Best gaming routers in 2023

The finest gaming routers can utterly revolutionize your on-line gaming expertise. Although you could obtain a router out of your service supplier and never give it a lot thought, these bog-standard containers aren’t offering you with an optimum connection for gaming.

Lots of your connectivity woes might stem from a lackluster router somewhat than the connection to your home. The very best gaming routers prioritize bandwidth in your gaming session, decreasing lag and supplying you with a aggressive edge when taking part in on-line.

Selecting the best gaming router must be as vital as ensuring you get the best CPU and the best graphics card in terms of taking part in the best PC games on-line. These are the specialist gaming routers we’ve tried ourselves, whether or not you need the most effective that cash should purchase or a funds possibility.

The very best gaming routers in 2023 are:

1. ASUS ROG Strix GS-AX5400

Greatest gaming router for many.

ASUS ROG Strix GS-AX5400 specs:

Professionals:

• Wi-Fi 6
• Nice price-to-performance ratio
• Devoted gaming port

Cons:

• No Wi-Fi 6E
• No multi-gig ports

The Asus ROG Strix GS-AX5400 is our high gaming router general. This Wi-Fi 6 router delivers quick speeds and is designed to optimize your gaming expertise nevertheless it comes at a good worth. Wi-Fi 6 remains to be a lot quick and Wi-Fi 6E is barely beginning to make inroads into the PC area, so the GS-AX5400 nonetheless has loads of legs.

The router boasts a smooth design with customizable RGB lighting and has 4 adjustable antennas for optimum sign protection. Whereas it lacks multi-gig ports for these fortunate sufficient to have mega-fast web, it does include a devoted gaming port to prioritize your PC.

You may simply arrange and handle the router utilizing the cell app, which presents gamer-friendly instruments for community optimization (or tricking everybody in your home into utilizing the slowest band). The app helps you to enhance bandwidth for cell gaming and apply parental controls.

The GS-AX5400 performs admirably, offering stable speeds on each 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. It additionally comes with strong safety features to guard your community. Although it has just one USB port, the Asus ROG Strix GS-AX5400 is a implausible alternative providing an ideal mix of efficiency and affordability.

2. TP-Hyperlink Archer AXE300

Greatest general Wi-Fi 6E gaming router.

TP-Hyperlink Archer AXE300 specs:

Professionals:

• Twin 10 Gig ethernet ports
• Understated design
• Absolutely-fledged Wi-Fi 6E efficiency

Cons:

• Further performance behind subscription
• At present unavailable within the UK

The TP-Hyperlink Archer AXE300 is a implausible alternative that provides spectacular speeds and (relative) affordability within the Wi-Fi 6E market incomes it our greatest general decide for a Wi-Fi 6E router.

The 6GHz band presents much less congestion and better speeds. It’s good for dealing with a number of gadgets directly and delivering clean efficiency even in crowded areas.

There’s little in the best way of gamer-aesthetic credentials however the AXE300 leaves such frivolities on the door. There’s something ominous about its presence, not not like the markers in Useless House however fret not – this obelisk lives solely to demolish latency and obtain occasions.

The AXE300 comes with twin 10Gbps Ethernet ports, permitting you to create a high-speed house community so you’ll be able to ship high-bitrate replays of your finest gaming moments to everybody in your family.

The router’s Tether app is beautiful and easy and presents options like HomeShield for safety and parental controls. HomeShield does require a subscription for full performance, it provides helpful options to maintain your community protected.

Sadly, it’s presently unavailable within the UK however hopefully, this can change quickly so our readers in Pricey Ol’ Blighty can sport uninterrupted because it rains continuous outdoors.

You probably have web speeds over 1Gbps and desire a highly effective and dependable router for dealing with a mess of wi-fi gadgets, the TP-Hyperlink Archer AXE300 is a superb alternative.

3. Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300

Greatest-designed gaming router.

Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 specs:

Professionals:

• Cool distinctive design
• Inexpensive for Wi-Fi 6E

Cons:

• Further options are locked behind a subscription

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 stands out as our best choice for the router with the most effective design, providing a mix of spectacular options and aesthetics. The router adopts a novel look harking back to the manta ray alien ships from Half-Life.

With help for the newest Wi-Fi 6E customary, the Nighthawk RAXE300 delivers distinctive Wi-Fi speeds on each 5GHz and 6GHz bands. The revolutionary fold-up ‘wings’ holding antennas contribute to its slick look, setting it aside from opponents with their bulkier antenna arrays.

The router gives 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired gadgets, together with a single 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, which might be utilized as a LAN or WAN port. Whereas further high-speed Ethernet ports might be fascinating for some customers, the router compensates with its excellent Wi-Fi capabilities.

Establishing and managing the router is breezy because of the user-friendly Netgear Nighthawk app. The app permits customers to configure Wi-Fi settings, passwords and entry invaluable options like Parental Controls. The optionally available Premium model of Parental Controls and Netgear Armor safety suite provide added safety for these prepared to take a position.

Efficiency-wise, the Nighthawk RAXE300 delivers stable 5GHz speeds and maintains spectacular throughput on the 6GHz band. Whereas not the quickest Wi-Fi 6E speeds with a throughput of over 800Mbit/s on the 6GHz band, the router ensures a dependable and quick wi-fi connection.

4. ASUS ROG Strix AX3000

Greatest funds gaming router.

ASUS ROG Strix AX3000 specs:

Professionals:

• Very low cost for Wi-Fi 6
• Continuously on sale
• RGB goodness

Cons:

• Not the most effective vary for bigger properties

The ROG STRIX AX3000 is a really budget-friendly WiFi 6 gaming router however make no mistake – the worth isn’t for a scarcity of options of velocity because the router is filled with plenty of what makes costlier choices making it our greatest funds possibility.

You may optimize your gaming expertise by making use of the devoted Gaming Port, and Gear Accelerator. The Gaming Port mechanically prioritizes any wired gaming system for a quick and steady connection with none configuration wanted.

In order to not spit within the Asus ROG branding, the GS-AX3000 has totally customizable RGB lighting so it ought to match proper in along with your gaming setup. It helps ASUS AiMesh, permitting you to create seamless whole-home mesh network-compatible routers for once you wish to watch Twitch streams within the kitchen.

And not using a mesh community, we wouldn’t advocate you stray too distant from the router because it does wrestle a little bit with sustaining an excellent connection at longer distances.

5. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000

Greatest premium gaming router.

ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 specs:

Professionals:

• Unmatched efficiency
• Big vary
• Plethora of options

Cons:

The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 Wi-Fi 6E router actually has an eyecatching and spectacular design – although we wouldn’t advocate it to these with arachnophobia because it actually does remind us of an enormous (and we imply large) lifeless spider.

What’s not lifeless nevertheless are the high-end options to match its spectacular seems. It comes with six Ethernet ports, together with two 10-gig ports for ultra-fast community connections. The Wi-Fi efficiency is excellent, offering 4 bands (2.4GHz, two 5GHz, and 6GHz) with mixed speeds reaching roughly 16,000Mbps, making it appropriate for large-scale, high-bandwidth networks.

Set-up must be a pain-free expertise, with a QR code offered for fast configuration by way of the Asus app. Moreover, the router presents superior options comparable to strong parental controls, Development Micro anti-malware, High quality of Service (QoS) controls, and compatibility with Samba servers and Apple’s Time Machine.

They’re fairly the chonker although because the router is a stout 14 x 14 inches so be certain you’ve got the area to park this monster.

6. TP-Hyperlink AX6000

Greatest mid-range gaming router.

