Playing an online game on your PC while another family member is busy streaming 4K videos? Or maybe you are in the middle of an intense mission in a game but your siblings downstairs decided to upload the entire vacation photo collection? In such situations, your game is going to lag since there won’t be a fast and stable internet connection. The constant diversion can be irritating especially if you are a hardcore gamer. The solution? Get a gaming router.
The question here is- how are gaming routers different from regular routers? The main difference lies in the QoS or Quality-of-Service feature. QoS is a feature that will focus on sending the data where you want it to go. So one can imagine how much of a boon it would be for gamers.
Know that generally, routers don’t care about the kind of traffic. Every internet activity, from gaming to uploading videos has equal importance and priority to the internet connection. But when you are in a huge household with multiple people doing their things then the internet connection might fall short. QoS will understand the importance of gaming and prioritize the incoming traffic for it. So the gaming router will minimize data packet loss. It will do so while bunching up the rest of the outgoing and incoming network data clearly into another separate stream.
There are different kinds of gaming routers in the market. But how will you know which one is the very best? To help you out, here’s a list of the very best gaming routers in the market:
10 Best Gaming Routers in 2023
Gaming routers can channel the internet connection towards one particular task. So if you want to ensure uninterrupted gaming sessions then all you have to do is make sure that the particular task is gaming. Now, here are the very best gaming routers in the market to aid you in your task. These are worth your time and money.
Image
Product
Features
Price
TP-Link AC5400 Tri-Band Gaming Router
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D-Link AC3150 Dual Band Wireless Gigabit Ultra WiFi Router
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NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi Router
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Linksys AC3200 Dual-Band WiFi Gaming Router
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NETGEAR XR450 Nighthawk Pro Gaming WiFi Router
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D-Link WiFi Router
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Linksys WRT3200ACM Dual-Band Open Source Router
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ASUS RT-AC5300 AC5300 Tri-band WiFi Gaming Router
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Link WiFi Router
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NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700 WiFi Router
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1. TP-Link AC5400 Tri-Band Gaming Router
- Item Weight: 3 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 11.34 x 11.34 x 7.24 inches
- Voltage: 120240 Volts
This gaming router comes with a CPU of 64-bit quad-core and a speed of 1.8 GHz. Here you will get 1GB of RAM as well as three co-processors right in the very heart of the network command-center. The dynamic engine will help eradicate latency. It helps in identifying traffic as well as optimizing throughput. As a result of this, you will get a fast and stable internet connection to enjoy unlimited gaming.
The router comes loaded with MU-MIMO WiFi as well as Airtime Fairness. MU-MIMO means Multiple User-Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output. It helps WiFi routers get connected to any device all at the same time. The latter ensures that every connection gets the needed precision as well as speed to maximize the response and throughput rates.
With this router, you will 8 gigabit Ethernet slots. As such you will be able to plug your TV, PC, gaming consoles, and more in it. With the help of this gaming router, you will be able to play a variety of games without any kind of lag. Whether it is ranked matches or PvP encounters, you will be able to play it all without any kind of network interruption.
With this router, you will get triband WiFi. This means that you will get one 2.4 GHz speed channel all along with two 5 GHz channels to work with. This will give you the speed as well as the range. With two 5 GHz channels, you will be able to continue your gaming at high speeds. The 2.4 GHz band will ensure that you will be able to get a great connection even if there are obstructions like walls, ceilings, and such. You will also be able to allocate the different bands for different tasks. Use one for gaming and use the other for downloading movies.
The Beamforming feature sends out targeted WiFi signals to ensure that devices remain connected even at longer distances. This along with the RangeBoost feature helps strengthen the reception.
Pros
- 64-bit quad-core CPU
- RangeBoost
- Tri-band WiFi
- 8 gigabit Ethernet ports
- BeamForming
- MU-MIMO WiFi
Cons
- None
2. D-Link AC3150 Dual Band Wireless Gigabit Ultra WiFi Router
- Item Weight: 2 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 4.13 x 14.45 x 10.24 inches
- Voltage: 12 Volts
This gaming router comes with 4 high-performance antennas that will ensure strong WiFi signals throughout your house. The product comes with an AC SmartBeam feature that will track all the connected devices so that you get improved WiFi range and speed. The device comes with a smart connect feature that ensures your devices will get automatically connected to the network band that has the clearest and best connection.
When it comes to processors, this device comes with a 1.4GHz Dual-Core one. This will give you the internet speed needed to play all the online games you want. What to stream videos in 4K? This speed will make it possible to do so. The product comes with 4 data-streams so that you get improved throughput.
The wifi here is Dual-Band. This ensures that you will be able to work with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. With the former, you will get speeds of 1,000 Mbps whereas with the latter you will get speeds of 2,167 Mbps. 5 GHz will allow you to enjoy greater speeds and so you will be able to play your games without any issues. The 2.4 GHz band will ensure that the signals don’t get obstructed by ceilings and floors.
