The 802.11 standard, which we commonly refer to as Wi-Fi, is upgraded significantly every few years. The latest 802.11ax with new features and faster speeds has arrived in 2019. Since it was the sixth major generation update for Wi-Fi, the industry dubbed it Wi-Fi 6 to keep it a little more complicated for the average shopper.
Three years later, Wi-Fi 6 has become the de facto standard for next-generation devices. Almost every new phone and computer release supports it, and peripherals are starting to see support pop-ups as well. Did you buy an Apple TV 4K or Amazon Fire TV 4K Max Media Streamer last Black Friday? Both support Wi-Fi 6. Haven’t bought a new PlayStation 5 console yet? It’s also a Wi-Fi 6 device.
The problem is, you’ll need a Wi-Fi 6 router running your network to unlock the full potential of a device like the one you have at home. When Wi-Fi 6 first came out, it was an expensive proposition, but that’s not the case now. Take a look around and you’ll find plenty of options for less than $100, including mesh systems, gaming routers, range extenders, and more. Some do the job better than others. However, we do this through comprehensive hands-on testing to help you identify the best upgrade option for your money.
We will continue testing Wi-Fi 6 in 2022, so stay tuned for regular updates to this post. Whenever I find a new router worth considering, I will add it to my list. For now, this is the model I would recommend to anyone buying in June 2022.
TP-Link Archer AX21
The router’s support for Wi-Fi 6 means it can use new features like OFDMA and 1024-QAM to deliver higher speeds and lower latency for busy networks with many connected devices. That is true even if you choose a value product at a budget price. And the product with the best performance among them is the TP-Link Archer AX21.
Currently priced at $80, $20 less than usual, the Archer AX21 did a great job testing its speed at home. After several days of testing at 5 locations in my home, the average download speed of the Archer AX21 on a 300Mbps fiber network was an almost perfect 299Mbps. This includes three-digit download speeds behind the house, a common blind spot where many routers I test struggle to stay connected. After upgrading my home network to gigabit speeds in 2022, I tested the AX21 again. It wasn’t powerful enough to make up for such a connection, but it still provided fast, consistent speeds, and downloads averaged 441Mbps. .
This level of performance was powerful enough for the Archer AX21 to outperform similar models from Netgear, AsusandD-Link, and kept pace with fancy routers that cost a lot more. Setup is also simple thanks to TP-Link’s Tether app for Android and iOS. This app provides quick access to basic network settings without ads like other router apps. .
All of this makes the Archer AX21 a very valuable choice for small to medium sized homes, making it one of the best value choices for Wi-Fi 6 support.
Read our TP-Link Archer AX21 review.
TP-Link Deco W7200
2021 has been a very good year for TP-Link and not just because of the Archer AX21. In addition, the TP-Link Deco W7200 was speed tested and awarded the Best Rated Mesh Router of the Year. It is an ideal choice for large homes as multiple devices work like a team of routers, spreading a faster and more reliable signal over a larger area than a single router can. It’s very affordable at just $229 for a two pack.
The advantage of the Deco W7200, along with full support for Wi-Fi 6, is that it is a tri-band model with the usual 2.4 and 5 GHz bands and an additional 5 GHz band used by the system. It is used as a dedicated wireless backhaul connection between the main router and its satellites. This dedicated backhaul is key to achieving the best mesh performance because it keeps system transport separate from normal network traffic. Tri-band mesh routers like this are often over $400, but the Deco W7200 is hundreds of dollars cheaper.
Of course, when we tested the system, the performance was excellent. In fact, of all the mesh routers I tested at home, on average only two had faster download speeds. The first is over $200 more expensive than the Deco W7200 and the other is over 3x more expensive. . So the Deco W7200 offers excellent value and offers a better and more noticeable upgrade than most homes show off on high-performance standard routers.
The only real downside? As of 2022, securing Walmart exclusive inventory has been a bit of a challenge. If you’re having a hard time finding it, check out the TP-Link Deco X90, a slightly higher-end model that performed significantly better than the W7200 in my tests. It’s a bit more expensive, but Amazon currently lists it at $400.
Read our TP-Link Deco W7200 review.
