Top 10 Best Routers in 2019 Experience Hassle-Free Internet Browsing!ByVaidyanathan Subramaniam-November 25, 2019 “3/3.1339.jpg” It is no easy task to find the correct router. It’s not enough just to pick the cheapest option or the one available that sells the most. There are a few factors to keep in mind regardless of whether the router is wired or wireless. These include estimating the number of users who would use the router to prioritize bandwidth for games at the same time and the ability of streaming services to connect to network-attached storage (NAS) and smart devices at home, and of course future expansion options. Don’t worry we’re here to help as we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best routers you can buy right now. For your surfing pleasure, we have separated the wheat from the chaff and prepared a list of the best routers. So let’s see which routers have managed to make the cut without further ado.
1. Linksys Velop AX Wi-Fi 6 MX10
“3/3.1340.jpg” Features: Tri-band (2.4 + 5 + 5) Easy set-up Dynamic Backhaul 4 MU-MIMO 2.2 GHz quad-core CPU Wireless Protocols: 802.11ax Data Transfer Rate: 5.3 Gbps No. of Ethernet / USB Ports: 5/1 (1x USB 3.0) Dimensions (W x H x D): 4.5 x 9.6 x 4.5 in
Offer ‘ 3/3.1341.jpg ‘ The RAX80 is part of the same family that includes the RAX40 that has also been among our picks for the RAX120 and RAX200 best gaming routers. The RAX80 offers dual-bands for a maximum throughput of 6 Gbps with four streams each. The bands are individually configured but can not be combined for higher velocities. Wi-Fi 6 is backwards compatible with the current Wi-Fi standards, so that you can get this router and be assured of future proofing. However you need to have compatible client devices to actually use Wi-Fi 6 features. More and more devices will soon be compliant to Wi-Fi 6 in the near future. The Nighthawk AX8 sports a unique design that most conventional routers don’t typically have. The antennas are housed in wing-shaped, foldable fins when not in use. The antennas can not be removed or re-oriented themselves, but for the most part you should not have any problems with coverage or speeds. There are six Gigabit Ethernet ports on the back, and two USB 3.0 ports for hooking up network storage devices. Two of these Ethernet ports support connection aggregation that is useful to combine two ISP lines or to use high-speed NAS devices. The Nighthawk AX8 is extremely easy to set up and setup. Most users will find the Basic settings more than sufficient. If you feel some of your client devices are not playing well with the new standard, you can enable or disable the Wireless AX option. While the Basic settings page is very straightforward, the Advanced settings may make you feel a bit of a learning curve. Users can also directly control the AX8 from their smartphone, and use Amazon Alexa voice control to invoke several commands as well. The NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX80’s overall performance is very good and you won’t find much of a loss in speed even while moving away from the router or behind obstructions like walls. The Nighthawk AX8 is one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market and will serve existing as well as future wireless customers without much difficulty. Cons: Some client devices might not work in
3 Wi-Fi 6 mode. NETGEAR R9000 Nighthawk X10
Offer “3/3.1342.jpg” Features: Tri-band (2.4 + 5 + 60 GHz) Connects up to 45 simultaneous devices 1.7 GHz quad-core CPU MU-MIMO Works with Amazon Alexa Wireless Protocols: 802.11ad Data Transfer Rate: 7.2 Gbps No. of Ethernet / USB Ports: 7 + 1 10Gb SFP/ 2 (2x USB 3.0) Dimensions (W x H x D): 8.8 x 6.6 x 2.9 in With Ethernet The NETGEAR Nighthawk R9000 X10 still appears to be a great router with enough output to support the requested price. The R9000 comes with many features that power users will love, including a dedicated 60 GHz band and 160 MHz channel for minimal interference from other wireless networks, including MU-MIMO. The single feature of this router is the 60 Hz band. Although it has advantages in terms of speeds the customer devices also need to support the standard. Wireless AD also has problems penetrating surfaces and thus works best only with devices inside the same room. The R9000 is one of the very few that offers a 10Gb SPF port to hook up 10Gb fiber connections or a Network Access Storage (NAS) device that makes it one of the best streaming media routers using a Plex media server. You also get seven Gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB 3.0 ports in addition to the SPF port. For link aggregation two of these Ethernet ports may be combined. There are four antennas which provide good velocities and coverage. The R9000 is powered by a 1.7 GHz quad-core CPU which ensures zero bottlenecks even when transmitting heavy data. MU-MIMO coverage ensures that consumers get their fair share of bandwidth. As with all NETGEAR routers, you can receive the Genie app to set up your connections and tools. It is user friendly and offers plenty of functionality. The performance of the Nighthawk R9000 AX10 is excellent thanks to the dedicated wireless channels and the quick processing. Speed drops are not drastic when moving away from the router, and on expected lines. Those who use this router for network file transfers will find excellent speeds which make it ideal for streaming movies in the local cloud or taking backups. NETGEAR also offers the option of automatic backup of the Amazon cloud, together with an integrated Plex media server. While the applicability of wireless AD is questionable, the Nighthawk R9000 AX10 is not disappointing when considering its core functionality and is a good option for those wishing to obtain a few company-level features for home or small office use. Pros: Built-in Plex media server and Amazon cloud backup Cons: Not many wireless AD devices
