Whereas Wi-Fi 5 routers are somewhat of a downgrade and Wi-Fi 7 routers are overkill, it makes more sense to go for a Wi-Fi 6 router. Thanks to the increasing demand and proportionate supply, you can now get a Wi-Fi 6 router without breaking the bank. But how do you choose the best Wi-Fi 6 router? Well, in this guide, I shall talk about the top 7 Wi-Fi 6 routers for different cases and budgets.
How To Choose the Best Wi-Fi 6 Router
You might find it difficult to choose the right router, especially given the increasing number of options. Here are the criteria I followed while choosing the best options for all these categories.
- Speed: All the best Wi-Fi 6 routers on this list offer support for multi-Gig speeds. Some of these Wi-Fi routers use tri-band connectivity as well, offering advanced speeds and latency for gaming, video conferencing, etc.
- Range: The overall range of the Wi-Fi router/mesh Wi-Fi system was also a major factor that I had to consider. Given that people need a stable connection across their house/apartments, most models on the list go beyond the typical setup to offer better range.
- Connectivity Options: Advanced connectivity features like MU-MIMO and OFDMA are also provided as extra points while making the pick. These features work with the raw power of the Wi-Fi 6 standard to offer an enhanced wireless Internet experience.
- Usability: I have ensured that all the Wi-Fi 6 routers on the list are super-usable, preferably through a mobile app. In particular, I have mentioned features like parental control, QoS, port forwarding, port triggering, etc.
I have also ensured that you get to choose from multiple subcategories based on performance, speed, mesh support, etc. Without further ado, we shall jump to the rankings and reviews of the products we’ve chosen.
#1 Best Budget Wi-Fi 6 Router: TP-Link Archer AX21 AX1800 WiFi 6 Router
- Standard: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band
- Speed: 1201 Mbps (5 GHz) + 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
- MIMO: 2×2 (with OFDMA & Beamforming)
- Antenna: 4 external fixed high-performance antennas
- Modes: Router mode, Access Point mode
- Mesh: TP-Link OneMesh support
- Security: WPA, WPA2, WPA3, WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x)
- VPN: OpenVPN & PPTP server support
These days, you do not need to spend a lot to get a reliable Wi-Fi 6 router. The TP-Link Archer AX21 AX1800 WiFi 6 Router is the right example for that statement. Though it costs around $50, you get a balanced pack of speed, performance, reliability, and security. This dual-band router also brings the goodness of TP-Link’s router dashboard UI, which is one of the easiest-to-use ones out there.
To begin with, the TP-Link Archer AX21 AX1800 WiFi 6 Router offers a combined throughput of 1800 Mbps, making the router a great choice for most multi-Gig Internet connections out there. Thanks to OFDMA and beamforming, the router does an impressive job of delivering powerful signals as well. If you think the range is not enough, you can connect a OneMesh-compatible extender to create a mesh network.
Another factor improving the overall range of the router is its set of four external antennas. You may want to arrange them accordingly if you have a multi-story building. You can also choose between the router and access point modes while configuring the dual-band router. As far as connectivity is concerned, you get four LAN ports as well.
Though it is inexpensive, TP-Link has not held back when it comes to value-added features. For starters, you can manage your Wi-Fi network using the TP-Link Tether app, which assists you with features like QoS, VPN, parental controls, network security, etc. You even get features that can help you save battery life on Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
The TP-Link interface makes it easy to manage VPN connections as well. The router offers native support for OpenVPN and PPTP. The dual-core processor built into the router does an impressive job of keeping things in check as well. Though you don’t get fancy features like a USB port or anything, it is nice to have a balanced Wi-Fi 6 router for the price of a good meal.
Overall, the TP-Link Archer AX21 AX1800 WiFi 6 Router is a great Wi-Fi 6 router for homes and office spaces with fewer than 50 devices.
#2 Mid-Range Wi-Fi 6 Router: TP-Link Archer AX73 AX5400 WiFi 6 Router
- Standard: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band
- Speed: 4804 Mbps (5 GHz) + 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
- MIMO: 4×4 (MU-MIMO & OFDMA support)
- Antenna: 6 external high-performance antennas with Beamforming
- Modes: Router mode, Access Point mode
- Mesh: TP-Link OneMesh support
- Security: WPA, WPA2, WPA3 + HomeShield network protection
- VPN: OpenVPN & PPTP server; VPN client support
If you have a slightly higher budget, you can consider a mid-range Wi-Fi 6 router like the TP-Link Archer AX73 AX5400 WiFi 6 Router. Another product from TP-Link, this dual-band Wi-Fi router packs more performance than our budget-friendly pick. You also get some advanced productivity features in the package, plus a sleek design that goes in sync with modern aesthetics.
