The Best Wi-Fi 6E Routers of 2022

What to Look For in a Wi-Fi 6E Router in 2022

Wi-Fi 6E is a relatively new technology, so there aren’t as many available Wi-Fi 6E routers as there are Wi-Fi 6 routers. But even with this comparatively small pool of devices, there are some big differences to be seen. For example, there is a wide variation in the top speed available from these routers, with the fastest providing connection speeds as high as 4.8Gbps in optimal conditions.

If you’re at the moment utilizing a Wi-Fi 5 or earlier router, an improve to a 6E router will provide you with a noticeable bump in community pace. For anybody already utilizing Wi-Fi 6, the advantages of upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E are extra refined. You’ll be able to anticipate a extra dependable connection, higher latency, and fewer interference from different community customers, however provided that the gadgets you’re utilizing to attach are able to accessing the 6GHz band.

The listing of 6E-compatible gadgets is at the moment brief, however it’s prone to get for much longer over the subsequent 12 months. A number of flagship telephones from Google and Samsung already help Wi-Fi 6E, and it’s rumored the next iPhone will also be Wi-Fi 6E compatible. There are a number of Wi-Fi adapters out there that may add 6E capabilities to your PC, however it could be some time earlier than something apart from the most costly laptops can connect with it.

The 6GHz band that Wi-Fi 6E makes use of has a really large spectrum for bandwidth. Meaning extra “house” for alerts from different gadgets and fewer likelihood of interference, due to this fact offering you with a extra steady connection. On prime of that, there are at the moment far fewer gadgets utilizing the 6GHz frequency, so there’s additionally much less competing visitors.

It’s value remembering that the 6GHz band is de facto a further characteristic, and any Wi-Fi 6E router will even work completely effectively with gadgets that use Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5.

Protection can also be an vital component to have a look at. The 6GHz band makes use of a shorter wavelength than 5GHz, simply as 5GHz is shorter than 2.4GHz. This implies the sign doesn’t penetrate partitions and ceilings and has much less vary usually.

The precise protection vary will range, primarily based on the supplies your home is constructed from, amongst different issues. The upper the protection promised, the extra seemingly you may be to have a great connection in all areas of the home.

The capability of the Huge Space Community (WAN) port on the router may make an enormous distinction in the way it performs. The WAN port is the way you join the router to your Web supply, and the routers in our listing have WAN ports that vary from 1Gbps to 10Gbps. You probably have multi-gigabyte Web, ensuring you select a router that may make full use of that by way of the WAN port means you received’t have a pace bottleneck.

As talked about above, Wi-Fi 6E has not but been closely adopted by machine producers, so any good points you get from a 6E router could also be restricted for now. However if you wish to improve from an older router to one thing that’s going to be future-proof, a Wi-Fi 6E router goes to serve you effectively.

For many individuals, the factor that makes one router higher than one other shall be a quicker wi-fi community pace. All Wi-Fi 6E routers will provide you with the added stability and fewer interference the 6GHz band permits for, however not all of them can switch knowledge on the similar pace.

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 not solely excels when contemplating the pace at 6GHz but additionally offers spectacular speeds on the two.4 and 5GHz bands. It’s a router constructed to deal with your whole fashionable community necessities resembling streaming TV and flicks, a number of connections, on-line gaming, and dealing remotely.

As you may anticipate from a router that features the Republic of Gamers branding, the GT-AXE11000 isn’t any shrinking violet in relation to seems to be. It has a reasonably large footprint and makes its presence felt with the eight exterior antennas that stand proud round its edges. Add on the LED lighting, and it’s clear that this can be a router with a gaming aesthetic that was designed to be seen.

This router’s gaming credentials are additional enhanced by a number of options particular to taking part in on-line. These embody machine prioritization, and the flexibility to prioritize gaming visitors when taking part in. These are good additions in case you are shopping for the router as a gamer, however non-gamers can merely ignore them and benefit from the excessive Wi-Fi speeds.

Whereas the gamer-focused design and options won’t be for everybody, the speeds which it could obtain are. The 11000 within the router’s identify refers to its potential pace throughout the three bands of 11000Mbps, or 11Gbps to place it one other approach. It’s protected to say that it is going to be capable of deal with most dwelling web necessities.

The two.4GHz band can attain a most pace of 1148Mbps, and each the 5GHz and the 6GHz band have a most pace of 4804Mbps. That signifies that even your older Wi-Fi 5 and 6 gadgets can get nice outcomes from their connection to the router, though they received’t have the soundness good thing about the 6GHz band.

Protection is sweet, though you shouldn’t anticipate to see these knowledge switch speeds all around the home. The eight antennas assist to push the sign by way of partitions and ceilings, however in order for you extra full protection your best choice is a mesh router.