TP-Hyperlink AX6000 specs:

Professionals:

• Wonderful price-to-performance ratio
• Oodles of ports
• Straightforward setup

Cons:

• Sluggish 2.4Ghz connection
• Solely dual-band

The TP-Hyperlink Archer AX6000 Subsequent-Gen Wi-Fi 6 is a compelling possibility priced at round $270 (£270.99) – however continuously on sale – it presents glorious worth with its Wi-Fi 6 help, 2.5Gb WAN, and an abundance of Ethernet ports making it our greatest mid-range gaming router.

Establishing the Archer AX6000 may be very straightforward. You may handle it utilizing both the TP-Hyperlink app or an internet browser. Whereas its interface will not be as strong as some gaming routers, it’s nonetheless user-friendly and simple to navigate.

By way of design, the Archer AX6000 takes a stealthier method, choosing a black plastic exterior that blends properly in any setting. Its eight completely connected antennas and LED indicator add a contact of favor somewhat than being too garishly RGB.

Making up its guts the AX6000 packs a punch with its 1.8 GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 128MB of flash storage. The ample variety of ports, together with a 2.5Gbps WAN and eight gigabit LAN ports, make it good for these needing loads of wired connections.

The router’s Wi-Fi efficiency is commendable, with stable 5 GHz throughput speeds, making it nice for gaming and different bandwidth-intensive actions. Nevertheless, its 2.4 GHz efficiency will not be as much as par for older gadgets.

The TP-Hyperlink Archer AX6000 does have some limitations, like missing Wi-Fi 6E help and providing solely dual-band connectivity. However contemplating its mid-range worth, it’s a feature-packed router that fits most gaming wants.

7. MSI RadiX AXE6600

Greatest funds Wi-Fi 6E gaming router.

MSI RadiX AXE6600 specs:

Professionals:

• Wi-Fi 6E at a lower cost
• Easy to make use of internet interface and app

Cons:

If you’d like a gaming router with the newest Wi-Fi 6E expertise however with out the worth tag, the MSI Radix AXE6600 WiFi 6E Tri-Band Gaming Router is properly price contemplating. Priced at $349.99 (£322.98), it will not be essentially the most reasonably priced possibility on our listing, nevertheless it delivers stable efficiency at shut vary incomes its place as our high decide for the most effective funds Wi-Fi 6E gaming router.

Adorned with grey and black accents, the router seems to be a little bit of a snooze-fest till you flip it on and its six antennas come alive with their RGB LED gentle strips, including a contact of that licensed gamer fashion.

The router contains a number of LAN ports, a USB 3.0 port, and a strong 1.8GHz CPU, making it a succesful gaming companion that may deal with many connections.

As a Wi-Fi 6E router, the Radix AXE6600 can make the most of the 6GHz band along with the two.4GHz and 5GHz bands, offering spectacular speeds of as much as 6,580Mbps. It helps varied Wi-Fi 6 applied sciences for optimized efficiency and enhanced safety.

The 5GHz band is a little bit gradual sadly so you’ll solely get essentially the most out of it you probably have fairly fashionable gadgets.

You may handle the router utilizing both the web-based console or the MSI cell app, with the online console providing extra configuration choices. It permits you to choose from 4 QoS presets, together with AI Auto, Gaming, Streaming, and WFH, to optimize bandwidth allocation for particular duties. Moreover, you’ll be able to fine-tune superior settings for a extra custom-made expertise.

How to decide on the finest gaming routers

When looking for a gaming router, you’ll want to contemplate what model of Wi-Fi it helps and what number of wi-fi bands it presents, in order that gaming visitors doesn’t cope with much less vital packets being despatched comparable to these from sensible gadgets or streaming.

The quickest Wi-Fi protocols are Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, with the latter working a 6Ghz bandwidth for a quick lane that provides higher speeds and decrease latency – each being essential for on-line gaming.

As for a way we determined which routers to incorporate on this listing, learn our how we test web page. For extra assist constructing your setup, learn our guides on the best gaming PC and the best gaming monitors. Blissful gaming.