This product comes loaded with the MU-MIMO technology that helps multiple devices get greater bandwidth WiFi signals all at once. As such this ensures a more efficient data distribution. But of course, since it is a gaming router so you will be able to channel a majority of the bandwidth to get uninterrupted gaming.
Pros
- AC SmartBeam feature
- MU-MIMO technology
- Dual-band wifi
- 1.4GHz Dual-Core processor
- 4 antennas
Cons
- Processor speed should be more
3. NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi Router
- Item Weight: 3.71 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 2.2 x 12.7 x 9.6 inches
- Voltage: n/a
This gaming router makes use of upgraded software to boost your internet network connectivity. It helps in reducing lags and stabilizing the ping. As such with the help of this you will be able to enjoy fast-paced gaming. The router comes with the Quality-of-Service feature that emphasizes the gaming devices. This helps in preventing further lags. You will be able to control the download speeds as well as the upload speeds on each device.
The device comes with a Geo filter that limits the distance to players or servers. Due to this, you will be able to get a guaranteed good local connection. This will backlist the laggy opponents whole whitelisting your peers. This device allows you to personalize your dashboard. Due to this, you will be able to see the real-time bandwidth being used by the device along with other parameters.
The product comes with 4 antennas that will allow you to get enhanced WiFi coverage along with less interference. Do note that the MU-MIMO technology allows for multiple devices to be simultaneously connected to the wifi. You will be able to enjoy Quad-Streaming along with accelerated speeds of 160MHz with this. The router comes with dual-band wifi that will allow you to enjoy speeds ranging to 2.6 Gbps.
When it comes to processors, this device comes with a dual-core one that has speeds of 1.7GHz. Due to this, you will be to enjoy consistent speeds that will allow you to game without any interruption. Do note that along with greater speeds you will be able to enjoy a reliable network connection as well that will allow you to even engage in 4K streaming and VR gaming too.
The router comes with 4 Gigabit Ethernet slots that let you maximize wired usage. You will be able to connect 4 devices like TV, PC, gaming console, and more to it and enjoy wired speeds that will enable you to enjoy fast-paced gaming.
Pros
- Quality-of-Service feature
- 1.7GHz dual-core processor
- MU-MIMO technology
- 4 antennas
- Geo filter
Cons
- Only 4 Ethernet ports
4. Linksys AC3200 Dual-Band WiFi Gaming Router
- Item Weight: 7.1 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 9.76 x 7.67 x 2 inches
- Voltage: n/a
This gaming router is perfect for the hardcore gamer who enjoys long gaming sessions without encountering any lags or network disturbance. It comes with a Killer-Prioritization Engine that syncs with Killer-enabled PCs to lessen the peak-ping time a lot (by around 77%) as well as deliver smooth gaming without lag. If you are playing online shooting games or such where every second count then you will certainly rely on this router to give you an unparalleled advantage.
The device comes with pro-grade 4 Ethernet switches that will allow you to connect your gaming console, TV, PC, or other such devices to it. This will allow you to get a simultaneous wired connection and fast network speeds. If you are hosting a LAN party then these Ethernet ports can be used for connecting multiple gaming consoles or rigs.
The product comes with a WiFi that will give you speeds of 3.2 Gbps to work with. This will allow you to enjoy fast-paced gaming and be at the very top of any kind of gaming.
The wifi is dual-band so you will be able to access both 2.4 GHz as well as 5 GHz channels. The former will help you get high-quality signal strength even at a range. Obstructions like floors and walls won’t pose any issue at all. The latter channel will give you the high speed and reliable connection needed to enjoy long term gaming sessions.
Pros
- Killer-Prioritization Engine
- 77% fewer lags
- Dual-band wifi
- 3.2 Gbps speed
- 4 Ethernet ports
Cons
- The low number of ports
5. NETGEAR XR450 Nighthawk Pro Gaming WiFi Router
- Package Dimensions: 15 x 11 x 4.6 inches
- Item Weight: 3.79 pounds
- Voltage: n/a
This gaming router offers you a lag-free and blazing fast WiFi connection. With the help of this, you will be able to enjoy 4K video streaming, VR gaming as well as more. This will allow you to enjoy reliable connectivity with stabilizing pings. The device comes with a dual-core 1.7GHz processor that helps ensure the consistency of network speed and connectivity. With the help of this, you will be able to carry out VR gaming as well.
With the help of this router, you will be able to customize the gaming dashboard easily. Here you will be able to see how your bandwidth is getting utilized in real-time. If you feel like there’s excess consumption then you can take action soon. But that’s not all. You will also be able to view a lot of other parameters too.
