In our review of dozens of high-performance routers, we’ve come across several routers that are well-suited for various gaming situations. Our top pick is the Nighthawk RAXE500 6E from NETGEAR, a powerful router designed specifically for gamers — but it’s not the only one we’ve picked out. Take a look at our nifty list to find the best router for your gaming needs.
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 6E Router
Best Overall
NETGEAR’s Nighthawk RAXE500 6E Router provides optimal gaming on a wireless network with its fast speed. With its top-of-the-line 6GHz Wi-Fi band, this powerful router can support up to 60 users and has a whopping speed of 10.8Gbps. What’s incredibly faster is its wired 2Gbps link aggregation and 2.5G Ethernet port to handle demanding devices. It prioritizes gaming connections, optimizes connections for low-ping gaming, and helps you connect with a VPN for additional security or regional options. Of course, at the heart of this router is the 1.8GHz processor that helps deliver reliable performance to keep all connections up and running.
The RAXE500 6E Router even allows for more direct customization and connection monitoring. With NETGEAR’s proprietary Nighthawk app, managing your router connections is just at your fingertips. So, if you like manual options and configuration, this gaming router is the one for you.
Why we love it:
- Has eight strategically positioned antennas that help boost connections
- Wi-Fi 6E-supported 6GHz band helps reduce data load to boost wireless speed
- Compatible with NETGEAR’s in-house mobile app for convenient connection monitoring
Something to consider:
The options and settings may be too flashy if you want a router to give out good connectivity and nothing else.
Speedefy AC2100 Smart Wi-Fi Router
Best Value
With the Speedefy AC2100 Smart Wi-Fi Router, you won’t have to break the bank to eliminate Wi-Fi dead spots. This router provides a fluid experience while web browsing, streaming, and gaming with speeds of up to 1,733Mbps on the 5GHz band and 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. It also features parental control to help you manage your kids’ access to the internet.
Its comprehensive WPA2 protocols are active all the time to fend off any possible threat to keep your network safe. The router also allows you to provide a separate signal for your guests so that your personal household’s devices won’t be compromised. And, unlike other gaming routers, you can get this gaming router up and running within minutes.
Why we love it:
- Compact design can make installation quick and easy
- Built-in parental controls help encourage responsible internet use
- Extensive signal coverage can enhance connectivity in a relatively wide gaming station
Something to consider:
The router is a bit bare when it comes to more specialized features. You may want to go with another router in this list if you’re looking for more specialized control over your gaming network.
TP-Link Archer AX6600 Wi-Fi 6 Router
Best MU-MIMO Option
TP-Link’s Archer AX6600 Wi-Fi 6 Router is easily one of the best MU-MIMO routers we’ve seen. MU-MIMO allows routers to communicate with devices simultaneously rather than sequentially, as seen with older MIMO-based routers. This feature improves speed and connection dependability, making it ideal for mobile gamers, especially if there’s more than one in the house.
This powerful tri-band router promise speeds of up to 4,804Mbps on the 5GHz band (4×4). What’s notable here is that it offers a second 5GHz connection, which you can dedicate for online gaming, while the other two 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands serve as the network’s non-gaming devices. This router also features a quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, five Ethernet ports, and two USB ports.
Why we love it:
- Has a quad-core processor and offers speeds of up to 1,000Mbps
- The second 5GHz connection can be devoted to support highly demanding devices
- Can enhance security and privacy with WPA3 on top of Wi-Fi encryption
Something to consider:
This gaming router is large and in charge. Consider dedicating a spacious corner for this device to enhance your connectivity.
ASUS RT-AX68U Router
Best Network Security
The ASUS RT-AX86U Router uses the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology to deliver consistent, long-range, and fast connectivity. You can play your favorite games with combined speeds up to 2,700Mbps on all bands, and with a press of a button, you’ll be able to reduce lag and latency to ensure a seamless mobile gaming experience. Plus, with the robust commercial-grade security system, you can rest easy knowing your activities are safe from prying eyes.
Why we love it:
- The accompanying app makes management easy
- With parental controls to ensure safe browsing for kids
- Sleek, dual-band design
Something to consider:
To tap on the workhorse connectivity besides the Wi-Fi 6 connection, consider using a 2Gbps-bonded connection.
