Looking for the best wireless router for gaming? We all want to get our hands on the best wireless router for gaming. However, the market out there is a bit confusing, with almost every product marketing itself as the best in their respective categories. Obviously, you would need to sift through all these marketing gimmicks to get to the bottom of things; but, who has the time for finding the best wireless router for gaming these days?
And that is where this list comes in. We’ve curated the best routers out there to give you this list of handpicked, top-of-the-line products. By the way, top-of-the-line does not necessarily mean expensive since we’ve also factored in the possible differences in the budgeted amounts for different buyers, so we’ve included a few of the best wireless routers for gaming among the affordable ones as well as the best from the not-so-affordable category.
The best wireless router for gaming models that include the latest gaming technology is guaranteed to make hardcore gamers drool. On the other hand, a few routers on the list come only with the more basic features you’ll need in a gaming-oriented router since some buyers just want the basics. Anyway, please take a look at what we’ve prepared for you.
Best Wireless Router for Gaming: Top Picks
NETGEAR R6700 Nighthawk AC1750 Dual Band Smart WiFi Router, Gigabit Ethernet (R6700)
All gamers want a high-performance connection best wireless router for gaming so they can fully immerse into the world of their favorite online games without lags and other unwanted stuff.
For this to happen, however, one would need a suitable gaming hardware as well as the best wireless router available for that ultra-fast, uninterrupted signal. That is where the NETGEAR R6700 Nighthawk AC1750 Dual Band Smart WiFi Router, Gigabit Ethernet (R6700) comes in.
Data speed is essential for every gamer since a game can be won or lost with just a single second of lag. When coming up with your own network, you should consider the best wireless router for gaming that is up for the job.
With the NETGEAR R6700 Nighthawk AC1750, speed would never be an issue, and a lag-free gaming experience is but guaranteed.
That’s because the router can deliver blazingly fast speeds of up to 1750 Gbps. R6700 is a dual-band and delivers up to 350 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and another 1300 Mbps from the 5 GHz band. With such terrifyingly fast speeds, it is more than enough to give you that best lag-free gaming experience you’ve been looking for. In fact, it’s not just online gaming that will be improved by this router – 4K video streaming and other bandwidth-heavy activities will not be a problem to the NETGEAR Nighthawk.
Powering the Nighthawk R6700 is a dual-core 1 GHz processor. With its 256 MB RAM and a 128 MB flash memory, the router is prepared for any multitasking task thrown its way. If you really want to ensure that your gaming satisfaction is the network’s number one priority, the NETGEAR R6700 has Advanced QoS so that you can prioritize lag-free gaming over any other application running on your network.
The router is ideal for homes with 12 or more wireless devices and, with its large, powerful antenna, is sufficient to cover even large homes. WiFI range and its signal quality are enhanced by the R6700’s Beamforming technology, where it can focus signal to the devices instead of indiscriminately emitting it all over the place.
Network security is assured with VPN support for secure remote access. A separate and secure guest network access is available for your visitors. DoS prevention, double firewall (SPI and NAT) WPA/WPA2 also come as standard.
The router has four LAN Gigabit Ethernet ports for fast-wired connections. In addition, it has a USB 3.0 port and 1 USB 2.0 port for file-sharing or printers.
PROS
VPN support
Very fast wireless speeds suitable for lag-free gaming or 4K movie streaming
Powerful hardware
Fast storage
Prioritization via QoS
Great range with quality signal due to Beamforming
CONS
There have been complaints of poor support.
NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming WiFi Router
We’ve previously introduced the best wireless router for gaming, NETGEAR R6700, which is indeed a very capable gaming router. Now, we will introduce something even better and understandably pricier – the NETGEAR Nighthawk XR500.
If you can afford the price, it could be the best wireless router for gaming that’s perfect for you.
The NETGEAR XR500 is an upscale version of the R6700 we’ve previously discussed and, as its name suggests, is a member of the Nighthawk series. But its higher price is certainly justified with the tons of features you’ll only find in this router as well as its powerful specs in general.
