The Best Wi-Fi Routers: A Comprehensive Guide

Whether you’re a streaming fiend or a work-from-home pro, there’s nothing worse than sluggish internet. So instead of suffering from non-stop buffering, accelerate that lacklustre connection by investing in a speedy new router.

But with so many competing options, which router is best for you? We’ll show you the ropes with this in-depth Wi-Fi router buying guide. In this post, we’re covering the top considerations and presenting the three best Wi-Fi routers for varying budgets and needs.

Wi-Fi Frequency Bands

Wi-Fi routers support one, two, or three distinct frequency bands, which we measure in gigahertz (GHz).

2.4GHz

While 2.4GHz is the slowest band, it’s fast enough for everyday browsing and has the best penetration and range, making it great for larger properties. On the downside, networks in this band must compete with other 2.4GHz appliances, such as microwaves and Bluetooth-enabled devices.

5 GHz

Most routers are dual-band and also support the less-crowded 5GHz frequency, which offers more throughput and less signal interference. While its range isn’t as good, you get significantly zippier speeds.

Pricier tri-band routers are great for gamers, who can set up one 2.4GHz connection for browsing, one 5 GHz network for streaming/downloads, and another 5 GHz network exclusively for gaming.   

6 GHz

The fastest 6 GHz frequency requires a late-generation Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 router. However, not all devices are compatible with this technology, so check your hardware first. You can still use a 6 GHz network on a non-compatible device; you just won’t get 6 GHz speeds.

Wi-Fi Protocols

Wi-Fi has come a long way since the original IEEE 802.11 protocol hit the market in 1997. Over the decades, a series of clever tech innovations have revolutionised wireless technology.

Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) sends data through eight spatial streams, while Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) provides simultaneous bandwidth to multiple devices. We now also have beamforming, a tech that sends Wi-Fi straight to a client instead of scattering it in all directions. Band-steering lets the router automatically switch to the most efficient band.

Wi-Fi 6

The bare minimum you should consider is Wi-Fi 6, or IEEE 802.11ax. This evolved protocol features all the speed-boosting tech of its predecessors plus better client capacity, longer range, faster throughput speeds (up to 9.6 Gbps), and less network congestion. It also boasts a slew of new innovations, such as Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) to optimise speed by breaking up Wi-Fi channels. Target Wake Time (TWT) reduces power consumption on mobile devices, thus extending their battery life.

• Best for: Regular home users and work-from-home professionals.

Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E uses the same 802.11ax designation but can support the speedier 6 GHz band. More and more devices, such as laptops and mobile phones, are becoming compatible with the 6 GHz frequency, making Wi-Fi 6E increasingly attractive for internet-dwellers with a need for speed.

• Best for: Large multi-device houses, medium-sized offices, smart homes.

Wi-Fi 7

The cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) protocol uses a 6 GHz band to support bandwidth up to 320 MHz wide, thus obtaining maximum speeds up to 4.8 times faster than Wi-Fi 6. Also known as Extremely High Throughput (EHT), this is the speediest protocol of them all. The downsides are Wi-Fi 7 is expensive, and only the latest high-end devices are compatible. It’s also overkill for most users.

• Best for: Competitive or virtual gamers, 16K streamers, and large file downloads.

Ports

Ensure your new router has sufficient ports for whatever you plan to plug in. Few users will need more than four high-speed Ethernet ports. A USB port or two is handy should you fancy connecting a printer or external storage drive to share across the network.

Brand

Don’t settle for a cheap no-name router if you care about connection speeds. The router your ISP gave you probably isn’t going to cut it, nor is that too-good-to-be-true deal you saw on Temu. The best router brands include TP-Link, Asus, and NETGEAR.   

Range

Most routers come with a range of about 50 metres, which is suitable for a typical three-bedroom home.

Removable antennas let you pop in a more powerful third-party antenna to boost the signal across a larger area. Alternatively, if you have a big property, look into a Wi-Fi mesh router instead.

Security & Control

WPA3 routers offer the best available protection through individual encryptions. Don’t settle for less than WPA2.

Parental controls keep tabs on the little ones’ screen time and browsing habits. Most let you block access to unsuitable sites, including social media, either 24/7 or at specified times.  

The guest network feature lets visitors use your internet but blocks their access to printers, other devices, and files. The Quality of Service (QoS) function lets you prioritise bandwidth for certain applications, a boon for gamers craving lightning-quick speeds.

The Best Wi-Fi Routers

Here’s a short list of some of our favourite Wi-Fi routers across various price points.  

Don’t see what you want? There’s plenty more available at Officeworks.

Best Budget: TP-Link ARCHER AX10 AX1500

The TP-Link Archer AX10 gives you the speedy goodness of Wi-Fi 6 for a rock-bottom price. While it’s certainly not the fastest router on our list, it’ll do the trick for most people.

• Protocol: Wi-Fi 6
• Maximum speed: 1500 Mbps
• Bands: Dual-band
• Ports: 1x gigabit WAN port and 4x gigabit LAN ports

Best Overall: NETGEAR Nighthawk AX3000 AX4

A well-rounded choice, the NETGEAR Nighthawk AX3000 AX4 comes with a triple 1.5 GHz processor for smooth 4K streaming, NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls, easy set up through the Orbi app, and a one-year subscription to NETGEAR Armor to keep you safe from cyber-attacks. All this makes it among the best wireless routers for home use.

• Protocol: Wi-Fi 6
• Maximum speed: 2400 Mbps
• Bands: Dual-band
• Ports: 1 x WAN and 4 x LAN and 1 x USB 3.0 port.

Best Premium: TP-Link Archer BE19000

Primed for high-intensity gaming, the TP-Link Archer BE19000 is a zippy Wi-Fi 7 router offering three bands with blistering fast speeds. You’ll need a top-tier ISP to even come close to making the most of this beast—it’s the best modem router for NBN customers.

• Protocol: Wi-Fi 7
• Maximum speed: 11520 Mbps (6 GHz)
• Bands: Tri-band (6 GHz, 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz)
• Ports: 1x gigabit WAN port and 4x gigabit LAN ports

Buying a New Wi-Fi Router

Our top-rated Wi-Fi routers can massively increase your connection speed, especially if you’ve got a decent ISP to match. Revisit our Wi-Fi router reviews to find a suitable option for you. If none of these appeal, see what else is available at Officeworks.

If you need help setting up a network or troubleshooting issues, contact Geeks2U. We’ll send a friendly technician to your doorstep lickety-split.

FAQ

• Which is the fastest Wi-Fi router?

  Wi-Fi 7 routers offer the fastest speeds, but you’ll need a good ISP and compatible devices to take advantage.

• Which router has the best coverage?

  Mesh Wi-Fi networks provide better coverage than traditional routers, making them ideal for large properties.

• Is it worth upgrading to Wi-Fi 7?

  Wi-Fi is worthwhile if you have a high-speed internet plan, compatible devices, and a pressing need for a speedier connection.

• Do I need both a modem and a router?

  Yes. You’ll need both to set up a network. Separate devices offer better performance and security than combo packages.

• How can you tell if you need a new router?

  It might be time to upgrade if your connection is unreliable or slower than you should be getting from your ISP.