There may be loads of connectivity at your disposal, with 4 gigabyte LAN ports, a 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN port, and an additional 1Gbps WAN. There are additionally two USB 3.2 ports for connecting community gadgets resembling a network-attached storage (NAS) machine.

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 isn’t going to be for everybody, particularly those that need their router to mix in with the room reasonably than stand out. However these unbelievable speeds are exhausting to disregard, as are the gaming enhancements.

Greatest Wi-Fi 6E Router Total

When you aren’t certain that you’re able to spend 5 hundred {dollars} to dip your toe into the world of Wi-Fi 6E however nonetheless need to expertise the brand new expertise, the Linksys Hydra Pro 6E might be the reply. This succesful, low-key, and easy-to-use 6GHz router may be picked up for round half the value of most different Wi-Fi 6E routers, making it fairly exhausting to disregard.

The Hydra Professional 6E guarantees protection of as much as 2700 sq. ft, which isn’t the perfect out there, however nonetheless loads for the average-sized dwelling. When you want extra protection, the router is appropriate with the Linksys Velop mesh system and may be related to a number of extender gadgets. These should be bought individually, however it’s good to have the choice.

The broader 6GHz band permits for a lot of extra gadgets to be related at one time with out experiencing interference, and the Hydra Professional can deal with greater than 50 gadgets simply. Though there are different routers on our listing which might deal with extra concurrent connections, that’s fairly good for a router at this value.

The utmost speeds at 2.4GHz and 5GHz are good at 600Mbps and 1200Mbps respectively. These speeds received’t be breaking any data, however they’re according to different mid-range Wi-Fi 6E routers, and ought to be greater than sufficient for common family use.

The utmost achievable pace at 6GHz is a powerful 4800Mbps. That’s really similar to our top pick, the GT-AXE11000, in contrast to the two.4 and 5GHz speeds, the place our prime choose blows the MR7500 out of the water. It’s unlikely that you’ll expertise these most speeds until you’re sitting immediately subsequent to the router, however that’s the case with any 6E router.

Setup is simple by way of the Linksys app, which is on the market for iPhone and Android. You might be led by way of the method and the router may be up and working in a couple of minutes. It’s also possible to select to arrange the router in a related browser, however that is extra difficult and may take a while to determine in case you are not skilled with establishing networks.

When you’re frightened about seems to be, the Hydra Professional 6E may be very understated in comparison with other routers, making it straightforward to cover away in a nook.  By way of connectivity, on the again are 4 Gigabit LAN ports and a really welcome 5Gbps WAN port. There may be additionally a single USB 3.0 port for connecting a NAS or different community machine.

The Linksys MR7500 Hydra Professional 6E isn’t going to win any awards for uncooked pace, product design, or protection vary. However for anybody who desires to expertise Wi-Fi 6E with out breaking the financial institution, this router is a superb selection.

Greatest Funds Wi-Fi 6E Router

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 not solely seems to be distinctive—it additionally brings high-speed connections throughout all three frequency bands and some additional options that make it sensible for players.

The Wi-Fi 6 version of the Nighthawk has proved to be a best choice for anybody desirous to sport on-line with out drops in pace and connectivity. The RAXE500 mannequin solely improves on its predecessor with the addition of the 6GHz band and even larger web stability.

The Nighthawk seems to be like no different router that’s out there proper now, with two wing-like panels on the edges. These do serve a objective as they include a complete of eight inner antennas, every positioned in such a approach as to offer sturdy and dependable connections in any path. On the again panel are 5 ethernet ports, together with a 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN port. You’ll be able to hyperlink two of the gigabyte ports collectively to present a 2Gbps connection to a single machine.

The RAXE500 is an AXE11000 router, that means it has a mixed whole capability throughout all three bands of 10.8Gbps. That is damaged down as 1.2Gbps on the two.4GHz band, and 4.8Gbps on each the 5GHz and 6GHz bands. With 12-stream connectivity, you’ll be able to anticipate some actually quick and steady connections. That is excellent for gaming the place stability can imply the distinction between a win and a loss.

Protection of as much as 3500 sq. ft is one other nice characteristic of this router. That is greater than sufficient for even giant homes, with the optimized antennae serving to to make sure you will get a great connection wherever you’re.

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is far more than only a fairly face. In order for you each pace and stability in your on-line gaming periods, the Nighthawk is the way in which to go.

Greatest Wi-Fi 6E Router for Gaming

Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500

 

A uniquely-designed Wi-Fi 6E router that may present spectacular connection speeds for gaming and anything it’s essential do on-line.

If you wish to guarantee nice Wi-Fi speeds all around the home, significantly if that home is giant and constructed of brick or stone, a mesh wi-fi system is the way in which to go. That is much more true if you wish to expertise Wi-Fi 6E all around the home, as the broader 6GHz bandwidth can wrestle to move by way of partitions and ceilings. In the case of Wi-Fi 6E mesh programs, the Netgear Orbi RBKE963 is main the way in which.

