You could be paying for one of the fastest broadband packages in the country, but if you’re using an old router, there’s a good chance that your Wi-Fi speeds will be restricted. This is why it’s so important to buy one of the best routers available.
Knowing which router to buy can be a difficult task with so much jargon to wade through. So we’ve decided to help out, with our team of experts reviewing the latest and greatest routers, and then rounding up the highest scoring options in this guide.
Every router featured in this guide has been fully reviewed, as we use standardised tests to evaluate performance speeds from a range of proximities. We also make sure to test other factors such as parental settings, design, and any additional features.
Wi-Fi 7 is the hot topic in the router world, so we’re in the process of reviewing the latest batch. That said, we’ve already reviewed a couple of excellent Wi-Fi 7 routers that you can check out below. If you’re looking for something cheaper, we also have plenty of older routers listed, while you can also check out our best Wi-Fi extender list instead.
Best Router at a glance
- Fastest Wi-Fi 7 router: Netgear Nighthawk RS700 – check price
- Fastest Wi-Fi 7 mesh system: Eero Max 7 – check price
- Fastest Wi-Fi 6E mesh system: Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System – check price
- Best value mesh system: Linksys Atlas Pro 6 – check price
- Best router for small homes: Asus RT-AX59U Extendable Router – check price
- Best value tri-band router: TP-Link Archer AX90 – check price
- Best router for 5G support: Netgear Orbi 5G Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System – check price
- Best gaming router: Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE1600 – check price
How we test
We test every wireless router we review thoroughly over an extended period of time.
We use consistent testing conditions to determine the highest speed for every available band, while also noting down the performance at various ranges.
We also make sure to test all of the available features, including security and parental controls.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
- Extremely fast
- 6GHz beats Gigabit Ethernet
- Smart security features
- Expensive
- Good price
- Tri-band system
- Solid performance
- Some features need a subscription
- Most bandwidth is in one network
- Supports 5G
- Excellent parental controls and security
- Reliable Wi-Fi speeds
- Faster Orbi Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems available
- Fast
- Wall mountable
- Can be used in a mesh
- Not ideal for larger homes
- Very fast
- Includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Excellent gaming and parental control
- Expensive
- Extremely fast
- Easy to use
- Lots of high-speed Ethernet ports
- Expensive
- No web interface
- Exceptionally fast
- Useful app and services
- Good range of ports
- Expensive
Netgear Nighthawk RS700
Fastest Wi-Fi 7 router
Pros
- Exceptionally fast
- Useful app and services
- Good range of ports
Cons
- Expensive
The Netgear Nighthawk RS700 is the fastest router we’ve ever tested, with the new Wi-Fi 7 standard giving it a huge speed boost compared to older options. On a single channel, it’s capable of blazing fast speeds up to 11.5Gbit/s.
According to our own performance tests, it blew the competition out of the water, achieving a 2328.10Mbit/s at close range (2 metres) and 1999.33Mbit/s at mid-range (5 metres). It even outperformed the new Eero Max 7 at these distances, although the Eero did pull ahead when we increased the distance to the second floor.
The Netgear Nighthawk RS700 is best suited to cover small areas (such as a flat), offering some of the best speeds we’ve ever seen. There is a big caveat here, as you’ll need a Wi-Fi 7 device in order to unlock these speeds, which is currently only possible in the latest phones and laptops. But the router is backwards compatible, and proves to be an excellent choice for future-proofing your wireless network for the years to come.
The biggest stumbling block is the price, coming in at £799.99/$699.99. If you’re happy to compromise on performance, there are far better value routers available. But if you want the fastest Wi-Fi speeds possible, the Netgear Nighthawk RS700 is the best router you can buy.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Netgear Nighthawk RS700 Review
Eero Max 7
Fastest Wi-Fi 7 mesh system
Pros
- Extremely fast
- Easy to use
- Lots of high-speed Ethernet ports
Cons
- Expensive
- No web interface
The Eero Max 7 is the fastest mesh system we have ever reviewed, mostly thanks to its support for the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 wireless standard. Our tests showed it to run at a blazing-fast 160MHz on the 5GHz band and 320MHz on the 6GHz band – that’s serious speed.
