Best 2018 Network Router Upgrade For Anyone

However, we reckon its worth spending a little extra for the tri-band Eero Pro, which can transmit 802.11ac Wi-Fi on the 2.4GHz band and two separate 5GHz bands in order to provide greater range and reliability when using lots of different devices.

You could, of course, just buy a new router from your usual internet service provider, but most service providers arent really interested in selling routers so they dont offer very much choice.

Mind you, router performance can mean different things, which is why weve put together this buying guide to highlight the best options for a variety of customers, homes and lifestyles.

Jump to our routers buying advice for the features and specs you should be looking for.

And, miraculously, Apple has the lower price too - charging just 149.95 179.95 for this high-end tri-band router.

The router provides strong performance, though, transmitting 802.11ac Wi-Fi on 2.4GHz and two separate 5GHz bands.

That allows the MR8300 to provide a top speed of 2200Mbs, and it also supports MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple inputmultiple output), which helps it to stream efficiently to several devices at once.

The MR8300 is also compatible with Linksys Velop range of mesh routers, so you can extend your Wi-Fi network over a larger area by buying a Velop and placing it in part of your home that has trouble getting a good signal.

That model has now been discontinued, and D-Links current top-of-the-range offering is the more affordably priced Exo AC3000.

Its not just a scary face, though, as the Exo offers similar tri-band performance to its predecessor, transmitting 802.11ac Wi-Fi on 2.4GHz and two 5GHz bands, with a total speed of 3000Mbs.

Its actually 2999Mbs according to D-Links datasheet, but whos counting).

That makes it a good choice for families or flatmates who are all streaming on Netflix, Zoom and gaming consoles at home in the evening.

Thats good value for money - although, of course, youll have to decide if you want to continue the subscriptions at the end of that period.

There are also four ethernet ports for wired connections if needed, and - as the R8000 doesnt include a modem - a fifth ethernet port that is used to connect it to your existing router or modem (which is providing the internet connection).

The app is easy to use, and guides you smoothly through the installation process.

It also includes some handy features, such as the ability to set-up a temporary guest network.

However, its more advanced parental controls and Armor security features require an additional subscription, which is a bit irritating, and there are rival routers that provide better parental controls in their apps for free.

However, more and more devices will be supporting this new standard in the coming months, so buying a Wi-Fi 6 router now will ensure that youve future-proofed your home network for years to come.

It also includes four ethernet ports for wired connections, and a handy USB 3.0 port that can be used for connecting a hard drive for back-ups or storing music, photos and videos.

It doesnt include a modem, though, so youll need to connect it to your existing router.

Netgear claims the RAX20 is ideal for homes with up to 20 connected devices, and other models in the AX range are designed to work with 50 or more devices all connected at once.

Best 2018 Network Router Upgrade For Anyone

Its been one of TP-Links top sellers in recent months, and weve seen it available online for as little as 6656; itll be a good upgrade for anyone thats struggling with an old router provided by their ISP.

And, if youre on a really tight budget, theres a model called the Archer A5 that provides similar speed and features for half the price.

However, the A5 model lacks MU-MIMO, so it will only really be suitable for homes with just a few connected devices that are using the internet at the same time.

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