1/23/2024 0 Comments Best mesh wifi 6![]() If you've got a house filled with smart home devices, or multiple family members who each make regular use of your Wi-Fi with a variety of gadgets, or if you've just upgraded your internet plan to add in gigabit speeds, you should probably consider a router with greater bandwidth potential. The two are largely indistinguishable unless your home has a high-speed connection, and the AX21 typically costs a little less, so I'd recommend starting there. If you're living in a small- to medium-sized home with internet speeds of 500Mbps or less, and you just need a reliable signal for your phone, laptop and streaming device, then a simple pick like the TP-Link Archer AX21 or the Netgear R6700AX should offer plenty of bandwidth and range to suit your needs. There are three main things to consider first as you're dialing in on a new router: the speed of your home's internet plan, the size of your home, and the number of Wi-Fi devices under your roof that need a reliable connection. All told, it adds up to hundreds of speed tests and multiple days of work for each router I review. I'll typically also run dedicated test runs to check the speeds on individual bands, or if the router offers any unique performance settings. ![]() I repeat this entire process three times, during morning, afternoon, and evening hours. This approach gives me a good sense at how the router's performance differs when the connection starts up close as opposed to when it starts at a distance, as this can often impact your speeds. Once I've finished in the fifth room, which is farthest from the router, I restart my connection and repeat all of those tests in reverse room order. I connect to the router's network, then I run three speed tests and record the results for upload speed, download speed and latency. For each set of tests, I start in the same room as the router with my test device, a Lenovo ThinkPad Wi-Fi 6 laptop. There are five rooms in that test space, so after setting the router up in the first of them, I run a battery of speed tests in all of them to get a sense of the average speeds at various ranges. test environment with a gigabit fiber connection. Throughout the pandemic, I ran those tests out of my 1,300 square-foot home in Louisville, Kentucky, but in 2022, we were able to move those tests back into the CNET Home test lab, where we've set up a 1,350 sq. Whenever I take a router into consideration, I put it through the same set of comprehensive, controlled speed tests to get a good sense of how it performs compared to other models. Some do the job better than others - but that's where we come in, with comprehensive, hands-on tests to help identify the best upgrade picks for the money. Now, shopping around, you'll find a good number of Wi-Fi 6 options available for less than $100, as well as mesh systems, gaming routers, range extenders and more. That was an expensive proposition back when Wi-Fi 6 first arrived, but not anymore. Wi-Fi 6 devices like those are backward compatible with older routers, but if you want to unlock their full potential for faster, better Wi-Fi performance, you'll need a Wi-Fi 6 router running your home network. Did you know a PlayStation 5 console is a Wi-Fi 6 gadget too? Well, now you do. Have you got an Apple TV 4K or Amazon Fire TV 4K Max media streamer for your TV? Both support Wi-Fi 6. Nearly all new devices support Wi-Fi 6 these days. $209 at Amazon Which devices support Wi-Fi 6? Whenever we find a new router that merits consideration, we'll add it to the list. test environment with a gigabit fiber connection.Įxpect regular updates to this post as we continue to put Wi-Fi 6 to the test in 2023. All of the routers we recommend go through an extensive series of tests, in which download speed, upload speed and latency are measured in different rooms of our 1,350 sq. You can typically find a quality Wi-Fi 6 router available for less than $100, as well as mesh systems, gaming routers, range extenders and more. Unless you're on a multi-gig internet plan, the Archer AX21 provides more than enough speed for most people. It costs just $75, utilizes easy-to-use app controls and performed better in my speed tests than significantly more expensive routers. The best Wi-Fi 6 router currently available is the TP-Link Archer AX21. To help you set up your home - or office - with the quickest and most stable internet connection achievable, we've compiled a list of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers you can buy right now. Next on the agenda is finding the best Wi-Fi 6 router that fits your budget and needs. Enjoying a swift and secure internet connection at home or in your office begins with choosing the right provider. Wi-Fi 7 routers are here, but Wi-Fi 6 is still a go-to source of wireless internet functionality for your devices and gadgets.
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