This quad-band mesh system incorporates a hub and two satellites, which if appropriately positioned may give an enormous protection space of 9000sq.ft. You’ll be able to even add a third satellite, for about the value of a stand-alone router, that can prolong that protection to 12,000sq.ft.

Few dwelling customers will ever want this, however it’s spectacular nonetheless. The Orbi mesh could also be extra suited to a industrial surroundings, contemplating that you would be able to additionally join as much as 200 gadgets concurrently.

Not like most Wi-Fi 6E routers, that are tri-band, the Orbi is billed as a quad-band router. The additional band refers back to the devoted 5GHz Wi-Fi connection between the hub and satellites. This leaves the two.4, 5, and 6GHz bands fully free to be used by your gadgets, shedding not one of the bandwidth to the spine connection.

The principle hub of the Orbi options an unbelievable 10 Gigabit WAN port, in addition to a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port and three additional gigabit ports. Each satellites have the identical, simply with out the 10Gbps WAN port.

Surprisingly, there is no such thing as a USB port on both the hub or the satellites. Whereas it’s in all probability not a deal-breaker, it does imply that if you wish to join a NAS, you’ll have to dissipate one of many LAN ports.

The elements all have the identical smooth, fashionable design with no exterior antenna. The Orbi mesh is on the market in white and silver or black, with each variations that includes a discreet LED mild on the entrance that modifications coloration to point out connection standing.

The one actual draw back for many dwelling customers is the excessive value. At $1500, that is by far the most costly Wi-Fi 6E possibility on our listing. No three-node mesh that gives 6GHz connectivity shall be low-cost, and also you do get an enormous protection vary and blistering knowledge switch speeds. Even so, this shall be a big funding for most individuals.

However in case you can swallow the value, that is the perfect Wi-Fi 6E mesh system at the moment out there.

Greatest Mesh Wi-Fi 6E Router

Netgear Orbi RBKE963

 

A high-spec, quad-band mesh router that packs in some spectacular options to go together with its pretty giant price ticket.

Greatest Funds Mesh Wi-Fi 6E Router: ASUS ZenWiFi ET8

Whereas mesh wi-fi programs can hardly be described as “price range”, in case you’re searching for a community that doesn’t drain your checking account, the ASUS ZenWiFi ET8 is a superb buy.

It combines the wonderful speeds and low latency of Wi-Fi 6E, with as much as 5500 sq. ft of protection, sufficient for even giant houses. It manages to try this with only a hub and a single node. These are fully interchangeable, so every element can act because the hub or the node as wanted.

Setup is simple, with settings being mechanically synced to all nodes on the community. You have got full management over the naming of your community, and you’ll even assign separate SSIDs to every frequency band.

You’ll be able to handle every thing from the ZenWiFi AX app, together with the free AiProtection Pro community safety software program. AiProtection Professional options an Intrusion Prevention System, a URL blocker, and contaminated machine detection.

There are additionally some very helpful parental controls do you have to want them. These embody an Web exercise monitor, the flexibility to dam community entry to particular gadgets at scheduled occasions, and an easy-to-use content material filter for blocking apps or web sites by class.

The tri-band ET8 manages most speeds of 574Mbps at 2.4GHz, 1,201Mbps at 5GHz, and a powerful 4,804Mbps on the 6GHz band. So even when not your whole gadgets can entry the 6GHz band, something appropriate with Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 will be capable to attain switch speeds of as much as 1201Mbps. The backhaul makes use of the 6GHz band, so the connection between the 2 hubs is lightning quick.

Every hub has a quick 2.5Gbps WAN port, together with three additional gigabit ports for connecting gadgets immediately. There may be additionally a USB 3.1 port so you’ll be able to join a NAS or different community machine. The 6 antennae in every node are all inner, which helps make the styling much less obtrusive than different Wi-Fi 6E routers. Within the ET8, the 2 nodes are fully interchangeable and nearly similar in look.

If you’re getting your private home Wi-Fi prepared for when extra gadgets turn into out there that use the 6GHz band, or simply desire a steady and quick community backhaul, the ASUS ZenWiFi ET8 mesh is a superb selection. It provides you nice pace and protection, and excellent compatibility with Wi-Fi 6E and with earlier wi-fi gadgets. And it does all that at a value lower than some stand-alone Wi-Fi 6E routers.

Greatest Funds Mesh Wi-Fi 6E Router

ASUS ZenWiFi ET8

 

A strong, dependable and nicely-designed Wi-Fi 6E mesh router that will provide you with nice wi-fi protection for a value that will not make you are feeling faint.