Pro Smart features prevent congestion and manages complex settings
Google WiFi uses built in software, called Network Assist technology, that works behind the scenes to deliver the best possible WiFi connection. When you're walking around the house, Network Assist seamlessly transitions your device to the closest WiFi point for faster connection. It also autom...
Pro Easy to setup trough Google Wifi app
The Google WiFi app makes setup very simple. Once you've downloaded the app, you'll have to scan the QR code on the bottom of the WiFi point, which creates a secure connection between the device and your phone. After that all you have to do is to enter the name and password and the app will...
Pro Up to 4,500 sq. ft. of coverage
Each hardware unit is called a WiFi point and you can have up to three units. One unit will cover 1,500 square feet, and three units will cover 4,500 square feet. So depending on the size of your home you can choose how many WiFi points you need and place them where they are needed the most.
Con No web-based interface
The WiFi system can only be set up and controlled via the Google WiFi mobile app. A Google account and a mobile device are required for setup and management.
Con Wireless signal extension causes loss of signal
Each time you extend the signal wirelessly, signal loss will occur, which basically means slower speeds. You can mitigate this by placing the satellite units around the first router unit, but it will also mean worse coverage.
Pro Easy to configure
Uses a full-featured Web interface for configuration that's easy to use for both beginners and advanced users alike.
Pro Great performance even for busy networks
The R7000P truly shines under busy network conditions. The load-balancing band steering automatically shifts the devices around to give work to both radios. What this means is that users will have a pleasant experience even when the network is busy.
Pro You can specify the amount of bandwidth you wish to dedicate to gaming or video
Nighthawk offers two different types of traffic prioritization tools. Traffic that is sent out by the user can be prioritized for gaming, while incoming traffic can be prioritized for improved video streaming.
Con Might be a bit problematic to use in crowded dorms or apartment buildings
The R7000P does not have a third band, which is something that's usually available for routers around this price range. This is not a big problem if the router is being used in a suburban home, but it can be a bit problematic if used in a crowded apartment complex or dorm where there are a lot...
Con You can't block non-HTTP sites
Even though you can block websites by domain name or keyword, you can only do so for websites that don't use HTTPS.
Pro Great performance
The RT-AC3200 is theoretically capable of 3.2 Gbps throughput over its three bands. In real life testing at a close range of 15 feet the RT-AC3200 averages around 510 Mbps. At a distance of 100 feet it averages around 290 Mbps.
Pro Can be used as cloud storage
You can connect a flash drive or a hard disk drive to this router and access its files from your phone using Asus AiCloud app or via web browser.
Pro Uses security software for safer browsing
The RT-AC3200 uses state-of-the-art built-in security software called AiProtection. It detects infected devices and prevents any information getting stolen from those devices. It also blocks malicious websites and provides constant security check-ups.
Con Expensive
At $220 the RT-AC3200 is an expensive router. Unless you have a lot of devices performing demanding tasks, this router might be overkill.
Con There’s no app for remote management
The only way to access router settings and customization features is through a web browser. When compared to other routers in this price range you would get an app for easier network management.
Con Hard to configure for most people
Even though it's one of the most customizable routers on the market, or maybe because of this fact, it's also quite hard to configure even for normal use.
Pro Best performance for the price for both large and small houses
The TP-Link Archer V2 offers great value for the money for most people who are looking to buy a wireless router. It is faster and covers the same area faster than routers that cost twice or three times as much, While it's not the best performant router under all circumstances, the jump in price...
Pro Great for appartments with lots of WiFi interference from neightbours
The Archer C7 allows you to access both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi bands, which has the benefit of improving performance but also makes it easier to escape any interference from any neighbours' WiFi.
Pro Provides a good assortment of basic features
It has four Gigabit ethernet ports, supports USB file sharing and media streaming through two USB 2.0 ports, has parental controls for an increased degree of control, and has support for guest networks.
Con Parental controls might be somewhat confusing
For those who are less tech-savvy, setting up parental controls may be tricky, since they use the MAC addresses of the network's computers (both those use by adults and children).
Con Is missing some more advanced features found in other routers
It does not have some advanced features such as Quality of Service controls, iTunes server, jumbo frames or VPN server.
Pro Double the performance of most of its competitors even up to 30ft away and through dense walls
Keeping the Orbi router around 30 feet and two walls away, the Orbi extension projected 429.1 Mbps to a laptop one floor above. This is almost double the performance other mesh network systems provide. In the Purch Labs material-penetration tests, the Orbi's transmissions were powerful enough...
Pro Good covarage
The Netgear Orbi WiFi system can cover up to 6,000 square feet home. The router itself can cover 2,000 square feet and one satellite unit covers additional 2,000 square feet. It’s possible to add a second extender for a total coverage of 6,000 square feet. The idea is that you would put the main r...
