Best Wi-Fi routers for home 2022

Not so long ago, home Internet was connected to the only computer in the home, and nothing more. But the massive introduction of smartphones, game consoles and, finally, smart home systems into everyday life required special devices for distributing a signal from the network through many channels. Gadgets that solve this problem are called routers and have already come a long way in evolution. The main requirement for a modern router is to reliably and smoothly serve different devices at high speed. Check out the best examples of internet access points. 

Editor’s Choice

A modern router must first of all reliably and safely serve different devices at high speed. These conditions are met by the following model.

TP-LINK AX11000

The most powerful gaming router from TP-Link. The device supports the Wi-Fi 6 communication standard. There are 8 antennas along the perimeter of the case. On the side faces there are WAN, LAN ports, a connector for connecting an external power supply.

The device provides a reliable wireless connection to the Internet, making it possible to play online games with high dynamics without freezing. The system is controlled by a powerful processor with a frequency of 1,8 GHz. OFDMA modules allow you to increase the throughput by 4 times up to 1 GHz.

The device connects to wired and wireless smart home gadgets via Wi-Fi, Ethernet protocols. There is access to an FTP server, MIM support, a file server. It must be borne in mind that all the capabilities of the router are fully opened only when devices operating according to the 5G standard are connected to it.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

Top 10 Best Wi-Fi Routers for Home in 2022 According to KP

Such routers also have excellent technical characteristics. 

1. Keenetic Ultra KN-1810

The main advantage of the model: high transmission speed of 2533 Mbps. The router is controlled by a dual-core processor, each of the four antennas is equipped with its own amplifier. The device can be connected to the Internet via a wired Ethernet line, an optical cable, an external modem or a wireless access point. 

The setup interface is simple and clear. There are built-in FTP-server, support for MIM, WISP, Telnet, SNMP, VPN.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

2. Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router Pro

The quad-antenna device works stably at a maximum speed of 2533 Mbps in large apartments and houses with numerous rooms, corners and walls. Supports external removable drives and backup. The built-in manager is used to download files. 

Also supported are access to the FTP server, MIM, firewall. The router connects to wired and wireless smart home devices via Wi-Fi, Ethernet protocols.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

3. ASUS RT-N19

The single-band gadget is designed for home use. It can provide access to the network in a private house, apartment or cottage. It is possible to connect it as a repeater and thereby expand the coverage area.

The device has a built-in function for setting priorities for different traffic sources (QoS function). This allows you to create up to three guest networks based on it. The rest of the set of functions is basic, so the gadget is only suitable for working on a home network. The connection is via Wi-Fi, there are two connectors for connecting via cable.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

4. AC6 tent

The main advantage of this model is the support of Beamfoinig technology, which allows you to get in touch, despite the walls and complex layout (walls are an obstacle to radio signals. Four fixed antennas with a power of 5 dBm each provide stable operation and high speed. It is possible to set a work schedule that reduces traffic by certain days and times of day Power consumption is noticeably lower than other models.

Tenda AC6 has the nickname “Indecently Powerful Router”. This, of course, is a strong word, but it is quite true.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

5. TP-LINK Archer A5

A reliable gadget for creating a home network. It works simultaneously in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands with a maximum speed of 1167 Mbps. Devices are connected via cable or via Wi-Fi. The router has a high enough speed to simultaneously play and watch TV programs on IPTV.

Four antennas provide stable coverage. The router has a built-in firewall that protects against intruders entering the network. VPN connection supported. 

When configuring, you can enable parental control over the content of scheduled network access restriction sites. Operation parameters are set via a web interface on a PC, or via an application for a smartphone on Android or iOS.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

6. Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4A Gigabit Edition

The dual-band router stays connected in the most complex home layouts thanks to its four antennas. 128 gigabytes of RAM facilitates the simultaneous operation of several subscribers. The gadget is especially easy to match with Xiaomi smart home devices. In the settings, you can provide content filtering within the framework of parental control.

Xiaomi – it always remains Xiaomi. Easy to set up and operate, reliable and friendly to the owner.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

7. ASUS RT-AC58U

The model is perfectly adapted for domestic family use. 4 antennas provide a large area of ​​coverage with a speed of 1267 Mbps. The MU-MIMO technology used and the large internal memory allow you to connect multiple devices at the optimal speed for them. 