When you spend close to $100 on a Wi-Fi router, you can expect incredible performance, and this product does not disappoint. For starters, the router offers a combined throughput of 5400 Mbps, which can easily fit your 8K streaming needs even when you have multiple devices in your household. Thus, it is a great choice for most of those multi-Gigabit connections.
The connectivity infrastructure ensures that you can get the best out of this throughput. Thanks to its six strategically arranged high-powered antennas, you can expect adaptive Wi-Fi coverage across your home or office space. You can also count on 4×4 MU-MIMO and OFDMA support when it comes to keeping all your devices connected.
As we said, the TP-Link Archer AX73 AX5400 WiFi 6 Router has an impressive design that offers ventilation to all the important areas. So, no matter the throughput you are putting the router through, it can continue to function without lagging. We should also count on the mesh support functionality of the router. This means you can connect it to a compatible router/extender to enhance coverage.
Because you are dealing with a semi-premium router, the TP-Link Tether app packs more features, starting with an advanced network security option. You can rely on TP-Link HomeShield Security to ensure that your connected devices stay secure. In addition to these, the TP-Link Archer AX73 AX5400 WiFi 6 Router supports advanced QoS and parental controls as well.
In short, as you pay extra for this mid-range router, the TP-Link product delivers on multiple fronts, including reliability, performance, and raw speed.
#3 Best High-End Wi-Fi 6 Router: ASUS RT-AX88U PRO AX6000 WiFi 6 Router
- Standard: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band
- Speed: ~1148 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + ~4804 Mbps (5 GHz)
- MIMO: 4×4 on both bands (MU-MIMO & OFDMA, 1024-QAM support)
- Antenna: 4 external antennas (detachable)
- Modes: Router, Access Point, Repeater, Media Bridge, AiMesh node
- Mesh: ASUS AiMesh support
- Security: WPA3, WPA2, WPA Personal & Enterprise; AiProtection; guest network; WPA3-Personal
- VPN: Supports VPN server and client (OpenVPN, PPTP, IPSec options)
You may want to check out the ASUS RT-AX88U PRO AX6000 WiFi 6 Router if you need something that can last for a few years while providing sufficient performance and speed. This dual-band router from ASUS packs not only a lot of raw power but an easy way to manage everything. You also get a few different features that expand the functionality of the router.
First things first, the ASUS RT-AX88U PRO AX6000 WiFi 6 Router offers a combined throughput of 6000 Mbps, which should be enough for almost all high-speed Internet connections you can find in the US these days. It also comes in handy when you want to use the network for media transfer. It is also impressive that you can choose between multiple modes, such as Router, Repeater, AP, Media Bridge, and AiMesh Node.
This dual-band router ships with four external antennas that you can detach at will. These antennas work in line with features like MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and 1024-QAM support to ensure sufficient signals for all those connected devices. The processor built into the router is also optimized to offer impressive performance and reliability for streaming and gaming.
Network management is one of the strongest fortes of the ASUS RT-AX88U PRO AX6000 WiFi 6 Router. ASUS does a great job of arranging everything through intuitive UI designs. So, whether it is adaptive QoS or VPN management, everything is easier through the official app. The company works with Trend Micro to offer an advanced protection layer for the network.
You can also count on handy features like Guest Network and support for VPN servers and clients. It even lets you manage multiple VPN connections at a time, offering security and convenience simultaneously. The USB port doubles as a way to use 4G/5G tethering during outages as well. It’s also great that most of the features are available for a lifetime instead of making you go for a monthly subscription.
In the end, the ASUS RT-AX88U PRO AX6000 WiFi 6 Router checks all the boxes you’d expect on a premium Wi-Fi 6 router with a semi-premium price tag.
#4 Best Wi-Fi 6 Router for Gaming: ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro Router
- Standard: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), tri-band
- Speed: 1148 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + 4804 Mbps (5 GHz-1) + 4804 Mbps (5 GHz-2)
- MIMO: 4×4 on all bands, MU-MIMO & OFDMA
- Antenna: 8 external high-performance antennas
- Modes: Router, Access Point, Repeater, Media Bridge, AiMesh node
- Mesh: ASUS AiMesh support
- Security: WPA3, AiProtection Pro (with Trend Micro), guest network
- VPN: VPN server & VPN client support (OpenVPN, PPTP, IPSec)
I have picked the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro Router as the best choice for your gaming-optimized networking needs. As you know, you cannot compromise performance or reliability when choosing a router for online gaming and associated tasks. This tri-band router from ASUS checks all the boxes and beyond, thus offering a premium Wi-Fi experience across homes.
