If you work from home and have an old router, you might want to upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 router for faster and more secure wireless networking. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) can reach speeds of up to 9.6Gbps and offer other benefits such as more client capacity, longer battery life, better security, and higher efficiency. You can find Wi-Fi 6 routers in different price ranges and features, from budget models starting at $50 to premium ones costing over $600.
To choose the best Wi-Fi 6 router for your needs, you should first think about why you want to switch to Wi-Fi 6. (You can check out our helpful guide for more information.) Then, you should measure your coverage area and count the number of devices that will connect to your network, including PCs, tablets, gaming consoles, phones, and smart home devices like cameras, doorbells, locks, and smart TVs.
The most expensive Wi-Fi 6 routers usually have more I/O ports, powerful management tools, and impressive throughput performance. But you may not need them if you have a smaller network or fewer devices. In this guide, we will show you our top picks for Wi-Fi 6 routers and tell you what to look for when buying a new Wi-Fi 6 router.
Out Top Picks
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
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Best Value
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TP-Link Archer AX21
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Best Budget
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Reyee RG-E5 Wi-Fi 6 Router
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Best Gaming
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TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band
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Best Mainstream
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Wyze Wi-Fi 6E Mesh Router Pro
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1. TP-Link Archer AX21
The TP-Link Archer AX21 is a low-cost router that supports Wi-Fi 6 and delivers fast and consistent speeds across your home network. It is easy to set up and outperforms many similar or more expensive routers.
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest wireless standard that offers new features such as OFDMA and 1024-QAM to boost the speed and efficiency of busy networks with many connected devices. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to enjoy these benefits, as there are some affordable routers that support Wi-Fi 6. Among them, the TP-Link Archer AX21 stands out as the best performer.
I tested the Archer AX21 at home for several days, using five different locations in my house. The router impressed me with its near-perfect average download speed of 299Mbps on a 300Mbps fiber network. It also maintained high speeds in the farthest corner of my house, where many other routers often lose connection. When I upgraded my network to gigabit speeds, the Archer AX21 still delivered fast and reliable speeds, averaging 441Mbps for downloads.
The Archer AX21 outperformed similar routers from Netgear, Asus and D-Link, and even matched some more expensive models. It was also very easy to set up, using the TP-Link Tether app for Android and iOS, which lets you adjust basic network settings without annoying ads.
If you are looking for a router that supports Wi-Fi 6 without breaking the bank, the Archer AX21 is a great choice for small- to medium-size homes. It is one of the best value picks you can find in the market.
2. Reyee RG-E5 Wi-Fi 6 Router
The Reyee RG-E5 is a midrange router that offers fast and reliable Wi-Fi 6 performance and coverage. It has basic parental controls and a smart home feature, but lacks some advanced features of more expensive routers.
The Reyee RG-E5 is a midrange Wi-Fi 6 router that delivers excellent 5GHz throughput and coverage. It can handle multiple devices and stream HD video without any lag or buffering. It may not have some of the advanced features of more expensive routers, such as 160MHz channel bandwidth, WPA3 encryption, multi-gig WAN and USB ports, but those are not essential for most users.
The Reyee RG-E5 is ideal for anyone who wants a fast and stable Wi-Fi 6 connection without breaking the bank. It has simple parental controls to manage your kids’ online activity, and a smart home feature that lets you create a dedicated 2.4GHz network for your smart devices. Whether you need a router for work, entertainment, or home automation, the Reyee RG-E5 can meet your needs.
3. TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router
The Archer AX11000 is an expensive but awesome router with fast speeds and many ports. It has free security features and a gaming dashboard to optimize online gaming. It is ideal for hardcore gamers who want a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router.
The Archer AX11000 is a beast of a router that offers top-notch performance and features for a hefty price. This huge router boasts eight 1GbE LAN ports, a 2.5GbE WAN port, a USB-C port, and link aggregation support. It aced our tests with blazing-fast throughput and file-transfer speeds. It also provides free parental controls and malware protection.
If you’re a hardcore gamer who wants the best of the best, the Archer AX11000 is the router for you. This tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router has killer components and killer performance. Its gaming dashboard lets you control bandwidth allocation, monitor data rates and resource usage, and test internet upload and download speeds. It also has a Game Accelerator option that boosts online gaming performance by lowering latency.
4. Wyze Wi-Fi 6E Mesh Router Pro
This system has future-ready 6GHz, fast and reliable 5GHz, and affordable price. It delivers powerful Wi-Fi signals, has built-in security software, and works with Wyze smart home devices. The Deco W7200 is ideal for midrange mesh with 6GHz support and the Mesh Router Pro is great for large homes.
This two-piece system has it all: future-ready 6GHz capability, fast and reliable 5GHz performance, and an affordable price of $273.99. In our tests, Wyze’s Wi-Fi 6E mesh system delivered powerful Wi-Fi signals throughout our test home. The system also comes with built-in network security software that works seamlessly with the user-friendly mobile app, which you may already use for your other Wyze smart home devices. You can customize your system according to your home size: a single router for $179.98 covers 2,000 square feet, while a three-pack for $393.99 covers 6,000 square feet.
Who It’s For The Deco W7200 is ideal for anyone looking for a midrange mesh system that provides strong 5GHz coverage and supports 6GHz (Wi-Fi 6E) for future-proofing. The Mesh Router Pro two-pack is a great option for spreading dependable Wi-Fi throughout a home up to 4,000 square feet, especially if you already have other Wyze devices in your smart home.