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If you’re wondering which wireless routers are worth your money, stick around! After we run through each product, I’ll give you my personal take—Would I buy it, or would I skip it? No fluff, just my honest opinion. Let’s get into it!
Watch the video version: I Tried 20 Best Wireless Routers - These Are The Only Ones Worth Buying!
Asus RT-BE96U
This beast of a router blew me away with its blazing-fast Wi-Fi 7 speeds, reaching up to 1.94 Gbps at close range. I love the robust security features like AiProtection, which keeps your network safe without any extra subscription costs. The range is impressive too, maintaining strong signals even at 75 feet. While it’s a bit pricey at $699, the performance and features make it worth every penny for tech enthusiasts and power users.
Would I buy it?
Yes. It’s the complete package with top-tier performance, excellent range, and built-in security, making it a solid investment for future-proofing your home network.
TP-Link Archer BE800
This router caught my eye with its unique V-Fold design and cool LED display showing time and weather. It delivers impressive Wi-Fi 7 speeds, hitting 1.8 Gbps at close range. The six Multi-Gig ports are a nice touch, giving you plenty of high-speed wired options. At $599, it’s slightly more affordable than some competitors without sacrificing performance.
Would I buy it?
Yes. It offers great performance, a stylish design, and a good balance of features at a slightly lower price point than some rivals.
Netgear Nighthawk RS700S
This router looks like something out of a sci-fi movie with its monolithic design. It boasts impressive theoretical speeds across all bands, including up to 11.5 Gbps on the 6 GHz band. The 10 Gbps ports are great for future-proofing, but I wish it had more than just two Multi-Gig ports. While it performs well, especially at mid-range distances, it doesn’t quite stand out enough from the competition to justify its $699 price tag.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. It’s a solid performer with some nice features, but the limited Multi-Gig ports and high price make me hesitate when compared to other options.
Netgear Orbi RBE973
This mesh system is an absolute powerhouse, delivering over 2 Gbps speeds at close range. The quad-band design with a dedicated backhaul is brilliant for maintaining fast speeds throughout your home. I love the abundance of Multi-Gig ports on both the router and satellites. However, the eye-watering price of $1,699 for a two-pack might make your wallet cry.
Would I buy it?
Yes. If you have a large home and want the absolute best mesh performance with Wi-Fi 7, this is the system to get – provided you can stomach the premium price.
TP-Link Archer GE800
This Wi-Fi 7 gaming router is a beast, delivering blazing-fast speeds and excellent coverage. Its unique design with LED lighting adds a cool factor to your setup, and the dedicated gaming port ensures prioritized traffic for your gaming devices. With multiple high-speed networking ports, including 10Gbps options, it’s future-proofed for even the fastest internet connections. The GE800’s performance is impressive, with strong 2.4GHz and 5GHz throughput, making it a top choice for gamers and power users alike.
Would I buy it?
Yes. The combination of cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 technology, gaming-focused features, and robust performance make it a standout choice for those seeking the best wireless router experience.
Eero Max 7
Amazon’s first Wi-Fi 7 mesh system offers impressive coverage and easy setup, but it comes with some drawbacks. The Max 7 boasts full multi-gig ports and fast wired performance, which is great for those with high-speed internet. However, its real-world Wi-Fi throughputs are lower than expected, and the lack of a 6GHz band for clients is disappointing. The mobile app interface is cluttered with subscription nags, and the system lacks customization options for power users.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. While it offers solid performance and easy management, the high price and limited customization might not justify the investment for everyone.
TP-Link Deco BE85
This tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh system is a powerhouse, capable of delivering mind-blowing speeds and coverage. The BE85 outperforms many competitors in range tests, maintaining high speeds even at longer distances. Its 10Gbps ports are a nice touch for future-proofing, but the lack of a USB port is a minor letdown. One potential issue is the noisy fan in the satellites, which can be annoying in quiet environments.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. The Deco BE85 offers incredible performance and features, but the fan noise and high price point might give some users pause.
Linksys Velop Pro 7
This Wi-Fi 7 mesh system aims to bring next-gen speeds at a more affordable price point, but it falls short in some areas. The Velop Pro 7 offers good coverage and tri-band connectivity, but its top speeds are lower compared to pricier competitors. The setup process can be cumbersome, and some features like parental controls are still in beta. While it’s more budget-friendly than other Wi-Fi 7 systems, the compromises in performance and features are noticeable.
Would I buy it?
No. Despite its lower price, the Velop Pro 7’s performance and feature set don’t quite justify the investment when compared to other Wi-Fi 7 options or even high-end Wi-Fi 6E systems.
TP-Link Archer AX55
This Wi-Fi 6 router packs a punch with its dual-band setup, delivering speeds up to 2402Mbps on the 5GHz band. I love how it supports 160MHz channel bandwidth, giving you that extra boost for bandwidth-hungry activities. The four gigabit LAN ports and USB 3.0 connector are great for connecting multiple devices and sharing files across your network. Its performance is impressive, rivaling some higher-end AX3000 routers in my tests.
