A router can make or break any online experience, but that’s especially true when gaming, which makes finding the best Wi-Fi routers extremely important. Online gaming requires a constant stream of data—both up and down the pipe—and any skip can mean missing a split second of action and losing the game or being booted from the game altogether.
The best gaming routers keep you connected throughout your gameplay sessions.
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That’s the draw of a router focusing specifically on gaming, notes Anshel Sag, principal analyst with Moor Insights and Strategy. “They usually push the envelope of what's possible with wired and wireless networking. Many tend to have faster onboard processors for traffic shaping and dynamic QoS features, as well as things like onboard VPN or custom DNS settings. Additionally, many of these routers are optimized for latency and performance and generally make great routers for non-gaming applications.”
The focus on QoS (shorthand for quality of service) means the router prioritizes gaming traffic over other network usage—useful if the router will be in a home with multiple users. This way, you can maintain a consistently fast connection while in the middle of an online campaign. Gaming routers also typically offer more ports for more wired connectivity, and they usually support MU-MIMO (multi-user, multi-input, multi-output), which ensures that even when you’re gaming, other devices can access the network without interrupting your connection.
Based on our research and experience, here are best gaming routers you can buy today.
The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro is a high-performance gaming router with its robust feature set, impressive port selection and eye-catching design. It features tri-band Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and its performance is excellent even though it doesn’t support Wi-Fi 6E, the latest and greatest Wi-Fi standard. With download speeds of up to 11Gbps, and 8 antennae jutting out from its base, this distinctive gaming router can ensure a strong connection to all the devices in your home—ensuring you don’t get interrupted during your gaming sessions.
This router boasts an extensive array of ports, including a dedicated 2.5Gbps LAN port and four Gigabit ethernet LAN ports. It also supports Asus RangeBoost Plus for improved signal range and coverage. And if you find you need even further reach, this model supports Asus’ AiMesh for adding additional compatible routers to create a mesh Wi-Fi network. If you want a great port selection, and don’t mind spending a reasonable amount without going overboard, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro is a capable gaming router that won’t break your wallet.
Pros:
Plenty of ports
Fast download speeds
Cons:
No Wi-Fi 6E
Honorable Mention: A High-Tech Option That Isn't Quite As Expensive
Best for: A fast, high-tech router with broad coverage.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a powerful Wi-Fi 6E router, capable of up to 10.8Gbps. It’s neither as fast nor as advanced as our top pick (which has for even better coverage and signal strength), but it is a strong pick that costs a little less than our top pick.
The Nighthawk RAXE500 has a sleek and modern design, with six high-performance antennas for robust coverage and signal strength throughout your home. It has four 1Gbps ethernet ports for connecting multiple wired devices, including consoles. It also has compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants, which allows you to control your network with voice commands.
The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 packs an enviable array of features. This quad-band router supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), which is capable of higher performance, lower latency and less interference than prior iterations of Wi-Fi. With a bandwidth of up to 16Gbps, you can get the most out of your internet service. The eight antennae dotted around this router provide excellent connectivity throughout your home, so no matter where you set up your gaming PC or console, you can get the best possible wireless connection. If you later realize you need more coverage in your home, you can expand this router’s reach by adding another Asus router that supports its AiMesh protocol.
It has dual 10Gbps LAN/WAN ports, alongside a 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN port and four 1Gbps ports. This wide selection makes it possible to have multiple ISPs, so you never have a moment of downtime. Or use the 10Gbps ports to connect a PC, server or network-attached storage device to maximize data transfers. It also has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 x 1 and one USB 2.0 port. Asus’ RangeBoost Plus improves Wi-Fi signal range, while its built-in Instant Guard provides a secure virtual private network (VPN) connection. The one downside: This router is among the most expensive you can buy.
Pros:
Integrated VPN
Fast speeds
Excellent port selection
Cons:
Expensive
Best Mesh Gaming Router
Excellent Performance, With Whole-Home Coverage
Amazon
Netgear Orbi 960 Series RBKE963
Range: 3,000 square feet per node | Band: 2.4GHz, 2x 5GHz, 6GHz | Speed: 10.8Gbps | LAN Ports: 2.5Gbps, 3x 1Gbps per node | Antennae: 12 | Standard: Wi-Fi 6E
Best for: Those who want a system that can cover their entire home with Wi-Fi connectivity.
If you’re looking for a great gaming router, but don’t want a single-unit router, then the Netgear Orbi 960 Series RBK963 is a great choice. This is a mesh Wi-Fi system, meaning that it supports multiple nodes for an expansive range that delivers Wi-Fi coverage to every potential dead zone. You can buy this mesh Wi-Fi system as a three-node bundle, or as a two-node bundle (which sells for $1,099). Individual satellites sell for $571, making the three pack a good deal. You can add up to six satellite nodes, which expands the wireless coverage to an impressive 21,000 square feet—enough for all but the biggest mansions out there.
The system supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11axe) for quad-band connectivity. The router has a 10Gbps WAN port, a 2.5Gbps LAN port for higher speed connections or a wired backhaul between nodes and three 1Gbps ports. Each satellite node has the same ports minus the WAN port—making for plenty of wired connections to cover all your devices, including PCs, storage and gaming consoles. While this system doesn’t have the traffic prioritization of many gaming routers, it has tons of bandwidth to handle traffic from multiple devices while gaming, and it has MU-MIMO support. The system integrates Netgear’s Armor security software, however the service costs extra after the included 30-day trial period. While this system is pricey, it looks stylish and neat, and will give you the best whole-home coverage.
The TP-Link Archer AX55 targets streaming households, but it has enough power and features for basic gaming needs, and it achieves this at a fraction of the price of other gaming routers on the market. This model has Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, which is more than enough for a good gaming experience, and it has speeds up to 3Gbps, which is adequate for most households. At this budget price, you get four 1Gbps LAN ports, but it lacks faster ports (like a 2.5Gbps port or a 10Gbps WAN port).
Higher-end gaming routers are capable of greater bandwidth, range and speeds—but if your gaming needs are less demanding, you won’t need the top-of-the-line specs of the pricier options. Nor will you miss how those more expensive models prioritize gaming traffic on your network. This router offers a solid connection for all but the most demanding situations, and for far less money than competing models.
Pros:
Inexpensive
Wi-Fi 6 connectivity
Cons:
Lacks advanced features of more expensive gaming routers
Unlike our budget pick, the TP-Link Archer GX90 is purpose built for gaming. From its design to its features If you’re looking for a great all-around router that’s built for gaming purpose, but comes at the price of a mainstream router, then look no further than the TP-Link Archer GX90. This router supports Wi-Fi 6, which is a relatively modern Wi-Fi standard, plus its throughput is 6,579 Mb/s—which should be enough for all the devices in a modern home.
It has four Gigabit ethernet ports and one 2.5Gbps upstream port, plus two USB Type-A ports (one at 5Gb/s, one at 450Mb/s). Its Game Accelerator feature automatically prioritizes game traffic, ensuring smooth gameplay. This router includes a free lifetime subscription to TP-Link HomeCare, which provides antivirus and parental controls. The similar, newer Archer AX10000 costs more at $350, but it doubles the number of Gigabit ethernet ports to eight, swaps that slow USB Type-A port for a 5Gb/s USB-C port and increases the throughput to 10,526 Mb/s.
What To Consider When Buying A Wi-Fi Gaming Router
If you’re shopping for a gaming router, these are the most important buying criteria to consider.
Speed
Router manufacturers like to tout how fast their routers to go, and indeed speed is important. But it’s also important to keep in mind that often, the speed manufacturers cite refers to the total bandwidth on offer by all the connections to a router, not one single connection. That speed also assumes you have an ideal connection from your internet service provider and an ideal environment in your home. A router that supports a higher bandwidth is helpful if you have a busy household with multiple gaming rigs, 4K TV streaming and more all happening at the same time.
At the least, pay attention to the Wi-Fi standard a router supports. Wi-Fi 6E expands on the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard, to embrace a third 6GHz band for less interference and wider capacity.
Range
Range refers to the area a Wi-Fi router can cover. Single-unit routers have a determined range, but mesh Wi-Fi systems support additional nodes that can extend the range in your home.
Bands
Wi-Fi routers support up to four bands. Single-band routers support the 2.4GHz band, whereas dual band routers support both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Tri-band routers add a 6GHz band, while quad-band routers add a second 5GHz band. Lower-frequency bands can cover larger ranges but aren’t as fast. The router connects to the best band automatically, to ensure you’re achieving the fastest speed possible with your device.
Ports
If you have a lot of wired devices in your home, look for a router with plenty of ports. Most routers have at least one or two 1Gbps ports, but some higher-end routers have 2.5Gbps and even 10Gbps ports.
Design
Routers come in all shapes and sizes, and the design can be important, too. Gaming routers often are large and distinctive, with their numerous antennae sticking up every which way. By contrast, everyday routers often have more stylish, lifestyle-compatible designs.
Price
Spend too little on a router may mean that you’re sacrificing features you need. But don’t spend for the sake of spending: You may pay more for features that make little sense for your needs.
Can Your Router Impact Your Gameplay?
In a word, yes. A router with fast connections, multiple bands and advanced features can make a vast difference for gaming. It can mean faster speeds, more reliable connections and less lag. If you’re serious about gaming, then investing in a high-quality router can be a smart move.
What Gaming Routers Do Pro Gamers Use?
Professional gamers look for the same features in a router as any other serious gamer—fast connection speeds, multiple bands, and advanced features. However, they also often prioritize performance over everything else, so routers specifically designed for gaming, such as the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000, may well be the best choice for them. That said, there’s no single router that all professional gamers use.
Are Expensive Routers Worth It?
It depends on what you need. If you have a small home and just a few devices, then a more modest router may be enough. But if you have a large home and lots of devices, then spending more money on a router with better features can make sense.
How We Chose The Best Gaming Routers
We combined research with hands-on testing and experience, and we spoke with product experts and industry leaders to help us determine the products that make the cut, and how those products stand apart from the competition.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted tech team strives to offer accurate and trustworthy product assessments that are the result of intensive research and hands-on testing. Our writers and editors have years of experience writing about a broad range of consumer electronics and have the background and expertise to help you make the best buying decisions possible.
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