I hope you’ll agree with me when I say:
Life is not possible today without a good Wireless Router. Or is it?
Well, there is only ONE problem. Finding a “Good” Router isn’t an easy job.
That is why we have created a list of Best Wireless Routers of 2017. After researching online and spending hours in testing these Wi-Fi routers, I have shortlisted the top 10 routers which you can buy right now.
Best Wireless Routers 2017
Several of these routers are not for everyone because some carry a hefty price-tag.
However, these wireless routers are good enough to make it to our list of the top 10 best Wifi Routers 2017.
| Device Name | Weight | LAN Ports | Wireless Comm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Talon AD7200 | 4 pounds | 4 | 802.11ad | |
| Google WiFi System | 0.74 pounds | 2/point | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | |
| Asus RT-AC88U Dual-Band (Editor’s Choice) | 2.6 pounds | 8 | 802.11 b/g/n | |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000 Dual-Band | 3.5 pounds | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| D-Link DIR 890L Tri-Band (Editor’s Choice) | 2.5 pounds | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 | 4.11 pounds | 6 | 802.11ac/ad | |
| Amped Wirelss RTA2600 Athena MU-MIMO | 2.6 pounds | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| Linksys WRT1900ACS DD-WRT Dual-Band | 1.8 pounds | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| TP-Link Archer C7 Dual-Band | 1.9 pounds | 4 | 802.11ac | |
| Apple AirPort Extreme Dual-Band | 2.1 pounds | 3 | 802.11ac |
1. TP-Link Talon AD7200 – Latest Technology
The TP-Link Talon AD7200 Wi-Fi Router holds the credential of being the first 802.11ad router in the market.
However, that is not the only trick up its sleeve. The router packs in many cutting-edge features to ensure ultimate performance.
Although it’s not inexpensive, this router offers a few impressive features for the price! In this review, we will go into every aspect of this router and find out whether it’s worth your money.
If you thought the Nighthawk X10 is large, wait till you see this one! The TP-Link Talon AD7200 dwarfs its competitor with dimensions of 9.0 x 9.0 x 1.7 inches. This gargantuan router is one of the biggest home routers available in the market today.
While its size may be imposing, the design is understated. The smart antenna design lets you fold down all nine antennas to provide for a flat top surface. Overall, the design philosophy follows function over form.
Like its direct competitor, the NETGEAR Nighthawk X10, the Talon AD7200 packs an impressive list of features.
- The Talon AD7200 uses multi-Band technology to run three distinct Wi-Fi bands at once.
- The router supports a combined Wi-Fi speed of 7.2 Gbps (Band 1: 800 Mbps @2.4GHz, Band 2: 1733 Mbps @5GHz, Band 3: 4600 Mbps @60GHz).
- While a traditional router can only stream to one device at a time, the Wireless AC and Multi-User MIMO technologies of the Talon AD7200 facilitates simultaneous streaming.
- The 1.4 GHz dual-core processor is powerful enough to support multiple users at once.
- It has eight state-of-the-art external antennas which help in maximizing range and performance.
- It has 1 WAN and four high-speed Gigabit Ethernet ports.
- The two super speed USB 3.0 ports allow you to transfer files to an external HDD or USB drive directly.
- TP-Link provides an easy-to-use one-app solution to setup, manage and update your router.
To enhance the Talon AD7200’s practicality, TP-Link says that it will update the firmware to let you set up all three bands as a single Wi-Fi network. That will be quite a useful feature indeed!
This router offers another simple solution to the installation process. You can download the TP-Link Tether mobile application and follow the instructions to set up your router.
While those scores may not be as impressive as its chief competitor, the NETGEAR Nighthawk X10, it is not bad. When you factor in the price difference, the Talon AD7200 shines brighter than its competitor.
In the 2.4 GHz frequency band, the Talon AD7200 manages to edge the Nighthawk X10. The router has speeds of around 100 Mbps in the close-proximity test and 80 Mbps at a range of 30 feet.
The performance in the 60 GHz AD frequency band is very similar to the Nighthawk X10. In the close-proximity test, the Talon AD7200 managed to impress us with scores averaging 950 Mbps! However, since the 60 GHz frequency can’t penetrate through walls, don’t expect any network coverage beyond your router’s line-of-sight.
- The performance on all the Wi-Fi bands is impressive.