Asus RT-AX86U
Asus is one of the top names in the gaming router category, boasting a variety of fast and flashy routers that promise top performance, low latency, and advanced connection control. The Asus RT-AX86U is actually one of the most understated routers in the mix. It doesn’t include color-changing lights or designs that are too big and showy. But still one of the best. A gaming router you can buy. Gaming aside, it’s one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers you can buy.
Along with its fast products, consistent speeds, the RT-AX86U did a better job at managing latency than any other router I’ve tested, and it comes with a full suite of tools to optimize your connection while gaming, including adaptive quality. – Open NAT database of service engines and game and platform-specific port forwarding rules. There is also a mobile game mode designed to instantly prioritize traffic on your phone.
In other words, the RT-AX86U picks up all the boxes you want in your gaming router (except for the color-changing lights, I think — but if you can get it Zaku-style). willing to spend a little more). Most importantly, make Wi-Fi 6 powerful enough that even non-family members will appreciate it.
For around $250 or less, it’s definitely an upgrade option, but it’s still a reasonable product that’s cheaper than many gaming routers (as of this writing in early June, ‘ is listed up to $200 on Amazon. And AT&T, Frontier, Xfinity, Verizon, Ziply Fiber, or similar If you’re looking to upgrade to a new multi-giga internet plan from the same other service plan, you can get the upgraded RT-AX86U with provider multi-giga Ethernet jack with wire speeds up to 2.5 Gbps for $250.
Read our Asus RT-AX86U review.
Netgear Orbi AX6000
Remember I mentioned that the TP-Link Deco W7200 outperforms all other mesh routers I’ve tested? Well, here’s something beyond that. The AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi mesh system.
Most importantly, with its tri-band design and full support for Wi-Fi 6, the AX6000 Orbi surprised us with its excellent signal strength and incredible top speed when first tested a year or two ago. That pace has been maintained ever since. Whether it’s recording top speeds in the lab or testing real speeds at home, literally nothing else I’ve tested performs. What’s more, the AX6000 Orbi deserves credit for being one of the first mesh routers to offer multi-giga WAN ports and to break the bottleneck of limiting incoming wirespeed at single gigabytes.
This performance usually comes at a premium, and the AX6000 Orbi costs $700 for a two pack. Like the Mercedes Benz in the mesh category, it’s more of a machine than most people need, but there’s nothing wrong with waiting for a coveted or rare sale. If it were my money I’d go with the Deco W7200 system and spend $470 and save elsewhere, but in our tests, if you want the best mesh router performance we’ve ever seen, completely stop, damn money, here it is.
Read our Netgear Orbi AX6000 review.
Erotic 6 Plus
Using a mesh router makes a lot of sense if you live in a large multi-storey house with a lot of space to cover. In such cases, we recommend that you first purchase a system with 3 or more units in the mesh. Amazon’s Eero 6 Plus is available for $299 with full support for Wi-Fi. -Pie 6.
The Eero 6 Plus uses the older Eero 6 to bolster the situation with a faster AX3000 build and new support for channels up to 160 MHz wide at 80 MHz. These wider channels allow the system to move data to compatible devices twice as efficiently, and the 6 Plus made a huge difference in our performance tests, placing the 6 Plus in the top 10 out of 30 or so mesh routers. I tested it at home. A router that beats average download speeds can’t beat its value and makes the Eero 6 Plus an excellent choice.
Read our Eero 6 Plus review.
Asus Zen Wifi XD6
It was too expensive to recommend when it launched at $380 for a two-piece setup, but I’ve seen the Asus ZenWifi XD6 cut to $300 in several stores in recent weeks. better value. The price of the cooler ZenWifi XT8 system has recently been cut from $450 to $400, so I think we’ll see the lower price of the XD6 again later this year. Worth a look if you can catch such a sale.
For the money you get a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh router that performs better than the nicer tri-band model in our tests. 5,400 sq ft NET Smart Home. In fact, I’d call it the best performing dual band mesh router I’ve ever tested.
If the price jumps above $300 again, you can skip it. However, this is a solid mesh router with one of the more comprehensive control apps from major manufacturers, so it’s a good choice for intermediate and advanced users looking to pay the fine. – Adjust your home network experience.