No. of Ethernet / USB Ports: 9/2 (2x USB 3.0) Dimensions (W x H x D): 9.6 x 9.6 x 2.5 in $349.99?$31.03$318.96 The ASUS GT-AC5300 will definitely be considered by those who require great performance for gaming and other heavy duty networking. Also included among our picks was the AC5300 for the best ASUS routers, because it provides many features and efficiency for the price. The GT-AC5300 looks massive, and has eight antennas to ensure the best coverage and speed possible. When required, the antennas can be removed or modified something many routers forget these days. The AC5300 operates on three bands one 2.4 band and two 5 GHz bands, and provides a maximum theoretical 5.3 Gbps throughput. There are a total of nine LAN ports on the back and two of them can be aggregated for wired high-speed access network storage (NAS) applications. It also has two USB 3.0 ports. The router also supports MU-MIMO to assure good bandwidth to all customers. The GT-AC5300 belongs to the Republic of Gamers (ROG) family of ASUS so it carries many gamer-focused features including WTFast-powered private network gamers for connections to low ping game servers. VPN Fusion allows you to merge both your VPN and your regular internet connection for increased speed and privacy while GameBoost gives game consoles preferential preference. Besides these you are also getting good parental and bandwidth controls. All of these features can be accessed via the ROG Gaming Dashboard that has been built with gamers and power users specific needs in mind. The AC5300 does not disappoint at performance-wise. Speed drops with increasing distance are not too extreme and a pretty good coverage for the router. It has very poor performance over the network in file transfer checking. The efficiency of the 5 GHz band is however one of the best in the business. Alternatively you can add additional ASUS routers to build your own mesh network. Some problems have been documented due to the firmware and the fact that third-party firmware may need to be updated to exploit the router’s full performance. Most of those problems have been ironed out by making the ASUS ROG GT-AC5300 one of the market’s best gaming routers. Cons: Stock firmware problems
5. TP-Link Archer C5400X
Deal ‘ 3/3.1344.jpg ‘ Features: Tri-band (2.4 + 5 + 5) 8 MU-MIMO 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU Game First priority Link Airtime Fairness Works with Amazon Alexa Wireless Protocols: 802.11ac Data Transfer Rate: 5.4 Gbps No. Ethernet / USB Ports: 9/2 (2x USB 3.0) Dimensions (W x H x D): 9.5 x 9.5 x 2.2 in February The Archer C5400X is designed primarily for gamers, and has the same aesthetics to match. That said, this router also serves pro-users who need much greater control over their network. For increased speed and coverage the Archer C5400X comes with eight antennas. Such antennas are set in their orientation however, and can not be altered. The C5400 is powered by a 1.8 GHz quad-core Broadcom BCM4366 CPU with three additional cores to do all the heavy lifting. The C5400 as the name suggests has a maximum throughput of about 5.4 Gbps on the 2.4 GHz band with 1 Gbps and almost 4.4 Gbps on the two 5 GHz bands. There are a total of nine LAN ports behind, together with two USB 3.0 ports. In case you want to use a high-speed NAS, two of these Ethernet ports can be paired together for the link aggregation. TP-Link’s software includes a number of features such as parental controls intrusion prevention malicious content filter and compromised computer quarantine to ensure adequate care for the security aspect. It’s very easy to set up the Archer C5400X and you can use the Tether app for Android or iOS from TP-Link, or use your PC’s browser to do it the conventional way. The web UI offers parts for customizing different aspects of the router. You also get QoS settings and support for Amazon Alexa voice commands with a VPN server built in. The TP-Link Archer C5400 does not offer the 160 MHz channel as opposed to some of the other routers in this list. So you’re going to lose some features including decreased interference from other wireless devices but this shouldn’t be too much of a problem in daily usage. The integration with Alexa helps you monitor smart IoT devices such as lighting alarms or surveillance cameras. The pace and range of the Archer C5400’s are excellent. For limited dead spots, you get decent speeds without too much signal loss even far away from the router. Unless your home or office is more than 3500 square feet in area you wouldn’t need to use any Wi-Fi extendercheap router, but for the money you get a lot of functionality. That is one of the best routers available for security-conscious users and gamers.
