The best wifi gaming router offer fast speeds and strong signals among standalone units and mesh kits alike
The best wifi gaming router provide excellent speeds, a strong signal, best-in-class device management and are available as either standalone units or as part of a mesh Wi-Fi system. If you have a lot of connected devices in your home, upgrading to the latest major Wi-Fi standard can help ensure your devices stay online and that there’s plenty of bandwidth for everyone in your household.
In addition to both the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands, Wi-Fi 6E adds a third 6 GHz band that is dramatically faster with unbeatable performance gains. This can help you avoid network congestion and upgrading to one of the best Wi-Fi 6E routers can ensure you’re well prepared for the future.
We’ve highlighted Wi-Fi 6 and 6E routers designed for both small and large homes with all of the features you’ll need to completely upgrade your home network. Whether you want a standalone router or a mesh Wi-Fi system for whole-home connectivity, there’s something here for every budget.
How to choose the best wifi gaming router for you
Choosing the best Wi-Fi 6 router isn’t that different from shopping for any other networking product. Although the complicated jargon can be confusing, there are really only two significant questions that need to be answered.
First, what speed do you need for your internet use and devices? Second, what sort of coverage do you need for your home?
Speed: Wi-Fi 6 is good for high-speed connections as the newer standard offers higher throughput than the previous 802.11ac standard. It’s also especially well-suited to gigabit-speed internet plans which may be available in your area.
However, even average broadband speeds will benefit from Wi-Fi 6 as the standard offers better efficiency for sharing bandwidth among many devices.
Compatibility: Similarly, you’ll get the most out of Wi-Fi 6 by using newer Wi-Fi 6-equipped devices. While the standard is backwards compatible and should work with every older Wi-Fi-connected device you own, some of the features, like improved battery life for connected devices, will only work when both your router and your connected devices have Wi-Fi 6 capability.
Most new laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets now include Wi-Fi 6 while a few even support Wi-Fi 6e which makes a Wi-Fi 6 router the best way to futureproof your home network.
Coverage: The other question is coverage area or how far and wide your Wi-Fi signal will travel. A basic standalone router will usually be sufficient for an apartment or smaller home with ranges of 50 to 100 feet being common.
Larger homes though, with 3,000 square feet of space or more, will benefit from a mesh system that pairs a base unit with satellite extensions that can be placed throughout the house.
These extensions stretch the reach of your Wi-Fi signal to cover even a large home though they can also be expanded as needed with additional units. (Learn more in our article What is a mesh Wi-Fi router, and do you need one?)
Gaming: One other consideration is gaming. The last thing you want is to have your gaming session slowed down or even interrupted by your network connection.
The best wifi gaming router provide excellent speeds, a strong signal, best-in-class device management and are available as either standalone units or as part of a mesh Wi-Fi system. If you have a lot of connected devices in your home, upgrading to the latest major Wi-Fi standard can help ensure your devices stay online and that there’s plenty of bandwidth for everyone in your household.
In addition to both the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands, Wi-Fi 6E adds a third 6 GHz band that is dramatically faster with unbeatable performance gains. This can help you avoid network congestion and upgrading to one of the best Wi-Fi 6E routers can ensure you’re well prepared for the future.
We’ve highlighted Wi-Fi 6 and 6E routers designed for both small and large homes with all of the features you’ll need to completely upgrade your home network. Whether you want a standalone router or a mesh Wi-Fi system for whole-home connectivity, there’s something here for every budget.
How to choose the best wifi gaming router for you
Choosing the best Wi-Fi 6 router isn’t that different from shopping for any other networking product. Although the complicated jargon can be confusing, there are really only two significant questions that need to be answered.
First, what speed do you need for your internet use and devices? Second, what sort of coverage do you need for your home?
Speed: Wi-Fi 6 is good for high-speed connections as the newer standard offers higher throughput than the previous 802.11ac standard. It’s also especially well-suited to gigabit-speed internet plans which may be available in your area.
However, even average broadband speeds will benefit from Wi-Fi 6 as the standard offers better efficiency for sharing bandwidth among many devices.
Compatibility: Similarly, you’ll get the most out of Wi-Fi 6 by using newer Wi-Fi 6-equipped devices. While the standard is backwards compatible and should work with every older Wi-Fi-connected device you own, some of the features, like improved battery life for connected devices, will only work when both your router and your connected devices have Wi-Fi 6 capability.
Most new laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets now include Wi-Fi 6 while a few even support Wi-Fi 6e which makes a Wi-Fi 6 router the best way to futureproof your home network.
Coverage: The other question is coverage area or how far and wide your Wi-Fi signal will travel. A basic standalone router will usually be sufficient for an apartment or smaller home with ranges of 50 to 100 feet being common.
Larger homes though, with 3,000 square feet of space or more, will benefit from a mesh system that pairs a base unit with satellite extensions that can be placed throughout the house.
These extensions stretch the reach of your Wi-Fi signal to cover even a large home though they can also be expanded as needed with additional units. (Learn more in our article What is a mesh Wi-Fi router, and do you need one?)
Gaming: One other consideration is gaming. The last thing you want is to have your gaming session slowed down or even interrupted by your network connection.