6 Best WiFi Extender for Gaming in 2021 (Reviews and Guide)

The best WiFi extenders for gaming offer the best internet connectivity and top-performance throughout your home, eliminating dead spots, meaning that you can enjoy gaming in different rooms with ease.

Investing in the best WiFi extenders for gaming is a critical addition to your home network, and though you will most likely end up using wired Ethernet cable connections because you already have the best gaming routers, the WiFi extender will come in handy when you need extra coverage throughout the house.

The extender also means that you don’t have to worry about your siblings or roommates hogging the WiFi signals, and if you have a basement that works as your gaming station, then the WiFi extender will be exactly what you need for good connection down there.

In this review, we’ll look at five of the best WiFi extenders for gaming. While there numerous options for extenders on the market and that the extenders are not created equal, you don’t want to spend weeks looking for the right WiFi Extender for gaming. To make that possible, this review gives you insights into the best WiFi extenders for gaming.

Comparison Table: Best WiFi Extenders for Gaming

Best WiFi Extender for Gaming	Best For	Coverage (sq/ft.)	WiFi Speed/ Protocol	Price
Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000	Best Overall Gaming WiFi Extender	2500	3Gbps Tri-band 802.11ac	Check Price
NETGEAR WiFi Mesh Range Extender EX7000	Best Roaming Mesh Technology	2100	1900Mbps Dual-band 802.11ac	Check Price
Amazon Eero mesh WiFi router	Best Standalone Router-Extender	1500	550Mbps Dual-band 802.11ac	Check Price
TP-Link RE650	Widest WiFi Range	14000	2600 Dual-band 802.11ac	Check Price
Linksys Max-Stream RE7000	Budget-Friendly Extender	10000	1900Mbps Dual-band 802.11ac	Check Price
NETGEAR EX7300 WiFi Mesh Range Extender	Easy Setup Extender	2000	2200Mbps Dual-band 802.11ac	Check Price

 

Top 6 Gaming WiFi Extenders

1. Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 – Best Overall Gaming WiFi Extender

Thanks to this tri-band WiFi system that delivers high performance with top speeds of 3Gbps and coverage of 1000sq.ft, you can finally say goodbye to dead zones and lag while gaming.

This extender is an ideal option for anyone looking forward to uninterrupted gaming. As a mesh WiFi extender, patented with the latest AC3000 Fastlane3 Technology, you will experience super high WiFi speeds reaching 3Gbps, meaning that whether you need stable internet access in the backyard, garage, or the basement, this mesh WiFi extender will have you covered. It allows for WiFi signals extensions and coverage for up 1000sq.Ft. But you could enjoy more extensive coverage of up to 2500sq.ft if you choose to add more extender units. Once set up, this extender promises seamless roaming, and the best part is that it boasts the easiest setup.

Regarding speeds, this extender boasts a tri-band design with one dedicated 5GHz band delivering top speeds of up to 1.7Gbps, which is why this WiFi extender makes the ideal option for gamers. The other 5GHz band transmits data at 866Mbps, while the 2.4GHz band offers high browsing speeds and a wider coverage at 400Mbps.

Note that the FastLane3 technology covered above, along with the tri-band setup, is the reason for top performance, and you won’t have to worry about the router halving the bandwidth. The innovative design of the antennas is the other big winning feature of this WiFi extender for gaming.

You might also like this extender because it works smoothly with both your WiFi router or the available ISP gateway. Its setup is also quite simple as it integrates with the existing networks seamlessly, and the best part is that you can use the same WiFi SSID used on your existing router.

The other impressive features incorporated into this WiFi extender include the four gigabit Ethernet ports and USB ports.

Pros

Excellent performance

• Reliable tri-band operations
• The software is rather easy to setup
• 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports and high-speed USB ports for data transfers
• Seamless coverage
• High speeds 3Gbps
• Great connectivity
• Auto-sensing technology

Cons

• Bulky
• Expensive

View Price on Amazon

2. NETGEAR WiFi Mesh Range Extender EX7000 – Best Roaming Mesh Technology

Netgear brings you yet another high-performance mesh range extender that promises to get rid of dead zones throughout your home while enhancing your gaming performance.

It offers extensive coverage of up to 2100sq.ft, and it allows connection with up to 35 devices. And for the gaming performance you have been looking for, this range extender boasts a dual-band Wireless system, and it boasts top internet speeds of up to 1900Mbps.

You also get to enjoy its smart mesh roaming, which means that the range extender automatically syncs with your existing network details, and you wouldn’t have to disconnect devices or reset the system that you already have going.

This WiFi range extender also makes use of Netgear’s FastLane3 technology, which works well with the dual-band system for the best online gaming experience, as well as HD streaming.