- Installation and management of the router are easy due to the TP-Link Tether mobile application.
- The price is reasonable, when you compare to the NETGEAR Nighthawk X10.
- The AD frequency band is supported by a handful of devices currently and the signal cannot penetrate through walls.
- The router has an enormous footprint.
2. Google WiFi – Best Range covering Wifi System
The Google Wifi is unlike any router you may have seen before. In fact, it would be wrong to call it a router.
It’s a Wi-Fi system and possibly the best one in the market today.
In this comprehensive review, we will cover all the major features of this unique Wi-Fi system and provide an in-depth understanding of how the three Google Wifi units function together to provide superior wireless connectivity.
The white body of the router is divided, by an unobtrusive LED light which lends a touch of elegance to the design. Overall, the design deserves high praise and will be well-suited to modern homes.
- The Google Wifi system has simultaneous dual-band Wifi (2.4GHz / 5GHz) which supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards.
- The 3-pack Google Wifi system is perfect for a large home (3000-4500 square feet).
- You can quickly expand the network by purchasing another Google Wifi unit.
- The 710 MHz quad-core processor coupled with 512 MB RAM, ensures excellent network performance.
- It has an antenna-less elegant design.
- It has two high-speed Gigabit Ethernet ports.
- The two ports function as a LAN and WAN port on the primary unit, while on the secondary units both the ports can provide LAN functionality.
- You can control the system using Alexa and Google Home voice commands.
- The app provides detailed statistics for each device.
- Schedule your Google Wifi system to pause the connection automatically.
- Prioritize a device and ensure it operates at the desired bandwidth.
- Control smart lights and even the Nest systems using this app.
Once the scanning process is complete, the app will guide you to configure your network with a name and password. After that, you need to pair the secondary units and label them in the app for reference. Voila! Your setup is complete!
In the 5 GHz frequency band close-proximity (same-room) test, the Wi-Fi system scored higher than 450 Mbps. That’s seriously impressive when you consider the fact that the much larger Talon AD7200 managed a similar rating.
It also performs very well in the long-range test, with speeds of 200 Mbps. Bear in mind that this is a single unit and not the system as a whole. When all the units updates strategically, there will be no range anxieties whatsoever.
The Google Wifi unit performs respectably in the 2.4 GHz frequency band as well. The speeds of 100 Mbps for the close-proximity test and 70 Mbps for the long range test are comparable to high-end routers.
The Google Wifi system provides an experience, unlike any other router. It’s elegant, simplistic and offers lots of versatility. If you have a large home and want superior connectivity in all parts, the Google Wifi system (3-Pack) is the one we recommend.
No router or Wi-Fi system can provide a seamless experience like this one.
- The performance on all the Wi-Fi bands is impressive.
- The subtle and compact design fits anywhere in your home.
- Other than managing and setting up the network, the proprietary app provides nifty features like controlling your smart home.
- It’s a lot lower priced than other Wi-Fi systems.
- You need to stay logged into a Google account when using this Wi-Fi system.
3. Asus RT-AC88U – The Gamers Choice
Most of the computer enthusiasts or users know of the company Asus because of their top of the line gaming hardware. However, Asus is also at the helm for creating several high ends, top of the line routers. The device we are talking about is the RT-AC88U. This router costs under $300, and it happens to be one of the best wireless routers someone can buy right now.
The wireless router offers a stylish, sleek look. If someone has used an Asus product in the past, they will find this design familiar. The router is aesthetically pleasing with its complete black construction with red accents along the antennas; it looks straight out of a gaming lineup by Asus.
The RT-AC88U is an AC3100 router which comes with a total of 8 Gigabit LAN ports. Do keep in mind though that these ports are capable of delivering high-speed internet without suffering from any performance issues. Also, don’t forget that it is a dual-band router that can act as a NAS as well. With that said, Asus has paid a significant amount of attention to detail even when designing the web interface as it happens to be super intuitive and easy to use. The WiFi performance of the router on both 2.4 gigahertz and the five gigahertz bands stayed faster than ever without any performance decreases.
Installation, Configuration, and Performance
The installation process of RT-AC88U is a piece of cake, thanks to the fantastic web interface. When you connect it to the PC and the internet for the first time, the Asus Web Interface will automatically launch and give you two options to configure the router after you power up the PC. You can then continue with the wizard or set it manually.
