A gaming router might be overkill for most of us, but if you are a leisure gamer looking for low-latency performance or an enthusiast, here’s what we recommend.
We’ve all played games, from Super Mario to Counter-Strike, and there’s this one thing we can all agree upon, it’s never our fault if we lose! I mean, seriously, how many times have you accepted that it was a blink of an eye that eliminated you? This everlasting nostalgia is to be ended as we progress towards the future of online multiplayer gaming.
Whether it’s PUBG or GTA (V) online, it’s that latency (or lag) that gets us most of the time. You might have bought a high-end machine, but it’s incomplete without a stable and reliable router. Learn more about routers and DLink router setup here.
If you’re a PC enthusiast, you know speed matters. Although some might argue, why not LAN over Wi-Fi? The answer lies in its conveniences and features. Indeed, in LAN, you will get the least latency while gaming, but wouldn’t it be better if you can connect to other devices and maintain high speed? Sounds lovely, right? It is possible due to features like MU-MIMO.
This is a surplus of features like prioritizing network traffic, minimizing lag, QoS, geo-location of severs (NetGear only), and many more. A spike in traffic is seen during the COVID-19 work-from-home schedule, so if game performance is essential to you, it’s worth your time to look for optimizing your network as well.
Here is a list of top gaming routers:
1 TP-Link Archer C5400X ★★★★★
Specifications:
Speed: 802.11ac; 2.4GHz: 1,000Mbps; 5GHz: 2,167Mbps | Connectivity: 1x Gigabit Ethernet WAN, 8x Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 2x USB 3.0 | Features: MU-MIMO, Advanced Wireless AC beamforming, Tri-band networking, VPN acceleration.
It does have a predecessor, namely Archer C5400 v2, but you might notice that it comes with an ‘X.’ It signifies the extreme performance this beast of a router can pull off. It might be expensive, but that is justified as it is the highest-end router available in the market. It is comparatively easy to set up and uses. Also, QoS is easily managed, and you can use blacklist and white list devices.
2 NetGear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700 ★★★★☆
Specifications:
Speed: 802.11ac: 2.6Gbps | Connectivity: 4 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x WAN, 2 x USB 3.0 | Features: MU-MIMO support, QoS, Geo Filter
If your friends want to stream on Netflix while you are in an intense gaming session, it shouldn’t be a problem with this high-end machinery. With a speed of 2.2 GBps and Wi-Fi 6, it enables you to connect to the closest server while gaming using its gaming-centric Duma OS. With its help, you can prioritize the throughput of each device by assigning percentages separately.
Price: $225.91
3 Asus RT-AC5300 ★★★★☆
Specifications:
Speed: 802.11ac: 5300Mbps, 802.11n: 600Mbps | Connectivity: 4 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x WAN, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0 | Features: MU-MIMO support, Link Aggregation, traffic analyser, WPS, 512MB RAM, 8 external antenna
Its significant spider-like design is made to keep the Wi-Fi coverage strong throughout your gameplay, wherever you are. There are features like Airtime Fairness and protection, which help during gameplays and daily usage. To configure it with much ease, ASUS has developed a router app so that you can toggle features on the go.
Price: $330.00
4 Asus RT-AX88U ★★★★☆
Specifications:
Speed: 802.11ac: 6000Mbps 802.11n: 1000 Mbps | Connectivity: 9x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x USB 2.0 1x USB 3.0 | Features: 1024-QAM, MU-MIMO, WTFast Gamers Private Network, Asus AIProtection, AsusWRT Software
Armed with just four antennae and equipping NitroQAM tech, it would be needless to say that this device is overkill even for a pro gamer. It can break the 1GBps barrier, but it comes with a catch, you will have to have a NitroQAM wireless adapter for it to work. But it justifies its price by outperforming in specifications. There is also class-leading Adaptive QoS and the WTFast GPN—all with subscriptions for the router’s lifetime.
5 NetGear Nighthawk AX4 ★★★★☆
Specifications:
Speed: AX3000 (Dual-band 2400(5GHz)+ 600(2.4GHz) Mbps wireless speed) | Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, 4x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x USB 3.0 |
Features: MU-MIMO, Additional DFS Channels, Nighthawk App, Automatic Firmware Updates, Works with Amazon Alexa™, and the Google Assistant.
As Wi-Fi 6 is becoming more common, this router sets some exemplary standards as to what a budget router can achieve. It might not have a gamer aesthetic, but it undoubtedly stands out in performance and range.
With easy-to-use software and a user-friendly OS mobile app, it still includes features like QoS like in many expensive models. It is built for those who want to experience gaming performance while being on a budget.
Price: $74.95
6 TP-Link Archer C9 AC1900 ★★★☆☆
Specifications:
Speed: AC1900 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps (802.11ac) 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps (802.11n) | Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11), 4x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x USB | Features: Steady speeds, Ergonomic Design, Budget pricing
Suppose you are new to gaming and want to experience it without spending much then, welcome initially! This is your opening gates to gaming while being easier on the pockets.
Although inexpensive, it has a sturdy design, which makes it much more ergonomic than other devices. It still delivers reliable speeds for low latency gaming at a reasonable range.
Price: $59.99
Conclusion
As for the gaming, routers go, many routers nowadays pack so many features that a buyer gets overwhelmed and confused. We hope that this list will help you make your decision, which we are sure you would consider as money well spent. It’s time for the mission. Get Ready. Good Luck!
