Wi-Fi 6 routers: the best Wi-Fi 6 routers you can buy in 2020
There’s a new standard in town – Wi-Fi 6 – so the best Wi-Fi 6 routers are slowly taking over. Now gracing more and more homes with their presence, these routers deliver lower latency, greater range and faster speeds. And, though a bit on the higher end price-wise right now, they also feature great non-Wi-Fi features like multiple ethernet ports, MU-MIMO, and web interfaces that offer both ease-of-use and plenty of options for power users.
But, what exactly is Wi-Fi 6, and why should you care? The long and short of it is this: Wi-Fi 6 is the successor to 802.11ac, commonly branded as Wireless-AC, and it’s much faster, more reliable and has greater range. While older devices can’t benefit from these advantages, newer ones, like the Ultrabooks equipped with Ice Lake processors come equipped to use Wi-Fi 6.
If you’re in the market for a new router, future-proof your home network and get one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers you can afford. We’ve used our tech expertise to find the best Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market right now. And, because we’ve included our exclusive price comparison tool, you can be confident that you’re getting a deal on the internet.
The best Wi-Fi 6 routers at a glance
- Netgear Orbi WiFi 6
- Asus RT-AX88U
- Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000
- Netgear Nighthawk MK63
- NETGEAR Nighthawk AX8 RAX80
- NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 RAX120
- Asus RT-AX92U
If you’re ready to jump on the Wi-Fi 6 bandwagon, the Orbi WiFi 6 is your best bet when it comes to getting the best Wi-Fi 6 routers. It’s not by any means a casual purchase, with its steep price tag, but if you’re looking to upgrade to a faster and more reliable router to cover a massive space – like your countryside mansion, perhaps, or your crowded smart home – then this one’s absolutely worth the money. Plus, it’s easy and straightforward to setup, making it great for people who don’t have too much experience with Wi-Fi networks.
Read the full review: Netgear Orbi WiFi 6
The Asus RT-AX88U has all the bells and whistles that you could want out of a router, including Wi-Fi 6 compatibility. And, it’s because it offers so much while resting on the lower end of the current Wi-Fi 6 router price range that makes it our favorite on our list. One advantage of this router over others on the list is the 8 LAN ports. At twice the amount the most other routers carry, the RT-AX88U can save you from having to buy an ethernet switch. Couple that with the excellent web interface and gamer-friendly features, and you have one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers available right now.
Sometimes running ethernet cable just isn’t an option. In fact, if you’re a gamer, it can actually be disastrous. You can count on the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 to help ease your pain. With 8 antennas, MU-MIMO and options to prioritize gaming traffic, this router can help reduce the latency that makes gaming via Wi-Fi a pain. This router has the same great, easy-to-use interface as the RT-AX88U, but only has 5+1 LAN ports. One of those LAN ports is a 2.5 Gbps line, however, which is great for connecting a NAS or other device that needs a lot of available bandwidth on demand.
Larger homes need more robust solutions, and while the Netgear Nighthawk MK63 might be an overkill for smaller homes, it’s just the ticket if you have a space of up to 3500 sq.ft and need an extremely reliable network for gaming and 4K video. There are some neat features you’re getting here as well, including the ability to create a guest network and a network map for monitoring all devices connected to your network. There are no parental controls, however, and as long as you can live with that and the high price tag, this might be the best Wi-Fi 6 router for you.
Read the full review: Netgear Nighthawk MK63
Netgear’s Nighthawk routers have always come highly recommended, and the Wi-Fi 6 models don’t fall from the tree. This is another Wi-Fi 6 router that ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to features, and surprisingly is on the cheaper side of the market. The one thing that made the RT-AX88U beat out the AX8 is the fact that it only has 5+1 LAN Gigabit LAN ports. Otherwise, this router is an excellent affordable alternative for ASUS’s model.
The Nighthawk AX12 is Netgear’s analog answer to the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000, and as such it a great alternative. Inside the Batwing-looking appendages on the side are eight antennas, which delivers increased range and high-performance even when multiple devices are connected. If you have a device that needs high bandwidth on demand, this is an excellent router for you. One of the 5+1 LAN connections is a 5 Gigabit port, which once again, is great if you have a NAS.
The Asus RT-AX92U is for those who have a large area they need Wi-Fi in, but still want Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. It isn’t quite as feature-rich as many of its rivaling Wi-Fi 6 routers, but with its bundle, you get two routers for the price of any one of the others on our list. Since these are designed to work as mesh routers, it’s easy to get them going. You hook up one as you would normally, and use the second as an extender. It’s a perfect package for multi-story or sprawling households that one router just can’t cover.