The Quick Internet Setup wizard will check your internet connection and configure your router as a Dynamic IP, Static IP or PPPoE, depending on your connection type selection. After that, it allows you to set a name for each SSID, and then create a network encryption key for each band. With that complete, it’s setup.
When it comes to performance, the Asus RT-AC88U provides multi-client MU-MIMO data streaming, works extremely fast on both bands (2.4 Gigahertz and 5 Gigahertz) plus file reading/writing and transfers were great.
- The router comes with 8 Gigabit LAN ports that can easily handle the fastest possible internet
- The Wi-Fi performance happens to be one of the best we have used in a long, long time.
- Asus’ has given us one of the best web interfaces we have used on a wireless router. It’s simple, easy to use and highly intuitive.
- The placing of the USB 3.0 isn’t the best we have seen.
- Once coupled with an external hard drive and used as a NAS, the router manages to give the only mediocre performance for the price you are paying for it.
4. NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000 – AC1900 Dual-Band Router (Best Router under $200)
The next up is another dual-band router. Although, the offer is from none other than the famous Netgear. For those who don’t know, the company is known for creating a plethora of top of the line wireless routers that have become increasingly famous over time. Netgear is a company that has dedicated itself towards providing top of the line, unparalleled networking hardware, including their brilliant wireless routers.
The product that we are bringing you today is called the Netgear Nighthawk R7000. As the name suggests, the router looks nothing less of a stealth fighter jet. The Nighthawk R7000 is AC1900, with 1,300 Mbps speed in the five gigahertz band and 600 Mbps speed on the 2.4 gigahertz band.
I like R7000 more than R8000 because it’s affordable and much easier to install.
During our testing, it became apparent that the R7000 may be the best Netgear wireless router we have used till date. Curious yet? Let’s find out.
However, we found that issue to be subjective as it happens that you will only need to make space for the router once, and won’t be moving it a lot afterward.
The WiFi router also manages to perform well on different ranges. The bands manage to give you performance that is better than the performance provided by your standard Ethernet connection.
The router also comes with the support for OpenVPN and thanks to the OpenDNS; there is a complete parental control package built into the router.
The router even comes with QoS (Quality of Service) for those who don’t know. A feature that can let you manage the upstream and downstream of your internet connection. Cool, we’d say. If you want more, the router can also act as a NAS and a pretty good one.
- The Nighthawk gives an incredible, unparalleled performance on the five gigahertz band.
- It has a slew of features that you usually won’t expect from an affordable router.
- The router looks and feels amazing. It also has a great build quality.
- The amazing build quality comes at a cost of added bulkiness that might not allure everyone.
- Although the performance is good, the 2.4 gigahertz band suffers to deliver as good as the competition.
- The software features are a nice addition, though they need proper finishing.
5. D-Link DIR 890L – Best Range Wireless Router
The next up on our list is one of the top tier wireless routers from D-Link. For those who don’t know, the company has a long history of providing some of the best networking products and the AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi DIR-890 isn’t here to tell a different story. It’s perhaps one of the most stylish looking wireless routers we have encountered. Where the Nighthawk resembled a stealth jet, the DIR-890 looks like race car enthusiasts built it. But looks aren’t everything, right? Let’s find out how this router fairs in things that matter.
The DIR-890 is a fantastic router regarding speed and functionality.
Testing revealed that the router is fast, easy to setup and use. It also has a good speed/range when using this device for Wi-Fi. Another great thing about this router is that it comes with the ability to be doubled up as a NAS by adding an external hard drive.
During the testing, the range seemed promising enough.
- Incredibly fast and problem free Wi-Fi with decent range.
- Stellar build quality and amazing aesthetics.
- The router is easy to setup and use.
- The antennas can’t be detached.
- The price might be an issue for some.
6. NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 – Expensive yet Powerful
The NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Smart Wi-Fi Router is for those looking to have the best VR gaming and 4K video streaming experience. It doesn’t come cheap though. This behemoth of a router will make your pockets lighter by over $400!
In all fairness, this router does offer an awful lot for the price! In addition to supporting three Wi-Fi bands (2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz, and 60 GHz), it has 7 Gigabit Ethernet ports (6 LAN, 1 WAN) along with a 10 Gigabit SPF+ LAN port. On top of that, it features Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, and 160 MHz Wi-Fi technology which doubles the Wi-Fi speeds to mobile devices.
