
The Asus RT-AX86U is a jump in price over our pick as the best WiFi router, the TP-Link Archer AX50, but it also represents a significant step up in performance. And if you’re in need of networking equipment now, it might make sense to spend a little extra so you don’t have to buy another router in a few years. If you don’t currently have WiFi 6 devices, the benefits of this most recent wireless technology will not apply to you. Lower ping times: If you’re a gamer, this will be music to your ears as lower ping times mean less lag while playing fast-paced games.If you already have a bunch of these which directly connect to your WiFi network (such as Alexa and Google Assistant devices), or you’re interested in doing so in the future, a WiFi 6 router is better suited to handle the network demands. You may not think you’ll never have that many devices operating at once, but with the rise of the smart home, all of those connected bulbs, smart plugs, security cameras and voice assistant speakers all count as separate devices. Greater capacity for the number of connected devices: While existing WiFi networks can theoretically handle 250 devices connected at once, the truth is that it starts to lag when you have 25 devices operating simultaneously.WiFi 6 is designed to alleviate this, and as a result, you should encounter less interference and fewer dropouts with a WiFi 6 router. This is due to the fact that everyone is trying to hop on the same frequencies, which weren’t built to handle so many networks at once. More stable connections: If you live in a large apartment building where everyone has a router, you may have noticed that your internet will frequently cut out.

But there are other benefits as well, which include: What does this mean for you if you have a WiFi 6 router and devices? The most immediate benefit will be faster WiFi speeds, especially if you have a gigabit connection. The Arris SBR-AC3200P router and the Arris SBX-AC1200P extender will deliver similar Wi-Fi coverage for $100 less.With support from newer phones and laptops, we are quickly moving into the era of WiFi 6. Similar alternative: None for now, though more will be available soon. The Wi-Fi wireless speed is only fast enough for sharing internet access - not suitable for heavy local tasks such as file-sharing or backups - and can get progressively slower as each additional unit is added.
BEST ROUTER 2020 FOR HOME FULL
In order for a router to be this easy to use, it needs to be managed by the manufacturer 24-7, and that means you ultimately never have full control over your home network. Unfortunately, this level of convenience comes with both a financial cost (these routers are expensive) and possible risks in terms of privacy. You don't want to think about it - you just want to plug it in and binge-watch a new Netflix show. You just want something that's dead-easy to use.

Nothing wrong with that - not everybody can be an expert or have the time to learn everything. If you've been searching for the "Routers for dummies" book (which, by the way, doesn't exist) you belong here. Similar alternatives: Asus RT-AC68U, Linksys WRT1900ACs, D-Link DIR-879. Not future-proof in terms of Wi-Fi speed, thanks to AC1900 support.Web interface is bloated and slow, making it hard to configure advanced settings/features.Built-in support for a VPN server, OpenDNS parental controls.Fast network storage performance when hosting an external hard drive.Relatively easy to use with a mobile app for quick setup.
