Top 10 Benefits of a Gaming Router
What does a gaming router do?
Gaming routers are more sophisticated versions of traditional routers. They’re designed to improve performance and streamline user management. Unlike a typical router, these devices provide the means to configure your local internet traffic to make it more efficient.
While gaming routers are great for individuals, you’ll see even more benefits if you’re part of a high-traffic or multi-user household. Some options may only offer a marginal improvement, but there's a diverse market of devices with varying prices and features. Several of the popular gaming routers we’ll highlight are priced below $100.
1. Superior connection speeds and responsiveness
Gaming routers handle more data, more quickly. That means they can offer the best visual and audio accuracy, especially with shared connections. They’re built to handle a larger volume of traffic, so a gaming router will minimize disruptions when your roommates or family are all streaming at once.
Want to learn more about connection speeds and how they impact your gaming experience? Check out our article Lag! Top 5 Reasons your Ping is so High for a deeper explanation of the reasons why your game may be lagging. Remember to consider using hard-wired Ethernet port connections when speed is an issue, because you’re guaranteed to get better speeds compared to wireless.
Our pick: Top shelf picks like the NETGEAR Orbi Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System may be on the pricier side, but these wireless routers have serious perks like boosted range and better software features.
2. Prioritize internet traffic with “quality of service” features
Quality of service (QoS) features help users manage their connection and gauge how effective their hardware is at reducing disruptions. These features allow users to avoid errors when performing high-priority tasks that may require a distinct amount of bandwidth for stability. Handled correctly, it can help identify choke points in your household’s internet traffic – like when multiple demanding tasks push you over your bandwidth limit.