In this comprehensive review, we will explore all these stellar features and find out whether the Nighthawk X10’s high price is justified.
Regarding design, the Nighthawk X10 doesn’t try to be gaudy or in-your-face. The four external antennas feature an interesting stitched pattern of blue LEDs along the side. We feel that it ups the cool factor, although your mileage may vary.
- It features 802.11ac Quad-Stream Wave2 Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO, which helps in delivering high-speed Wi-Fi to multiple devices simultaneously.
- The router supports a combined Wi-Fi speed of 7.2 Gbps (Band 1: 800 Mbps @2.4GHz, Band 2: 1733 Mbps @5GHz, Band 3: 4600 Mbps @60GHz).
- The 1.7 GHz quad-core processor aids gaming and 4K streaming performance.
- It has four dual-band antennas with high-powered amplifiers to maximize range and throughput.
- The 10 Gigabit LAN SFP+ port allows for quick Network-attached Storage (NAS) access.
- Two of the Gigabit Ethernet ports can be combined to provide speeds up to 2 Gbps.
- The 160 MHz Wi-Fi can deliver up to twice the speed to mobile devices.
- It has two super speed USB 3.0 ports.
- The NETGEAR genie app comes with a plethora of features to manage, control and repair your home network.
- It features Amazon drive backup and supports Amazon Alexa commands.
NETGEAR also offers another solution to the installation process – The NETGEAR Up app. With the help of this mobile application, you can quickly setup, update, and configure your router.
The Nighthawk X10 scored nearly 400 Mbps in the 5 GHz band when tested at a distance of 30 feet. Its performance in the 2.4 GHz band was nothing short of excellent. It managed scores of 100 Mbps in the close-proximity test and experienced a drop of 25% at a distance of 30 feet.
The performance in the 60 GHz AD frequency band is what sets this device apart from high-end AC routers. The Nighthawk X10 blazed through the proximity test with scores of 950-960 Mbps! However, the long-range test failed miserably as the 60 GHz frequency can’t penetrate through walls.
Simply put, the Nighthawk X10 is one of the best home routers you can splurge on right now. However, this router has many features that are yet to be supported by devices. Most devices don’t support the 160 MHz Wi-Fi, and very few PCs are available with 802.11 AD network cards.
To sum it up, the Nighthawk X10 is like an electric car. It’s the future, but in today’s limited infrastructure, it will not perform to the highest potential.
- The performance on all the Wi-Fi bands is impressive.
- The 10 Gbps LAN SFP+ port is fantastic if you use high-end NAS servers.
- The installation and management of this router are extremely easy due to the proprietary applications provided by NETGEAR.
- As of now, the AD frequency band is supported by only a handful of devices and the signal cannot penetrate through walls.
- It’s priced a little on the higher side.
7. Amped Wirelss RTA2600 Athena
Next on the list is the Amped Wireless RTA2600 Athena router. As long as you don’t confuse it with the Greek goddess Athena, the router will not disappoint you. Although not expensive, the router is for network enthusiasts. It might not have the bling of the other routers that we have reviewed, but it comes with plenty of features that should be enough for both the average consumer and people who are looking to have some more.
The router managed to fare pretty well in almost all the testing we did. Although, the router doesn’t have an awful lot of features like some of the other ones. However, the ones it has are properly polished and don’t require you to spend countless hours trying to figure out what is what. The router control panel is incredibly responsive, and very easy when it comes to setting up.
The router also comes with powerful hardware that should keep it afloat without giving any performance issues. One thing we love about this router is how nicely everything fits into a compact design. Yes, unlike some other routers, this isn’t an absolute behemoth. With that said, the performance on all fronts was respectable enough, and there were no disconnections during our test run. You can even connect multiple devices via Wi-Fi, and the performance will remain stellar. Perhaps, that is one of the major selling points of the RTA2600 Athena.
Conclusion
- The wireless router surprisingly gives a terrific performance.
- The performance over Wi-Fi is even better regardless of the number of devices connected to it.
- Setting up the router is a breeze and can be done with anyone who has a little knowledge about networking.
- Lacks some of the features that are available in competitors.
- Price may not allure everyone.
