Best Wi-Fi 6 Routers for 2022

Wi-Fi 6 Router Pinterest Pin 2022

Wi-Fi 6 is here and more and more devices are starting to support it. Maybe you are in the market for a new Wi-Fi router. Or, maybe you just want to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6 capabilities. Here are the best Wi-Fi 6 routers to get you the blazing speeds and rock-solid performance you are looking for.

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What’s Wi-Fi 6 and why would you want it?

Wi-Fi 6 Router

If you came to this article just out of curiosity for what Wi-Fi 6 is you’re in luck. Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, became the latest Wi-Fi standard in 2019. The 6 stands for it being the sixth major generational update for Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi 6 is backward compatible with previous Wi-Fi standards.

Wi-Fi 6 is nearly three times faster than the previous fastest Wi-Fi standard. However, it isn’t all about speed. It also is better able to handle multiple devices simultaneously than previous Wi-Fi standards. Some people have slow Wi-Fi because they have too many Wi-Fi devices, not because their Wi-Fi isn’t fast enough.

Wi-Fi 6 certification also requires the latest security standard, WPA3. So, any router you buy with Wi-Fi 6 will be as secure as current Wi-Fi standards allow.

Most new phones and computers support this standard. The latest iPad Pro, Amazon Fire TV 4K Max, and PlayStation 5 console all support it.

The bottom line is that Wi-Fi 6 is a great way to improve your home network.

Note: There is also a Wi-Fi 6E standard, which extends Wi-Fi 6 to work at the 6 GHz spectrum (regular Wi-Fi 6 works at 2.4 and 5 GHz), which essentially enables faster speeds, lower latencies, and less Wi-Fi congestion. Wi-Fi 6E devices are just starting to appear. This article will focus on Wi-Fi 6 routers, but it will note which ones also support Wi-Fi 6E.

Best Wi-Fi 6 router

ASUS RT-AX86U (AX5700) Dual Band WiFi 6 Extendable Gaming Router, 2.5G Port, Mobile Game Mode, Port Forwarding, Subscription-free Network Security, Instant Guard, VPN, AiMesh Compatible
  • New-generation WiFi 6 - Enjoy ultrafast speeds up to 5700 Mbps with the latest WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and 160MHz channels.Power Supply : 19 V with max. 2.37 A current / 19.5 V with max. 2.31 A current. Antenna : External antenna x 3, Internal PCB antenna x 1.
  • Mobile Game Mode - Minimize lag and latency for mobile gaming with just a tap on the ASUS Router app
  • True 2 Gbps wired and wireless speeds - Aggregated 2 Gbps WAN connections, wired 2.5 Gbps port and WiFi 6
  • Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Pro, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click sharable secure VPN.
  • Easy Extendable Network – Enjoy seamless roaming with rich, advanced features by adding any AiMesh-compatible router.

The Asus RT-AX86U offers fast and consistent speeds and is rated highly by both consumers and professional reviewers. It has very low latency connections and a ton of tools for optimizing your connections which makes it great for gamers.

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With 4×4 MU-MIMO it can handle a lot of devices at once. Also, it comes with an additional 2.5 Gbps WAN port for future-proofing and multi-WAN (failover and load balancing).

Hear are some other options you should consider, including the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 which is Wi-Fi 6E capable, but you pay for it.

Sale
ASUS AX6000 Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router, 8 Ports, Lifetime Security, Adaptive QoS
ASUS AX6000 Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router, 8 Ports, Lifetime Security, Adaptive QoS
Certified for Humans – Smart home made easy for non-experts. Setup with Alexa is simple.
$349.99 $194.81 Amazon Prime
Linksys Mesh WiFi 6 Router, Dual-Band, 2,700 Sq. ft Coverage, 55+ Devices, Speeds up to (AX6600) 6.6Gbps, Comes with USB Wireless Adapter - MR7500W-AMZ
Linksys Mesh WiFi 6 Router, Dual-Band, 2,700 Sq. ft Coverage, 55+ Devices, Speeds up to (AX6600) 6.6Gbps, Comes with USB Wireless Adapter - MR7500W-AMZ
The new 6 GHz band offers interference-free signal and ultra-fast speeds; Unleash multi-gig speed for livestreaming, VR gaming, video conferencing

Best value

Sale
TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX21) – Dual Band Wireless Internet Router, Gigabit Router, Easy Mesh, Works with Alexa - A Certified for Humans Device
  • VPN Server: Archer AX21 Supports both Open VPN Server and PPTP VPN Server
  • Dual-Band WiFi 6 Internet Router: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous generation
  • Next-Gen 1.8 Gbps Speeds: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading and more with WiFi speeds up to 1.8 Gbps (1200 Mbps on 5 GHz band and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz band)
  • Connect more devices: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
  • Extensive Coverage: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset

You don’t have to break the bank to get a good performing Wi-Fi 6 router. The TP-Link Archer AX21 will work perfectly well for most people and is a great value. In independent tests, it has outperformed many more expensive routers. TP-Link’s Tether app for Android and iOS make setting up and managing router settings quick and painless.