The other features designed to enhance the performance of this range extender include its universal compatibility with gateways, cable modems, and wireless routers, not to mention the wired Ethernet cables for the best plug-and-play operations, anywhere in your home.

Pros

• Reliable smart roaming for auto-syncing and connection to the existing WiFi network
• Works great for serious gamers and heavy HD streaming
• Mesh technology for a larger range
• Smart connectivity for a maximum of 35 devices
• Five high-speeds Gigabit Ethernet ports for faster gaming speeds and uninterrupted connections
• Parental controls
• Easy setup
• Extensive coverage of up to 2100sq.ft

Cons

• Few complaints about signal drops

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3. Amazon Eero mesh WiFi router – Best Standalone Router-Extender

One type of WiFi extender you need to know is the WiFi standalone Access Points, and this mesh WiFi router is a standalone router that works as an elegant extender.

It’s a high-speed, dual-bans mesh router that works with Alexa and has a coverage of up to 1500 square feet. It promises a reliable WiFi connection to your home, and it might be exactly what you need to get rid of the pesky dead zones.

It boasts a simple setup, and the best bit is that it works with all ISP. It features TrueMesh technology, which allows Eero to route traffic intelligently, avoiding congestion, drop-offs, and buffering. This mesh WiFi extender boasts top speeds of up to 550Mbps.

Pros

• Easy installation
• No dead zones
• No buffering or lags
• Dual-band
• TrueMesh technology for intelligent traffic routing

Cons

• The speeds could be higher

View Price on Amazon

4. TP-Link RE650 – Widest WiFi Range

This TP-Link range extender is one of the best extenders from the TP-Link range of products, and a look at its features tells you why everyone is raving about it.

For starters, it has the most elegant specs in comparison to older models, with the winning feature being its top internet speeds of up to 2600Mbps. This speed is broken down into N800 on the 2.4GHz band and AC1733 on the 5GHz band, thanks to its dual-band design.

Its design allows for the use of this extender as a repeater, an extender, or a standalone access point. Speaking of design, it comes with a dedicated Gigabit Ethernet port for wired connection, and the best gaming performance.

The most impressive feature of this WiFi extender, however, has got to be its extensive coverage of up to 14,000 Sq. Ft. made possible by the quad-antenna design. The antennas and the overall design of this extender ensure ultimate coverage throughout your home.

Note, however, that it isn’t just about antennas, and the performance of this extender is further enhanced by Beamforming, a technology designed to send out targeted WiFi signals to individual devices, hence the strongest connections. There’s also the 4×4 MU-MIMO Wave 2 technology that allows for seamless communication with multiple devices at the same time while maintaining optimum performance in all connected devices.

The smart indicator lamp on the extender enhances the extender’s ease of installation by allowing for its optimal placement, between the router and the desired spot.

Pros

• Great MU-MIMO support for large device connectivity
• High speeds of 2600Mbps
• Four robust external antennas
• Works with all your smart home systems
• Large coverage
• Great gaming performance
• Powerful performance, thanks to the 4-stream system and the 256QAM technologies that ensure the best connections
• Intelligent engine processing for dedicated traffic to the processors
• Quad-antennas for expansive coverage
• Beamforming technology for larger coverage
• Intuitive interface design
• High FPS
• Single SSID support

Cons

• There’s only one Gigabit Ethernet port

View Price on Amazon

5. Linksys Max-Stream RE7000 – Budget-Friendly Extender

If you are looking for a good performance WiFi extender for gaming at a budget, this extender by Linksys might be the best option for you. It boasts top speeds of 1900Mbps and more extensive coverage of up to 10,000sq/ft.

Its dual-band design promises the best gaming performance at all times, while the internal antennas boost its range without taking up much space. The 2.4GHz band offers speeds of 300Mbps, while the 5GHz band allows you to enjoy speeds of over 1700Mbps.

It supports single SSID configurations, which means that it’s easy to set up, even as it behaves like a mesh node rather than an extender, for the best connections. Its setup process is further enhanced by the push button connect function, along with the Spot Finder Technology, also incorporated for the best placement and optimal performance.

For the best gaming performance, it comes with an Ethernet Gigabit port, which allows for seamless, high-speed wired connections, and the flexibility you have been looking for in your home.

You might also like it because it works with a large variety of WiFi routers on the market, while the incorporation of MU-MIMO technology means that best multi-device connections and wider access. It also features a wireless MAC filtering system.

Beamforming and cross-band technologies further enhance the performance of this WiFi extender, allowing for the best buffer-free streaming and lag-free gaming.

