Top 10 best gaming routers

Netgear nighthawk pro router gaming system uses the state of the heart software to deliver strong internet connection. Its high end software stabilize ping, reduce lag spikes and keep gamers in high spirit with its reliable wired and wireless connectivity for fast paced gaming. Gamers have the ability to control the maximum upload and download speeds per device connected to the router.

It reduce game latency and lowers ping rate for better experience. The device comes with 3 steps port that is essential for gamers, it is designed to avoid any awkward moments of not being able to meet up with friends.

Tp-link AC tri band dynamic optimization engine identify traffic and eradicates latency for premium quality of service for gamers. Users can also defend their system with the device comprehensive threat protection and stops any malware from gaining access to file sharing and download.

Netgear nighthawk comes with seamless wifi that can be connected to up to 30 devices and allows gamers to intelligently select between dual bands to minimize interference and delivers high speed for countless of smart devices. Leave a comment. Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Most Viewed. Facebook-f Pinterest Twitter. Pros Automatic backup Excellent at optimizing performance Multiple devices on a single network.

Key Features Dual band 2. Get more info about us through online sources. We will be there for you consistently. Thank you for using our links. Best gaming router Image. View Product Amazon. View Product. Features Minimize ping and maximize performance with four 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports for lag free, wired connectivity and 1. I should note that those Wi-Fi 6 routers didn't blow the competition away on the 2.

In fact, the router with the fastest average speeds across all distances on the 2. Right behind it, the D-Link DIR, which also holds the distinction of being the cheapest router we tested for this roundup. That, coupled with the fact that it includes a Quality of Service engine that can prioritize gaming traffic, is what made it an easy value pick among this field. That Netgear model was also the fastest Wi-Fi 5 router on the 5GHz band, which tells us that it's a pretty capable piece of hardware.

One last note: We don't have full access to our test lab this year as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, so we haven't been able to run this same test with some of the newer models we've reviewed. Once we're able to test everything in a controlled setting once more, we'll update this section with fresh data. Measuring top speeds in a controlled test environment gives us a clear look at what these routers are technically capable of, but you won't see speeds that fast in your home.

Remember, your router can only pull data from the cloud as fast as your ISP speed allows and signal strength will vary from home to home based on the layout and the amount of obstructions in the way. To account for this, we ran a second batch of tests. The goal was to get a good look at the types of speeds most people would experience if they brought one of these routers into their home. Amplifi's app lets you choose between Latency and Throughput modes depending on your needs, and it includes helpful features like signal strength indicators for the plug-in extenders.

To gather my data, I ran an abundance of speed tests from five different locations in my home, ranging from the living room where the router lives to a back bathroom on the opposite end of the house. Throughout all of my tests, I always kept a TV streaming live video from PlayStation Vue RIP to simulate normal household network traffic in a controlled fashion and also so my very patient roommate could at least watch TV while politely staying off the Wi-Fi during my tests.

After running multiple speed tests from each of those locations, I averaged everything together. ISP speeds can fluctuate throughout the day, so to help account for this as best as I could, I'd run this whole process again with each router at a later time. Then, I'd average that data with the first batch of tests. Fourteen routers, five locations in my home, three tests per location, two rounds of tests at minimum. When you add in the additional tests I ran to double-check a result or measure the impact of specific features, it amounts to roughly 1, speed tests and counting.

Those averages proved telling. The top finisher on the 5GHz band turned out to be the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR, which averaged more than Mbps across all of my speed tests, including ones in the back of my house where the signal strength is typically poor.

The Amplifi HD Gamer's Edition, which uses plug-in mesh extenders to help relay the signal around the house, was the runner-up -- it was one of the worst performers when we measured top speeds, but unless you have a blazing-fast internet connection of Mbps or faster, you won't notice that at all.

As for our top pick, the Asus RT-AX86U, it finished with an overall average download speed of Mbps, which is a strong finish and stronger still when you add in the exceptional lag performance.

With an average speed of In that back bathroom I mentioned, it averaged a download speed of That tells me that the DIR would work best in small homes like mine -- anything bigger, and you'll want something with better range. The Asus RT-AX86U features a stylish design and lots of helpful features for gaming, including a Quality of Service engine and a mobile boost mode for gaming on your phone. It saw the smallest dip in speeds in that back bathroom on the 2. Despite high top speeds in our first round of tests at the lab, neither of those Wi-Fi 6 routers tested well in my home.

In fact, they were the two bottom finishers in terms of average overall download speeds on the 5GHz band. One last point -- my glut of at-home speed tests allowed me to take a look at latency, too. As I said before, there's only so much your router can do to bring lag down, especially if you're connecting to a busy server that's thousands of miles away.