Measure your home and count floors, match the Wi-Fi standard to your internet plan, check Ethernet ports and subscriptions, and place nodes within a room or two of each other. This wi-fi routers buying guide explains the features that matter, the ones you can ignore, and which models we would buy or skip.
Our shortlist: the TP-Link Deco X55 AX3000 Mesh Wi-Fi System ($149–$199) for most homes. the Amazon eero 6+ Mesh Wi-Fi System ($199–$299) for easiest setup. the TP-Link Archer AX55 AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router ($69–$99) for apartments and small homes.
How much should you spend on wi-fi routers? Budget models start around $69, while premium options reach $1,799. Spending more usually buys whole-home Wi-Fi 6 mesh at a fair price and mesh that sets up in minutes, but it is only worth it if you will use those features.
Mesh beats a single router in homes over about 2,000 sq ft or with several floors. Wi-Fi 6 is plenty for most plans; Wi-Fi 7 helps only with multi-gig internet and new devices. Ethernet ports on each node help connect TVs, consoles and PCs.
If you have dead zones or a multistory home, yes. In an apartment, one good router is usually enough. Not for most homes yet. It only helps with multi-gig internet plans and newer phones and laptops that support it.
Mesh systems are discounted on Prime Day and Black Friday. If you rent a router from your internet provider for $10 to $15 a month, buying your own often pays for itself within a year.
Across the wi-fi routers we cover, typical prices run from $69 to $1,799. Store prices change often, so treat these as typical ranges and check the current price before you buy.
The NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band typically costs $1,299–$1,799 and earns a Skip verdict. Buy it if you have multi-gig internet in a large home and want the fastest mesh money can buy. Skip it if you want value; Wi-Fi 6 mesh covers most US homes for a fraction of the price.
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