Connect at Speed with the Fastest Routers
The fastest internet connection in the world will do your wireless devices no good if your router isn’t up to speed. We worked with the folks over at PCMag to vet some of today’s fastest routers. We’re only looking at gigabit-capable routers here, so to make sure your laptops, tablets and phones are connecting as fast as they’re able, get yourself one of these.
Side-by-side comparison
Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 | Asus RT-AC86U AC2900 | Linksys EA6350 AC1200+ | TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 | Trendnet AC2600 | TP-Link AC2300 | Linksys WRT32X | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Theoretical Speed | 4600 Mbps on 60 GHz | 2167 Mbps on 5GHz | 867 Mbps on 5 GHz | 1300 Mbps on 5 GHz | 1733 Mbps on 5 GHz | 1625 Mbps on 5 GHz | 2600 Mbps on 5 GHz |
| LAN Ports | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Wireless Protocols |
| 802.11ac | 802.11ac | 802.11ac | 802.11ac | 802.11ac | 802.11ac |
| Encryption |
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| Antennas | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| MU-MIMO | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| QOS | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Speedtest Inside | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
The router you want
Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200
If money is no object and you are looking to buy the router of your dreams, look no further than the Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200. Not only is it the only router on our list to support 802.11ad, it also has a 10G SPF+ LAN port to connect to enterprise servers and switches (should you so need). It’s also the fastest router we tested and this enterprise-grade behemoth will cover a large house quite well.
| Top Theoretical Speed | 4600 Mbps on 60 GHz |
|---|---|
| LAN Ports | 7 |
| Wireless Protocols |
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| Encryption |
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| Antennas | 4 |
| MU-MIMO | Yes |
| QOS | Yes |
| Speedtest Inside | Yes |
The Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 has almost all the bells and whistles, from a 1.7GHz quad-core CPU to Ethernet Port Aggregation (which improves file-transfer speeds) to beamforming and 160MHz Wi-Fi. The only thing you might be missing is the ability to tweak QOS settings for specific clients.
That said, you can manage your new favorite piece of equipment with either the Netgear Genie web-based console or the Genie mobile app. Buy it already. You know you want to.
The router you’ll probably buy
Asus RT-AC86U AC2900
As much as we might want it, most of us probably don’t need all the features the Nighthawk has to offer. Thankfully the Asus RT-AC86U AC2900 is so loaded with options it does not feel at all like a compromise choice. This 4x4 AC2900 router is powered by a 1.8GHz dual-core CPU and 512MB of RAM. NitroQAM (1024-QAM) makes enviable speeds possible.
| Top Theoretical Speed | 2167 Mbps on 5 GHz |
|---|---|
| LAN Ports | 4 |
| Wireless Protocols | 802.11ac |
| Encryption | WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), WPA2-Enterprise |
| Antennas | 3 |
| MU-MIMO | Yes |
| QOS | Yes |
| Speedtest Inside | No |
Adjust beacon intervals and beamforming settings using the RT-AC86U’s web-based management console. You also get built-in Trend Micro protection, adaptive QoS bandwidth prioritization and WTFast game acceleration. Oh, and it’s red. In case you care. Get the speed you need with the Asus RT-AC86U AC2900.
Routing made easy
Linksys EA6350 AC1200+
f you’re looking for a router that’s easy to set up and manage while also being affordable, you should consider the Linksys EA6350 AC1200+. With a single-core 800MHz CPU, this Linksys is not powerful enough to cover your megamansion with multi-gig Wi-Fi. But it will offer enough speed to keep most users happy.
| Top Theoretical Speed | 867 Mbps on 5 GHz |
|---|---|
| LAN Ports | 4 |
| Wireless Protocols | 802.11ac |
| Encryption | WEP, WPA2, WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), WPA2-Enterprise |
| Antennas | 2 |
| MU-MIMO | No |
| QOS | No |
| Speedtest Inside | No |
Also happy making are the fact that the Linksys EA6350 AC1200+ supports, contains parental controls and allows you to select your channel width. There’s also guest networking, but only on 2.4 GHz. If you want an affordable router that you can plug in and not worry about, try the Linksys EA6350 AC1200+ today.
