15 Best Wi-Fi Routers

Let's start with the most budget Wi-Fi router. The average price tag for this miniature miracle is only 890 rubles. For this money, the user gets a nice, high-quality snow-white case with two antennas with a power of 5 dBi each. It does not take up much space - the dimensions of the case are 127x90x26 mm. But there are no slots for wall mounting - a minus for this.

The insides are unaffected. The cable speed reaches 100 Mbps. Connect via LAN can be up to three devices. Wireless Internet complies with the standard Wi-fi 802.11n with theoretical speeds up to 300 Mbps. In reality, judging by the reviews, the speed reaches 70-75 Mbps.

Separately, we note the software part. First of all, the ease of setup pleases - as they say, even a housewife can handle it. From the interesting: it is possible to remotely administer, backup settings, restrict access by MAC and URL, speed limits. Of course, small problems happen, but they are easy to solve by installing a more recent firmware from the official site - the process will not cause difficulties even for beginners.

TL-MR3020 at first glance is an extremely simple device. Just one LAN port, USB 2.0, miniUSB for power, a couple of switches and indicators.The characteristics are also missing from the sky: the Wi-Fi 802.11n standard, which will be enough for tariff plans with a speed of 100 Mbps, but no more. But the ability to install third-party firmware and ensure the distribution of mobile Internet makes this router very versatile. See what use cases users have shared in their reviews:

1) An ordinary router for a house or apartment

2) Backup source of Internet (mobile) in case of disconnection of the main provider

3) Access point on a hike - the device can work from a simple power bank!

4) Internet in the car: connected to the cigarette lighter, hid the router in the glove compartment, and you can share the Internet with all passengers

And this is just a small list. Installing the OpenWRT firmware, a USB hub, and user curiosity allow you to use the router in a huge number of situations.

The second line of the rating is occupied by a model from MikroTik, a little-known company in wide circles. First of all, hAP ​​lite stands out for its unusual appearance. This is a compact white and blue box with stylish ventilation slots. But more attention is drawn to the absence of external antennas - here they are internal, in the amount of two pieces. The power is low - only 1.5 dBi, but for a small apartment it will be enough. On the other hand, it allows you to place the device almost anywhere. It is also worth considering that the silver medalist of the rating is only capable of delivering speeds of about 150 Mbps.

There are also some unique features. First, using Router OS.This system has simply incredible capabilities that even much more expensive devices cannot provide the user. Seamless transition between multiple access points, bridge mode, VPN, tunnels - all this and much more, understanding people will find in the router settings. Secondly, hAP ​​lite supports connection to several providers at once. The WAN port can be any of the four located on the case.

The first place in the ranking of the best budget Wi-Fi routers for the home is TP-LINK TL-WR841N. The device can be used as an access point and simultaneously "distribute" a signal to 6 receivers. Among all inexpensive routers, it has the highest potential speed of 300 Mbps. The router is equipped with a modern WPA2 data encryption system, which ensures high reliability of transmitted data. The model supports PPTP, L2TP and IPSec tunnel protocols, which are the most common among most providers.

The advantages of this router in the reviews, users include low cost, ease of setup and a good stable signal. The latter is provided thanks to two antennas operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. The transmitter power is 20 dBM, which allows the signal to "break through" even the thick walls of the apartment. As weaknesses, they note the poor material of the case and a poor-quality power adapter, which makes unnecessary sounds during operation.

The price range of the middle class allows you to purchase a router with a huge number of interesting features. But not everyone needs them. Sometimes, the user is quite fast trouble-free network operation. Just for such a situation, the AC6 model from Tenda is perfect. Appearance is futuristic. The front panel of a complex shape, chopped edges, huge antennas: this solution will not satisfy everyone. But it’s worth saying thanks for the switchable LED indication - nothing else will bother you at night.