Pro Simple setup
Setting up the Orbi is very easy, you don't need to have any prior knowledge on how to set up a mesh network or how Wi-Fi works. All you need to do is to turn on the main router, download the Orbi app, and follow few simple steps. Then you need to find a place for satellite where you can get...
Con Expensive for bigger homes
Orbi Home WiFi System is available for just under $400. It includes a router and an extender which will cover 4,000 square feet. However if this isn’t enough for you and you need better coverage, you can get a third device for an extra $250, which makes it a total of $650.
Con Only three months of tech support are included for free
Although Netgear offers one year warranty for the Orbi, they only offer three months of free tech support.
Con May occupy too much space for some people
The host and extensions measure at 8.9 inches x 6.7 inches x 3.1 inches which may be too large for some homes.
Pro Can be powered by a PC
It has a micro-USB port and since it only needs 100 volts to power up, you can plug it into a PC or laptop if there are no other energy sources available nearby.
Pro Great for people who use public connections often
The built-in firewall that makes this router a very secure choice for connecting to public WiFis.
Pro Software is easy to use
Android tablet users will be happy to learn that there is a companion application for using this travel router with these devices, making setup a breeze.
Con Rather exensive
At $159.99 it's quite on the expensive side as far as mini-routers go.
Pro You just need to plug an Ethernet cable for it to start working
You can configure it once with a specific SSID and password and then just plug an Ethernet cable every time you need a wireless connection.
Pro Can be used as a repeater to strengthen a wireless connection
When you use the repeater function, the LAN/WAN is disconnected and the port is used only to rebroadcast the existing wireless signal. The WiFi antenna is quite powerful as well, so this router will probably be able to pick up signals that your phone does not.
Pro Can be charged by most USB cables
Has a microUSB port that is used for charging. This way you can connect it to most phone chargers if you lose the cable that comes with the router.
Con Doesn't really support Gigabit Ethernet
Even though the LAN/WAN port technically supports Gigabit Ethernet, the speed will still be bottlenecked by the 300 Mbps throughput.
Pro Simple setup
Setting up the Orbi is very easy. All you need to do is to turn on the main router, download the Orbi app, and follow few simple steps. Then you need to find a place for satellite where you can get best possible coverage. Connection between main router and satellite will be done automatically.
Pro Good covarage
The Netgear Orbi WiFi system can cover up to 6,000 square feet home. The router itself can cover 2,000 square feet and one satellite unit covers additional 2,000 square feet. It’s possible to add a second extender for a total coverage of 6,000 square feet. The idea is that you would put the main r...
Pro Great performance
This tri-band AC3000 device can deliver theoretical throughput speeds of 1,266Mbps (400Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 866Mbps on the 5GHz band). Third 5GHz band can reach maximum speeds of 1,733Mbps. In real life testing the Orbi router turns in a score of 480Mbps, and the satellite delivers 470Mbps....
Con Expensive for bigger homes
Orbi Home WiFi System is available for just under $400. It includes a router and an extender which will cover 4,000 square feet. However if this isn’t enough for you and you need better coverage, you can get a third device for an extra $250, which makes it a total of $650.
Pro Beautiful designs that blend in with any decor
The OnHub router is one of the more good looking network devices. It’s a cylindrical device that has several customized shells to choose from, so it can fit with your decor.
Pro Great coverage
With a range of up to 2,500 square feet, the OneHub is superb for modest-sized or larger homes.
Pro First-class performance
The OnHub can provide a maximum theoretical throughput of up to 1.9Gbps across its both bands. Up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 1.3 Gbps on the 5GHz band. Realistically, at a close range of 15 feet (about 4.6 m), the router registers a throughput of 308Mbps. When the distance is increas...
Con Very few advanced functions
The OnHub is a very simple router, there are no additional customization features for more advanced users. It also lacks many standard router-management features, including parental controls and support for VPN services.
Pro Several custom firmwares readily available
To make greater use of the powerful component hardware, owners can easily flash any of the popular third-party firmwares like TomatoUSB, DD-WRT, AsusWRT and more using the existing upgrade page in the stock web-based control panel.
Pro Great performance
This AC1900 router tops out at a theoretical 1.9 Gbps of throughput. In real life testing at 5 feet the router’s throughput is 616.8Mbps over the 5 GHz band and 121.6Mbps over the 2.4GHz band. At 140 feet it maintains combined throughput of 252.4 Mbps. To achieve this result, it uses beamforming...
