5 Best Routers for Wireless Internet and Streaming

Routers from many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are not always that reliable due to performance that cannot keep up with the demanding needs of customers, you need the best routers for wireless internet . These days, it’s not just computers that are connected with routers. Smartphones, printers, smart TVs, gaming consoles, even tablet PCs, eBook readers, virtual assistant speakers – almost everything runs on internet connection. Imagine ISP-provided routers being drowned with the number of devices connected and the data speeds needed by each one. With users these days being into streaming HD videos, browsing over social media websites, playing and downloading video games, they require a router that won’t disappointment and cause lags or inconvenience.

The 5 best routers for wireless internet and streaming are all about being fast, being wide, and being connected. This list will give you a glimpse of seeing the full potential of your internet connection when paired with devices that will not only provide connectivity, but also amp the speeds that you’re supposed to have for your tech arsenal.

Best Routers for Wireless Internet and Streaming

1) ASUS AiMesh RT-AC88U

For those who have a powerhouse of connections, whether at home or office, the AC88U has been created to handle even the busiest and heaviest of networks. Both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz connections are given more juice with its 1024-QAM technology, providing additional speeds at 80% and 66% respectively. Thanks to its 4-transmit, 4-receive (4T4R) antenna design, expect that your devices across the house would always be linked with the network, even up to 5000 square feet wide! ASUS has done this amazing feat thanks to its robust 1.4 GHz dual-core processor. The cores in the router also zooms your USB data transfers and WAN-LAN shares at up to 1.8 gigabytes per second.

Into gaming? ASUS guarantees that you’ll experience gaming without lag with its Wi-Fi boosting NitroQAM technology, along with its Adaptive QoS that allows gaming packet prioritization. There’s also an option to maximize connections through its 8 Gigabit LAN ports – excellent for those who have workstations, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and so much more.

2) Linksys Max-Stream EA9500

Two’s a company and three’s a crowd. Well, not with the EA9500 from Linksys. The three bands have two 5 GHz bands for recent gadgets and a 2.4 GHz band that’s excellent for older-aged devices. With this number of bands on one device, you’re sure that nothing’s going to crowd that usually results to lags and frustrations. So, whether you demand for online gaming and streaming, video conferencing and file sharing, or using your old laptops and computers, Max-stream has you covered.

With regards to maximum distance, with the EA9500 already having 8 antennas, it can easily reach up to 3000 square feet. Though it may be the case, Linksys still mentions of providing a range-extender to enable seamless roaming. It also has 8 Gigabit ports for wired connections, about 10 times faster than the standard Ethernet. The Max-Stream can handle so many linked devices into its network thanks to the 1.4 GHz dual-core processor that keeps it working.

3) AmpliFi AFI-HD

Small but terrible! That’s how you’ll identify the AmpliFi WiFi System the first time you see it out of the box. With the main unit and the two MeshPoints included, the distance of the signal could go as wide as 10,000 square feet! One of the most notable features you’ll see is the interface that’s completely different from any router you have ever seen. There are no blinking lights or buttons to press and hold. Everything that you need to understand with your router can be seen and operated via the round touchscreen – a refreshing take on using routers.

As far as connection reliability is concerned, the WiFi system mainly relies on its turbocharged 802.11ac, along with its multiple self-configuring radios to utilize connection consistency. It also has 4 Ethernet ports so that you’ll be able to connect your smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other devices that could connect to the router hardwired. It’s also easy to set up and customize thanks to the AmpliFi App that you could use for parent control, access limitation, or even guest access.

4) TP-Link Archer C9

Those who are looking for a cheaper option from the previous routers mentioned could turn to the Archer C9. The dual-band Gigabit WiFi internet router from TP-Link is an excellent contender as it also utilizes a powerful 802.11ac connection for all your signal needs. There are also other options available to connect to the router with the use of USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, along with 4 gigabit LAN ports.

Even though there’s no multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output technology embedded with TP-Link’s router, it uses the beamforming technology for its connection optimization. What it does is that it helps the antennas focus on the location of the linked devices and concentrate the signal to those devices rather than just scattering the signal across the air. This means that no matter where you go, as long as smartphones or other mobile devices are within reach, the likability for disconnection is low.

5) NETGEAR Nighthawk X6

The NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 is just as you imagine it would look like: a black router that looks something from a sci-fi movie. To make it even more fiction-like, the X6 is designed to work with Amazon’s Echo or Alexa voice command systems. With six antennas in place, the signal is strengthened to cover very large homes. Despite of having a large number of antennas, however, NETGEAR focused on using the Beamforming+ technology so that signals would be fixated on connected devices.

There is also the Dynamic QoS bandwidth prioritization that provides even more persistent bandwidth for chosen apps or devices. And to optimize the connection of different devices, no matter the quantity, this version of Nighthawk has two 5 GHz bands and a 2.4 GHz band. All of these best routers for wireless internet are powered with a 1GHz dual-core processor with 3 offload processors that provide faster overall network speeds.

What’s the Best Routers for Wireless Internet?

Due to the amount of stress that it could take, along with its very wide range, and gaming performance to boot, the ASUS RT-AC88U takes home the pie. Yes, it may only have two bands, but the technologies that back up Wi-fi, gaming packets, and the overall streaming experience is more than enough to satisfy. If you’re in for something fresh, the AmpliFi WiFi System is a great option as the distance is actually designed for huge homes. The mesh antennas are also easy to install and operate, with the main router being operated on a touchscreen interface, with an intuitive app to boot. The Archer C9 from TP-Link may be your option in case you’re looking for performance while still being conscious on your budget.