AiDisk technology is also supported. The external drive is connected to the router via USB. Access to information on it is obtained by all gadgets that work through this router. Plus support for IPTV, broadcasting TV channels in real time over the Internet. The parental control option is also interesting: restrictions are set through the web interface separately for each connected device. 

Router settings, software updates, traffic control are carried out not only through a PC, but also through applications for iOS and Android.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

8. MikroTik wAP ac (RBwAPG-5HacD2HnD)

The unusual qualities of this model are unique. It is designed for use not only indoors, but also outdoors, for example, in the courtyard of a large country house or estate. The case of the device is all-weather, protected from rain. The operating temperature of the gadget is from -40 to +70°C. 

Two built-in antennas, a quad-core processor, 128 MB of internal memory and 2 gigabit input ports ensure stable operation in any conditions at the maximum distance from the transmitting station.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

9. Keenetic Speedster (KN-3010)

This model with Mesh Wi-Fi support was developed specifically for use as an internet center that combines home gadgets into a single network. With the flick of a switch, the device transforms into a repeater. There is no need to change any Wi-Fi connection settings after that. The design does not include a USB port. Two radio blocks provide operation at frequencies of 2,4 and 5 GHz.

There is a “demilitarized zone” (DMZ), a special segment of the local network with enhanced protection by the router.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

10. ASUS GT-AC2900

A powerful router supports the Nvidia GeForce Now service, which optimizes gaming traffic. The AiMesh technology used significantly expands the Wi-Fi coverage area. The connection is secured by Trend Micro technology.

Connects to wired and wireless smart home devices via Wi-Fi, Ethernet protocols. There is a built-in print server with USB interface, FTP server, support for VPN, Dynamic DNS, firewall. 4 LAN ports with an average speed of 1 Gb / s and a maximum of 2917 GHz provide a sufficient number and bandwidth of communication channels. The gadget has 512 MB of internal memory and manages 256 MB of flash memory.

The device is made in a characteristic futuristic style with three removable and one internal antenna. The black plastic case with pronounced corners bears the corporate logo on the front plane.

Technical specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

How to choose a Wi-Fi router for your home

Most Internet users, if necessary, simply buy not the most expensive router, and then encounter unexpected problems. Most often, they lack the transmission speed and coverage of the home network. And if there are a lot of connected devices, then the bandwidth of the communication channel is insufficient. Tips to help you avoid situations like this Nikita Damaskin, managing director of the provider “Eneva” (St. Petersburg).

First of all, you need to decide or find out – if the Internet is already connected – the parameters of your network: connection technology, connection speed, Wi-Fi standard. This information can be obtained from your ISP.

As a rule, home subscribers are connected via a network cable, the so-called. “over a twisted pair” – in this case, a standard router is sufficient. If your provider uses PON technology, you will need an optical terminal. But in this case, the equipment is provided by the provider itself and it may be necessary to purchase additional equipment only if it becomes necessary to expand the home network.

Another factor to consider when choosing a router is the connection speed you need. As a rule, equipment manufacturers indicate the maximum speed that a particular model can provide in the instructions or other accompanying technical documentation. And some even prescribe it in the name of the model.

It is better to choose 4-port routers with a bandwidth that matches the speed of your home connection. Bandwidth – this is the maximum allowable incoming stream speed for a particular router. In other words, if your tariff provides for a speed of 1000 Mbps, and the bandwidth of your router is 100 Mbps, you will not be able to use your tariff to the full extent.

Pay attention to what frequency range the router operates on. 2,4 GHz is the band that most home smart devices use. This creates a so-called. “noisy air” and threatens with a loss of speed and connection breaks. More modern models are designed for two frequency bands (2,4 GHz and 5 GHz). They automatically select the optimal range and provide high-speed home Internet, provided for by your tariff.

The main differences between 2,4GHz and 5GHz are in coverage area and transmission speed. So, a 5 GHz wireless network provides a higher connection speed, but has a smaller coverage radius. The 2,4 GHz band signal is more effective at long distances from the router, but the connection speed may be slower. Radio waves with a frequency of 5 GHz penetrate walls and various objects worse than 2,4 GHz.

In addition, the speed of wireless Internet is affected by the number and power of the antennas that the router is equipped with. The more of them and they themselves are more powerful, the faster the data exchange will be.

Popular questions and answers