In terms of wireless speed, the NETGEAR XR500 is a beast. You’ll be getting up to 2.6 Gbps in wireless speed thanks to its four external antennas that also improve range.
Interference is greatly reduced even with multiple devices connected to the network with the MU-MIMO technology, so you and your buddies can enjoy lag-free gaming together. This ultra-fast speed is certainly enough in the world of fast-paced online gaming.
But the NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming Wifi Router’s support to go give you the best gaming experience does not end there. It gives you a bunch of tools so you can customize your router to your heart’s content. There is that QoS that contains something in the menu called the Anti-Bufferbloat panel. This is where you dictate how much bandwidth you’re willing to share with non-gaming devices.
If that’s not enough, there is an option called Bandwidth Allocation. As its name suggests, you can act like a tyrant by dictating just how much bandwidth you will allocate to other devices. In your bid to get the best gaming experience, some sacrifices have to be made after all.
Sometimes, you will inevitably experience latency when you inadvertently choose a game server thousands of miles away from your location. Don’t worry; the NETGEAR XR500 got you covered again. Just turn on the geo-filter feature where you can set just how far from your location a server must be to reduce latency to a level that meets your high standards.
Its hardware specs include 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 Gigabit WAN port, dual-core 1.7 GHz processor, and two super-fast USB 3.0 ports. As you can see, the NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming WiFi Router gives you nothing but premium performance, and it certainly deserves to be called the best wireless router for gaming.
PROS
Gamers are given tons of ways to reduce lag
Highly oriented for gaming
Great wireless speeds
Reliable connection
CONS
Geo-filtering works for consoles but does not seem to work for PC-based games.
ASUS Tri-Band Gigabit (AC3200) WiFi Router
Manufacturers often vary in their approach to give you the best wireless router for gaming. In the case of the ASUS Tri-Band Gigabit WiFi Router (RT-AC3200), perfection was achieved through a balance between performance and security.
The ASUS RT-AC3200 is certainly one of the most high-performing WiFi gaming routers you’ll ever encounter. Let’s talk about speed, for starters. It delivers combined wireless speeds of up to 3200 Mbps.
It can do that because it is a Tri-band – its single 2.4 GHz band is capable of delivering speeds of up to 600 Mbps, while its two 5 GHz bands are capable of delivering 1300 Mbps each.
With that kind of speed, you’ll have no problem playing an online game or streaming an HD movie, or any other bandwidth-intensive activity.
But the best wireless router for gaming – Asus is not stopping there. The Tri-Band Gigabit WiFi router also employs Smart Connect to manage what band a wireless device must be connected with. Simply put, the technology matches the device based on speed, load, and signal strength to pair it with the correct band optimizing the network so that everyone stays satisfied with his device’s connection.
Its 6 external antennas further enhance the router’s range in a three-transmit, three-receiver (3T3R) configuration. Aside from improving range, signal quality and stability are also improved by this setup. Meanwhile, beamforming technology also helps in focusing the signal toward the devices themselves.
ASUS Tri-Band Gigabit (AC3200) WiFi Router also uses MU-MIMO to ensure that your network will be able to handle numerous wireless devices simultaneously without affecting performance. In terms of optimizing your gaming performance, you can tweak your network via the Adaptive QoS.
Security is also a serious concern for the designer of the ASUS RT-AC3200. It uses AiProtecton by Trend Micro to meet online threats head-on. It boasts of multi-stage protection that solves vulnerability issues and blocks malicious sites before they can infect devices connected to the network.
You can also use Parental Controls to limit the internet usage of your children and other minors living in your home. With the ASUS Router App, managing your network is a breeze as it gives your access to security settings, control over network access to devices connected to the network, and real-time monitoring of traffic.
The router has one WAN and four LAN Ethernet ports for wired connections. In addition, there is one USB 3.0 port and one USB 2.0 port for printer and other network use.