Pro Excellent USB performance
The Nighthawk achieves file transfer rates of 231.2 Mbps over USB 3.0 and 224 Mbps over USB 2.0. This means that you can connect an external hard disk drive to this router and share a 2 GB file over a Wi-Fi network in just over a minute.
Con Good only for smaller homes
Does not work for a 2900 sq ft home with Nighthawk on one side of the house and trying to getting a signal on the other side of the house.
Pro A small or midsize home can be covered with just the router
AmpliFi router on its own has a range of 90 feet, which should be more than enough for a small or midsize home.
Pro Easy network management through a companion app
It has an intuitive companion app that enables instant setup, includes powerful reporting metrics, and provides easy guest access. If there’s a network problem, you can resolve it via your app. There’s also constant reporting on network security.
Pro A snap to set up
To set up the router you just need to download the app and follow the step-by-step guide. The whole process takes a few minutes.
Con Mesh access points don't look as appealing as the router itself
The two mesh access points looks like antennas that you would put on the roof of your home. They are 9.6 inches tall and can take up much space on your outlets.
Con Currently lacks MU-MIMO for efficient network management
In situations where two people would try to start video streams at the same exact time on different devices, one of them would be prioritized over the other and it would have to wait until the first had buffered a few bits of data for itself. But usually, you won’t notice a slowdown. This technolo...
Con Mesh networks can be overkill in many instances
Mesh networks are a very good choice for bigger homes but they can be overkill in many instances. If you're living in an apartment or smaller home, the Amplifi HD system won't be the best solution.
Pro Easy setup and reliable tech support
Installation is a breeze, and the tech support is very knowledgable and helpful.
Pro Versatile
Connect this to your existing network wirelessly, and then connect your device to it with its built in ethernet port. This product allows you to not only extend your wireless network, but increases the reliability of the connection to your wireless connection.
Pro Good pricing
This is the best bang for your buck, hands down. 24/7 support, 2 year warranty, and under $100?
Con Does not go through all materials
Like other routers and extenders, this device cannot pass through specific materials such as brick, water, stone, and cement. These denser materials are not as permeable to WiFi signals as others. This product is a standalone extender and will work with others, but not partner with like some other...
Con RF issues
Some users have noticed that this device causes interference with your radio usage. While not a huge issue, it is something that could cause issues depending on your at home layout.
Pro Good performance
This dual-band router has a combined throughput of up to 1.2 Gbps over its both bands. Realistically, its average throughput at short distance is 315 Mbps. So you’ll have enough throughput to stream HD movies, as well as play online games and browse websites without any problems.
Pro Four Gigabit Ethernet ports for faster network
With one Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, you can connect up to four devices with Ethernet cables for the fastest network speed possible.
Pro Two USB 2.0 ports for file sharing and storage
The two USB 2.0 ports makes it easier for you to share printers, files, and media with other devices trough your home network or via the ftp server while away from home.
Pro Smooth performance with powerful CPU
This router uses a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, which is more than enough to manage all the processing needs of this device. This ensures users will feel no network hiccups.
Pro Extremely fast speeds
The AD7200 is a tri-band router, with a maximum theoretical speed of up to 7.2 Gbps over its three bands. In real life testing, The Talon manages an average download speed of 867.6Mbps. That throughput is possible mainly because of the router’s use of the new 802.11ad Wi-Fi standard.
Pro Easy to setup
Configuring this router is very simple: just plug it to a power outlet and then just access it via ethernet or its default wireless network.
Con Expensive
Even if the Talon AD7200 is a good product, unless you have 802.11ad clients, it's not worth the price it costs.
Con Poor range
The range of new 802.11ad WiFi standard is 10 times lower when compared to the more commonly used 802.11ac. And it can't penetrate walls, making its use very limited for most households.
Pro Open Source
Open hardware running free operating system based on OpenWrt
Pro Performance
High power dual-core ARM CPU at 1.6 GHz with PC-like performance
Pro Security
Secure default configuration, easy setup and automatic updates
Pro Easy setup for iOS and OS X
The AirPort Extreme is very easy to configure. You just need to plug it in and the follow the instructions provided by the setup assistant that's built into iOS or in the AirPort Utility for OS X.
Con Windows users have to download additional software
There is no web browser control for the Extreme, so users must download the AirPort Utility for Windows to configure and manage settings.
Con Trails other AC routers in speed
This dual-band router has a theoretical peak performance of 1.75 Gbps. In real life testing at 5 feet, it hits just 209.6 Mbps and 201.6 Mbps at 50 feet. It holds its performance at distance, but it's still slower than other AC routers.
Con Lacks additional customization options
AirPort Extreme offers only the most common features, such as guest networking and port forwarding, but lacks options like parental controls and traffic prioritization. It doesn't even have a web filtering option, for blocking specific websites.
