The Best Gaming Routers To Keep Your Connection Speedy And Stable

Band: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz | Speed: 7.8Gbps | LAN ports: 1 x 2.5Gbps, 4 x 1Gbps | Antennae: 6 | Standard: Wi-Fi 6E

Best for: The best gaming router for most people.

Pros:

• Super fast Wi-Fi 6E speeds
• Lots of high-speed Ethernet ports
• Expansive coverage with great reception from powerful antennas

Cons:

• Expensive
• Lacks 10 Gbps Ethernet

Gaming routers come in all manner of bizarre shapes and sizes, but while the grandest of them with the biggest footprints and the most antennas might have the pinnacle of performance, most gamers don’t need that. The difference between the very top models and the really great models, like this Acer Predator Connect W6 router, are almost non-existent. If you competitively game and want to plug into an Ethernet port, you can enjoy its 2.5Gbps connection speed—more than enough for gaming and anything else besides—as well as four other Gigabit Ethernet ports for connecting other high-speed devices. There’s no 10Gbps port, but odds are your PC doesn’t support that (yet), so you won’t notice.

On the wireless front, this router supports all three of the main frequency bands, including the newer, shorter-distance (but high-performance) 6GHz band, and with its six powerful antennas, you’ll find reception anywhere in even the most expansive homes. It supports up to Wi-Fi 6E speeds, which is only a step behind Wi-Fi 7 and neither are necessary for high-speed gaming, but the option is there nonetheless. You’ll also find a gamer-friendly backend system with this router, with a robust quality of service setting to help prioritize gaming traffic. It ensures you don’t get hit with high latency just because your spouse decided to start streaming—or join you in their own gaming session.

Band: 2.4GHz, 5GHz | Speed: 1,500 Mbps | LAN Ports: 4x 1Gbps | Antennae: 4 | Standard: Wi-Fi 6

Best for: High-speed online gaming on a budget.

Pros:

• Affordably priced
• Wi-Fi 6 connectivity
• Has four Gigabit Ethernet ports

Cons:

• Lacks newer, faster connection options

The TP-Link Archer AX10 is features an affordable price well below $100, and yet it still offers excellent performance for gaming and anything else besides. This model has Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, which is more than enough for a good gaming experience, and it has speeds up to 1.5Gbps across its dual wireless bands, which is adequate for most households. You also get four 1Gbps LAN ports. That means it lacks faster ports (like a 2.5Gbps port or a 10Gbps WAN port), but those matter far more for big downloads and file transfers than they do for gaming performance.

Higher-end gaming routers are capable of greater bandwidth, range and speeds—but if your gaming needs are less demanding, you won’t need the top-of-the-line specs of the pricier options. Despite the low price, this model still supports TP-Link’s capable quality of service (QoS), so your gaming traffic will always receive top priority, without latency spikes.

Band: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 2 x 6GHz | Speed: 30Gbps | LAN ports: 2 x 10Gbps, 4 x 2.5Gbps | Antennae: 8 | Standard: Wi-Fi 7

Best for: Hosting lots of high-end gamers on the same network.

Pros:

• Incredible wired and wireless performance
• Supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard
• Impressive coverage

Cons:

• Very expensive

If you’re looking to get extra Wi-Fi features for your LAN gaming room, or just need a router that can handle lots of demanding gaming from multiple sources at the same time, take a look at the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro. Yes, it’s expensive, but it comes with near-unprecedented features, including a pair of 10Gbps Ethernet ports, and four 2.5Gbps ports. If that wasn’t enough, it also supports Wi-Fi 7, with four bands to spread your wireless devices across, including a pair of 6GHz bands. That ensures that the network with this router will have zero congestion, no matter how many people are trying to use it.

It also enjoys advanced features like a built-in VPN, free ongoing network security coverage from Asus’ AIProtection Pro, and powerful QoS to prevent network transfers from adding latency to your connection. Plus, the whole device features a cool design, with RGB lighting and tasteful venting to prevent components from overheating. It’s overkill for most people, but if you need a high performance router for gaming in a busy environment, this the best tool for the job.

Band: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz | Speed: 19Gbps | LAN ports: 2 x 10Gbps, 4 x 2.5Gbps | Antennae: 8 | Standard: Wi-Fi 7

Best for: Delivering powerful wired and wireless performance.

Pros:

• Unique look
• Strong wired and wireless performance
• Fun and useful LED display

Cons:

• Expensive

Want a router that looks great and delivers excellent performance? The TP-Link BE800 is an excellent solution, with incredible performance, a unique look and some fun customization that any gamer will appreciate. If you’re looking to game over a wired connection, you have the choice of six Ethernet ports on this router, four of which support 2.5Gbps speeds, and two that support 10Gbps for maximum throughput. There’s also Wi-Fi 7 support with 2.4Ghz, 5GHz and 6GHz bands helping to make sure you always have a quality signal and that congestion will not be an issue.

Powerful QoS ensures that your signal stays clear whether you’re the only one on the network, or one of many, and the front-LED display can be tweaked to show anything from active network usage to fun animation. This router also supports TP-Links security and parental controls, helping you to stay on top of your network security, whether you’re gaming or doing anything else besides.

Range: 5,000 square feet (+2,500 per satellite) | Band: 2.4GHz, 2 x 5GHz | Speed: 4.2Gbps | LAN Ports: 4 x 1Gbps on router, 2 x 1Gbps on satellite | Antennae: 6 | Standard: Wi-Fi 6

Best for: Those who want a system that can cover their entire home with Wi-Fi connectivity.

Pros:

• Expansive Wi-Fi coverage
• Good port selection
• Supports Wi-Fi 6

Cons:

• Lacks faster modern Wi-Fi standards
• No 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports

If you’re looking for a great gaming router, but don’t want a single-unit router, then using a mesh router system is a great way to offer much greater coverage throughout your home. This RBK752 bundle from Netgear’s Orbi lineup is excellent at providing blanket coverage around your home. With just one satellite you get over 5,000 square foot of coverage, and an additional 2,500 for each additional node that you add. There are newer, faster models of this mesh router system, but they are so much more expensive and the added performance doesn’t particularly affect gaming, so we really like this slightly older, more mature and affordable option.

It still supports Wi-Fi 6 speeds, with a total throughput over 4,000 Mbps. It supports four Gigabit Ethernet ports on the main router, and two on each satellite. It also supports dual 5GHz bands—one of which is a backhaul to keep traffic flowing well. While this system doesn’t have the traffic prioritization of many gaming routers, it has tons of bandwidth to handle traffic from multiple devices while gaming, and it has MU-MIMO support.