Offer “3/3.1345.jpg” ASUS RT-AX88U AX6000 Features: dual-band (2.4 + 5) 4 antennas MU-MIMO 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU AiProtection Pro Adaptive QoS AiMesh wireless protocols: 802.11ax Cons: None as such
7. Ubiquity Unifi Security Gateway Pro
“3/3.1346.jpg” Features: 1U Size Rackmount Gigabit and Fiber Ports Secure offsite management and monitoring of 1 GHz dual-core CPU No. of Gigabit Ports: 4 RJ45 + 2 SFP Dimensions (W x H x D): 19.06 x 1.73 x 6.46 in $307.00 Ubiquity is a recognized brand for enterprise-class routers and the Unifi Security Ga. The USG-PRO-4 comes in a 1U rackmount form factor and provides both Gigabit Ethernet and Fiber connectivity options along with security and routing features ready for the enterprise. For network administrators, the UniFi controller app provides all features at a glance. Pros: Extensive configuration options Great for small business Cons: use of software requires knowledge of networking
8. Mikrotik RouterBOARD RB3011UIAS-RM
Mikrotik RouterBOARD RB3011UIAS-RM Features: 1U Scale Rackmount LCD panel serial console and PoE output ports1.4 GHz dual-core CPU RouterOS 1x USB 3.0 port No. of Gigabit Ports: 10 RJ45 Dimensions (W x H x D): 17.44 x 1.73 x 3.62 in $170.43 This router definitely provides everything you would expect from a gateway provided you are using the RouterBOARD RB30111UIAS-RM At the end of the day though the capabilities and price for its shortcomings are more than material. Pros: Good set of functions Affordable Cons: ReactOS needs prior training
9. TP-Link TL-R470 T to SafeStreamCheck out the TP-Link SafeStream TL-R470 T if you want to keep your budget under control and if your Internet speeds are around the 100 Mbps mark. While the SafeStream TP-Link is affordable for a SoHo setup, you would do your best to check the hardware version before purchasing. Versions above 2.x are the more advanced versions with a fail-over and port re-routing capability. This can be one of the best load balancers you can get for home use once you are sure of the hardware version. Remember, however, that you can’t connect multiple connections to one with this, but you can connect multiple connections from the same ISP and split the bandwidth across all connected devices. Pros: Can not cross multiple connections
Show “3/3.1349.jpg” Google Nest Wi-Fi Features: 2200 sq. dual-band (2.4 + 5). Parental controls 1.4 GHz quad-core CPU Bluetooth LE Wireless Protocols: 802.11ac No. of Ethernet / USB Ports: 2/2 Dimensions (W x H x D): 4.3 x 3.5 x 4.3 in $169.00?$9.01 $159.99 This year Google introduced a combination of Google Wi-Fi and Google Home smart speakers into a single product. Google Nest Wi-Fi is designed to be as user friendly and configurable as possible. Therefore don’t expect advanced features or specs found in this list in the likes of some of the other routers. The Google Nest Wi-Fi is basically a mesh network system and can be used in single or two-pack SKUs. A one-pack Nest Wi-Fi is capable of covering a wide area of around 2200 square feet which should be enough for most homes. Additional Nest systems can simply be added onto the main Nest Wi-Fi router for large spaces. While main Nest Wi-Fi is primarily a router, the smart speakers are actually the additional ‘ points ‘ range extenders. Since the Nest Wi-Fi Points support Google Home, Google Assistant can be directly invoked for all sorts of voice commands and play music or podcasts from anywhere in the building. The Point range extenders also have a 360-degree speaker and four microphones built into the far-field. The Nest Wi-Fi design is minimalist and won’t interfere with your interior decor. There is only one white LED indicating status of connection. Using the Google Home app that is available for both Android and iOS devices, setting up the Google Nest Wi-Fi requires The Nest Wi-Fi is an intelligent system capable of handling most of the setup process including automated online firmware updates. Even things like prioritizing the bandwidth are all controlled by machine learning based on your use through the cloud. While most home users will welcome this feature, those desirous of fine-grained control will be disappointed. Google Nest Wi-Fi output is pretty much the same as Google Wi-Fi’s previous generation and there aren’t many surprises. That said you