PROS
Packed with useful features
Tri-Band, very fast wireless speeds
Reliable performance
CONS
Bulky design
ASRock G10 AC2600 Gigabit Gaming Router
If you are aiming for the best wireless router for gaming, wireless speed is probably at the top of your priority list.
Well, it just so happens that there is, in fact, a router that calls itself the “World’s Fastest 4T4R 802.11ac”- the ASRock G10 AC2600 Gigabit Gaming Router.
Upon verification, it certainly is fast – a dual-band router capable of unleashing wireless speeds of up to 2566 Mbps. On the 5 GHz band, it delivers speeds of up to 1733 Mbps while its 2.4 GHz band maxes at 800 Mbps.
Such wireless speeds should suffice to give you lag-free online gaming or 4K video streaming.
However, you will only be able to truly harness the router’s capacity by having compatible wireless devices that are just as fast. Otherwise, you’ll just be wasting all the bandwidth.
The ASRock router sports the MU-MIMO Gaming Boost settings. As briefly explained, this Gaming Boosts prioritizes bandwidth allocation to gaming applications and consoles, resulting in the best gaming experience possible. Alternatively, you can use QoS to manually assign the maximum downlink and uplink speeds for each device.
You might have noticed that the 4T4R description of this router which, by the way, stands for 4-transmit-4-receiver, means that there should be eight antennas in total. In case you are wondering where those eight are, there are indeed eight antennas, but they are all housed inside the router’s casing. This probably explains a lot why the router looks a bit tall and bulky.
The ASRock G10 AC2600 Gigabit Gaming Router also features an infrared transmitter and receiver meant to support bit torrent download. However, care should be exercised when positioning the router as you might end up placing the router with the infrared facing a wall.
There are four LAN ports, a WAN port, and 2 USB ports located at the side for other connectivity options.
PROS
Fast wireless speed
Feature-packed
Geared for gaming
Affordable
CONS
Bulky appearance
It can’t be wall-mounted
Infrared will most likely have very limited use
ASUS AC5300 Tri-Band WiFi Gaming Router
At a glance, the ASUS RT-AC5300 gaming router looks like a modern version of an impregnable citadel with its antennas jutting out like towers surrounding the square platform. But don’t let this very unique look fool you; this just might be the best wireless router for gaming that’s a perfect fit for you.
The ASUS AC5300 offers one of the fastest wireless connections you’ll ever find. That alone should already pique the interest of hardcore gamers. In addition to that, it has 2Gbps Ethernet link aggregation plus tons of other features that even battle-hardened geeks might not be able to resist its charms.
It’s a Tri-band router with two 5 GHz bands and a single 2.4 GHz. As you might already imagine, this is a very potent combination, and its combined top speed could reach a jaw-dropping 5334 Mbps.
But that’s not all. Its Multi-user MIMO technology ensures that all connections are optimized based on the gadgets’ maximum speed. There is also built-in access to WTFast Gamers Private Network for stable ping times. All of these conspire to produce a gaming experience that can only be described as nothing short of perfection.
Network security won’t be an issue with this router around. It features the AiProtection Powered by Trend Micro, which is basically free lifetime protection against online threats.
As with most high-end ASUS products, the ASUS AC5300 Tri-Band WiFi Gaming Router features Smart Connect. This technology enables the devices connected to the network to experience constant bandwidth as it automatically switches between 2.4 and 5 GHz bands for maximum performance.
The best wireless router for gaming equipment must be backed with only the best specs available, and RT-AC5300 is no exception. A 1.4 GHz dual-core processor powers the router paired with an impressive 512 MB RAM. It has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports with 2 Gbps link aggregation capability. There are also USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 for network functionality or storage.
The ASUS RT0-AC5300 is perfect for larger homes as its 4R4T antenna configuration ensures maximum range.
