The demand for bandwidth in the average home seems to increase exponentially every few months. Laptops, tablets, phones, TVs, and more, all competing for a slice of the megabit-per-second pie. If you haven’t upgraded lately, one of these beauties could improve your internet experience more than you might think. These are four of CNET’s picks for the best wireless routers on the market.
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Synology RT2600ac
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/synology-rt2600ac/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The RT2600 has long range, fast Wi-Fi speed and plenty of features. The router can host more than one broadband connection, and also works as a robust network storage server when coupled with an external hard drive. It also includes state of the art firmware that delivers a stellar set of extra features.
The bad: There’s no support for combining two LAN ports into a single superfast connection, and you might wish the router had more than five network ports.
The cost: $229.99 MSRP
The bottom line: If you’re looking to create a fast and highly customizable home network with advanced features, look no further than the RT2600AC.
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Asus RT-AC88U
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/asus-rt-ac88u-router/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The Asus RT-AC88U router has eight superfast Gigabit LAN ports, speedy Wi-Fi performance and lots of useful features. Its Web interface is smartly designed and easy to use.
The bad: The router’s USB 3.0 port is awkwardly placed, and when coupled with an external hard drive, its NAS performance is just average.
The cost: $264.99
The bottom line: You’ll pay a lot for the Asus RT-AC88U, but it has everything you’d want in a router. If you have the money, this is the router to get.
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Google Wifi
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/google-wifi/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: Google Wifi is easy to use and a breeze to set up. It has strong Wi-Fi coverage and fast speed. It costs a lot less than other mesh Wi-Fi systems.
The bad: A Google account and a mobile device are required for setup and management. It doesn’t have many advanced features or customizable network settings.
The cost: $129.00 (single unit) to $299.00 (set of 3 units)
The bottom line: Google Wifi is the best Wi-Fi system on the market.
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Netgear Orbi Wi-Fi System
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/netgear-orbi-wifi-system/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Orbi Wi-Fi system conveniently delivers large Wi-Fi coverage without compromising speed. The system doesn’t require an account with Netgear to work.
The bad: The system is expensive, and there’s no mobile app for its setup process.
The cost: $399.99 (set of 2 units)
The bottom line: The high cost aside, the Orbi System is a sure and easy way to cover a relatively large home with high-speed Wi-Fi coverage.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: SF Labs Manager/Editor Dong Ngo and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
