The best Wi-Fi 6 routers for 2022: The newest iteration of Wi-Fi, version 6 (also known as 802.11ax), promises to be twice as fast as previous versions and nearly 5 times faster than the average router on the market today. But what exactly does this mean, and why should you care? Before making the decision to upgrade your current equipment or buy brand new, find out what makes Wi-Fi 6 so great and what kinds of routers are capable of supporting it in this article on the best Wi-Fi 6 routers for 2022.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300(The best Wi-Fi 6 routers for 2022)
When it comes to routers, Netgear is among a small handful of companies that consistently receive praise from third-party reviewers and home users alike. While we’ve long been impressed with its hardware, we can’t say we’re surprised that the company’s latest flagship Nighthawk router succeeds in setting itself apart.
We tested three of its features: MU-MIMO (multiple users, multiple input/multiple outputs), 256 QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) processing, and beamforming+ technology. With these new technologies on board, the RAXE300 has taken Wi-Fi 6 performance to a whole new level.
Now you might be thinking How much faster will this make my network? I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that our speed tests revealed an approximate 10% increase in throughput speeds at distances of up to 150 feet (45 meters). So what does this mean? Simply put, your devices should now have access to more bandwidth across your house.
Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8)(The best Wi-Fi 6 routers for 2022)
If you’re looking to pick up an 802.11ax router today, you don’t have many options. The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is one of those few, and it’s also one of our favorite mesh networking systems. Not only does it support wireless gigabit speeds and multiple-device connectivity, but it has a touchscreen interface that makes setup easy even if you’re unfamiliar with common router terminology or want to customize your router settings beyond what most routers let you do.
It supports MU-MIMO technology as well so you can stream without buffering issues. Plus, the display screen gives you quick access to network status information. When set up correctly, the AX should cover about 5,000 square feet at its maximum power level. Keep in mind this is not a tri-band system like some other high-end routers on the market; instead, it uses two dual-band antennas and has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports which are more than enough for most homes.
TP-Link Archer AX6000
While router standards are tough to keep up with, you can rest assured that when it comes to speed and durability, TP-Link will deliver. For example, its top-tier Archer AX6000 is one of only a few routers on the market that support Wi-Fi 6 technology. At $400, it isn’t cheap, but don’t worry; TP-Link has another great choice in its more affordable Talon AD7200 router ($180). And while we may still be waiting on its first batch of compatible devices, there are already over 170 qualified devices available that support next-generation networks including Nighthawk 4K Smart WiFi Mesh Router (approx. $300) and Asus RT-AX88U (approx.
Nighthawk MK63 (The best Wi-Fi 6 routers for 2022)
This popular TP-Link router delivers a great Wi-Fi signal and is one of our favorites. It offers dual 5GHz bands that support MU-MIMO and 256 QAM, two technologies that can help deliver faster speeds to more devices at once. It also supports a single 2.4GHz band as well as Beamforming+ technology, which helps improve speed and coverage in a home. This router comes with four external antennas so you can place it in an optimal spot for signal strength and distance from your wireless devices like cell phones, tablets, laptops, or game consoles.
TP-Link Deco X60
According to TP-Link, Deco X60 is a unique product that’s both a router and a range extender. With six internal antennas, it uses beamforming technology to direct Wi-Fi signals to multiple devices in your home. It also supports dynamic beamforming, which means its antennas will adapt to create optimum connections depending on who you’re trying to reach (and where they are). This ensures that all of your devices receive strong connections regardless of their location. A single Deco X60 can support up to 1,500 square feet; if you need more coverage than that, you can place two or three of them in different rooms and connect them via TP-Link’s Smart Control app.
Linksys MX10 Velop
This mesh router triples as a network extender, access point, and range extender. With its three routers, you can expand your coverage by up to 4,500 square feet while you stream HD video. At $349.99 at Amazon, it’s a bit on the pricey side but still worth it if you need to expand your coverage and ensure that everyone in your household has a strong connection no matter where they are in your home. This router gets 3 out of 5 stars on Amazon with over 200 reviews because customers find it reliable and easy to set up and install. But some users say they run into issues when trying to extend their networks too far away from their main router due to inconsistent performance over longer distances.
Common Frequently Asked Questions about WiFi 6
What is Wi-Fi 6?
Wi-Fi 6 is the next generation of Wi-Fi. It’s designed to improve upon the current generation of Wi-Fi, which has been around for a long time, with a focus on speed and efficiency. Wi-Fi 6 uses multiple antennae that each have their own data channel, allowing for more bandwidth for each user. The number of antennae can be adjusted to suit the needs of different users, so you won’t have to worry about lag or slow connections when trying to stream video or upload photos. Wi-Fi 6 also supports MU-MIMO technology, which allows each device in your home network to connect at different rates depending on how close they are to each other.
What features should I look for in a Wi-Fi 6 router?
Wi-Fi 6 routers come with a host of new and exciting features. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping around. Multi-User MIMO is an important feature in Wi-Fi 6 routers that allows data from several devices to travel simultaneously on a single channel. This reduces interference between different devices, making it possible to achieve faster speeds than ever before. MU-MIMO can also be used by router manufacturers to prioritize network traffic. For example, you might decide that Netflix or YouTube should always get priority over Skype or Slack when you’re gaming on your Xbox or PlayStation; your router will handle these kinds of scenarios automatically using MU-MIMO technology.
Can I use Mesh WiFi 6 with an existing router?
The short answer is yes, you can use your existing router to connect to Mesh WiFi 6. You will need to purchase a new modem/router combo from your provider, but that’s all it takes.