The jump to Wi-Fi 7 also allows you to make use of Multi-Link Operation, which enables a single device to stream data using a combination of the 5GHz and 6GHz bands at the same time. This will prioritise the Wi-Fi for that device, making it both faster and more stable, which could be really useful for gaming.
The greatest problem here is that you’ll need Wi-Fi 7 devices in order to benefit from these features. Most laptops and smartphones don’t support this standard just yet, so the Eero Max 7 is best thought of as a router that will future-proof your wireless network for years to come rather than providing immediate benefits.
That does admittedly make the steep price harder to swallow, especially as there are plenty of other fantastic routers that support the Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E standards at more affordable prices. But if you want to make sure all of your future devices have the best Wi-Fi connections possible, and need a mesh system to cover a large home, then the Eero Max 7 is the way to go.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Eero Max 7 Review
Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System
Fastest Wi-Fi 6E mesh system
Pros
- Extremely fast
- 6GHz beats Gigabit Ethernet
- Smart security features
Cons
- Expensive
If you can’t justify spending a lot of money on a Wi-Fi 7 router, especially since most devices don’t support the wireless standard just yet, then the Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E is the best mesh system alternative you can buy today. It comes with two satellites so you can ensure you get great coverage throughout your home, while our tests showed it to be among the fastest mesh systems we’ve ever reviewed, especially at a 10-metre range.
Support for Wi-Fi 6E means it’s compatible with one of the latest Wi-Fi standards, just behind the new Wi-Fi 7, while the 6GHz band delivers faster-than-wired speeds. This is also a quad-band system, allowing you to have multiple devices connected to the router simultaneously without seeing a significant slowdown in download speeds.
We were also impressed by the number of features on this router, including built-in parental controls, as well as optional cyber security software if you pay for a subscription.
It’s hard to find any flaws with this mesh system, although it is frightfully expensive. But if you want the absolute best Wi-Fi 6E speeds, this is the best router or mesh system you can buy.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System Review
Linksys Atlas Pro 6
Best value mesh system
Pros
- Great value
- Very fast
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Basic features
The Linksys Atlas Pro 6 is the best value mesh system we’ve tested so far, capable of spreading Wi-Fi coverage throughout your entire home. It’s available in packs of one, two or three, allowing you to scale up or down depending on the size of your house.
The dual-band router achieved very impressive speeds in our performance tests, even when 10 metres away from your device. It bested the Eero 6 Plus, which was our previous ‘best value mesh system’ champ, and even rivalled some tri-band routers that had a far steeper price point.
Wi-Fi 6 is supported, which isn’t quite the latest standard (Wi-Fi 7) but still ensures you’re making the most of modern devices such as the PS5, Xbox Series X and smartphones/laptops launched in 2022.
The main weak point of the Atlas Pro 6 router is the lack of features and custom settings, with even the likes of parental controls being limited. If you do like to tinker, then we’d recommend the Eero 6 Plus instead. But the Atlas Pro 6 will certainly still appeal to those who just want a simple, hassle-free mesh system with blazing fast speeds.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Linksys Atlas Pro 6 Review
Asus RT-AX59U Extendable Router
Best entry-level router for small homes
Pros
- Fast
- Wall mountable
- Can be used in a mesh
Cons
- Not ideal for larger homes
If you live in a small home, such as a flat, where there’s no need for a mesh system to maximise coverage, then we recommend the Asus RT-AX59U Extendable Router.
With Wi-Fi 6 support, our test results showed it to offer a superb performance, leapfrogging those that cost twice as much. But with just two bands, the router can struggle with homes that have dozens of devices trying to connect to the internet at once.
Those with small homes should see a big improvement on their default router though. And if you already own an Asus router with AIMesh upgrade, the Asus RT-AX59U can alternatively be used to extend an existing mesh system.