PROS
Very fast connection speed
Optimized for gaming
2Gbps Ethernet link aggregation
Lifetime protection against online threats
CONS
A bit expensive
The design might not suit everyone
TP-Link AC5400 Tri-Band Smart WiFi Gaming Router
What TP-Link promises for its Archer C5400 Tri Bank Smart Gaming router is something extraordinary. According to the manufacturer, the router can deliver incredible Wifi without lag and viruses, a promise that, when fulfilled, will undoubtedly make the C5400 the best wireless router for gaming.
And it looks like TP-Link was not exaggerating when it made that statement at all. The WiFi speed delivered by the TP-Link AC5400 router is ridiculously super-fast.
It is actually capable of unleashing a combined speed of up to 5400 Mbps, a sum of the 1000 Mbps from the 2.4 GHz band, and the 4334 Mbps from the two 5 GHz bands (2167 Mbps each).
This is, of course, the result of a combination of the AC5400 Tri-Band with 4-Stream and NitroQAM technologies.
With the TP-Link Archer C5400, your network will be equipped to face today’s cyber threat challenges. It comes with the TP-Link HomeCare, which is powered by Trend Micro, a 3-in-1 solution of Wi-Fi, Antivirus, and Parental Controls in one. The system automatically protects every wireless device in your network, including gaming consoles, from both viruses and hacks.
MU-MIMO technology allows the Archer C5400 to simultaneously deliver blazingly fast connection speeds to all WiFi devices so you and your buddies can enjoy lag-free gaming or HD movie streaming at all times.
With the range provided by its eight antennas, the router is perfect even for large homes. It is powered by a 1.4 GHz dual-core along with 3 co-processors. There are 4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports as well as a single USB 3.0 port. Alexa and IFTTT compatibility is definitely a plus if you want to get a digital assistant in the future.
PROS
Blazingly fast WiFi connection
Powerful router
Compatible with Alexa and IFTTT
CONS
Expensive
The design might not suit everyone’s taste.
Linksys AC3200 Dual-Band WiFi Gaming Router
The dual-band WRT32X router can deliver what is referred to as NextGen AC WiFi with speeds that can reach up to 3.2 Gbps. Every device connected to the network will have its own dedicated data stream.
This means that all users will enjoy the same high-speed connectivity, that is, before the Killer Prioritization Engine will take into effect. Killer prioritization, by the way, will only work with a Killer PC that is being sold by brands such as Alienware™, Gigabyte™, MSI™, and Razer™.
For wired connections, there are 4 Gigabit LAN Ethernet ports and a Wan port. There are also two USB ports that you can either use for additional storage or network functionality.
PROS
Very stable in-game ping
Killer Prioritization Engine
CONS
Expensive
Gaming features might have limited use.
TP-Link AC1900 Smart Wireless Router
Even if you’re on a budget, you can still upgrade your gaming experience by getting the TP-Link Archer C9 AC 1900 Smart Wireless Router. It is certified refurbished by the manufacturer, making it relatively inexpensive compared to other routers in its category.
Considering its price, it still packs quite a punch with its fast WiFi speeds of up to 1.9 Gbps thanks to being a dual-band and squeezing as much as 600 Mbps out of the 2.4 GHz band and another 1300 Mbps from the 5 GHz band.
Such data speed should be more than enough for your network to deliver lag-free gaming or HD video streaming making the Archer 9 the best wireless router gaming in its price range.
It sports the next-generation of beamforming technology for a reliable and fast WiFi connection to all your wireless devices. The technology focuses signals to these devices instead of emitting in all directions, enhancing the range and signal quality.
The TP-Link Archer C9 is powered by a 1 GHz dual-core processor allowing it to seamlessly handle multitasking functions and serve all your devices with ease, including laptops, smartphones, consoles, tablets, and PCs. A 9-day warranty backs the router by its manufacturer for that added peace of mind.
PROS
Inexpensive
Fast speeds for lag-free gaming
Reliable, solid performance
CONS
Only one USB 3.0 port
Can’t compete with high-end routers in speed
Ultimately, choosing the best wireless router for gaming is a personal decision. However, it pays to really ask yourself honestly what you really want from a gaming network and consider just how much you are really willing to spend on such a purchase.
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