The device comes with a geo-filter feature that will enable you to fix gaming lags by fully limiting the server distances or other gamers. You will be able to get a local signal with this. What’s more, is that you will be able to make a whitelist or blacklist of your loved or disregarded servers.
With the help of the Quality-of-Service feature, you will be able to prioritize the gaming devices you want. You will be able to allocate the bandwidth and avoid lags. Along with this, you will be able to control the download as well as upload speeds too.
The gaming router comes with 4 antennas that give you enhanced WiFi coverage along with minimum interference. It comes with MU-MIMO technology too so that you can connect multiple devices all at once. Rest assured that all of them will enjoy accelerated speeds as well as Quad-Stream. The product comes with 4 Ethernet ports. You will be able to connect 4 devices like PCs and gaming consoles to it and enjoy fast-paced gaming.
Pros
- Dual-core 1.7GHz processor
- MU-MIMO technology
- Geo-filter
- Customizable gaming dashboard
- 4 Ethernet ports
- Quality-of-Service
Cons
- Less number of ports
6. D-Link WiFi Router
- Item Weight: 1.27 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 9 x 8 x 1.5 inches
- Voltage: 120240 Volts
This gaming router makes use of an 880MHz Dual-Core CPU to give you the best possible performance. With this, you will be able to carry out demanding tasks as well as online gaming. If you are playing a game where every second matter then you can rely on this router to give you network stability as well as a fast connection. The router comes with parental control options too so you can use it to filter out unwanted web content.
You will be able to enjoy speeds till 1,750 Mbps in here. On the dual-band wifi, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels both. Do note that in the former band you will get 450mbps of speed while in the latter you will get 1,300 Mbps. You can make use of the 5 GHz channel to get fast speeds while the 2.4 GHz channel will allow you to get the distance. You will be able to get a fast and stable connection even if you are on another floor of the house.
Note that this gaming router comes with SmartBeam technology as well as the Quality of Service feature. These will allow you to prioritize traffic to the task you want. It might be gaming, it might be movie watching, it might be something else. But with this kind of prioritization, you will be able to enjoy gaming without any kind of lags or interruptions.
The product comes with 4 antennas so that you get the best possible range. Along with this, the device comes with an intuitive interface as well as Smart Connect that makes it easy to set it up. The router will give you 3×3 data-streams that will support fast WiFi speeds. This works along with the MU-MIMO technology that allows multiple devices to remain connected to the wifi simultaneously while receiving accelerated speeds.
Pros
- SmartBeam technology
- Dual-band wifi
- MU-MIMO technology
- Parental controls
- 4 antennas
- 3×3 data-streams
Cons
- Processor speed is low
7. Linksys WRT3200ACM Dual-Band Open Source Router
- Item Weight: 1.74 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 9.68 x 2.04 x 7.63 inches
- Voltage: 240 Volts
This router comes with MU-MIMO technology and Tri-stream 160. The latter will let you enjoy WiFi speeds like never before. You also don’t have to worry about lags at all. Tri-Stream 160 will let you double up the bandwidth easily of the 5 GHz channel to power any heavy activity like gaming using 2.6 Gbps of WiFi speeds. The former mentioned MU-MIMO technology allows multiple devices to be connected to the wifi and enjoy fast speeds all at the same time.
The device comes with multiple kinds of ports. So you will be able to connect things like USB drives eSATA, flash drives, network printers, and more in here. Since the firmware is open source so users will be able to customize the product by using DD-WRT and OpenWrt.
This gaming router works in an airspace that isn’t given to traditionally found routers. Such privilege is due to the DFS or Dynamic Frequency Selection right from FCC. It is this certification that makes it possible to use tri-stream 160. Along with this the channels also get tripled at 80MHz.
The router comes equipped with a dual-core enterprise-grade processor. As a result, you will get the power to handle the heaviest of network traffic. Due to this, you will be able to enjoy a home network connection that doesn’t lag. Know that this will allow you to play games easily.
The device comes with dual-band wifi. You will be able to get combined speeds of 3.2 Gbps max in here. The 5 GHz band will give you speeds of 2.6 Gbps while the 2.4 GHz channel will give you comparatively lower speeds at 600 Mbps but you will get better range with this. This device comes with an iOS and android app that will allow you to customize the wifi. You will be able to get send your guests the Wifi password, set up parental controls, prioritize the devices, and way more.
Pros
- Dual-band wifi
- Tri-stream 160
- MU-MIMO technology
- Multiple ports
- Dynamic Frequency Selection
- Handy app
Cons
- None
8. ASUS RT-AC5300 AC5300 Tri-band WiFi Gaming Router
- Item Weight: 3.21 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 24.5 x 6.5 x 24.5 inches
- Voltage: n/a
This router comes with the Quality-of-Service feature that will allow you to prioritize the gaming packets as well as activities. You will be able to assign the whole bandwidth to the game. Thus this makes the router perfect for low-latency gaming. You will be able to do this with any other task. If you want to watch movies only then you will be able to redirect the bandwidth there and that activity will then be prioritized.
