Which routers are worth buying?

Contributing Reporter

UpdatedThu, October 2, 2014 at 9:01 PM UTC

Routers are one of those devices you probably don't think about very much. As long as it gets you online and gives you the content you need, there's no reason to. But with bandwidth demands increasing and new wireless standards emerging, the limits of your router start to become a little more apparent and a lot more frustrating. If it's time for a new one, there's a lot to consider beyond how fast it is -- though that's pretty important, too. Which routers can handle the traffic you throw at them, and which will support all your devices for years to come? While we don't review routers here at Engadget, we've taken a look at some sources we trust to find a few devices that might fit your needs.

At first glance, the Nighthawk X6 AC3200 looks rather odd, with six antennas making it resemble an insect flipped on its back. There's a good reason for that: It's a tri-band router that offers one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands, an arrangement that *TweakTown* says allows you to use 5GHz 802.11 without "bottlenecking" the devices on the 802.11ac band. That flexibility results in speeds that have *CNET'*s Dong Ngo calling the X6 "one of the fastest I've seen," while *Gizmodo Australia* concludes that "if you want to future-proof your home network," the Nighthawk X6 AC3200 is worth "a serious look and evaluation."

Price: $287 and up

The TRENDnet AC1900 doesn't have a lot going for it in the design department. That goes for its physical form, as well as an "outdated setup" that *TrustedReviews* says shows that TRENDnet "still doesn’t quite get with the times." However, despite the editors at *TweakTown* finding the menu "very basic," they do like how it "gives you everything you need in one glance," making it ideal for "novice users." But once you've got it set up, all that matters is how fast it is, and ultimately *TrustedReviews* feels it excels at delivering "barnstormer speeds while saving you a lot of cash."

Price: $140 and up

If you need a router that offers blistering AC speeds, then the Linksys WRT1900AC delivers that in spades, with *TrustedReviews* complimenting its "class-leading wireless performance" while *PC Mag* reports that it offers "unprecedented throughput speed." However, while *PC Mag* also says it "includes most of the features typical home network users would need," it doesn't have "many small-business-class or advanced features." Linksys has promised OpenWRT support that has yet to emerge, but *TweakTown* calls such support "inevitable" and still says the WRT1900AC offers "one of the most user-friendly firmware Linksys has ever used."

Price: $250

The ASUS RT-AC68U is certainly a looker, but it also delivers where it really matters, offering speeds that *TechRadar* calls "hella fast" and *TrustedReviews* says it "was so fast we actually hit bottlenecks in our NAS and wireless adaptors for the first time." According to *CNET*, it backs up that speed with "exceptional range," while *Tom's Guide* claims it's "the fastest router we've tested on both AC and N bands at nearly every distance." And getting it ready to go is also pretty speedy too, thanks to a user interface that *PC Mag* describes as "clean and easy to work with." T-Mobile subscribers have another reason to appreciate what this router has to offer: The carrier is loaning them out for free to folks who want to try out the company's free WiFi calling.

Price: $199, or free to T-Mobile subscribers ($25 deposit required)

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Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200

At first glance, the Nighthawk X6 AC3200 looks rather odd, with six antennas making it resemble an insect flipped on its back. There's a good reason for that: It's a tri-band router that offers one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands, an arrangement that TweakTown says allows you to use 5GHz 802.11 without "bottlenecking" the devices on the 802.11ac band. That flexibility results in speeds that have CNET's Dong Ngo calling the X6 "one of the fastest I've seen," while Gizmodo Australia concludes that "if you want to future-proof your home network," the Nighthawk X6 AC3200 is worth "a serious look and evaluation."

Price: $287 and up

Frank Spinillo contributed to this report.

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Which routers are worth buying?

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