The 7 Best Gaming Routers
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in October of 2018. Few online activities require the high bandwidth, low latency, and overall reliability that gaming does. You may rely on buttery-smooth battle royale frame rates, or you might want to take advantage of cutting-edge wireless VR; either way, you'll benefit from the latest in Wi-Fi technology. The right router will let you transfer massive amounts of data with next to zero lag. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Asus AX5700
2. TP-Link Archer AX10
3. Asus RT-AX68U
Editor's Notes
January 20, 2021:
In terms of pure performance, the Netgear XR1000 and Netgear RAX70 are basically at the top of the list, but they're so expensive and so high-powered that most users don't need to make the huge investment. The Asus AX5700 and Asus RT-AX92U offer better balances of price and performance, and the Asus RT-AX68U even more so, thanks to its 3 by 3 connectivity. If you need to cover a large space, the TP-Link Deco X20 is one of the best mesh systems for doing so, and for something with such a long range, it's not terribly expensive.
November 16, 2018:
So, just when we got the hang of memorizing a bunch of seemingly random numbers and letters, the people in charge of the internet (hah) decided to change the most common wireless designations from 802.11-whatever into the infinitely easier-to-remember Wi-Fi 4, 5, and 6. WELCOME TO THE FUTURE, BOYS AND GIRLS! Seriously though, if you need a router to drive your Vive headset and TPCast adapter (Oculus owners should wait for version 2 of their TPCast), stop reading right now and go purchase the Asus RT-AX88U or NetGear AX8. Those are the only two available with "The 802.11 Formerly Known as AX," AKA Wi-Fi 6, which is poised to make multi-gigabit WLAN performance a reality across entire homes. If you are a tinkerer, or one of those geniuses known as Linux enthusiasts, the As-Rock G10 is almost certainly your choice, with a perfectly functional DD-WRT firmware flash already available, despite the unit's young age. It's also perfect for unifying your entire Internet-of-Things army of DIY machines. If there are any little tykes gaming, the Gryphon is a cutting-edge unit with unparalleled hardware inside, and almost unmatched configuration options — you can block entire games and time blocks with the parental controls. Finally, the XR700 will be particularly useful if Intel's WiGig technology actually starts to go anywhere.
4. TP-Link Deco X20
5. Netgear RAX70
6. Asus RT-AX92U
7. Netgear XR1000
Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.