2019 brought us the arrival of Wi-Fi 6 and its promise of faster, more efficient Wi-Fi performance. Now, in 2020, the growing number of new, second-gen mesh router options is worth paying attention to as well -- particularly since so many of them are so much less expensive than the systems that came before them.
That means that folks looking for a router upgrade this year have a surplus of interesting new options to choose from. It's good timing, too. With most of us spending more time at home than ever during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a reliable internet connection has never been so critical.
Watch this: How to speed up your Wi-Fi
3:51
At any rate, we've got a growing list of new Wi-Fi routers to test out. We're still dutifully working through them (there are a lot), but we've already found plenty of great picks that are easy to recommend. Whether you're interested in gaming routers, mesh systems, Wi-Fi 6 routers -- or if you just want something decent that won't break the bank -- we're here to point you in the right direction. And watch this space, because we're expecting to see new Wi-Fi 6E routers capable of accessing newly opened bandwidth in the 6GHz band by the end of this year.
Expect regular updates to this post as we continue our tests on multiple devices. When we find a new router that merits strong consideration, we'll add it to this list with links back to our most recent test data.
Read more: Best high-speed internet providers in 2020
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest, fastest version of Wi-Fi, and we're expecting to see lots of new models that support it in 2020. And, if you want, you can upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 router from a budget router right now to get faster, more efficient Wi-Fi performance from connected devices that support the new standard (the iPhone SE and the Samsung Galaxy S20 are two high-profile examples, but the list is growing). Wi-Fi 6 is backward compatible, so your older devices will still be able to connect, too -- but your new wireless router won't do anything to speed them up.
All of which is to say that it's probably still too early for most of us to get a new Wi-Fi 6 router (and don't forget that you'll need a really, really fast internet connection in order to notice the difference in the first place).
That said, if you're looking to make the upgrade now, or if you need a new wireless router and you want something future-proofed for the next generation of devices, then go for the TP-Link Archer AX6000. It basically aced our performance tests, delivering the fastest top transfer speeds we've ever recorded, plus excellent range and low latency.
The AX6000 debuted at a price of $350, but it's currently down to $300, and we've seen it marked down as low as $270. It definitely isn't cheap even at that price, but if you can catch it on sale, it's a worthy way to upgrade to a robust Wi-Fi 6 network. Read more on CNET.
If you need a new wireless router that feels like an upgrade -- but you don't want to spend hundreds on it -- then make sure the D-Link DIR-867 is on your list. It impressed us with steady Wi-Fi speeds and decent features for the price when we first tested it out in 2018. After that, it held its own against top-of-the-line gaming routers when we tested it again in late 2019.
In fact, of all the routers we tested, the DIR-867 was the fastest on the 2.4GHz frequency band in both our top-speed tests and our real-world speed tests. This Wi-Fi router also held its own on the 5GHz band, beating out several routers that cost significantly more. It wasn't the best performer at range, so it's probably best suited for small homes and apartments, but you're still getting strong performance for the price at $115 or less.
That said, keep in mind that D-Link announced its new lineup of routers for 2020 at CES. They include Wi-Fi 6 models starting at $120 which should start to arrive in stores in the coming months -- we'll keep an eye out for those as they arrive and let you know if they're worth the extra cash over the DIR-867.
One last point: The DIR-867 is getting more difficult to find as availability on existing stock runs low. We're currently testing out a collection of budget-priced routers, including entry-level Wi-Fi 6 routers like the TP-Link Archer AX10 and the Linksys MR7350 -- once we've found a new top value pick, we'll update this recommendation. Read our D-Link DIR-867 review.
With fast wireless speeds, simple setup and helpful, easy-to-use app controls, Google Wifi was our top mesh router pick for the past three years. Its second-gen follow-up, Nest Wifi, is faster, more affordable mesh networking and just as easy to set up and use. Plus, the range-extending Points double as Google Assistant smart speakers now. That, coupled with a new design that comes in multiple colors, is aimed at getting you to keep these things out in the open, where they'll perform better.
It doesn't support Wi-Fi 6 (and Nest's range-extending satellite devices don't have Ethernet ports, which means you can't wire them back to the Wi-Fi router), but Nest Wifi does add in a couple of nice, current-gen upgrades, including support for new WPA3 security standards and also 4X4 MU-MIMO connections, which means that it can provide faster top speeds to devices that use multiple Wi-Fi antennas. All of that helps Nest's mesh router punch above its weight and outperform most other mesh routers with similar specs.
