![cnet bandwidth speed test cnet bandwidth speed test](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mgIMG1ek_zI/maxresdefault.jpg)
Is that sort of speedy performance worth $500? I think most will find better value with something less expensive, and you've got a growing number of solid options that fit the bill. That's a near-perfect result, one that no other mesh system I've tested has been able to match. In the latter round of tests at my home, on a 300Mbps fiber internet connection, the Orbi AX600 returned average speeds of 289Mbps to Wi-Fi 5 devices and 367Mbps to Wi-Fi 6 devices, including speeds at the farthest point from the router that were 95% as fast as when connecting up close. With a second 5GHz band serving as a dedicated backhaul for system transmissions between the router and its satellites and full support for Wi-Fi 6, the system is still our top-tested mesh router, with the best scores in both our lab-based top-speed tests and our at-home mesh coverage tests. Starting around $500 for the two-piece setup seen here, the AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi is far more expensive than the dual-band version listed above, but it's also a lot more powerful. Even if you aren't a gamer, this is still one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers you can buy right now.
![cnet bandwidth speed test cnet bandwidth speed test](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PZyJRKTGymA/T3G8mUNJNyI/AAAAAAAAAUM/POOGqHRbFTM/s1600/SSSS.png)
That checks off all of the boxes that most people want from a good gaming router, and it gets you there at a price that isn't too painful for us to recommend. If you need additional range, you can add other Asus "AIMesh" devices to your home network to make it the centerpiece of a mesh. Gaming features aside, the RT-AX86U offers full support for Wi-Fi 6, with strong, stable speeds and good range. Something else you'll appreciate: It offers an excellent mix of app-based controls and features, including a mobile boost mode, allowing you to prioritize gaming traffic to your phone at the touch of a button. In fact, it leads all of the routers I've ever tested, gaming or otherwise, with the lowest average latency across all of my tests, which online gamers will definitely appreciate. Most noteworthy is the router's latency management. At under $250, the Asus RT-AX86U dual-band router isn't inexpensive either, but it's a strong value relative to routers like those - and the performance it delivers as a gaming router is exceptional. Gaming routers promise high performance and low latency for die-hard gamers, and it isn't uncommon to find them selling for as much as $400. It isn't powerful enough to max out speeds on a gigabit network, but it can still hit consistent close-range speeds near 700Mbps or so, which is more than enough for most households.
![cnet bandwidth speed test cnet bandwidth speed test](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/94/93/63475238418767/0/check-your-internet-speed-using-cnet.1280x600.jpg)
Add in a functional band steering mode that automatically steers you between the 2.4 and 5GHz bands within a single network, plus guest network controls and even a quality of service engine for prioritizing traffic to the most important devices on your network, and you're looking at a decent home networking upgrade that's as simple and affordable as it gets.
![cnet bandwidth speed test cnet bandwidth speed test](https://www.bandwidthplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image-2.jpeg)
It's nothing fancy, but it offered near flawless performance for small- to medium-size homes in our tests, and it's a cinch to set up and use, thanks to TP-Link's Tether app.īest of all, when tested against other, similar routers from names like Asus and Netgear, the AX21 held its own with faster download speeds, better range and low latency too. Available for $75 (or less if you catch a sale), the TP-Link Archer AX21 is an entry-level, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router that supports top speeds of up to 1,201Mbps (1.2Gbps) on its 5GHz band.