Pros

• Dedicated backhaul thanks to the Cross-Band technology
• Easy setup
• Single SSID sync with existing Linksys router
• Supports beamforming and MU-MIMO technologies
• Dedicated Gigabit Ethernet port for gaming

Cons

• Streaming performance affected by the dropped frame rate
• Slow download speeds on 2.4GHz band

View Price on Amazon

6. NETGEAR EX7300 WiFi Mesh Range Extender – Easy Setup Extender

This extender boasts top WiFi speeds up to 2200Mbps, and at these speeds, you get to enjoy a good gaming performance. And given the dual-band design, you enjoy more versatility and less network congestion. It boasts coverage of 2000sq/ft. And connects to a maximum of 35 devices seamlessly.

The extender’s top speeds result from Netgear’sFastLane technology, which allows for the best online gaming and HD streaming experiences. Then you have the wired Ethernet port, which allows for easy plugging of gaming consoles and for multiplayer streaming, hence the best gaming experiences.

Regarding setup, you will be happy to know that this extender sports the most efficient and seamless smart roaming, and you get to configure it to your existing network using the same SSID name as the one you are using on your existing network.

Its universal compatibility is another big win in our books, and it works with different routers, modems, and gateways with ease.

Pros

• Supports the safest and secure security protocols
• Large coverage up to 2000sq/ft.
• No more dead zones
• Hassle-free setup
• Smart roaming technology for easy setup
• High speeds for gaming
• Wired Gigabit Ethernet port connections for stable, faster online gaming and streaming
• Connects with 35 devices or more
• Universal connectivity
• MU-MIMO for performance boost and increased max throughput
• Effective dual-band system
• Reliable parental controls

Cons

• No external antennas
• The coverage is less than expected.

View Price on Amazon

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How Do You Select the Best WiFi Extenders for Gaming?

At the end of the day, the primary role of a WiFi extender is the elimination of dead zones. But as mentioned above, no two WiFi extenders are created equal, which means that you need to look at the features offered by the extender to determine whether that extender meets your needs or not.

Also, the right WiFi extender for you will work very seamlessly with your home’s wireless network, and you can plug it into the wall outlet discreetly, allowing it to rebroadcast WiFi I signals. Note that the WiFi extender will especially come in handy if you live in a large multi-level home where you need better coverage, and the best part is that having the best extender would mean the best internet access to your backyard.

Below, we answer all your questions regarding WiFi extenders, how they work, and whether you really need it or not.

Buying considerations

• Type of WiFi Extender Products

WiFi extenders come in different designs and with different features depending on your needs and how they extend the wireless signals. These extenders can be mesh WiFi systems, WiFi signal repeaters, whole new WiFi access points, or WiFi signal extenders.

Mesh WiFi extender system

The mesh WiFi extender system works as a whole-home WiFi system where it makes use of a central router to connect to your modem and at least one of the satellite routers that work as the WiFi signal’s access points, hence internet access throughout the house.

WiFi Repeaters and Extenders

Then you have WiFi Repeaters and Extenders, which means the same thing – they both extend WiFi signals from the existing router into other sections of your home or office. They are also called WiFi amplifiers or Boosters. The extra coverage might be limited, though.

WiFi Access Points

While repeaters and extenders work where there exists coverage but a boost is needed, the Access points work as separate routers and come in handy in large and extra-large homes where you need stronger WiFi signals for internet access in the dead zones.

The WiFi Access Point will be hard-wired to your existing network, creating a new, effective WiFi network. You could, however, use the SSID for your existing device, and there won’t be much difference. Since these points make use of wired connections, you’ll either need the best Ethernet cables or a Powerline network adapter for the extension of the network connection/ range.

• Dual or Tri-band connections

You need either dual or tri-band systems for the best connections. But since the tri-band system features an additional 5GHz band, which is faster and less congested, the tri-band system will work well for gaming. The dual-band works equally well, but aren’t as effective as the tri-band systems.

• Setup

The extender must be easy to install and all its associated costs within your budget

• Number of connected devices

Choose a WiFi extender depending on your needs and the number of devices you wish to have connected to the WiFi system.

Other considerations:

• Coverage Area, Security, and App Control

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FAQs

What causes WiFi dead zones?

You know that you have dead zones in some areas of your home that have a super-slow or completely non-existent internet connection. These areas in your home are called dead zones, and it would be impossible to game or stream from these areas.

The slow or dead zones are areas that cause your home devices to run either inconsistently, poorly, or not at all. The biggest cause of these dead zones is walls, doors, or floors that cause signal interference, and they also weaken the signal as it travels over longer distances, especially over obstacles.

Do You Need a WiFi Extender?

If you struggle with wireless access in some parts of your house or moved into a larger space, or if your home has too many closed layouts, you will need the best WiFi extender.

Which are the leading brands of WiFi Extenders?

Netgear, Google Nest, TP-Link, and Eero.

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Conclusion

The best WiFi extender for gaming will have a huge impact on your WiFi’s overall performance by eliminating dead zones while giving you access to stable and high-speed internet connections. The extenders reviewed above are among the best options on the market today.