Features are decent. The router can simultaneously operate in two bands (2.4 / 5 GHz). The maximum declared Wi-Fi speed is 1167 Mbps. Judging by user reviews, the figure is quite real. You can find fault with the presence of only 3 LAN ports with a fairly low speed - up to 100 Mbps. You don’t have to wait for special “goodies”: work in the repeater, bridge mode is supported, there is a VPN and relatively powerful antennas (30 dBm)

All Keenetic models boast a modern, discreet design. A router with such an appearance will fit into almost any interior without any problems. Convenience does not suffer. On the left side of the case there is a function button and a USB input for connecting printers, flash drives, hard drives and other devices. Given the ability of Extra to download files offline and be used as a file and FTP server, the solution is convenient. Also, the USB connector allows you to connect 3G / 4G modems, which is useful for creating a backup communication channel. At the back, there are traditionally 4 LAN ports with a speed of 100 Mbps.

With the speed of the wireless channel, the situation is much better. The maximum speed is declared at the level of 1167 Mbps. The router supports simultaneous dual band operation and MIMO technology. In addition, Keenetic Extra supports (find your fingers): VPN, PPTP, L2TP, IPSEC, VLAN, TELNET. All this allows you to use the router in a huge number of cases.

ASUS is a leader in many areas. The segment of network equipment was no exception. Model RT-AC58U is one of the best representatives of the mainstream segment. The design is traditional for the manufacturer's routers: a discreet form, a textured top cover. It is not necessary to hide such beauty in the closet. 4 non-removable antennas on the back and sides that support AiRadar technology, which focuses the signal on the receiving device for a more stable connection. Front - USB 3.0 connector. Through it, you can connect an external drive or printer, organize your own cloud storage, or install a 3G / LTE modem for insurance in case the wired network is disconnected.

The claimed WiFi speed is high: 1267 Mbps (400 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz channel and 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz). We are also pleased with the presence of four gigabit LAN ports, which many competitors cannot boast of. The list of supported technologies is almost the same as Keenetic Extra, discussed above.

In the first place in the ranking of the best Wi-Fi routers of the middle price category is the MikroTik RB951G-2HnD model.This device is a strong average in terms of reliability, performance and cost. It is used as an access point and can simultaneously “distribute” wireless Internet to 5 devices. Provides maximum speed up to 300 Mbps. As a nice addition, the router has MIMO support, which allows it to transmit data over several independent channels at once. Bridge mode is used to connect wired networks to wireless networks.

In reviews, buyers talk about high-quality assembly, smooth operation and wide customization options as the strengths of the model. At the same time, the router boasts 128 MB of RAM. Thanks to Telnet support, remote control of the device and its settings is possible. The transmitter power is 30 dBM, and the internal antenna amplifies 2.5 dBi, which has a positive effect on the range. The disadvantages of this model are the difficulty of playing 4G networks and incompatibility with some USB hubs.

Even the coolest router with incredible speed cannot always cope with a stable coverage of a large area. A two-story country house or just a large city apartment requires the installation of Wi-Fi signal repeaters (amplifiers). But such a solution inevitably leads to a decrease in access speed. A system like TP-LINK Deco M4 is called to help, creating a seamless mesh WiFi. This means that when moving around the house, your device will not reconnect to a new point.At the same time, the speed remains maximum regardless of your location.

Dealt with technology. Now consider the device itself. Outwardly - extremely aesthetic cylindrical devices in the amount of two pieces per set (if necessary, you can buy more). Minimalistic pleasant design and small dimensions allow Deco M4 to fit into any modern interior. Only power connectors and a pair of gigabit LAN ports are located on the case. The setup is simple, through a proprietary application for mobile devices. As befits a modern router, TP-LINK supports simultaneous operation in two bands, providing a maximum total speed of up to 1167 Mbps. Of the unusual, we note the support for Amazon Alexa and IFTTT.

Keenetic network equipment is little known to the general public, but is popular with enthusiasts. The Giga model is not the top one, but its capabilities will be enough even for the most demanding users. The case is not only pretty, but also functional. On the back side there are 4 gigabit LAN ports, one WAN and SFP for connection via fiber optic cable. The latter can be offered by very few competitors. On the side of the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. The distance between them is large, which allows you to freely use even bulky mobile Internet modems. There are also two physical buttons, each of which can be configured up to three functions.

The router supports the 802.11ac standard and can operate simultaneously in two bands. The maximum theoretical speed reaches 1267 Mbps.Real tests showed results of about 600 Mbps, which is enough for the vast majority of users.

