Netgear offers trial subscriptions to its Armor security software, which includes Bitdefender antivirus, and parental controls.
At a distance of 15 feet, the router's 6-Ghz channel delivered throughput of more than a gigabit per second, the first mesh router to do so in our tests.Įach unit has 12 antennas and four Ethernet ports (one rated at 2.5 Gbps), and the system creates channels on the 2.5, 5 and 6-Ghz bands, plus a fourth 5-Ghz one for backhaul between units. Add a third satellite and you can go to 12,000 square feet. The Orbi WiFi 6E can cover up to 9,000 square feet. But if you have money to burn, a gigabit broadband connection from your ISP and an enormous house, then this is probably the mesh system for you.
Netgear's Orbi WiFi 6E (model number RBKE963) is the fastest mesh-router system on the planet - and also the most expensive. But the addition of Google Assistant really puts it over the top, providing an elegant way to add voice control throughout your home, and easy integration with a huge number of the best smart home devices and all of the best Google Home compatible devices. Plus, it'll work with any older Google WiFi units you might own. The speedy Nest WiFi also delivers one of the easiest setup processes we've ever used, making it a snap to set up extensions around the house. Each mesh extension of the Nest WiFi system has a Google Home smart speaker built in, giving you one of the best voice assistants throughout the house, along with powerful wireless signal. But the real draw for the compact mesh units is more than just excellent performance. Made by Google, the Nest WiFi is small enough to hide out of sight and stylish enough that you won't need to.
There are several mesh Wi-Fi solutions on the market, and while they'll all cover your home in wireless signal, our favorite has to be the Nest WiFi. If you want the best Wi-Fi 6 router for the whole household, the Asus RT-AX86U is it.
It even gets a nod as the runner up for best Wi-Fi router in the most recent Tom's Guide Awards. With excellent range and great performance - even through walls and between floors - the RT-AX86U is equal parts general-use router and elite gaming router, and the collection of features and ports it offers are a steal compared to some of the top-performing gaming gear. With high-end performance and lifetime protection against intrusions and malware, it's also a great option for securing your entire home network, providing long term protection without a subscription fee, and carrying a two-year warranty.īut the real draw of the Asus RT-AX86U is the performance, which approaches the the magical 1Gbps mark to provide speedy and effortless connectivity for all of your devices.
The Asus RT-AX86U is a Wi-Fi 6 powerhouse that delivers great speeds and killer gaming features, as well as awesome customization options. Lacks advanced gaming features like geofencing and ping heat map Just be aware that its price is well into four figures. It offers excellent performance that blankets a whole house in signal, and it features a built-in Google Home smart speaker for intuitive voice control.īut if price is no objection, then the Netgear Orbi WiFi 6e is the fastest mesh-router system we've ever seen, and one of the fastest routers, period. In our testing and evaluation, the Nest WiFi is the best mesh Wi-Fi solution you can buy.
The newer wireless standard offers the best throughput we've ever seen, and will easily handle a whole house full of connected devices.įor larger homes, you need coverage that reaches farther and extends to multiple floors as needed, and that means one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems. And with its reasonable price, there should be no surprise that it's our Editor's Choice.įor a justifiably more expensive option, the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) Wi-Fi 6 router blows the doors off of most competing routers. It's equal parts general-use router, serious gaming gear and cybersecurity safeguard. Based on our in-depth testing, the best wireless router is the Asus RT-AX86U, a Wi-Fi 6 powerhouse that has the chops to power a whole home's worth of connected gear, providing pure power for gaming and secure every gadget you own.