If you’ve settled for the default router from your internet provider, there’s a good chance you’re not getting the fastest internet speeds possible from your broadband package. And so we’ve created this list of the very best routers in 2023 to turbocharge your Wi-Fi connection.
Our team of experts review multiple routers every year, with those earning the highest scores being considered for this list. We thoroughly test every router we review, determining the maximum Wi-Fi speed at different ranges, while also trying out all of the available features.
Routers come in many different forms, including standalone routers and mesh systems that improve coverage via the bundled satellites. We’ve also included the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E routers, as well as the more affordable Wi-Fi 6 alternatives. It’s a little too early for Wi-Fi 7 routers, although we will be looking to test them as soon as they become available – just expect them to have very high price points.
If you can’t find a router that ticks all of your boxes, make sure to return to this list at a later date as we will be updating it with new entries as we publish more reviews. And if you’re looking for a Wi-Fi extender instead of a router, check out our best Wi-Fi extender list.
Best Router at a glance
- Fastest mesh system: Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System – check price
- Best value mesh system: Linksys Atlas Pro 6 – check price
- Best value tri-band router: TP-Link Archer AX90 – check price
- Best router for 5G support: Netgear Orbi 5G Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System – check price
- Best gaming router: Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 – check price
How we test
We test every wireless router we review thoroughly over an extended period of time.
We use consistent testing conditions to determine the highest speed for every available band, while also noting down the performance at various ranges.
We also make sure to test all of the available features, including security and parental controls.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System
Fastest mesh system
Pros
- Extremely fast
- 6GHz beats Gigabit Ethernet
- Smart security features
The Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E is the best all-round mesh system you can buy today. It comes with two satellites so you can ensure you get great coverage throughout your home, while our tests showed it to be the fastest mesh system we’ve ever reviewed, seeing unprecedented scores at a 10-metre range.
Support for Wi-Fi 6E means it’s compatible with the latest Wi-Fi standard, while the 6GHz band delivers faster-than-wired speeds. This is also a quad-band system, allowing you to have multiple devices connected to the router simultaneously without seeing a significant slowdown in download speeds.
We were also impressed by the number of features on this router, including built-in parental controls, as well as optional cyber security software if you pay for a subscription.
It’s hard to find any flaws with this mesh system, although it is frightfully expensive. At launch, it was priced at $1499.99/£1499.99, making it even more pricey than a laptop or desktop PC. But if you want the absolute best Wi-Fi speeds, this is the best router or mesh system you can buy.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System Review
Linksys Atlas Pro 6
Best value mesh system
Pros
- Great value
- Very fast
- Easy to set up
The Linksys Atlas Pro 6 is the best value mesh system we’ve tested so far, capable of spreading Wi-Fi coverage throughout your entire home. It’s available in packs of one, two or three, allowing you to scale up or down depending on the size of your house.
The dual-band router achieved very impressive speeds in our performance tests, even when 10 metres away from your device. It bested the Eero 6 Plus, which was our previous ‘best value mesh system’ champ, and even rivalled some tri-band routers that had a far steeper price point.
Wi-Fi 6 is supported, which isn’t quite the latest standard (Wi-Fi 6E) but still ensures you’re making the most of modern devices such as the PS5, Xbox Series X and smartphones/laptops launched in 2022.
The main weak point of the Atlas Pro 6 router is the lack of features and custom settings, with even the likes of parental controls being limited. If you do like to tinker, then we’d recommend the Eero 6 Plus instead. But the Atlas Pro 6 will certainly still appeal to those who just want a simple, hassle-free mesh system with blazing fast speeds.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Linksys Atlas Pro 6 Review
TP-Link Archer AX90
Best value tri-band
Pros
- Good price
- Tri-band system
- Solid performance
Cons
- Some features need a subscription
- Most bandwidth is in one network
The TP-Link Archer AX90 is a standalone router rather than a mesh system, which means it’s best suited for those in a smallish home where fast and consistent internet speeds are more important than coverage.
This is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router, which means it’s ideal for homes with many devices that require access to the internet. Our tests showed the 5GHz channel to be particularly speedy, offering comparable results to dedicated gaming routers such as the Netgear Nighthawk XR1000.
The accompanying 2.4GHz bands weren’t as impressive due to the level of neighbouring interference, but are at least decent options for devices where rapid Wi-Fi speeds aren’t quite as important, leaving more bandwidth for the likes of consoles and PCs.
It also supports TP-Links’ OneMesh technology, allowing you to build a mesh network via compatible range extenders. That’s a decent option to consider, but the TP-Link Archer AX90 arguably represents better value for those who just need a standalone router with a solid Wi-Fi connection for multiple devices.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: TP-Link Archer AX90 Review
Netgear Orbi 5G Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System (NBK752)
Best for 5G support
Pros
- Supports 5G
- Excellent parental controls and security
- Reliable Wi-Fi speeds
Cons
- Faster Orbi Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems available
It can be an absolute nightmare when the Wi-Fi goes down unexpectedly, especially if you’re working from home and have an important business meeting. The Netgear Orbi 5G Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System (NBK752) looks to free us from such pain by featuring support for 5G.
By slipping in a 5G (or 4G) Sim card into the router, it will revert to the cellular network as a backup if the Wi-Fi ever goes down. This ensures peace of mind that you’ll stay connected to the internet, even if BT or Virgin lets you down unexpectedly.
This Orbi can be purchased with either one or two satellites while offering tri-band Wi-Fi 6 that our performance tests showed to be both speedy and reliable. 5G speeds will of course depend on the signal available in your area.
We thought the parental controls and security features were excellent too, while the smartphone app can be used like a remote control for hassle-free tweaks.
However, you can find faster Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems elsewhere, such as the Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E, so this is only worth considering if you reckon the 5G backup network will be an invaluable feature.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Netgear Orbi 5G Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System (NBK752) Review
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000
Best gaming router
Pros
- DumaOS is powerful and flexible
- Easy to set up
- Fast
Cons
- Expensive compared to other Netgear routers
A Wi-Fi connection can be even more important than your PC hardware when it comes to gaming online, so it’s important to buy a great gaming router. Our top recommendation is the Netgear Nighthawk XR1000.
This is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 standalone router, lacking additional satellites to improve coverage throughout large homes. However, its 5Ghz channel is seriously speedy according to our test results. You can find faster Wi-Fi 6 speeds with the likes of the Netgear Nighthawk AX8, but the XR1000 makes up for that with its operating system.
DumOS 3.0 allows you to make the router prioritise certain devices for bandwidth, whether it’s for a gaming console or smart TV. Even better, its Geo-Filter can locate and connect to the servers with the lowest ping times, ensuring you get the best available response time when playing a game online. We think this feature is so useful to gamers, that it’s worth opting for this router over slightly faster alternatives.
However, this is a pricey router compared to other Netgear-made options, so is only worth investing in if you’re a gamer who frequently plays online. Otherwise, you’re better off boosting coverage with a mesh system, or opting for an even faster Wi-Fi 6 router.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Review
We also considered…
FAQs
The Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wi-Fi 6E is the fastest mesh system we’ve tested, while the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 is one of the speediest standalone routers at a short range.
A router can speed up your Wi-Fi and provide you with a consistent wireless performance. Although you will of course still be handicapped by the maximum speed of your internet plan.
A mesh system is essentially just a router that comes bundled with additional satellite devices. Each satellite uses the same wireless network, but improves the coverage of your Wi-Fi. This is a very good option for large homes, ensuring you have a great connection in every room.