Thanks to the set of ports and excellent software, the router can be used in a wide variety of scenarios.

The second place in the ranking of the best Wi-Fi routers in the premium segment is the ASUS RT-AC88U model. The main feature of this device is the ability to ensure the simultaneous operation of several dozen devices, thanks to a maximum data transfer rate of up to 3167 Mbps. Wide coverage and a good signal level are provided by four antennas operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.

As the strengths of the device in the reviews, buyers note smart work, a pleasant appearance and a clear Web interface. In addition, the model has 512 MB of RAM, which allows it to quickly process data from different receivers. The router is equipped with one USB port version 2.0 and one version 3.0, which allows you to connect third-party devices to it. The disadvantages include insufficiently developed software and the average signal level at a frequency of 5 GHz.

Devices that are at the forefront of technological progress are often too expensive and fancy for widespread use. Such is the Archer AX6000 from TP-LINK. Even the appearance itself can shock: a huge body measuring 26x26x6 cm. Plus eight antennas, each of which produces 20 dBm, located along the perimeter. Spider, nothing else. All this splendor is worth almost 20 thousand rubles.Why are they asking for that kind of money?

For insane performance. The AX6000 is one of the few models in the world that supports WiFi 802.11ax (aka WiFi 6). Due to this, the maximum speed "over the air" can reach almost 6 Gbps! In addition, the router carries 8 gigabit LAN ports and a WAN port with a maximum speed of 2.5 Gb / s. Also the device supports work as file and FTP servers. To work with external drives and printers, two USB connectors are installed at once: classic Type-A and modern Type-C. Of the interesting things, it is worth noting 1 GB of RAM for fast work and integration with Amazon Alexa and IFTTT.

The portable model Huawei E8372 takes the third place in the ranking of the best mobile Wi-Fi routers. This device, with a fairly small size, can provide full Internet access to any smartphone or computer. The device is powered from any USB port. With Huawei E8372, you can organize effective LTE Internet in your car, apartment or house. The router operates in the 2.4 GHz band, which allows you to use its wireless network in an area of ​​up to 50 square meters. The device has built-in support for 3G and LTE, that is, access can be carried out using a SIM card.

Among the strengths of the device in the reviews, users note the work without connecting to a computer (via a USB cable), confident communication and no freezes. The device has a slot for microSD memory cards and two connectors for external antennas, which potentially allows you to significantly increase the range of the router.Among the weaknesses of this model are uninformative instructions and poor case materials.

Video review

The next device is more versatile and autonomous than the previous one. Inside the compact and pleasant to the touch case there is a 1800 mAh battery, which provides 7 hours of active Internet distribution and about 35 hours of standby time. The battery compartment also hides slots for SIM and SD (up to 32 GB) cards and a pair of connectors for connecting external antennas. I am glad that a dead battery will not be a reason to interrupt Internet surfing - just connect the included charger to the MicroUSB connector and use the device further.

Wireless Internet standards are not the most modern - only 802.11n. In practice, users have a speed of 70-80 Mbps. Not all providers can boast of such results even on cable! The signal level is also good: it will even break through a couple of solid walls. The only drawback is the ill-conceived mobile application. But the problem is solved programmatically, which means there is hope for a speedy correction of shortcomings.

The leader of the rating is the most expensive and functional device in the category. Appearance is simple: a box with rounded corners and a combination of matte and glossy plastic. The only detail that catches the eye is the 1.4' TFT display, which displays information about the operator, signal level, transmission speed, etc. Also, the screen allows you to carry out elementary settings. For more advanced settings, you will have to climb into the web interface.In most cases, you only need to change the name of the wireless network - the router will do the rest itself, you just need to install the SIM card.

Like the previous participant, M7350 has a removable battery. The capacity is noticeably higher - 2550 mAh. There is a slot for a Micro SDHC card up to 32 GB. Thanks to the support of SMB and FTP protocols, any connected device can use files from a USB flash drive. Such a solution can be useful, for example, when traveling with the whole family - everyone can take photos and videos and upload them for general access.