Keeping your Wi-Fi signal consistent around your home can still be something of a challenge in 2020 so that’s where Wi-Fi extenders come in. Whether you’re lounging in the garden or working in your newly converted attic office, you need a solid signal without all the dropouts. Wi-Fi extenders can also be really helpful if you’re a seasoned gamer who wants to move their setup to another part of the house. With an extender, you can be sure that wireless signal you’re paying so much money for is ready and waiting.
Whether you’re looking to stream content in 4K from your Netflix account or simply catch up on some work emails while you have your morning coffee, T3 has curated the very best Wi-Fi extenders on the market today – this could be the time for you to invest in one of these ultra-useful gadgets. Thankfully, Wi-Fi extenders are very easy to set up and use.
There’s usually very little need to worry about calibration or adjustments, just connect it up to your Wi-Fi network and you’re ready to go. Of course, a Wi-Fi extender isn’t going to be advanced, flexible or intelligent as a mesh networking systems, but they are usually more cost effective as an investment. So, without any further ado, here are the very best Wi-Fi extenders you can buy in 2020, direct from the experts here at T3 Towers. Wi-Fi for all!
Best Wi-Fi Extenders 2020
1. NETGEAR WN3000RP
Specification:
Brand: Netgear
Model: WN3000RP-100NAS
Weight: 8.6 ounces
You can normally rely on Netgear for solid networking kit, and so it is with the Netgear WN300RP. It just plugs straight into a free plug socket and within minutes you’re ready to go with your newly extended network – it’s sure to appeal if you’re after something that’s simple to set up.
The top 300 Mbps speed over 2.4GHz should be enough for all but the most demanding users, though it maxes out at the slightly older 802.11n Wi-Fi spec. That does mean a low, low price though, which makes this perfect for extending your network on a budget.
Features
- Top speed: 300 Mbps
- Dual band: No
- Supports Wi-Fi up to: 802.11n
- Ethernet ports: 1
2. PLUME SUPERPODS
Specification:
Brand: Plume
Model: B1A
Weight: 7.6 ounces
Plume is fast becoming one of the biggest names in Wi-Fi extension innovation, and its Superpods are some of the best you can buy. They’re packed to the brim with features, including adaptive software that dynamically adjusts the Wi-Fi in your home in order to accomodate changing conditions and usages.
Superpods come with theur own AI security program, which protects your smart devices and connected IoT hardware from phishing, malware and other malicious cyber attacks. You can set up a personalised logins for guests and even implement parental controls for any younger members of the household that are using the Wi-Fi. These Tri-Band wonders simply plug into a plug socket, and even have their own Ethernet ports.
Features
- Bands: 802.11b/g/n/ac
- Connectivity: 2x Gigabit LAN ports
- Parental controls
- Cloud-based ad-blocking and cybersecurity
3. NETGEAR EX3700
Specification:
Brand: Netgear
Model: EX3700-100UKS
If you want the fastest speeds possible and you have a little more to spend, then the Netgear EX3700 is an appealing upgrade from the WN300RP. It supports the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standards, and as a result goes all the way up to 750 Mbps for its maximum speed.
There’s also dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) connectivity here, plus some features that match the cheaper alternative from the same manufacturer – the same plug-and-play approach to setup, an Ethernet port, and a similar selection of useful LEDs on the front.
Features
- Top speed: 750 Mbps
- Dual band: Yes
- Supports Wi-Fi up to: 802.11ac
- Ethernet ports: 1
4. TP-LINK RE650
Specification:
Brand: TP-Link
Model: RE650(UK)
Weight: 14 ounces
As you might be able to tell from its rather imposing design, the TP-Link RE650 is all about performance – a potential top speed of 2,600 Mbps across the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, multiple antennas for better support of multiple devices, and an Ethernet port as well.
You can even target Wi-Fi at particular devices, like a games console, if you need focused, high performance, and TP-Link says the gadget can cover 14,000 square feet. All this power comes at a higher price of course, but you might consider the expenditure well worth it.
Features
- Top speed: 2,600 Mbps
- Dual band: Yes
- Supports Wi-Fi up to: 802.11ac
- Ethernet ports: 1
5. D-LINK AC2600 WI-FI RANGE EXTENDER
Specification:
Brand: D-Link
Model: DAP-1860
Weight: 1.25 pounds
The D-Link AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender ticks a lot of the boxes you need to get ticked when you’re searching for the best Wi-Fi extender in the UK right now: it’s fast, it’s simple to set up, it’s effective in blanketing your home in Wi-Fi goodness, and it shouldn’t cost you much money either.
One feature worth highlighting is the way the D-Link AC2600 can work intelligently with your devices to make sure they stay connected as they move around the home. It also comes with bandwidth management to make sure multiple devices can stay hooked up to the web at the same time.
Features
- Top speed: 2,600 Mbps
- Dual band: Yes
- Supports Wi-Fi up to: 802.11n
- Ethernet ports: 1
6. TP-LINK RE200
Specification:
Brand: TP-LINK
Model: RE200
Weight: 3.84 ounces
If you trust the TP-Link brand – and there’s every reason to – but can’t afford the RE650, then the RE200 is an excellent alternative that’s a little more affordable. The maximum speed here is 750 Mbps, working across both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless bands.
As well as those high speeds, you get an Ethernet port on board if you want to wire up a desktop computer or a games console, for example. Sometimes the best Wi-Fi extenders aren’t the most expensive ones, and the TP-Link RE200 is a prime example of this.
Features
- Top speed: 750 Mbps
- Dual band: Yes
- Supports Wi-Fi up to: 802.11n
- Ethernet ports: 1
7. BELKIN AC1200
Specification:
Brand: Belkin
Model: K342238
Weight: 12.94 ounces
Full marks to the Belkin team for making a Wi-Fi extender that looks half-decent, though it’s probably not your primary concern when you’re choosing a device like this. Like our other models, this one plugs into a free wall socket and is up and running in minutes.
The maximum 1,200 Mbps speed on offer is one of the key selling points of the Belkin AC1200, but there’s no support for the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standards. That said, most people will be fine on 802.11n, and it works on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands too.
