The 7 Best Gaming Routers
Editor's Notes
January 20, 2021:
In terms of pure performance, the Netgear XR1000 and Netgear RAX70 are basically at the top of the list, but they're so expensive and so high-powered that most users don't need to make the huge investment. The Asus AX5700 and Asus RT-AX92U offer better balances of price and performance, and the Asus RT-AX68U even more so, thanks to its 3 by 3 connectivity. If you need to cover a large space, the TP-Link Deco X20 is one of the best mesh systems for doing so, and for something with such a long range, it's not terribly expensive.
November 16, 2018:
So, just when we got the hang of memorizing a bunch of seemingly random numbers and letters, the people in charge of the internet (hah) decided to change the most common wireless designations from 802.11-whatever into the infinitely easier-to-remember Wi-Fi 4, 5, and 6. WELCOME TO THE FUTURE, BOYS AND GIRLS! Seriously though, if you need a router to drive your Vive headset and TPCast adapter (Oculus owners should wait for version 2 of their TPCast), stop reading right now and go purchase the Asus RT-AX88U or NetGear AX8. Those are the only two available with "The 802.11 Formerly Known as AX," AKA Wi-Fi 6, which is poised to make multi-gigabit WLAN performance a reality across entire homes. If you are a tinkerer, or one of those geniuses known as Linux enthusiasts, the As-Rock G10 is almost certainly your choice, with a perfectly functional DD-WRT firmware flash already available, despite the unit's young age. It's also perfect for unifying your entire Internet-of-Things army of DIY machines. If there are any little tykes gaming, the Gryphon is a cutting-edge unit with unparalleled hardware inside, and almost unmatched configuration options — you can block entire games and time blocks with the parental controls. Finally, the XR700 will be particularly useful if Intel's WiGig technology actually starts to go anywhere.