Budget conscious speed
TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750
Happy to sacrifice a graphical interface to save a few bucks? PCMag’s Editor’s Choice for budget routers might be for you. It’s still loaded with basic and advanced settings including parental controls. Restrict access by time of day or set up a list of allowed websites for the kiddos (or your roommate) with the TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 without giving up speed.
| Top Theoretical Speed | 1300 Mbps on 5 GHz |
|---|---|
| LAN Ports | 4 |
| Wireless Protocols | 802.11ac |
| Encryption | WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), WPA2-Enterprise |
| Antennas | 3 |
| MU-MIMO | No |
| QOS | No |
| Speedtest Inside | No |
If you can live without MU-MIMO and QOS, you might like TP-Link's Archer C7 AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router (V2). Find out more here.
Hands-on control
Trendnet AC2600
If you like to tinker with your settings to get exactly the setup you want, the Trendnet AC2600 might be the router for you. Customize your wireless, security and firewall setup or schedule parental controls and guest networking. Just remember to both “save” the changes and also “apply” them or you’ll lose them.
| Top Theoretical Speed | 1733 Mbps on 5 GHz |
|---|---|
| LAN Ports | 4 |
| Wireless Protocols | 802.11ac |
| Encryption | WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA2-Enterprise |
| Antennas | 4 |
| MU-MIMO | Yes |
| QOS | No |
| Speedtest Inside | No |
With a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, the TEW-827DRU supports beamforming and Qualcomm's StreamBoost bandwidth-management technology. PCMag selected this router as an Editor’s Pick for mid-range routers. Find out if the Trendnet AC2600 is right for you.
Small space wonder
TP-Link AC2300
At close range, the TP-Link AC2300 is a strong choice if you’re looking for a wide range of features for your smaller space. Includes HomeCare parental controls and Trend Micro anti-malware and antivirus protection to protect you. You should also be able to improve your performance with TP-Link's Smart Connect band steering.
| Top Theoretical Speed | 1625 Mbps on 5 GHz |
|---|---|
| LAN Ports | 4 |
| Wireless Protocols | 802.11ac |
| Encryption | WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), WPA2-Enterprise |
| Antennas | 3 |
| MU-MIMO | Yes |
| QOS | Yes |
| Speedtest Inside | Yes |
If Link Aggregation, a dual-core CPU (1.8GHz), 512MB of RAM, and 128MB of flash memory sounds just about right for your small space, check out the TP-Link AC2300. And if you need something with a bit more range, try the Trendnet AC2600.
Gamer’s Delight
Linksys WRT32X
Make prioritization of your gaming traffic easy with the Linksys WRT32X Wi-Fi Gaming Router. This easy-to-install router should reduce your latency to help you ace your next ranked match by immediately recognizing your Killer Network LAN-connected devices.
| Top Theoretical Speed | 2600 Mbps on 5 GHz |
|---|---|
| LAN Ports | 4 |
| Wireless Protocols | 802.11ac |
| Encryption | WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) |
| Antennas | 4 |
| MU-MIMO | Yes |
| QOS | No |
| Speedtest Inside | Yes |
You’ll also appreciate the dual-core 1.8GHz CPU as well as the 256MB of flash memory and 512MB of DDR3 memory. And the fact that it’s DFS certified and supports beamforming is a welcome bonus. If this sounds like the right router for you, get the Linksys WRT32X Wi-Fi Gaming Router today.
We hope you found the fastest router that’s right for you on the above list. Alternately, you could always buy a 300 ft ethernet cable and lug it around (just kidding — don’t do that, someone will trip over the cord, buy a fast router instead). If you still need more info, check out the longer list of routers and related reviews over on PCMag.
Note that we use affiliate links, but as fellow speed nuts, it’s much more important to us that you get the fast connection you want than that we make a commission. Our reviews take that into account.