Best of all, the Asus RT-AX59U is very affordable compared to the competition, and so is a no-brainer option for those in small homes that was a serious speed boost for their Wi-Fi connection.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Asus RT-AX59U Extendable Router Review
TP-Link Archer AX90
Best value tri-band
Pros
- Good price
- Tri-band system
- Solid performance
Cons
- Some features need a subscription
- Most bandwidth is in one network
The TP-Link Archer AX90 is a standalone router rather than a mesh system, which means it’s best suited for those in a smallish home where fast and consistent internet speeds are more important than coverage.
This is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router, which means it’s ideal for homes with many devices that require access to the internet. Our tests showed the 5GHz channel to be particularly speedy, offering comparable results to dedicated gaming routers such as the Netgear Nighthawk XR1000.
The accompanying 2.4GHz bands weren’t as impressive due to the level of neighbouring interference, but are at least decent options for devices where rapid Wi-Fi speeds aren’t quite as important, leaving more bandwidth for the likes of consoles and PCs.
It also supports TP-Links’ OneMesh technology, allowing you to build a mesh network via compatible range extenders. That’s a decent option to consider, but the TP-Link Archer AX90 arguably represents better value for those who just need a standalone router with a solid Wi-Fi connection for multiple devices.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: TP-Link Archer AX90 Review
Netgear Orbi 5G Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System (NBK752)
Best for 5G support
Pros
- Supports 5G
- Excellent parental controls and security
- Reliable Wi-Fi speeds
Cons
- Faster Orbi Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems available
It can be an absolute nightmare when the Wi-Fi goes down unexpectedly, especially if you’re working from home and have an important business meeting. The Netgear Orbi 5G Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System (NBK752) looks to free us from such pain by featuring support for 5G.
By slipping in a 5G (or 4G) Sim card into the router, it will revert to the cellular network as a backup if the Wi-Fi ever goes down. This ensures peace of mind that you’ll stay connected to the internet, even if BT or Virgin lets you down unexpectedly.
This Orbi can be purchased with either one or two satellites while offering tri-band Wi-Fi 6 that our performance tests showed to be both speedy and reliable. 5G speeds will of course depend on the signal available in your area.
We thought the parental controls and security features were excellent too, while the smartphone app can be used like a remote control for hassle-free tweaks.
However, you can find faster Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems elsewhere, such as the Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E, so this is only worth considering if you reckon the 5G backup network will be an invaluable feature.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Netgear Orbi 5G Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System (NBK752) Review
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE1600
Best gaming router
Pros
- Very fast
- Includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Excellent gaming and parental control
Cons
- Expensive
If you want a router primarily for online gaming, then there are a number of bespoke options. Our current favourite is the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE1600, which offers a blazing fast performance while also supporting the 6GHz band via the Wi-Fi 6E standard.
It’s important to note that this is a standalone router, and so doesn’t come with additional satellites to help spread coverage throughout large homes. But this is still one of the fastest routers we’ve ever tested, and could still manage breakneck speeds when 10 metres away from wireless devices.
We were really impressed with the various gaming-centric features when testing the Rapture GT-AXE1600. A Game Radar shows the user the current ping times of popular multiplayer games, while there are also parental controls that can help you prevent children from playing online past bedtime.
There are few better routers available for gaming, although given the high price, it’s worth checking out a mesh system if you care more about improving coverage for your home than high-speed gaming.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE1600 Review
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The Netgear Nighthawk RS700 is the faster router we’ve tested, and the Eero Max 7 is the fastest mesh system, although you’ll only unlock the full speed potential of both routers if you own devices that support the new Wi-Fi 7 standard.
A router can speed up your Wi-Fi and provide you with a consistent wireless performance. Although you will of course still be handicapped by the maximum speed of your internet plan.
A mesh system is essentially just a router that comes bundled with additional satellite devices. Each satellite uses the same wireless network, but improves the coverage of your Wi-Fi. This is a very good option for large homes, ensuring you have a great connection in every room.
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Specification comparison
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