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Here are a few additional routers to consider if you’re looking for good Wi-Fi performance at a reasonable price. The Linksys router utilizes Linksys’ Intelligent Mesh technology, which allows it to pair with other compatible Linksys mesh systems to easily extend the coverage of your Wi-Fi.

Sale
NETGEAR 4-Stream WiFi 6 Router (R6700AX) – AX1800 Wireless Speed (Up to 1.8 Gbps) | Coverage up to 1,500 sq. ft., 20 devices
NETGEAR 4-Stream WiFi 6 Router (R6700AX) – AX1800 Wireless Speed (Up to 1.8 Gbps) | Coverage up to 1,500 sq. ft., 20 devices
Plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and more with 4 x 1G Ethernet ports; Backed by a 1-year limited hardware warranty
$119.99 $89.99 Amazon Prime
Sale
TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73)- Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, High-Speed ax Router for Streaming, Long Range Coverage, 5 GHz
TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73)- Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, High-Speed ax Router for Streaming, Long Range Coverage, 5 GHz
More Vents, Less Heat – Improved vented areas help unleash the full power of the router; USB Sharing – 1× USB 3.0 port enables easy media sharing and private cloud storage
$169.99 $149.99 Amazon Prime

Best Wi-Fi 6 mesh router

Sale
NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK852) – Router with 1 Satellite Extender | Coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft., 100 Devices | AX6000 (Up to 6Gbps)
  • Coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft. and for up to 100 devices. Extend coverage up to 2,500 sq. ft. with each additional satellite (sold separately)
  • Ultrafast AX6000 gigabit speed with WiFi 6 technology for uninterrupted streaming, HD video gaming, and web conferencing
  • Compatible with any internet service provider up to 2.5Gbps including cable, satellite, fiber and DSL
  • Connects to your existing cable modem, and replaces your WiFi router
  • Easily set up and manage your WiFi with the Orbi app

The Netgear Orbi AX6000 may be pricey, but it is a top-notch performer. It has incredible signal strength which will eliminate dead Wi-Fi zones in your house. It also has impressive speeds and can easily keep up a gigabit Internet connection. It is also a multi-WAN router, with the ability to combine multiple Internet connections for increased speeds, failover, and load balancing.

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If you are looking for alternatives consider some of these. The ASUS ZenWifi and Netgear Orbi Wifi-6E mesh systems will put you into the Wi-Fi 6E world. The Eero Pro is a good combination of features and price.

Best mesh value

TP-Link Deco WiFi 6 Mesh WiFi System(Deco X20) - Covers up to 4000 Sq.Ft. , Replaces Wireless Internet Routers and Extenders, 2-Pack
  • Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Wi-Fi - Next-gen Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 whole home mesh system to eliminate weak Wi-Fi for good
  • Whole Home Wi-Fi Coverage - Cover up to 4000 square feet with seamless high-performance Wi-Fi 6 and eliminate dead zones and buffering, better than traditional wifi booster, add more Deco X20 for more coverage
  • Connect More Devices - OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology quadruple capacity to enable simultaneous transmission to more devices
  • Peace of Mind with Parental Controls - Manage limit and monitor internet use with profiles that let you customize Wi-Fi access for every person and device in your home
  • Universally Compatible - Backward compatible with all Wi-Fi generations ideal for any internet plan up to 1 Gbps and works with any internet service provider (ISP) modem and all Deco Mesh Wi-Fi

The TP-Link Deco x20 is an easy to set-up, inexpensive, and solid performing Wi-Fi 6 mesh routing system that comes in a small package. If you are looking to cover a large home this is your best combination of price and performance. This is the best budget Wi-Fi 6 capable mesh system out there.

But it isn’t the only one. If you are looking for some other strong performing budget Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers, be sure to consider these:

Final thoughts

So there you have it. Great options for various situations and budgets for those wanting to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6. Another option is to add a Wi-Fi 6 access point. I upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 using the TP-Link EAP 610 (my full review here) and added a TP-Link EAP 620 (my review here). A Wi-Fi access point is also a good way to go if you’re like me and you don’t want to replace your router (I love my pfSense router). Also, after getting a new Wi-Fi router, be sure to configure these settings.

Are you ready for Wi-Fi 6? What Wi-Fi 6 router or access point do you use? Let me know on Twitter or in the comments.

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Best Wi-Fi 6 Routers for 2022

by HomeTechHacker time to read: 4 min