| 17 Recommended Products | Recommendations | Ports | USB | Max theoretical throughput |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 TP-LINK Archer C7 V2· · · | 4 | 0 | 1x Gigabit Wan, 4x Gigabit LAN | 2 x USB 2.0 Ports | 1.75 Gbps (N450 + AC1300) |
| #2 eero Home WiFi System· · · | 4 | 0 | 1x Gigabit Wan, 1x Gigabit LAN | 1x USB 2.0 | 1 Gbps |
| #3 Netgear Orbi· · · | 4 | 0 | 1x Gigabit Wan, 3x Gigabit LAN for router, 4x Gigabit LAN for satellite | – | 3 Gbps (AC1733 + AC866 + N400Mbps) |
| #4 Google OnHub· · · | 3 | 0 | 1x Gigabit Wan, 1x Gigabit LAN | – | 1.9 Gbps (N600 + AC1300) |
| #5 Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 (R7000)· · · | 2 | 0 | 1x Gigabit Wan, 4x Gigabit LAN | 1xs USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 port | 1.75 Gbps (N600 + AC1300) |
| #6 TP-Link Talon AD7200· · · | 2 | 0 | 1x Gigabit Wan, 4x Gigabit LAN | 2 USB 3.0 Ports | 7.2 Gbps (N800 + AC1733 + AD4600) |
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 Going for distance
This device has twice the range(120ft) of a traditional router(60ft) while offering up to 5x's the connection speed at the same distances. The software and companion app help you place the devices in the best locations for signal strength, allowing you to play video games in your treehouse with...
Pro Companion app
This comes with a companion app that allows you to monitor your internet speeds, monitor your network away from home, even set up usage schedules for other household members.
Pro Transplantability
You can buy 1 or 3 of these and make the most of a network you already have built at home, or completely replace it. This product can work with a multitude of network adapters, allowing more options than buying the bundle of 3.
Con Still a new product
This product came out Feb. 2016, so expect some hiccups and some troubleshooting conversations with tech support.
Con Expensive
You can purchase this as a stand-alone unit or in a bundle of three, and so on. One unit is about $190, and the 3-pack is close to $500. This can get expensive fast if you are looking to space a network out over a huge space.
Con It is not perfect
This product boasts some of the best features on the market, but its not perfect. There are still some reported issues with WiFi connections to Xbox's and old iPhone models. Will this be solved? Yes, wait for an update from eero. Users have reported that the only times this issue was apparent w...
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 for smaller homes
Does not work for 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 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 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.
Pro Two simultaneous internet service provider connections for redundancy and load-balancing
You can turn one of routers LAN ports into a second WAN port and have two separate internet service provider connections. You can use the second connection for redundancy, or if you’re using up all of bandwidth, it can be divided between both connections.
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 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.
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 You’ll be able to play games or stream 4K videos without a hitch
This router offers game-enhancement options such as Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), 4X4 data transmissions, and a wealth of management settings. MU-MIMO offers simultaneous rather than sequential streaming and 4x4 data transmission gives four individual streams to deliver and...
Pro Less congestion with multiple Wi-Fi bands
With the RT-AC5300 you get three separate WiFi bands, one 2.4 GHz and two 5 GHz bands. The additional 5 GHz band helps to lower congestion, because both 5 GHz bands can split the load between each other.
Pro Excellent performance
It's a device that delivers theoretical throughput speeds of up to 3.1 Gbps across both bands. It's capable of moving up to 1 Gbps in the 2.4 GHz band and 2.1 Gbps on 5 GHz bands. In real life testing at close range of 3 feet, RT-AC5300 delivers throughput of 661.6 Mbps. To maximize the rou...
Con Bulky design
This router is large, thanks in no small measure to its bulky antennas. Without them, it measure 9.6 x 9.6 x 2.6 inches. Including the antennas increases them to 9.6 x 11 x 6 inches.
Con Overkill for an average user
Unless you have a large house or an office with plenty of Wi-Fi devices that play games or stream media, using the Asus RT-AC5300 is overkill especially considering its price tag.
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 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.
Pro Customization is possible using OpenWRT
This router has extensive customization options (enhanced QoS settings, WiFi optimization and traffic shaping, among other things). This is thanks to the use of OpenWRT, which is an open-source, Linux-based OS.
Pro Remote management via app
This router comes with a monitoring/management companion app for smartphones and tablets. This enables network managers to take actions remotely if needed, such as content blocking or device banning.
Pro Impressive hardware
This router had a 1.6 GHz dual-core CPU and it comes with 512MB of RAM. Its dual-band electronics make it capable of handling four independent lanes of data traffic.
Con Lacks MU-MIMO for efficient network management
This can become an issue when you're streaming video or gaming online with multiple devices. With MU-MIMO the router would be able to stream multiple lanes of traffic simultaneously. Routers without MU-MIMO have to send data to each device in turn.
Con High price
While the router has blazingly fast download and upload speeds, at $229 it could be slightly pricey for average home networking customers.
Con Hefty design
This router's dimensions are 9.7 x 7.6 x 2.0 inches, which make it quite big when compared to competitors.
Pro Allows sharing files using USB Port
A USB 3.0 port allows you to share files with other devices connected to the network. It makes for easier media streaming and data sharing. You can plug an HDD or flash storage drive into the back of your router and share that data with any device on the network.
Pro Network can be managed remotely
This router comes with software that allows network managers to access the network remotely, form any device with an internet connection.
Pro Good performance
With its single-core 800MHz CPU, it can achieve (theoretical) throughput of total 1.2 Gbps. In real life testing at a close distance, this router averages 430 Mbps.
Con Non-removable antennae
If one or both of them breaks, you might need to replace the unit entirely.
Pro State of the art security for safer browsing
The Norton Core is a combination of powerful router and an antivirus . It's able to defend you from spyware, malware, viruses, hackers and any other online threats. It checks every data packet for any suspicious activity and if Core notices anything strange about it, the packet gets denied.
Pro Great performance and range
The Core is capable of achieving maximum throughput speeds of 2.5 Gbps and can cover a home of somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet. It has a powerful 1.7 GHz Dual Core processor and performance-enhancing features, such as 4x4 MU-MIMO and beamforming. 4x4 MU-MIMO means that router can han...
Pro Great design
The Norton Core has a very unique design, instead of a clunky box, it's a geodesic dome. It is available in two colors, Titanium Gold or Granite Gray, so you can match the router with your interior.
Con Protection is limited to 20 devices
The Norton Core can protect only up to 20 PCs, smartphones and tablets. While this might be enough for home network, this probably won't be enough for an office space.
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 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...
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 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 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.
Pro Excellent coverage
The Amplifi HD provides industry leading wireless connectivity coverage of up to 20,000 square feet. The included router and two extenders are best suited for large homes.
Pro Better performance through walls than any other mesh network solution
AmpliFi HD uses 3x3 MIMO which allows it to perform better and more consistently in houses with lots of thick/plaster walls than any other mesh network solution.
Pro Looks cool
The AmpliFi HD router has a unique design. It is a small white cube, with a round 1.6-inch touchscreen, that can show date, time or your upload and download speeds.
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 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.
Con Lacks ability to place device in DMZ
Users may need the ability to specify an IP that needs zero port restrictions and needs to be placed in the DMZ. This isn't an available option on the router; therefore, as a work around you must use port forwarding to open ports 1-65535 for a specific IP address. Hopefully this becomes an op...
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