Read our Asus ZenWifi XD6 review.
Wi-Fi 6 Router FAQ
If you have any questions about the capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, check out the full description of the standard and what makes it better than previous Wi-Fi. You can also search for me on Twitter (@rycrist) or send a message directly to your inbox by clicking the little envelope icon on my NET profile page. In the meantime, I’ll post answers to frequently asked questions below.
Why is Wi-Fi 6 better than before?
Wi-Fi 6 includes support for new Wi-Fi features that help devices send and receive data faster and more efficiently. One of the major upgrades is 1024-QAM, which is Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, or a trick routers use to transmit radio waves, so that other devices can read it as a series of ones and zeros. , read and experience online. 1024-QAM allows the router to send a 10-digit binary code with each transmission, compared to the 8-digit binary for Wi-Fi 5 routers using 256-QAM. This is one of the main reasons why Wi-Fi 6 offers top speeds about 30% faster than before.
Other notable features include OFDMA, or orthogonal frequency division multiple access, which improves network efficiency by allowing routers to send data to multiple clients within a single channel at once. Think of it like a pizza delivery driver delivering multiple pizzas to multiple customers at once to save gas. There is also a Target Wake Time that the router can schedule periodically to avoid interfering with devices that need to be checked in periodically. And while it’s not specifically tied to Wi-Fi 6, most next-generation routers support WPA3, the latest standard in Wi-Fi security.
Are Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E the same thing?
No — Wi-Fi 6 is the latest version of Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 6E is a special design for Wi-Fi 6 devices that can signal in the ultra-wide 6GHz band that routers cannot. t Don’t do it when the FCC recently voted to open the 6GHz spectrum for unlicensed use.
For more information, I recommend this video. This video explains the difference between these two videos in under 3 minutes.
Will older devices still work with Wi-Fi 6 routers?
Yes — Wi-Fi 6 is fully backwards compatible, so older generation Wi-Fi devices can still connect and stay online. They can’t take advantage of the new Wi-Fi 6 features that speed up current-generation devices.
The 802.11 standard, which we commonly refer to as Wi-Fi, is upgraded significantly every few years. The latest 802.11ax with new features and faster speeds has arrived in 2019. Since it was the sixth major generation update for Wi-Fi, the industry dubbed it Wi-Fi 6 to keep it a little more complicated for the average shopper.
Three years later, Wi-Fi 6 has become the de facto standard for next-generation devices. Almost every new phone and computer release supports it, and peripherals are starting to see support pop-ups as well. Did you buy an Apple TV 4K or Amazon Fire TV 4K Max Media Streamer last Black Friday? Both support Wi-Fi 6. Haven’t bought a new PlayStation 5 console yet? It’s also a Wi-Fi 6 device.
The problem is, you’ll need a Wi-Fi 6 router running your network to unlock the full potential of a device like the one you have at home. When Wi-Fi 6 first came out, it was an expensive proposition, but that’s not the case now. Take a look around and you’ll find plenty of options for less than $100, including mesh systems, gaming routers, range extenders, and more. Some do the job better than others. However, we do this through comprehensive hands-on testing to help you identify the best upgrade option for your money.
We will continue testing Wi-Fi 6 in 2022, so stay tuned for regular updates to this post. Whenever I find a new router worth considering, I will add it to my list. For now, this is the model I would recommend to anyone buying in June 2022.
TP-Link Archer AX21
The router’s support for Wi-Fi 6 means it can use new features like OFDMA and 1024-QAM to deliver higher speeds and lower latency for busy networks with many connected devices. That is true even if you choose a value product at a budget price. And the product with the best performance among them is the TP-Link Archer AX21.
Currently priced at $80, $20 less than usual, the Archer AX21 did a great job testing its speed at home. After several days of testing at 5 locations in my home, the average download speed of the Archer AX21 on a 300Mbps fiber network was an almost perfect 299Mbps. This includes three-digit download speeds behind the house, a common blind spot where many routers I test struggle to stay connected. After upgrading my home network to gigabit speeds in 2022, I tested the AX21 again. It wasn’t powerful enough to make up for such a connection, but it still provided fast, consistent speeds, and downloads averaged 441Mbps. .
