As an upgrade to the previous generation 802.11ac, the newer 802.11ax standard, also known as WiFi 6, has finally arrived. This new WiFi standard brings a lot of networking improvements to the table, particularly to deal with the problem of network congestion. With WiFi 6, you’ll be able to use the full potential of your high-speed internet connection, without experiencing slower speeds during your gaming sessions, even if the network is being used for other activities such as streaming. Furthermore, technologies such as MU-MIMO and OFDMA that come with WiFi 6, make lag-free gaming more accessible. Here are some great options to choose from.
If you have the need for speed, the ASUS GT-AX11000 will not let you down. It can select between any of the available 5GHz channels (there’s 15 of them) to ensure that you always get the clearest signal. On paper, it is capable of pushing 10 Gigabit to WiFi 6 compatible clients, which are increasingly being launched. Wired connectivity is also great with a single 2.5G WAN/LAN port accompanied by four additional Gigabit LAN ports. With the VPN Fusion technology, the router even allows different connected devices to use VPN and regular internet at the same time.
Looking like a spaceship right out of a sci-fi movie, the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 packs a host of interesting features. The 8 stream connectivity brings its theoretical maximum speed to a significant 6 Gbps. It has a quad-core 1.8GHz processor onboard which helps it operate smoothly for both wired and wireless connectivity. While specific gaming features beyond those offered by the WiFi 6 standard are unavailable, there are QoS features which can be manually configured to achieve similar results. The router is also capable of port aggregation to achieve faster file transfer over LAN. Additionally, you can also control it via voice commands through Amazon Alexa as well as some other smart assistants.
As TP-Link’s first WiFi 6 router, the Archer AX6000 aims to be a home router that also doubles up for gaming. With 8×8 MU-MIMO and eight Gigabit connections over LAN, you’ll never be left waiting for connectivity. It can support a wide array of internet connection types or specifications such as PPPoE, L2TP and PPTP. To control the router, you can use the web portal or the Tether app on smartphones, which also provides an easy setup for the router over Bluetooth. The eight high-gain antennae on the outside ensure coverage in all parts of your home, while beamforming can deliver stronger connectivity to particular devices.
The Asus RT-AX92U can connect with another RT-AX92U unit to create a mesh network in your home. It uses one of the three bands available to ensure strong connectivity between the two units. However, you can also connect the two routers via ethernet, making all three bands available for your devices. The theoretical maximum of approx 5Gbps ensures that you get seamless connectivity for your 4K streaming, online gaming and more. Additionally, these routers will work with other AiMesh routers from ASUS to extend the coverage and switch to the best possible source for your device whenever required.
TP-Link Archer is the ideal router explicitly meant for gamers. It has a 2.5 Gbps WAN port and features a 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU and 1 GB of RAM. It also has USB Type-C and Type-A ports to ensure that all types of devices are able to connect directly to the router and experience ultra-high speeds. It can offer astonishing speeds of up to 10756Mbps with an extended range over WiFi. It also features a game accelerator that can detect and optimize gaming streams automatically.
The TP-Link Archer C6 is a great router for daily usage at home. It is well equipped to handle high-speed connectivity and offers seamless connection without lag. It features an advanced security apparatus with WPA3 and has a large range. The 2.4GHz band can deliver speeds of up to 300Mbps, while the 5 GHz band goes up to 867Mbps. MU-MIMO also allows the router to connect to a large number of devices simultaneously. It also has a companion app that makes setup and controls much easier.