Wireless router N vs AC – Which one is better for your home network?
802.11ac is the current wifi standard that replaced the 802.11n. However some devices still use the old ‘N’ wifi standard, but the 802.11ac is fully backward compatible with all your routers and other devices that work with 802.11n networks.
A wireless router can only go as fast as your internet connection will allow, so if you’re thinking of getting a fast router n AC or and N router can get you the speed performance you need.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between wireless router N and AC?
Model router |
Wireless N |
AC |
Speeds |
Up to 450 Mbps |
Up to 1.3 Gbps. 3x faster than N |
Antennas |
Can support up to 4 antennas |
Up to 8 antennas |
Range |
Uses both bands for a consistent connection |
5 GHz is better a long-range |
Capacity |
Handle about 40 devices |
About 100 devices |
Wireless router N vs AC. How do they compare?
Speed
With any new wireless technology, speed is always a huge factor. Wifi is usually measured in theoretical speeds and 802.11ac is technically faster and has more bandwidth. This means all the devices connected to this network will enjoy fast speeds. AC routers can deliver speeds of up to 1.3 Gbps which is 3x faster than an N router that delivers 450 Mbps. However, this speed can be affected by distance from the source, the device’s capabilities, obstacles like walls and floors, etc.
AC routers have greater speeds on each bandwidth and can connect with more devices.
Antennas
N routers can only support up to 4 antennas with each transmitting up to 100 Mbps, but the AC routers can support up to 8 antennas with each running up to 400 Mbps.
AC routers tend to have more antennas both external and internal with improved range and speeds.
Range
The range is also important when it comes to routers. AC routers are much faster with very impressive speeds at long range. AC routers use the 5 GHz bandwidth to support the faster speeds of wireless AC devices while the N routers use the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. The 5 GHz band tends to be quite so there is less interference from other wifi signals. AC routers use beamforming that detects your connected devices and increases the signal strength in their direction. This way the AC routers can maintain their performance at a long-range better than N routers.
AC routers have better range on the 5 GHz band with increased signal strength at long distance.
Capacity
AC routers have an improved client capacity which allows them to handle even 100 devices compared to N routers that can only handle about 40 devices for optimal performance. This limitation is attributed to the bandwidth, wireless devices share bandwidth so each device gets a portion of the shared bandwidth. AC routers provide more bandwidth to your connected devices with a better way of distributing it with better access points compared to the N routers.
AC routers have better capacity as they connect to more wireless devices.
Wireless router N vs AC – A comparison review
Wireless N router
Wireless N is a name for the hardware for wireless computer networks that support 802.11n wifi. Routers, wireless access points, and game adapters are some of the common types of equipment for this network. The best N router will ensure that you have a safe, fast, and reliable internet connection at all times.
Some factors to consider when buying an N router
Design. This refers to the router’s aesthetic appeal, size, and quality build. If your router is too big you might have problems finding the right space to put it and ensuring that it’s sturdy so that it doesn’t stop working in case it gets tipped over.
Antennas. Most of the upper-range routers have several directional antennas that give a more intense signal in all directions. These antennas can also help to eliminate the dead zones in your home.
Here are some N routers
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 wireless router that can deliver wifi speeds of up to 600 Mbps for online gaming and video streaming. Its antennas use multi-beam technology which ensures it provides enough bandwidth and coverage that can support multiple connected devices simultaneously. It has a myTwonky media server that allows you to share photos and videos with connected devices.
Tp-link N450
- Wireless N speed up to 450Mbps, ideal for bandwidth-intensive tasks like HD video streaming, VoIP, and...
- 802.11n technology, 15x faster with 5x the range of 802. 11g, Three antennas for increased coverage and...
A router with speeds of up to 450 Mbps that features 3×3 MIMO to allow for lag-free video streaming and online gaming while the 3 external antennas help to increase coverage and signal stability. This is a great router for streaming, but unfortunately, it doesn’t come with USB ports.
Netgear N600
- Faster WiFi Speed: N600 Dual Band WiFi delivers 300 + 300Mbps
- Ideal WiFi range for medium to large homes. System Requirements: Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10,Vista, XP,...
A great home router that can deliver speeds of up to 300 Mbps on each band. It has an antenna system that helps to reduce interference which allows for a stronger wifi signal in all directions. It’s very easy to install and comes with a traffic meter, network storage, guest networks, and external hard drive USB support.
Pros
- Provides a more stable and secure signal
- It works better on the 5 GHz band
- Come with useful features
- Very easy to install
Cons
- Limited to the number of devices it can handle
Wireless AC routers
AC routers are capable of theoretical throughput of up to 1.3 Gbps which is more than double what you would expect from an N router. However, unlike the 802.11n, 802.11ac can only transmit on the 5 GHz band.
What to look for in an AC router
Dual or tri-band. If you want to stream videos from Netflix over your wireless network, a dual-band would be better because it has 2 band frequencies working at the same time. A tri-band with an added 5 GHz band will improve performance reducing congestion.
Ethernet ports. AC routers are known for their fast speeds and a router with at least 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports will help to ensure you have constant wifi speeds.
Standalone or mesh. A standalone AC router can provide decent coverage, but if you have a large home it will not be enough to eliminate the dead zones. A router with a mesh system will allow you to place satellites in different points around your home for a better and stronger signal.
Here are some AC routers
Asus rt-ac66u
- 1GHz CPU powers dual-band 3x3 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology for speeds up to 1750Mbps and wide, responsive...
- Monitor and manage your network with ease from your mobile device using the intuitive ASUS Router App;...
A dual-band router that can deliver speeds of up to 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. You can easily mount it on your wall and it supports IPv6 and a VPN server. It has a USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports for USB storage and your printer.
Netgear X6 ac3200
- Recommended for up to 50 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect...
- Wired Ethernet ports: plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices...
A tri-band router that can cover over 3500 sq. feet with speeds of up to 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the two 5 GHz bands. It can connect with up to 50 devices and uses beamforming + in its 6 high performing antennas to deliver fast and reliable wifi connection to all your devices and eliminate dead zones.
D-link ac3200
- Ultimate Wi-Fi performance with AC3200 Tri Band speeds (1 x 600 Mbps in 2.4GHz + 2 x 1300 Mbps in 5GHz)...
- Enjoy 4K/HD video and online gaming simultaneously with 3 x 3 data streams and 6 high performance...
A tri-band router with speeds of 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the two 5 GHz bands. It uses smart connect to allocate the best band for max. wifi performance. The advanced AC smart beam helps to track and deliver more beams to your connected device improving wifi speed and range.
Pros
- Improved speed and range
- Increased connectivity to more devices
- Less congestion
- Backward compatible with 802.11b/g/n devices
Cons
- The 5 GHz band doesn’t travel far or penetrate walls as well as the 2.4 GHz
So, which one is better wireless router N or AC?
Wireless AC routers are better because they can deliver faster and more reliable speeds and better range and are backward compatible with 802.11n/b/g devices. They’re also more advanced with advanced features.
FAQ
Are N router outdated?
If your router is more than 5 years old, you need to get a new one because it might not support 802.11n. However, if your router tops out at 802.11g, you’re not getting enough speed and range.
Is wireless G or N better?
The N standard has increased data transmission bandwidth by up to 600 Mbps which is ten times higher, so if you compare with wireless G, N has improved security, twice the channel width, and other features.