Would I buy it?
Yes, because it offers excellent value for money with its strong performance and feature set, making it a solid choice for most home users.
TP-Link Archer AX10
This budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6 router offers decent performance for its price point, with speeds up to 1.2Gbps on the 5GHz band. However, I found its lack of support for 160MHz channel bandwidth and DFS to be limiting factors. The router’s range is adequate for smaller homes, but you might need to add a range extender for larger spaces. On the plus side, it does support OneMesh technology, allowing you to create a mesh network with compatible TP-Link extenders.
Would I buy it?
No, because while it’s a decent budget option, there are better performing routers available for not much more money, like the AX55, which offer more features and better speeds.
Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8
This tri-band mesh system is a powerhouse, offering up to 6600Mbps of combined Wi-Fi bandwidth. I’m impressed by its dedicated 4804Mbps wireless backhaul, which ensures strong connections between nodes even through walls. The system’s coverage is excellent, and I love that each unit comes with three LAN ports and a 2.5G WAN port. Its performance is top-notch, delivering near-gigabit speeds even at a distance.
Would I buy it?
Yes, because it offers exceptional performance, great coverage, and versatile connectivity options, making it an excellent choice for larger homes or those with demanding networking needs.
TP-Link Deco X20
This Wi-Fi 6 mesh system offers impressive performance for its price point, delivering consistent speeds throughout my home. The setup process is a breeze, and the app provides easy network management. While it’s not the fastest mesh router out there, it strikes a great balance between value and coverage, especially for larger homes. The built-in security features and Zigbee smart home hub are nice bonuses, though some users might find the data collection policies a bit intrusive.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. It’s a solid choice for budget-conscious users who want Wi-Fi 6, but there are faster options available if you’re willing to spend more.
Eero 6
The Eero 6 is known for its user-friendly setup and management through the mobile app, but its performance leaves something to be desired. In my tests, I found that it struggled with maintaining consistent speeds, especially when devices were connected to the mesh points rather than the main router. While it offers some smart home features and integrates well with Alexa, the lack of advanced networking options might frustrate power users. The system’s tendency to route connections through the wrong extender can lead to frustrating slowdowns.
Would I buy it?
No. Despite its ease of use, there are better performing mesh systems available at similar price points.
Google Nest Wifi Pro
This sleek Wi-Fi 6E system impressed me with its near-gigabit speeds at close range and its ability to fill my entire home with a strong signal. The integration with Google Home and support for the Matter smart home standard make it a great choice for those invested in the Google ecosystem. While the lack of ethernet ports on the satellites is disappointing, the overall performance and ease of use more than make up for it. The inclusion of the 6GHz band future-proofs your network, though current devices may not fully utilize it yet.
Would I buy it?
Yes. Its combination of performance, smart home features, and user-friendly setup make it a top choice for most homes.
Netgear Orbi RBK753
This tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system delivers exceptional coverage and speed, easily handling my 3,500 square foot home with no dead zones. The dedicated backhaul channel ensures consistent performance even when multiple devices are connected. While it’s on the pricier side, the reliability and performance justify the cost for those who need top-tier Wi-Fi. The setup process is straightforward, and the system seamlessly integrates with existing Orbi networks.
Would I buy it?
Yes. If you have a large home and demand the best performance, the Orbi RBK753 is worth the investment.
TP-Link Deco XE75
This Wi-Fi 6E mesh system punches above its weight for the price, offering built-in security and impressive performance. In real-world testing, it managed to push 1.220Gbps to the receiving system 15-feet away, showing the potential of 6GHz data transmissions at short range. However, it only has three LAN ports and can’t work with 2.5- or 5Gbps inputs, which might be a drawback for some users. The LAN speed seems to be an issue, with tests showing only 68.4Mbps download and 56.1Mbps upload, making it less viable for wired connections.
Would I buy it?
No. While it offers good wireless performance, the limited Ethernet options and LAN speed issues make it less suitable as an all-rounder for those who need both strong wireless and wired connections.
Asus ROG Rapture GT6
This Wi-Fi 6 mesh router backs its gaming aesthetic with top-tier network performance, outperforming other mesh routers like Orbi, Deco, Eero, and Nest by a significant margin. It supports full-width, 160MHz channels and UNII-4 spectra at 5.9GHz, enabling efficient data transfer and maintaining fast speeds even in large, high-traffic environments. The router’s high-speed capabilities are supported by a 2.5Gbps WAN port, perfect for those with multi-gig internet plans. However, it has a single 2.5Gbps WAN-only port and slow network storage performance when hosting a USB portable drive.
Would I buy it?
No. Despite its excellent Wi-Fi performance and gaming features, the single high-speed port and storage performance issues might not justify its price for users who need more versatile connectivity options.
Thanks for watching, I hope this video helped you pick the wireless routers for you. If you have any questions, drop a comment below. Links to all of these products mentioned in this video will be in the description.
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