In a world of smart homes and devices that are always connected, it’s important to have a solid, reliable wireless router. Because there are so many of these computer accessories, it might be hard to find the best wireless router on the market.
So, we went out and got our hands on the most popular models so we could narrow them down and give you a list of the top 5 wireless routers of 2019. During our testing, we looked at speed, performance at range, and cost. To get the full picture, we even looked at cutting-edge features like MU-MIMO and mesh Wi-Fi routers.
After spending dozens of hours testing a wide range of devices, we’ve decided that the TP-Link Archer A20 is the best wireless router of 2023 because of its lightning-fast speeds and wide range of features. Read on to learn more about this top-of-the-line router and our other four picks so you can stay connected to the internet and get the fastest speeds possible.
Top 5 Best Wireless Router Reviews
1. Linksys EA7500 Dual-Band Wi-Fi
With Multi-user MIMO and beamforming technology, the Linksys Max-Stream EA7500 router can connect a lot of devices to the internet quickly and without interruption. Even though it only covers 1,500 square feet, it can support high-bandwidth households and keep entertainment running smoothly all day.
The Linksys Max-Stream EA7500 router has up to 1.9 Gbps of dual-band Wi-Fi speed. In terms of speed, it might not be as good as some of our top picks. But it only works with a smaller number of devices within a shorter range. So, it can reach Gigabit speeds and support activities that use a lot of bandwidth, like video streaming and gaming, which means it can meet most home entertainment needs.
It is quick and easy to set up the Max-Stream router. You only need to plug it in and link it to your modem.
Pros:
- Up to 1.9 Gbps of fast, reliable Wi-Fi speeds
- Easy and painless to set up
- Easy to manage a network
Cons:
- Has a limited reach.
- Web-based setup often doesn’t work
- It can’t be changed or adjusted in more complex ways.
2. Netgear Orbi RBK23 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi
The RBK23 Wi-Fi system has a router with a speed of 2.2 Gbps, two satellites that cover 6,000 sq. ft., protection against advanced threats, and smart parental controls. It’s the best option for people who want more control over their home network.
Each of the three parts of the RBK23 home network is only 1.05 pounds and measures 5.6 by 2.4 by 6.6 inches. The last time they were made, they were bigger. They don’t have as many Ethernet ports because they are smaller. Since the router only has one port and each satellite has two, you have fewer chances to set up wired connections.
Using the app, the Orbi Wi-Fi system can be set up and changed in just a few minutes. It has one 2.4 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands that can reach speeds of up to 2200 Mbps. This makes it one of the most powerful and stable tri-band systems on our list. But its software doesn’t get updated as often as Eero’s does, so it’s our second favourite. It also doesn’t work with Wi-Fi 6.
Update: The NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Tri–Band Mesh Wi–Fi 6 System with 1 satellite extender is now available. This Wi-Fi 6 router can cover up to 5,000 square feet and can be made to cover an extra 2,500 square feet. It can connect up to 60 devices at the same time. It works with both old and new Wi-Fi devices, such as the Galaxy Note 10, iPhone 11, and Galaxy S10.
Pros:
- 2.2 Gbps speed
- up to 20 devices can be used.
- Simple to install and set up
Cons:
- Some users have had trouble setting up the time for parental controls
- Has software problems
- Expensive
3. TP-Link Deco Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi
The TP-Link Deco Mesh System supports AC1200 Wi-Fi speeds, advanced WPA/WP2 wireless encryption, and strong parental controls. This makes your home network safer and faster. This Mesh Wi-Fi system can connect up to 100 devices, making it a great choice for smart homes with big families and a lot of people who like to have people over.
There are three Deco M4 devices that come with the TP-Link Wi-Fi System. Together, they can cover up to 5,500 square feet, making it easy and quick to move around your home. Compared to our top two choices, it can support more devices—up to 100, to be exact.
With strong parental controls, parents can limit each family member’s access to the internet and stop them from seeing certain online content. They can even turn off Wi-Fi on their kids’ devices when it’s time for dinner or bed. The Deco app can be used to run the whole network. Not only that, but it can be controlled by voice with Alexa, which makes it a great addition to smart homes. It doesn’t work with Wi-Fi 6, which is too bad.
Update: The newer TP-Link Deco Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Wi-Fi System is now available (Deco X20). With the AX1800 Wi-Fi 6, it covers up to 5800 Sq. Ft. and takes the place of Wi-Fi Routers and Wi-Fi extenders. This next-generation Wi-Fi 6 is strong enough to support up to 150 devices and gets rid of weak Wi-Fi for good.
Pros:
- Fast AC1200 speeds
- Easy and painless to set up
- Two-year warranty with technical support available 24/7
Cons:
- It doesn’t have a web interface.
- Doesn’t have offline management.
- Expensive
4. Eero Pro Mesh Wi-Fi
The Eero Pro Wi-Fi System has one powerful tri-band router and two flexible beacons with MU-MIMO and beamforming features to improve network performance. This bundle gives you high-speed, reliable Wi-Fi in more than 4,700 square feet of your home, which puts it in the middle of our list based on range alone.
The Eero Pro Home Wi-Fi bundle comes with a second-generation router with tri-band power that covers up to 1,750 sq. ft. on its own and an extra 5GHz radio, so your network can handle a lot of devices without slowing down. There are two Ethernet ports on the router that can be used to set up stable, fast wired connections.
The bundle that Eero has also has two beacons. There’s no need to install anything. To add up to 1,500 square feet of coverage, all you have to do is plug in a beacon. You can do everything with an app. It connects all Eero devices to each other automatically to make a mesh network. Eero also gives you world-class security by giving you one-time passwords through their app and only letting devices on your home network that are WPA2-compatible.
Update: There is a newer version of this product called the eero Pro 6 tri-band mesh Wi Fi 6 system. It covers up to 6,000 sq. ft. and has WiFi speeds of up to a gigabit. Wi-Fi 6 lets you connect more than 75 devices at once and gives you faster WiFi.
Pros:
- High-speed coverage for 4,700 square feet
- Simple to install and set up
- Coverage that is fast, reliable, and whole-house
Cons:
- iOS devices sometimes have trouble connecting.
- Protection from malware and parental control require a paid subscription.
- Beacons don’t work with Ethernet.
5. MeshForce Whole Home M3 Wi-Fi System Router
The MeshForce M3 system has 1200 Mbps dual-band Wi-Fi, Gigabit LAN ports, and advanced security. This makes it easy to connect to the internet wirelessly in an area of up to 4,000 sq. ft. The coverage is almost as good as our top pick, but the best thing about this mesh Wi-Fi system is that it’s easy to grow. This makes it a great choice for families that are growing.
The M3 Suite has one dual-band router and two wall-plug extenders that together cover more than 4,000 sq. ft. The range of the three-unit system is just 700 short of our top pick. But you can make the Wi-Fi system cover more area by adding six more extenders. It’s the option on our list that can grow the most. If you have a big house, this can get rid of dead spots and make it easier to move around.
The My Mesh app can be used to take care of MeshForce’s home network. From there, you can check your Wi-Fi status, wireless connections, and even get rid of unknown devices. Both iOS and Android phones and tablets can use the app.
Pros:
- Excellent configuration options
- Easy and painless to set up
- Coverage and performance were both phenomenal.
Cons:
- Bad customer service
- The app has the basics
- Expensive