might find the 5 GHz band performing better than the 2.4 GHz one. Simply invoke Google Assistant, you can even do a speed test of your network. The Wi-Fi in Google Nest is not for everybody. While it is ideal for those who need a dead-simple home networking solution or a combination of a smart speaker and a Wi-Fi router it may seem insufficient for those who want access to fine-grained networking controls or extremely high speeds. Having said that many other OEMs can take a cue from Google on how network setup can be simplified. Cons: Not suitable for advanced users Dear readers, who would all be considering buying today for our list of the best routers. If you have any further questions please feel free to post a comment below. We will make every effort to provide a timely response.Check out the TP-Link SafeStream TL-R470 T if you want to keep your budget under control and if your Internet speeds are around the 100 Mbps mark. While the SafeStream TP-Link is affordable for a SoHo setup, you would do your best to check the hardware version before purchasing. Versions above 2.x are the more advanced versions with a fail-over and port re-routing capability. This can be one of the best load balancers you can get for home use once you are sure of the hardware version. Remember, however, that you can’t connect multiple connections to one with this, but you can connect multiple connections from the same ISP and split the bandwidth across all connected devices. Pros: Can not cross multiple connections
Show “3/3.1349.jpg” Google Nest Wi-Fi Features: 2200 sq. dual-band (2.4 + 5). Parental controls 1.4 GHz quad-core CPU Bluetooth LE Wireless Protocols: 802.11ac No. of Ethernet / USB Ports: 2/2 Dimensions (W x H x D): 4.3 x 3.5 x 4.3 in $169.00?$9.01 $159.99 This year Google introduced a combination of Google Wi-Fi and Google Home smart speakers into a single product. Google Nest Wi-Fi is designed to be as user friendly and configurable as possible. Therefore don’t expect advanced features or specs found in this list in the likes of some of the other routers. The Google Nest Wi-Fi is basically a mesh network system and can be used in single or two-pack SKUs. A one-pack Nest Wi-Fi is capable of covering a wide area of around 2200 square feet which should be enough for most homes. Additional Nest systems can simply be added onto the main Nest Wi-Fi router for large spaces. While main Nest Wi-Fi is primarily a router, the smart speakers are actually the additional ‘ points ‘ range extenders. Since the Nest Wi-Fi Points support Google Home, Google Assistant can be directly invoked for all sorts of voice commands and play music or podcasts from anywhere in the building. The Point range extenders also have a 360-degree speaker and four microphones built into the far-field. The Nest Wi-Fi design is minimalist and won’t interfere with your interior decor. There is only one white LED indicating status of connection. Using the Google Home app that is available for both Android and iOS devices, setting up the Google Nest Wi-Fi requires The Nest Wi-Fi is an intelligent system capable of handling most of the setup process including automated online firmware updates. Even things like prioritizing the bandwidth are all controlled by machine learning based on your use through the cloud. While most home users will welcome this feature, those desirous of fine-grained control will be disappointed. Google Nest Wi-Fi output is pretty much the same as Google Wi-Fi’s previous generation and there aren’t many surprises. That said you might find the 5 GHz band performing better than the 2.4 GHz one. Simply invoke Google Assistant, you can even do a speed test of your network. The Wi-Fi in Google Nest is not for everybody. While it is ideal for those who need a dead-simple home networking solution or a combination of a smart speaker and a Wi-Fi router it may seem insufficient for those who want access to fine-grained networking controls or extremely high speeds. Having said that many other OEMs can take a cue from Google on how network setup can be simplified. Cons: Not suitable for advanced users Dear readers, who would all be considering buying today for our list of the best routers. If you have any further questions please feel free to post a comment below. We will make every effort to provide a timely response.