At $269 for a two-device setup capable of Wi-Fi coverage up to 3,800 square feet (a claim that checked out when we tested it in both a small home and the 5,800-square-foot CNET Smart Home), the dual band Nest Wifi is the most well-rounded mesh router on the market right now, and the first one I'd recommend.
But keep in mind that a new 3-piece Eero 6 mesh system from Amazon launches in November for $279. That one comes with one more satellite than Nest includes, and it adds support for Wi-Fi 6, too. If you don't have a preference between Google and Amazon, it might be worth waiting to see how that system does in our tests before you make a purchase. Read our Nest Wifi review.
It isn't as fully featured as systems like Nest Wifi, and the app controls you'll use to set everything up aren't nearly as slick -- but aside from that, the new, budget-friendly Netgear Orbi system stands out as a clear value pick in the mesh category. At just $150 for a two-device setup with the Wi-Fi router and a single range WiFi extender, it's about as inexpensive as a mesh network gets, and it kept up with both Nest and Eero in our speed tests. As of right now, it's on sale for even less -- just $130.
In fact, of those three systems, Netgear Orbi clocked in with the fastest average top speed at close range -- and when we put that range to the test at the CNET Smart Home, it edged those two Wi-Fi systems out once again. I even like the new design, with clever contours on top that vent out heat in style. Read our Netgear Orbi review.
Starting at $700 for the two-piece setup seen here, the Wi-Fi 6 version of the Netgear Orbi (which I call the Netgear Orbi 6) is far more expensive than the dual-band version listed above, but it's also a lot more powerful. With a second 5GHz band serving as a dedicated backhaul for system transmissions between the router and its satellites -- at full Wi-Fi 6 speeds, mind you -- the system managed to ace our performance tests.
To be exact, the system returned average speeds of 289Mbps when I spent a few days testing the speeds and signal strength in various rooms at my home, where I have a fiber internet plan of 300Mbps. That's a near perfect result, and one that no other mesh system I've tested has been able to match.
Is that sort of speedy performance worth $700? I think most will find better value with something less expensive -- and you've got a growing number of options to that effect hitting the market this year. Still, if you're buying right now and you just want the best mesh performance money can buy, this is the system to get. Read our Netgear Orbi 6 review.
It isn't quite as speedy as the Netgear Orbi 6, but the Asus ZenWiFi AX mesh router was close -- and at $450 for a two-pack, the price tag is a lot easier to swallow. For the money, you're getting just about everything you'd get with Netgear, including a multi-gig WAN port and a dedicated backhaul band to keep transmissions between the router and the satellite separate from your network traffic.
$450 is still a lot of money, but this easy-to-use Asus router system proved to be highly capable and reliable in our performance tests. That puts it right in the sweet spot for a future-proofed mesh router that feels every bit the part of a high-end upgrade. Read our Asus ZenWiFi AX review.
Gaming routers promise high performance and low latency for die-hard gamers, and it isn't uncommon to find them selling for $200 or even $300. At about $150, the Asus RT-AC86U dual-band router isn't inexpensive either, but it's a strong value relative to routers like those -- and this wireless router offers excellent performance, too.
Specifically, the RT-AC86U dual-band router registered the fastest average top speeds on the 5 GHz band of any Wi-Fi 5 router we tested. It was also the best gaming router in our latency tests, with lower average ping across dozens of speed tests than any other router we looked at. That includes fancier gaming routers that cost more and even a couple of Wi-Fi 6 models. Meanwhile, you'll control the wireless router using a terrific, full-featured app that offers lots of advanced network controls, including parental controls for your Wi-Fi network, and options for device prioritization.
That checks off all of the boxes that most people want from a good gaming router, and it gets you there at a price that isn't too painful for us to recommend. But keep in mind that Asus just released a new version of this router that adds in support for faster Wi-Fi 6 speeds at a cost of $250. We're still in the process of testing it out, but I've published my initial speed test data and first impressions, and think it's definitely one to keep an eye on. When we finish our tests, I'll update this space to let you know if it's a better pick than the less expensive Wi-Fi 5 version listed here, but early indications are very promising. Read more on CNET.
More gaming PC and Wi-Fi guides
from CNET https://ift.tt/3n4DxSg
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment