Best Wi-Fi 6 routers 2021

The best Wi-Fi 6 routers get us closer to multi-gigabit 5G speeds at home. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) has arrived and promises to push Wi-Fi speeds up to 2.4Gbps per device to provide a better experience and more extensive coverage at home. Not only that, but most of these routers come with great software, including parental controls, to make your life easier. The new Wi-Fi standard is becoming increasingly common in phones and laptops. So now is the right time to invest in one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market.

What are the best Wi-Fi 6 routers?

The TP-Link Archer AX90 is a great balance for most people, whether you’re a gamer looking for a fast and stable connection or just want something that provides consistent coverage. OneMesh is included for easy expansion, and HomeShield keeps your connection secure. The AX6600 connection is perfect for families or streamers with plenty of capacity for dozens of devices.

The second best option is the Linksys MAX-STREAM Mesh Router, which is for people who don’t necessarily need a mesh solution right now but may want to expand their network in the future. Mesh router solutions pair multiple “nodes” together to increase signal quality and speeds throughout larger homes.

For a family with gamers, the TP-Link Archer GX90 is a great choice. With tri-band AX6600 speeds, a dedicated 5GHz band keeps gaming fast with plenty of capacity left over for streamers and social media enthusiasts. Furthermore, TP-Link has included a special Game Accelerator QoS setting alongside HomeCare security and advanced parental controls.

Bottom line: With a tri-band connection, 160MHz support, and 4×4 MU-MIMO, the Archer AX90 will keep up with a large number of connected devices without giving up speed. HomeCare QoS keeps devices connected to the best band, and eight antennas give it plenty of coverage for most homes.

• Top speeds: AX6600, 4804Mbps + 1201Mbps @ 5Ghz Wi-Fi 6, and 574Mbps @2.4GHz
• Top features: Tri-band, 4x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1x 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN Ethernet port, 2x USB ports, OneMesh support, HomeCare software included

The TP-Link Archer AX90 is one of the first waves of fully Wi-Fi 6 tri-band routers, and it nails just about everything. This router features AX6600 speeds with a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 setup. Unlike some other tri-band WI-Fi 6 routers, every band is Wi-Fi 6. The rates break down to 4804Mbps on one 5GHz band thanks to a 160MHz channel, with the other 5GHz band delivering a steady 1201Mbps. The coverage 2.4GHz band comes in with 574Mbps.

On the back are three dedicated gigabit LAN ports with another WAN/LAN gigabit port. There’s also a 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN port, so you can connect your router to a high-speed network or join a speedy PC to the router with no compromises. The eight antennas provide plenty of coverage for even a large home, but if you need more, you can expand your wireless coverage with another TP-LInk OneMesh compatible extender.

Many dual-band routers are delivering speeds close to the speed of this router, but those won’t hold up as well in tricky conditions such as a densely populated apartment building or a home with a lot of interference. So instead, the AX90 can connect to your device on the fastest possible band, automatically keeping your network running smoothly.

TP-Link has also been making up a lot of ground in the software department with its solid HomeCare package. This includes improved security scanning for connected devices as well as reports to keep you up to date on network activity. HomeCare also comes with advanced parental controls that allow you to block specific content types. Finally, HomeCares’s QoS makes sure the devices that need it most get plenty of speed to eliminate buffering even on a crowded connection.

Bottom line: Linksys melds performance, size, and value with its new MR7350 mesh router. Great as a standalone and even better when joined together in a mesh setup, this is one of the best inexpensive Wi-Fi 6 routers you can buy.

• Top speeds: 1201Mbps @ 5Ghz, 574Mbps @ 2.4Ghz
• Top features: Dual-band, 1,700 sq ft. coverage, mesh-capable, 4x Ethernet ports, 1x USB ports, low profile

Linksys recently unveiled its budget entry into Wi-Fi 6 with the MR7350, with dual-band speeds up to AX1800. The dual-band connection drives speeds of 574Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1,201Mbps at 5GHz. It also has four Ethernet ports on the back as well as a USB 3.0 port. WPA 3 security is also included.

While it manages to cover up to 1,700 square feet on its own, it also works with any Linksys Velop mesh routers or even another MR7350 to add more coverage. This can be a great way to help your network grow with your needs or if you find any areas with a weak signal. It comes in an understated black housing with two antennas around the back.

Setup is simple thanks to the Linksys App, including remote access. It’s also where you can set up the included parental controls, and you’ll have access to Linksys’ 24/7 support to help you if you run into any issues. Finally, you can control Wi-Fi access with Alexa making it easy to stay in control of who’s online.

Bottom line: TP-Link has built a tremendous tri-band router with a design and software package designed to put gaming first. With tri-band capacity, this router dedicates a fast 5GHz band to game connections with another band for the rest of the family.

• Top speeds: 4804Mbps + 1201 @ 5Ghz, 574Mbps @ 2.4Ghz
• Top features: Tri-band, vast coverage with eight anetnnas, 2.5G WAN/LAN port, dual USB ports, Gaming QoS feature

The Archer GX90 from TP-Link is a reasonably simple AX6600 tri-band router at its core with software optimization to make it a great fit for a home that puts gaming first. Not only that but one of the 5GHz bands can be dedicated to gaming while another band serves the rest of the fast 5GHz devices. Wi-Fi speeds top out at 4804Mbps on the 5GHz gaming band, 1201Mbps on the remaining 5GHz band, and 574Mbps on the far-reaching 2.4GHz band.

What makes this router great for gamers is the software. A Game Accelerator QoS setting recognizes when a game is running and makes sure that those packets get through first. This setting can also set aside bandwidth for your console or PC. This setting can be disabled with a button in the TP-Link app when you need your speed back for work or downloads. The 2.5Gbps Ethernet port can also be configured as WAN or LAN, enabling a blazing fast internet connection or LAN device.

The Archer GX90 also passes the parent test with an affordable price for its speed, easy-to-use parental controls, and HomeCare security software included for free. With HomeCare and parental controls, parents can decide when it’s time for homework and when it’s time for lag-free gaming.

Bottom line: The Nighthawk RAX70 comes with plenty of speed at AX6600 with support for a ton of devices thanks to tri-band Wi-Fi and even 160MHz support. With the Nighthawk software backing it up, the RAX70 should offer more than enough performance for most people without breaking a sweat.

• Top speeds: Tri-band AX6600, 4.8Gbps + 1.2Gbps @ 5Ghz, 0.6Gbps @ 2.4Ghz
• Top features: 4x Ethernet ports, 1x USB 3.0 port, Link Aggregation for WAN and LAN, QoS by Application

Netgear was an early leader in Wi-Fi 6 thanks to its well-balanced specs and nice, modern designs. The Nighthawk keeps up this trend with great speeds and the proper selection of options for most homes. While faster options are available in the Nighthawk line, the RAX70 has a great rate at AX6600 with tri-band capabilities and a 160MHz wide 5GHz channel allowing for incredible speeds on supported devices. This is an excellent setup for most people.

Netgear packs its antennas into two wings on either side of the main router body. While this won’t be ideal for a vertically mounted network setup, it should still provide enough coverage for most large homes. Four Ethernet ports are available for devices around the back, with two capable of link aggregation. One of these LAN ports can also combine with the WAN port for link aggregation if you need more speed. It would have been nice to see a 2.5G port, but this won’t be an issue for years for most people.

Netgear keeps its software offering reasonably straightforward. The Nighthawk app allows for most adjustments people need with the more precise control available in a browser or PC. A Netgear Armor subscription is available if you wish to add additional security software to your router’s software. Netgear has also included support for its Smart Parental Controls, which offers a robust and polished experience with scheduling and filtering. These controls even work when your child’s device is on another connection, including LTE.

Netgear continues its spaceship-like design with the RAX70’s extended wings bringing the router’s total width to 13.66 inches with a height of 6.57 inches. Even so, with three antennas in each wing, it should provide great coverage in even large homes on its own. This is a very nicely balanced router that should suit most people.

Bottom line: If you want Wi-Fi 6 support for your devices but don’t want to spend too much — and don’t need the additional speed Wi-Fi 6 offers — the TP-Link Archer AX1500 is your best bet.

• Top speeds: 1200Mbps @ 5Ghz, 300Mbps @ 2.4Ghz
• Top features: Dual-band, Low power usage, 4x Ethernet ports, low profile

TP-Link offers the biggest bang for your buck with its entry-level Wi-Fi 6 routers. The Archer AX1500 can deliver speeds up to 1201Mbps at 5GHz and 300Mbps at 2.4GHz. While the speeds aren’t leaps and bounds over comparable Wi-Fi 5 routers, you do get the benefits of Wi-FI 6, including better coverage and support for more connected devices, thanks to MU-MIMO and OFDMA.

With four Ethernet ports, you don’t give up any usability either, but you do leave behind WPA 3 support for security. Still, with coverage for a small to medium home, Archer AX1500 is the cheapest way to get into Wi-Fi 6, and in the real world, the speeds should be adequate for most people.

The Archer AX1500 can be configured with the TP-Link Tether app. Once set up, you can control your network with Amazon Alexa, allowing you to quickly and easily control your network with your voice….