Which router is best for gaming

With all the attention on the wireless market heading to It also supports Beamforming via four active antennas. Another highlight of the XR is the gaming-centric Duma OS, which boasts Geo-Filter tech to connect to the closest server when gaming.

The XR has granular control of the bandwidth, prioritizes throughput by each device for both the upload and download separately, and assigns a specific percentage for each device to balance the load, thereby preventing any single device from becoming a bandwidth hog. The XR is a strong all-around performer in our tests, starting with the 2. This continued on our 5 GHz testing with strong Mbps and Mbps scores at close and far ranges, respectively.

This router uses a dedicated 2. On the wireless side of things, this is a Wi-Fi 6 tri-band solution offering more than 10 Gigabits of wireless bandwidth, along with DFS bands to avoid interference. Additional gaming-centric features include integrated WTFast, VPN Fusion to segregate gaming traffic from VPN for maximum throughput, Dynamic QoS to prioritize gaming traffic, Games Radar no, not that one to check the ping times to different game servers to minimize latency, and for those that prefer a more colorful surrounding, Aura RGB.

Oh, and we don't even have an Yes, this router is really that good. TP-Link's latest high-end gaming router is a significant improvement over previous models and now ranks among the best gaming routers around—especially when it comes to the 5GHz range, at which it excels.

We love how easy the CX is to set up and use while still offering strong features: the ability to manage QoS easily, the inclusion of network security via Trend Micro , and options to not only blacklist but also allow certain devices.

In terms of the throughput speeds, our tests clocked the following for the Archer CX: at 2. From this perspective, it's market-leading. What disappoints, if anything, is the lack of specific tech to decrease latency, which you see in competing models of the same price, like the Netgear XR It is, however, a cheaper alternative and a highly recommended gaming router that's pleasingly easy to set up and manage.

Wi-Fi 6 is spreading across product lineups, and the Nighthawk AX4 is an excellent example of what this spec can accomplish, even on a more budget router.

There is also QoS which is a simple toggle on or off for gaming. Still, there is no granular control to better balance gaming needs and video streaming across multiple connected devices to optimize the experience better.

In testing, the AX4 achieved some great performance numbers when it came to throughput, with a close testing speed of Mbps on the 2. There was also no slouch on the far testing with Mbps on 2.

For those who want the throughput that Wi-Fi 6 offers at a more affordable price than most, the Netgear AX4 is an attractive offering. Gaming routers can prioritize traffic to your gaming PC and consoles—they're built to be greedy.

The best gaming router reduces lag during your online game sessions, even if other devices in your household are streaming or downloading. If you've had the same router for years, it might be the right time to consider an upgrade if you want to get the most of your internet. Given the potential for Wi-Fi connections to have hiccups, we would always suggest, where possible, to have your gaming PC wired into your router directly. In the router settings, find the QoS tab and select the games that should have priority, or the connected devices.

Our router offers Adaptive QoS with pre-defined, drag-and-drop presets such as gaming, media streaming, web surfing, etc.

We can also use Bandwidth Limiter to set limits on download and upload speeds for devices. After selecting Adaptive QoS you can prioritize traffic by arranging categories in the preferred order. Once this is established, your Wi-Fi network will manage traffic queues to prioritize what you have chosen to be most important.

It will improve your in-game connection, especially when other people or devices connect to Wi-Fi simultaneously. And certainly, do not download any files while playing online. Taking things to a certain extreme, you may also want to turn off network connectivity on devices that use the same connection.

While it may be impractical, this will maximize your connection speed for online gaming. This is where QoS comes in handy. If you have it enabled, you can worry less about other devices in your network. Going back to our explanation about server location and ping, this will ultimately depend on the game, and your preferences.

It will have a highly positive effect on ping and latency, ensuring faster communication. When off, players from Europe can't play with players from the United States or Asia.

You will find this feature on more modern routers and devices , which allows them to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously. To be clear, MU-MIMO does not increase the maximum speed of the Wi-Fi network, rather it makes sure you don't lose speed when multiple devices are connected to the network.

If you've never tweaked your network settings, you're likely using your ISP's DNS servers which are rarely top quality. Changing DNS servers can noticeably speed up your connection and even secure you from certain attacks. Switching to a third-party DNS is quite easy, too, just follow these steps:. In the "Use the following DNS server addresses" field, enter 8. Those are Google's DNS servers. If you want to use others, below you can find recommended and free DNS:.

You may also adjust the default DNS servers at the router level, meaning it will cover all your devices in your network. Although every router maker uses a different user interface for configuring DNS server settings, look for an option where DNS server settings are specified and you will be entering the same IP addresses as above for preferred and alternate DNS.

When all else fails These days, virtually every household is packed with phones, computers, smart TVs, and many other devices, all fighting for bandwidth. The need for a quality router has never been greater and if you're using one provided by your ISP, it's quite possible that device will underperform for gaming. You will find gaming routers on the market that have built-in functions to optimize your connection, but don't buy a "gaming router" only because it says so in the box.

Gaming routers are a tricky category and they aren't the best solution for everyone. As explained above, games are almost always dependent on latency instead of bandwidth. However, high-end routers can offer useful features that improve performance and make the system easier to use.

One of the best ways to speed up your wireless network is to use the latest hardware. Wi-Fi 6 Once again, using a direct wired connection if at all possible is one of the best and more obvious optimizations tips you can effectively use for improving your online gaming experience, but if you're shopping for a new router that offers better throughput, range, and features, check out TechSpot's top picks. You may also want to consider picking a new Wi-Fi 6 model, for further reference check out our article Wi-Fi 6 vs.

Wi-Fi 5 Benchmarked. We consider several criteria before assembling a list. Some of the criteria are discussed below- Brand Value: What happens when you go for a not-so-reputable brand just because the price seems cheap? Well, the chance of getting a short-lasting product goes higher. Top Wireless Router For Gaming brands try to offer some unique features that make them stand out in the crowd.

We look at the features that matter and choose the top Wireless Router For Gaming based on that. Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products of higher specifications, but with the right balance. Better ratings mean better service experienced by a good number of people. Customer Reviews: Like ratings, customer reviews give you actual and trustworthy information, coming from real-world consumers about the Wireless Router For Gaming they used.

Seller Rank: Now, this is interesting! It serves two objectives. Firstly, the growing number of users indicates the product is good. Secondly, the manufacturers will hopefully provide better quality and after-sales service because of that growing number. Value For The Money: They say you get what you pay for.

We try to measure how much value for the money you can get from your Wireless Router For Gaming before putting them on the list. Durability: Durability and reliability go hand to hand. A robust and durable Wireless Router For Gaming will serve you for months and years to come.

Availability: Products come and go, new products take the place of the old ones. Probably some new features were added, some necessary modifications were done. We try to feature products that are up-to-date and sold by at least one reliable seller, if not several.

Negative Ratings: Yes, we take that into consideration too! When we pick the top rated Wireless Router For Gaming on the market, the products that got mostly negative ratings get filtered and discarded.