This Wi-Fi 6 gaming router has a combined throughput of 11000 Mbps, made available through its three Wi-Fi bands. It thus becomes one of the fastest Wi-Fi routers you can get today, making it a great choice for not only super-quick downloads but also intra-network data transfer. The router also ships with 10G and 2.5G WAN ports that can make the best use of your high-speed Internet connection.
However, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro Router offers more than raw power to offer a far superior gaming experience. For instance, its Triple-level Game Acceleration technology ensures the best latency and speed while accessing AAA titles. Similarly, the Mobile Game Mode function ensures the best performance if you are into multiplayer games on Android or iOS.
In terms of connectivity, the professional-grade router offers quite a lot more. In addition to the 10G port I talked about, a USB port is also included. You can also use Link Aggregation to ensure maximum performance and bandwidth across the network. You can also use the advanced Quality of Service features to maximize reliability for multiple devices.
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro Router does not compromise the security front, either. In fact, you get a decent package for the price you pay, starting with AiProtection Pro. Unlike many other router vendors, ASUS offers subscription-free access to its security suite. You also get advanced parental controls that are accessible through the mobile app.
In the end, compared to the price you pay, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro Router offers one of the best packages you can expect in this budget range.
#5 Best Wi-Fi 6 Router for Large Homes: TP-Link Deco X55 AX3000 WiFi 6 Mesh System
- Standard: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band mesh system
- Speed: 2402 Mbps (5 GHz) + 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
- MIMO: 2×2 on both bands, MU-MIMO & OFDMA
- Antenna: Internal high-gain antennas (omnidirectional
- Modes: Router mode, Access Point mode
- Mesh: TP-Link Deco Mesh technology (seamless roaming)
- Security: WPA3, TP-Link HomeShield (advanced security), guest network
- VPN: Supports VPN pass-through (no dedicated VPN server)
Though you can look for a high-performance standalone router for large homes, it makes more sense to go for a mesh system. As it happens, the TP-Link Deco X55 AX3000 WiFi 6 Mesh System is one of the best ones you can get without breaking the bank. In addition to ensuring maximum coverage across your home, a mesh system of this power offers much-valued convenience as well.
To begin with, the TP-Link Deco X55 AX3000 WiFi 6 Mesh System is designed to support a combined speed of 3000 Mbps across two bands. Of course, MU-MIMO and OFDMA ensure optimal performance on all your connected devices. The high-gain omnidirectional antennas are so great that you can expect a coverage of up to 6500 sq. ft. with this three-pack variant.
Conveniently, this mesh Wi-Fi system is suitable for large homes in another way. All these are AI-driven mesh systems. And most of them, most of the units come with an Ethernet backhaul, which means you don’t have to compromise performance just because you need extra range. Last, you can connect up to 150 devices to this three-pack system, which translates to 50 devices per unit.
Because each of these mesh nodes ships with three Ethernet ports, you can rely on this mesh Wi-Fi 6 router for wired connections. That is, even if you have devices that work better through wired (PlayStation or NAS devices), you can connect them to a nearby satellite unit. All other devices on your network will benefit from the seamless roaming function as well.
Many value-added features built into the TP-Link Deco X55 AX3000 WiFi 6 Mesh System are available via the TP-Link Deco app. This app allows you to set up and manage the mesh network and access features like the Home Network Scanner, QoS, parental controls, reports, and HomeShield Pro. You can also manage all your mesh units using Alexa or Google Assistant.
In conclusion, the TP-Link Deco X55 AX3000 WiFi 6 Mesh System brings the advanced range of a mesh system while offering some value-added, convenience-centric features.
#6 Best Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router: NETGEAR Orbi RBK663 Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System
- Standard: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), tri-band mesh system
- Speed: ~3.8 Gbps (AX3800) aggregated
- MIMO: MU-MIMO, beamforming on 2.4 GHz & both 5 GHz bands
- Antenna: 6 high-performance internal antennas per unit
- Modes: Router mode, Access Point mode, Mesh node / Satellite mode
- Mesh: Orbi Tri-Band Mesh with dedicated backhaul; includes router + 2 satellites
- Security: WPA3, guest networks, NETGEAR Armor protection, automatic firmware updates
- VPN: Secure remote access / VPN support via firmware / Orbi app
If you are looking for one of the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems in the market, you might want to check out the three-pack variant of the NETGEAR Orbi RBK663 Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh. This product from NETGEAR brings a well-demanded balance of raw power and usability functions. Keep in mind that you can expand the mesh system by adding satellites into the equation.