ASUS RT-AC86U Wi-Fi Gaming Router
Best Home Coverage
On top of its powerful security features, the ASUS RT-AC86U Wi-Fi Gaming Router focuses on providing a seamless online experience. This dual-band router can reach a combined speed of up to 2,900Mbps so that gamers can comfortably battle against each other anywhere while others stream videos and download bulk files. The WTFast game accelerator feature even ensures you get a stable internet connection whenever you’re duking it out on your favorite maps.
Moreover, 24/7 protection is embedded into this router to help secure your connection, while the ASUS AiProtection system safeguards all devices connected to the router — even if they don’t have their native antivirus software. If the devices have their antivirus, the router’s security system helps augment it to provide even better protection.
Why we love it:
- Has four built-in LAN ports for wired connections
- Adaptive QoS helps prioritize bandwidth speeds
- Handy smartphone application aids mobile connection and management
Something to consider:
You’re holding your keycard to a seamless Wi-Fi connection with this device. So, be patient as you may need to dedicate some time for installation because it is worth the effort.
Why should you get a gaming router?
If you’ve ever experienced a lag spike, you already know the main reason to get a gaming router. Gaming routers aren’t just fancy peripherals that look like they came out of the set of Blade Runner. These routers maximize your internet so that you get a seamless connection to play your games unhindered by dreaded lag and latency.
Gaming routers optimize internet speeds by streamlining them through traffic prioritization. This feature lets the router funnel internet data toward gaming-related activities to ensure that bandwidth doesn’t get hogged by other applications. Other routers even provide “Quality of Service” features that are you can configure through an app. These features give you control over what processes to prioritize. Whether it’s streaming your favorite movie or downloading that 60GB game, you can get it done in no time if your router has the QoS feature.
A gaming router is also more suitable for homes with multiple internet users. The well-tuned designs of these peripherals allow them to handle several users, with some units accommodating up to 35 or more connected devices.
Most gaming routers even come with native security systems to buff up your devices’ antivirus software. With most gaming routers, you get heightened connection protocols and a simple antivirus. Higher-end routers have separate signals for guests and parental controls to provide you with even more options.
If you’re an avid gamer, there’s no reason not to get a gaming router, as they still perform well outside the sphere of gaming.
What should I look for when buying a gaming router?
There are different factors to consider when getting a gaming router. First, you need to find the router that matches your internet speed. You won’t want to shell out for a router only to find that your internet is way above or below the router’s speed capacity.
It would be best to consider how many devices will connect to a router. For most units, up to ten devices should be no problem. But, if you intend to let more than ten devices connect to your router, it’s best to get a higher-end one.
RAM and processor speeds are also quite pertinent when it comes to routers. The higher the specs, the more data the router can handle. This performance means less data packet loss, which leads to a more reliable and stable connection.
Different routers also have different feature levels. Some models only sport rudimentary features that will suffice if you aren’t picky about ping heat maps, traffic prioritization, or bottlenecking. Of course, if you want more control over your router, it will cost more, and only you can answer if the cost is worth it.
About the Author
Rusty Davis has been a tech lover for as long as he can remember. From the early days of gaming consoles to the introduction of the smartphone, portable computers, and more, he’s always wanted to get his hands on the latest and greatest. He has years upon years of experience reviewing and testing everything from phone cases to smartwatches, the latest phones and tablets to gaming computers, and even desks. If it’s a piece of tech or tech-adjacent, he’s interested in how it works and who it works best for. He’s now here sharing all of his knowledge with you to help you make the best decision for yourself.
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The Digital Trends team prides itself in offering expert product recommendations in ways that everyone can understand. Our team of experts is constantly using and reviewing the latest and greatest consumer tech, smart home gadgets, televisions, and so much more to offer insights to help guide your purchasing decision. We have vigorously tested thousands of different products across these categories, and we’ve distilled our lists to bring you the best of the best. If we feel a product does not live up to our expectations, it doesn’t make the list. We are humans though, and realize that not every recommended product will be perfect for everyone, so we do our best to call out important features that may impact your choices. Below our top picks we’ve included additional product information to ensure that you are making the right choice for your unique needs. The products in this guide have been carefully curated by our team of experts and enthusiasts who understand the value and quality needed for the best options.