Pro Fits in with a variety of decors
Pods are available in three colors - champagne, silver, and onyx. This gives you the option to match routers with your interior.
Pro Compact design
Plume WiFi system consists of hexagonal pods. Compared to most routers, Plume pods are very tiny and one can easily fit in the palm of a hand. They're just 2.5 inches across and 1.5 inches deep.
Pro Self improving, adaptive network
Plume WiFi uses cloud-based technology to figure out how you’re using the internet. It checks for interference from other devices and what devices are connected to each pod. It uses this information and over time optimizes its network to achieve the best possible performance.
Con Poor range
With six pods, the system can cover a home of 1,800 square feet. Range of a single pod, with clear line of sight, is about 20 to 30 feet. If there are any obstacles, range decreases to about 15 feet. Beyond 15 feet you might lose connectivity. You’ll need a separate pod for every room and for each...
Con Lacks additional features
The Plume has almost no features, that are common in other WiFi systems. There are no options like bandwidth priority, or parental controls.
Con Lacking performance
Plume WiFi is capable of a theoretical combined throughput of 1.2 Gbps. Realistically at a close range of 5 feet and a clear line of sight, the router registers throughput of 230 Mbps. When the distance is increased and there is no clear line of sight, throughput drops to 60 Mbps.
Pro Great coverage
With a range of up to 2,500 square feet, the OneHub is superb for modest-sized or larger homes.
Pro First-class performance
The OnHub can provide a maximum theoretical throughput of up to 1.9Gbps across its both bands. Up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 1.3 Gbps on the 5GHz band. Realistically, at a close range of 15 feet (about 4.6 m), the router registers a throughput of 308Mbps. When the distance is increased...
Pro Incredibly easy to set up
Setting up the OnHub es very simple, you just need to turn it on, download the app, and follow few simple steps.
Con Very few advanced functions
The OnHub is a very simple router, there are no additional customization features for more advanced users. It also lacks many standard router-management features, including parental controls and support for VPN services.
Pro Easy to setup through the Google Wifi app
The Google WiFi app makes setup very simple. Once you've downloaded the app, you'll have to scan the QR code on the bottom of the WiFi point, which creates a secure connection between the device and your phone. After that all you have to do is to enter the name and password and the app will...
Pro Smart features prevent congestion and manage complex settings
Google WiFi uses built in software, called Network Assist technology, that works behind the scenes to deliver the best possible WiFi connection. When you're walking around the house, Network Assist seamlessly transitions your device to the closest WiFi point for faster connection. It also autom...
Pro Up to 4,500 sq. ft. of coverage
Each hardware unit is called a WiFi point and you can have up to three units. One unit will cover 1,500 square feet, and three units will cover 4,500 square feet. So depending on the size of your home you can choose how many WiFi points you need and place them where they are needed the most.
Con Wireless signal extension causes loss of signal
Each time you extend the signal wirelessly, signal loss will occur, which basically means slower speeds. You can mitigate this by placing the satellite units around the first router unit, but it will also mean worse coverage.
Con Doesn't get through walls well
Despite claims, my real world tests showed Google Wifi is slow and loses its 5Ghz signal almost completely through thick/plaster walls, defeating its entire purpose.
Con Limited management app
Doesn't support even basic features like changing your local network's IP range, and you'll be hunting around the app wondering if it lacks a feature, or if you just can't find it in the app.
Pro Compact design
Plume WiFi system consists of hexagonal pods. Compared to most routers, Plume pods are very tiny and one can easily fit in the palm of a hand. They're just 2.5 inches across and 1.5 inches deep.
Pro Self improving, adaptive network
Plume WiFi uses cloud-based technology to figure out how you’re using the internet. It checks for interference from other devices and what devices are connected to each pod. It uses this information and over time optimizes its network to achieve the best possible performance.
Pro Fits in with a variety of decors
Pods are available in three colors - champagne, silver, and onyx. This gives you the option to match routers with your interior.
Con Poor range
With six pods, the system can cover a home of 1,800 square feet. Range of a single pod, with clear line of sight, is about 20 to 30 feet. If there are any obstacles, range decreases to about 15 feet. Beyond 15 feet you might lose connectivity. You’ll need a separate pod for every room and for ea...
Con Lacking performance
Plume WiFi is capable of a theoretical combined throughput of 1.2 Gbps. Realistically at a close range of 5 feet and a clear line of sight, the router registers throughput of 230 Mbps. When the distance is increased and there is no clear line of sight, throughput drops to 60 Mbps.
Con Lacks additional features
The Plume has almost no features, that are common in other WiFi systems. There are no options like bandwidth priority, or parental controls.
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