You get a router and two satellite extenders with the package, and they, together, can offer a total range of up to 6,600 sq. ft. While it is not the highest, the combined speed of 3800 Mbps is an improvement within the Wi-Fi 6 standard. The three-pack variant can support up to 75 connected devices as well. Compared to some other Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems, this product uses a larger size for an expanded range.
The main router ships with a 1-Gig WAN port, and you can use the LAN ports on the satellite nodes for wired devices or Ethernet backhaul. Therefore, no matter the type of connection, you can keep all your devices on the same network. All the while, the Orbi app from NETGEAR remains easy to use, while giving you a quick way to access aspects like Device Manager, Network Map, Wi-Fi Settings, etc.
Another thing we love about the NETGEAR Orbi RBK663 Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh is its tri-band infrastructure, which leaves a dedicated band for high-speed and low-latency devices. So, as long as you keep your devices within range, you can expect an incredible gaming experience from all. This way, you can ensure the best gaming experience from this high-performance mesh system.
The NETGEAR Orbi RBK663 Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh also offers a bunch of handy features, such as a variety of functioning modes and VPN access. You also get some features for secure remote access. It is also one of the few models that ship with beamforming within the price range. I must also recommend the addition of Orbi’s NETGEAR Armor, which offers advanced protection.
Though there are minor caveats, the NETGEAR Orbi RBK663 Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh offers incredible value for most users who need expansive coverage.
#7 Best Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Portable Travel Router
- Standard: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band
- Speed: 600 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + 1200 Mbps (5 GHz)
- MIMO: 2×2 on both bands, plus MU-MIMO & OFDMA
- Antenna: 2 external retractable antennas (works for both bands)
- Modes: Router, Access Point, Wireless Bridge, Repeater, Wired Bridge
- Mesh: Not a built-in mesh system (designed mainly as a travel/portable router)
- Security: WPA3, guest SSID, supports IPv6, DNS over TLS/HTTPS, runs OpenWrt
- VPN: Supports OpenVPN & WireGuard
So far, we have covered Wi-Fi routers that work best in homes and small offices. But what if you want a Wi-Fi router that offers all the convenience when on the way? Enter GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Portable Travel Router, one of the best Wi-Fi 6 travel routers you can find in the market right now. This compact router can bring you a balanced Wi-Fi experience, whether you are at an airport or connected to the Ethernet port in a hotel.
Something unique about this Wi-Fi 6 travel router is the variety of ways it can be used. Sure, you can connect it using an Ethernet/WAN port to create a Wi-Fi network. However, you can use it as an AP, a wired bridge, a wireless bridge, and a Wi-Fi repeater. All these options are handy when you are traveling, and the router is a better option than connecting all your devices to a potentially unsafe public network.
The 1.2GHz quad-core CPU inside the GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Portable Travel Router makes it a suitable choice for connecting up to 120 devices. Because it ships with three Gigabit LAN ports, you have enough room to set up devices like a PlayStation or a NAS. The device can handle up to 1800 Mbps throughput across the two available bands. This DFS-certified router supports EAP as well.
This travel-friendly router is big on convenience, too. For starters, you can power the router via USB-C, which is more convenient than ever. It also packs built-in support for encrypted VPN traffic, along with easy setup for popular VPN service providers like ExpressVPN and Surfshark VPN. You would also appreciate the support for a TF storage card (up to 512GB) that you can use for easy data sharing.
You’d also appreciate that the GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Portable Travel Router is running the OpenWrt firmware instead of the clumsy, proprietary ones you may have come across. This system makes it easy to manage all the different aspects of the router and extend the capacity by installing other apps. So, in addition to being super-portable and convenient, this Wi-Fi router is customizable to its core.
In the end, the GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Portable Travel Router is a sensible choice for those who prefer to have the security and convenience of a Wi-Fi network while traveling.
Wrapping Up
I believe this guide helped you narrow down your options, if not find the best one, among the many Wi-Fi 6 routers in the market. I have included options from varying budget brackets, and you can choose based on your needs while knowing that you get the minimum things on board.