This level of performance was powerful enough for the Archer AX21 to outperform similar models from Netgear, AsusandD-Link, and kept pace with fancy routers that cost a lot more. Setup is also simple thanks to TP-Link’s Tether app for Android and iOS. This app provides quick access to basic network settings without ads like other router apps. .
All of this makes the Archer AX21 a very valuable choice for small to medium sized homes, making it one of the best value choices for Wi-Fi 6 support.
Read our TP-Link Archer AX21 review.
TP-Link Deco W7200
2021 has been a very good year for TP-Link and not just because of the Archer AX21. In addition, the TP-Link Deco W7200 was speed tested and awarded the Best Rated Mesh Router of the Year. It is an ideal choice for large homes as multiple devices work like a team of routers, spreading a faster and more reliable signal over a larger area than a single router can. It’s very affordable at just $229 for a two pack.
The advantage of the Deco W7200, along with full support for Wi-Fi 6, is that it is a tri-band model with the usual 2.4 and 5 GHz bands and an additional 5 GHz band used by the system. It is used as a dedicated wireless backhaul connection between the main router and its satellites. This dedicated backhaul is key to achieving the best mesh performance because it keeps system transport separate from normal network traffic. Tri-band mesh routers like this are often over $400, but the Deco W7200 is hundreds of dollars cheaper.
Of course, when we tested the system, the performance was excellent. In fact, of all the mesh routers I tested at home, on average only two had faster download speeds. The first is over $200 more expensive than the Deco W7200 and the other is over 3x more expensive. . So the Deco W7200 offers excellent value and offers a better and more noticeable upgrade than most homes show off on high-performance standard routers.
The only real downside? As of 2022, securing Walmart exclusive inventory has been a bit of a challenge. If you’re having a hard time finding it, check out the TP-Link Deco X90, a slightly higher-end model that performed significantly better than the W7200 in my tests. It’s a bit more expensive, but Amazon currently lists it at $400.
Read our TP-Link Deco W7200 review.
Asus RT-AX86U
Asus is one of the top names in the gaming router category, boasting a variety of fast and flashy routers that promise top performance, low latency, and advanced connection control. The Asus RT-AX86U is actually one of the most understated routers in the mix. It doesn’t include color-changing lights or designs that are too big and showy. But still one of the best. A gaming router you can buy. Gaming aside, it’s one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers you can buy.
Along with its fast products, consistent speeds, the RT-AX86U did a better job at managing latency than any other router I’ve tested, and it comes with a full suite of tools to optimize your connection while gaming, including adaptive quality. – Open NAT database of service engines and game and platform-specific port forwarding rules. There is also a mobile game mode designed to instantly prioritize traffic on your phone.
In other words, the RT-AX86U picks up all the boxes you want in your gaming router (except for the color-changing lights, I think — but if you can get it Zaku-style). willing to spend a little more). Most importantly, make Wi-Fi 6 powerful enough that even non-family members will appreciate it.
For around $250 or less, it’s definitely an upgrade option, but it’s still a reasonable product that’s cheaper than many gaming routers (as of this writing in early June, ‘ is listed up to $200 on Amazon. And AT&T, Frontier, Xfinity, Verizon, Ziply Fiber, or similar If you’re looking to upgrade to a new multi-giga internet plan from the same other service plan, you can get the upgraded RT-AX86U with provider multi-giga Ethernet jack with wire speeds up to 2.5 Gbps for $250.
Read our Asus RT-AX86U review.
Netgear Orbi AX6000
Remember I mentioned that the TP-Link Deco W7200 outperforms all other mesh routers I’ve tested? Well, here’s something beyond that. The AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi mesh system.
Most importantly, with its tri-band design and full support for Wi-Fi 6, the AX6000 Orbi surprised us with its excellent signal strength and incredible top speed when first tested a year or two ago. That pace has been maintained ever since. Whether it’s recording top speeds in the lab or testing real speeds at home, literally nothing else I’ve tested performs. What’s more, the AX6000 Orbi deserves credit for being one of the first mesh routers to offer multi-giga WAN ports and to break the bottleneck of limiting incoming wirespeed at single gigabytes.
