming routers for apartments.

It’s regarded as one of the best plug-and-play options as it comes with all the functions you need out of a great router with an easy setup process – its setup is regarded as flawless. And since it comes with built-in VPN functions, it means that your home network and all the connected devices will be safe. You don’t have to worry about the security status of your web traffic.

Looking at its speed, you will be happy to know that this router boasts top speeds of 1900Mbps spread into the dual-band system that allows you to enjoy speeds of up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz channel and 1300Mbps on the 5GHz channel.

The dual-band system is one of the most important features to look out for in routers because it ensures that your devices’ internet access isn’t throttled. While the 2.4GHz band means a wider range and seamless browsing, the 5GHz band is more focused and less congested, hence its ideal use in gaming and streaming devices.

It also comes with some of the most advanced technological functions, and it’s powered by a robust 1GHz dual-core processor. The other functions include MU-MIMO for simultaneous bandwidth access to multiple devices, Beamforming+ for enhanced throughout; as well as Dynamic QoS for bandwidth prioritization. The other features include and Smart Connect, Parental controls, and configuration with Amazon Alexa.

You might also like its four Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections, as well as USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 for file sharing. It’s ideal for use in small homes, and its three antennas boost its range.

The security of the network is enhanced by WPA2 protocols, VPN, Guest WiFi access, DoS, and Firewalls.

Pros

• Advanced features for great WiFi access
• Fast network speeds
• Dual-band connectivity
• Great security functions
• Easy setup and management
• Large range of up to 1800sq.ft
• Supports a maximum of 30 devices
• Beamforming+ boosts its range
• Perfect for streaming
• Netgear Armor for advanced threat protection
• 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections

Cons

• Poor customer support services
• The software could be better

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4. Securifi Almond Touch Screen Wireless Router – Best Touchscreen Router

There are numerous router options on the market today; nothing makes me more excited than this touchscreen router-modem combination. It is one of the best and the most affordable options on the market today. It’s also regarded as the fastest routers to setup, which means that you wouldn’t have to worry about spending hours trying to set up the router.

You might also like it because it is a multi-purpose design, which means that by working as a router and a WiFi range extender, you won’t have to worry about dead spots in the house. You could also use it as a wireless bridge. And the best part is that it’s compatible with all the other existing routers on the market; should you choose to use it as a universal range extender.

Some of the features that make it one of the best simple routers for use in apartments include its compatibility with all 802.11b/g/n wireless protocols, as well as its reliable internet speeds of up to 300Mbps, the two antennas, and the MIMO function which allows for simultaneous internet connection.

It also comes with 3 LAN Ethernet ports, one WAN port, UPnP, Firewalls, and Port Forwarding. It boasts a simple setup, and just like other top-rated routers on the market, it comes with reliable security features that ensure that your network and devices are well protected.

Pros

• Works with Alexa
• Voice-activated guest networks and parental controls
• Touch screen design allows for ease of use; setup and control
• You can block any unwanted devices easily
• The WiFi Extender mode works
• Saves time and money
• Reliable performance

Cons

• You have to open an Almond account to use it

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5. TP-Link Archer A7 AC1750 Smart WiFi Router – Most Affordable Router

If you are looking for great router performance at a price that will not break the bank, then this smart router will be the ideal option for your apartment.

With 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for fast wired internet access, you can connect your PCs, printers, and gaming console to the router directly, and this allows you access to high-speed internet. If you are a gamer, then the performance and the speed of this router will meet your needs easily.

Speaking of speed, you will be happy to know that this is one of the fastest 802.11ac routers, boasting high speeds of 1750Mbps. Since it is a dual-band router, the router runs on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands at 450Mbps and 1300Mbps, respectively. These bands reduce buggering, and the 5GHz band is less congested, which is why it is an excellent option for 4K streaming and gaming. The QoS function enhances the performance of the router thanks to its bandwidth prioritization function.

It’s ideal for use in medium-sized and large apartments up to 2500sq.ft. , with the three external antennas designed to ensure wider coverage and no dead zones. My favorite feature of this router is the stability of its WiFi system and the fact that it allows for the connection of at least 50 devices. It comes with a powerful high-speed CPU for this.

The other impressive feature of this router is its integrated USB port, which acts as this media Server that allows for easy sharing of files/ media. The TP-Link Tether app is the other nice feature of this router that allows for easy management of home networks.

