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The router connects to the Internet, and your devices (e.g., computers, smartphones, tablets) connect to the router which allows them access to the Internet. The heart of the Internet connection in most homes is a networking device known as a router. Having a fast and reliable Internet connection that we can access throughout the house across multiple devices is really important. We've rounded up the best broadband deals (opens in new tab) in the UK this week.When we’re not traveling, we spend much of our time working from home which requires a lot of time spent online.

#Best wireless router upgrade
If you're in the UK, another decent upgrade to your home internet setup could be achieved by sorting out your broadband. All that, combined with its fantastic QoS gaming prioritization technology and its equally robust DumaOS software, the Nighthawk XR700 is yet another win for Netgear. That said, don't let a lack of interoperability get in the way, as the XR700 is fully backward compatible with the present-day 802.11ac spec as well, delivering high speeds over 5GHz and even 2.4GHz bands at up to 1,733Mbps and 800Mbps, respectively.
#Best wireless router pro
Seeing as it supports the blisteringly fast 4,600Mbps 802.11ad networking standard, buying the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700 means future-proofing your home connectivity infrastructure for years to come, especially since only a handful of laptops are compatible (opens in new tab). Expensive as it might be, it's built for a sort of timeless luxury you can't put a price on. If the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 is the Rolls-Royce Ghost of gaming routers, the XR700 is the Phantom. Overall, this is a great piece of kit, and only misses out on the top spot by a whisker. If you're serious about gaming, though, you should be fine (and delighted) with the 5GHz speeds you get. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if you operate most of your devices further away from the router, you should consider one that performs better at 2.4GHz, especially considering the cost of this one.

In terms of wireless performance, the C5400X manages very impressive speeds over the 5GHz range - some of the best available today - but is merely above average when it comes to 2.4GHz. You can control everything via a simple menu, and it's packed with features to help you tweak your set-up, including those all-important QoS options. While it doesn't quite match the ASUS Rapture, because it doesn't have any in-built tech to actually enhance your gaming connection, the TP Link wins out on ease of use. The TP Link Archer c5400X is a gaming version of the recent c5400, and it's a damn good gaming router.

WiFi 5 topped out at just 3.5 Gbps, however, WiFi 6 is capable of 9.6 Gbps, so if you've got a WiFi 6 compatible device, such as the PS5 or a compatible gaming PC, then you're going to notice a significant difference right away. It's estimated that the latest iteration of the technology is up to 250% faster than what was previously available with Wi-Fi 5, with faster throughput speeds, and much more bandwidth to play with.
#Best wireless router full
While we would generally recommend that you stay plugged in via Ethernet, this isn't always possible, especially if you're wanting full coverage in different rooms of your home where it's simply impractical to run Cat 8 leads everywhere.įortunately, WiFi 6 (802.11ax) boasts significant improvements over the previous generation for far more consistent performance across the board. Factor that in with the demanding intensity of Ultra HD (4K) streaming and demands for multiplayer gaming, and it's easy to see how the best gaming routers can alleviate any excess tension. With many of us still working from home, a reliable internet connection is perhaps more paramount than it has ever been.