This performance usually comes at a premium, and the AX6000 Orbi costs $700 for a two pack. Like the Mercedes Benz in the mesh category, it’s more of a machine than most people need, but there’s nothing wrong with waiting for a coveted or rare sale. If it were my money I’d go with the Deco W7200 system and spend $470 and save elsewhere, but in our tests, if you want the best mesh router performance we’ve ever seen, completely stop, damn money, here it is.
Read our Netgear Orbi AX6000 review.
Erotic 6 Plus
Using a mesh router makes a lot of sense if you live in a large multi-storey house with a lot of space to cover. In such cases, we recommend that you first purchase a system with 3 or more units in the mesh. Amazon’s Eero 6 Plus is available for $299 with full support for Wi-Fi. -Pie 6.
The Eero 6 Plus uses the older Eero 6 to bolster the situation with a faster AX3000 build and new support for channels up to 160 MHz wide at 80 MHz. These wider channels allow the system to move data to compatible devices twice as efficiently, and the 6 Plus made a huge difference in our performance tests, placing the 6 Plus in the top 10 out of 30 or so mesh routers. I tested it at home. A router that beats average download speeds can’t beat its value and makes the Eero 6 Plus an excellent choice.
Read our Eero 6 Plus review.
Asus Zen Wifi XD6
It was too expensive to recommend when it launched at $380 for a two-piece setup, but I’ve seen the Asus ZenWifi XD6 cut to $300 in several stores in recent weeks. better value. The price of the cooler ZenWifi XT8 system has recently been cut from $450 to $400, so I think we’ll see the lower price of the XD6 again later this year. Worth a look if you can catch such a sale.
For the money you get a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh router that performs better than the nicer tri-band model in our tests. 5,400 sq ft NET Smart Home. In fact, I’d call it the best performing dual band mesh router I’ve ever tested.
If the price jumps above $300 again, you can skip it. However, this is a solid mesh router with one of the more comprehensive control apps from major manufacturers, so it’s a good choice for intermediate and advanced users looking to pay the fine. – Adjust your home network experience.
Read our Asus ZenWifi XD6 review.
Wi-Fi 6 Router FAQ
If you have any questions about the capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, check out the full description of the standard and what makes it better than previous Wi-Fi. You can also search for me on Twitter (@rycrist) or send a message directly to your inbox by clicking the little envelope icon on my NET profile page. In the meantime, I’ll post answers to frequently asked questions below.
Why is Wi-Fi 6 better than before?
Wi-Fi 6 includes support for new Wi-Fi features that help devices send and receive data faster and more efficiently. One of the major upgrades is 1024-QAM, which is Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, or a trick routers use to transmit radio waves, so that other devices can read it as a series of ones and zeros. , read and experience online. 1024-QAM allows the router to send a 10-digit binary code with each transmission, compared to the 8-digit binary for Wi-Fi 5 routers using 256-QAM. This is one of the main reasons why Wi-Fi 6 offers top speeds about 30% faster than before.
Other features of note include OFDMA, or orthogonal frequency division multiple access, which improves network efficiency by allowing your router to send data to multiple clients within a single channel at once. Think of that like a pizza delivery driver dropping off multiple pizzas to multiple customers in one trip to save gas. There’s also Target Wake Time, which lets the router schedule devices that need to periodically check in so that they don’t cause interference with one another. And, though it isn’t specifically tied to Wi-Fi 6, most next-gen routers will support WPA3, the latest standard for Wi-Fi security.
Are Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E the same thing?
No — Wi-Fi 6 is the latest version of Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 6E is a special design for Wi-Fi 6 devices that can signal in the ultra-wide 6GHz band that routers cannot. t Don’t do it when the FCC recently voted to open the 6GHz spectrum for unlicensed use.
For more information, I recommend this video. This video explains the difference between these two videos in under 3 minutes.
Will older devices still work with Wi-Fi 6 routers?
Yes — Wi-Fi 6 is fully backwards compatible, so older generation Wi-Fi devices can still connect and stay online. They can’t take advantage of the new Wi-Fi 6 features that speed up current-generation devices.