Pros

• Fast internet speeds for smooth 4K streaming and gaming
• No buffering
• Dual-band design means fewer disruptions
• It’s easy to set up and use
• Works great with Alexa
• Secure network
• It is affordable
• Easy mounting on the wall

Cons

• It lacks advanced technological features like Beamforming

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6. NETGEAR Nighthawk AX4 AX3000 WiFi 6 Router (RAX40) – Best WiFi 6 Router for Apartments

This router doesn’t just like look like a beast; it actually works as an actual beast. As a 4-stream smart router running on the latest WiFi protocol, investing in this router means investing in the fastest, uninterrupted, and congestion-free wireless system for all the devices in your apartment. The router makes a good gaming option, and it also supports the best HD streaming in sizeable apartment spaces, up to 1500sq.ft.

Regarding speed, it offers high internet speeds of 3000Mbps, and with the four simultaneous streams, it offers more devices’ capacity for internet access at the same time. Top that with the four Gigabit Ethernet ports that allow for easy plugging in of game consoles, computers, or streaming of players, and you have yourself a reliable network system to get everything done within your apartment.

Then there’s the fact that this router comes with the most advanced technological features like Beamforming + which encourages the improvement of the device’s throughput, OFDMA which increases the device’s overall throughput by channeling the WiFi signals into sub-channels, hence usage by more devices, as well as a robust dual-core processor which ensures the router’s overall great performance.

The other features include the two antennas, which will amplify the range of the router, USB connections (two USB 3.0) for super-fast file sharing, and Amazon Alexa voice controls for better system management. It offers smart parental controls too.

Pros

• Great secure systems including VPN, Firewall, and DoS
• Guest WiFi Access
• Runs on the advanced WiFi 6 protocol that means more speed, more capacity, end of gridlocks, and backward compatibility
• It’s smart-home ready
• Large capacity for at least 20 devices
• Excellent HD streaming and gaming capacity
• Less congestion
• Increased capacity
• Easy setup, use, and management
• Strong, larger coverage
• No dead zones or WiFi drops

Cons

• You need other AX clients for the best performance.

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Buying Guide for the Best Routers for Apartments

There is a lot that goes into purchasing the right router for your apartment, but for the most part, you only need to know the basics, and you will be on the right path. Keep reading for your simple buying guide.

• Apartment size

It goes without saying that the router you buy is pretty much dependent on the size of your apartment. If you live in a small apartment, you will be fine with a low-range router.

But keep in mind that a low-range router is, in no way, a low-speed router. On the other hand, you’ll need a router boasting a stronger signal range if you live in a bigger apartment or if you live with many other people.

For example, you need a router with a larger range if you live in a two-bedroom house than a one-bedroom house because the signals have to travel through the walls for access by the devices in your bedroom.

• Interference

Most people overlook interference when buying routers, yet it is a fundamental feature. Interference comes about when you live in an apartment with many people, using the same band at once. With this in mind, it is a smart move to opt for routers with a dual-band system.

Dual-band router reduce lags and traffic congestion because heavy bandwidth on the 5GHz band will be used for things like gaming and streaming (shorter range) while the 2GHz band will be ideal for browsing and since it has a longer range, everyone else will use it with ease. And if you can afford a tri-band router, you can look forward to an even better level of performance.

• Router’s Features

Features and technologies like Beamforming and MU-MIMO enhance the router’s performance by enhancing signal strength where needed and allowing access by many users at the same time, with ease.

Other features to look out for including Dynamic QoS, OFDMA, Target Wake Time, etc. Don’t forget to look at the security features of the router – think of VPN, firewalls, Guest WiFi access, and parental controls, etc.

• Total Number of Connected Devices

Regardless of the space size, always take into consideration the number of devices in the apartment. With three or fewer devices, you have no need for the most high-powered routers.

However, with many connected devices, you need to ensure that the router has a large devices’ capacity. The good news is that most of the options on the market have a large capacity for at least 20 devices.

FAQs

Where should I place my router in the apartment?

The location of the router is crucial. Pick the most central position, away from microwaves, and place it as high as you can, but away from concrete/ brick walls. Also, avoid keeping it close to meeting areas because people interfere with WiFi signals.

Which is the best WiFi Protocol?

For the longest time, we got used to 802.11ac routers being the gold-standard, but today, there is the new 802.11ax/ WiFi 6 protocol, which though isn’t mainstream yet, it is the fastest WiFi protocol for routers today.

Should you buy a WiFi 6 Router?

While the routers running on the AX protocol are among the best options, it might not be in your best interests to buy this WiFi router if your don’t have supported devices or if your ISP doesn’t offer that high-speed plan yet.

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Conclusion

The most basic router is not necessarily the best router for your apartment. Look at the features offered by the router – excellent speeds, high-performance antennas, dual-band system, and features like Beamforming for a boost in the signals.

These features ensure the best wireless system for your home. It’s also important to keep in mind that there are different routers on the market for different budgets, and you shouldn’t settle for a poor quality router just because it seems cheap.