8. Linksys WRT1900 AC – Best DD-WRT WiFi Router
The next up on our list is a dual-band wireless router from Linksys. This router comes with the support for the AC1900 standard support. That means the five gigahertz band has a speed of 1,300 megahertz and the 2.5 gigahertz band has a speed of 600 megahertz. But is this router capable enough of holding against most of the top tier routers that we have already listed? Let’s find out.
As soon as you set your eyes on this router, you will remember the classic design and color scheme that has been gracing the routers from Linksys for quite some time. If you are thinking about putting this router on a work desk, you may have to clear some space as this is probably one of the largest routers we have seen in awhile.
The router has four antennas and the firmware it ships with can be replaced by a completely custom firmware from a user. As soon as you take the router out of the box, you will experience that the router happens to be one of the fastest routers available in the market. It’s easy to set up and loaded with features. Linksys was also kind enough to add a full capability of doubling up this router as a NAS. However, that’s not the greatest thing about this device. The best thing about this router is that the NAS performance is unsurpassed when compared to all the other wireless routers we have been testing. Not to mention that it also supports UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and DLNA. Last, the performance on both bands is incredible. This router performs without any hiccups.
Even the Experts are in love with this wireless router. You can read the article by Samara Lynn on PCMag. It’s rated as excellent and got a 4.5 rating.
Conclusion
- The router comes with incredibly powerful hardware.
- Wi-Fi range is fantastic and delivers excellent speed.
- The NAS performance is probably the best we have seen.
- The design is retro and will please those who do it for the aesthetics.
- Price might be a bother for some.
- The default software is confusing for the newcomers, and lacking for the enthusiasts.
9. TP-Link Archer C7 – Best Budget Wireless Router 2017 (Under 100 Bucks)
TP-LINK Archer C7 AC1750 is the best budget wifi router out there (Under $100).
The router is perfect for people who want to enjoy internet gaming and streaming because it has a combined speed of 1.75 Gbps.
The router is stylish and performs incredibly at every task thrown at it. For those who are looking at the perfect price and performance ratio, this router is a fabulous choice.
Moving on to the thing that matters, keep in mind that it happens to be a dual-band router. The router has a total of 6 antennas, and 3 of them are external while the remaining ones are internal. The increased number of antennas are perfect for giving you a respectable amount of Wi-Fi range, and the speed happens to be acceptable enough. The router also comes with average NAS capability.
- Excellent price to performance ratio
- Respectable performance on both the bands
- Good performance with streaming and online gaming
- NAS capability is a good addition
- Average build quality (All Plastic)
10. Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station – Elegant and Unique in Looks
The last in our list is all the way from Apple.
For those who are wondering if this router made it here by accident, it didn’t. Apple has a wireless router, and it’s decent. The router is unconventionally named AirPort Extreme Base Station. So, how does this router fair against other routers in the list? Well, let’s find out.
Let’s start off by how this router looks. Why? Because this is something coming out of Apple’s very own helm, and you should know that the router looks exactly like something made by Apple. Looks apart, the router is very capable and performs well. Do keep in mind that it’s a dual band router and supports the latest Wi-Fi standards as well. The router performed incredibly fast with all the tests thrown at it. Another great thing about this router is the amount of Wi-Fi stability and speed it provides. To be honest, Apple truly outdid themselves with this router as it has everything in the right spot.
As for the downsides of this router, there are none that will make you reconsider your decision of buying this router. The only complaint we have is that the router could have been a decent upgrade over its predecessors. Although it’s fast and fantastic, the upgrades seem subjective.
Final Verdict
- The router is a definitive looker.
- The performance it offers is speedy and impeccable.
- Very easy to set up and even easier to use.
- All the upgrades over the predecessor happen to be subjective.
Wireless Router Buyer’s Guide
For those who don’t know, wireless routers come with several things you need to consider before you spend hard earned money. They have different available speeds as well as different WiFi standards and support for multiple bands.
What is the technology behind a wireless Router?
A wireless router is a device that allows you connect to your modem and the gadgets you have at the home, office, or outdoors through wireless connections to the Internet at the same time.
A wireless router serves you more benefits than just connecting your many gadgets to the web all at once. You need up-to-date information about wireless router just before getting one because there are additional features you need to consider.
Below is complete information about the standard features of your wireless router and how they are of advantage to you.
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