The device comes with MU-MIMO technology that lets multiple devices be connected to the wifi at the same time. But there will be no loss of speed, you will find that on the contrary, all the devices will be able to enjoy accelerated speeds.
This router comes with parental controls that let you prevent kids or guests from visiting harmful websites. With the help of this, you will be able to even restrict the number of times each of the devices or any guest account accesses the internet even. For this, you will have to put in the necessary time limits.
The product comes with NitroQAM technology so you will be able to get speeds of 5334 Mbps. Know that you will be able to tri-band WiFi over here. You will get to work with dual 5 GHz bands and a singular 2.4 GHz band. You will find that you will be able to connect up to 4 Ethernet-enabled devices here. These devices can be gaming consoles, set-top boxes, smart TVs, media players, and more. You can even enjoy a LAN party by using this router as everyone will be able to connect their consoles or rigs to the ports.
The gaming router comes with a router app and a user interface. Both of these are robust and intuitive. With the help of this, you will be able to manage the network traffic, diagnose all the connection issues, or even update the firmware. Do all of this without even booting up a PC.
Pros
- Quality-of-Service
- MU-MIMO technology
- Tri-band wifi
- Parental controls
- Handy router app
- 4 Ethernet ports
Cons
- None
9. Link WiFi Router
- Item Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 10.1 x 1.8 inches
- Voltage: n/a
With this router, you will get to enjoy speeds of 2600 Mbps. This dual-band wifi will allow you to use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels. On the 2.4 GHz channel, you will get speeds of 800 Mbps while on the 5 GHz channel you will get to enjoy speeds of 1733 Mbps. 5 GHz will offer you better speeds with which you will be able to enjoy uninterrupted gaming. But if you sit on the top floor of your house while you are gaming while the router sits on the first floor then it’s better to use the 2.4 GHz band. This is because you will get better range with this even with all the floor and wall obstacles.
You will be able to get 4×4 data streams here all along with 4 kinds of performance antennas. With the help of this, you will get more range and be able to enjoy online gaming along with 4K and HD video streaming too.
This gaming router comes with a dual-core processor that will let you enjoy high-speed internet speeds. The router also comes with the MU-MIMO technology that will allow you to connect multiple devices to the wifi all the same time without incurring a loss in network speed and stability.
This product comes with Advanced Smart Beam technology that will track all of your connected devices to give you a more enhanced WiFi range and speed throughout. Along with this, the product comes with the quality of service features. You will find that this will help in traffic optimization since you will be able to divert the bandwidth to the task you want. It can be gaming, uploading videos, or anything else.
Pros
- Dual-band wifi
- Quality of service
- Advanced SmartBeam
- 4×4 data streams
- MU-MIMO technology
Cons
- None
10. NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700 WiFi Router
- Item Weight: 6.26 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 15.33 x 12.49 x 5.32 inches
- Voltage: 120240 Volts
This router will give you all the necessary tools to see bandwidth getting used in real-time by various devices, ping, and even more right on a single screen. With such a customizable dashboard you will be able to identify the devices which cause the lags. As a result, then you will be able to prevent bandwidth hogging.
This dual-band wifi will give you 2 channels to use. These are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Do note that with the former you will get speeds of 800 Mbps whereas with the latter you will get speeds of 1733 Mbps. Use the one which suits your needs the most.
This reliable router comes with a 1.7GHz dual-core processor. Note that this will keep the speeds consistent as well as reliable for the devices connected to it. With the help of this, you will be able to carry out even VR gaming.
You will get to work with 7 Ethernet ports here. So you will be able to connect 7 devices like gaming consoles, PCs, Smart TVs, and more here. Do note that there will be no lags at all while using any of the devices simultaneously. Due to this, you can easily hold a LAN party too.
Pros
- 7 Ethernet ports
- 1.7GHz dual-core processor
- Dual-band wifi
- Customizable dashboard
- Prevent bandwidth-hogging
Cons
- None
Buying Guide to Choose the Best Gaming Routers in 2023
Gaming routers will allow you to allocate the bandwidth so you will be able to game in peace without worrying about lags or network instability. This makes gaming routers a very attractive device.
As such these kinds of routers are made by a lot of manufacturers. So how will you know which one is worth investing in and which one isn’t worth emptying your pockets? We are here for just that. The below list states the features which you must keep in mind while buying gaming routers. These are:
1. Gigabit Ethernet
Always check the number of gigabit Ethernet slots you are getting with your gaming router. If you have a lot of wired devices that you want to connect to it then choose those routers which come with 8 ports or even more. But if there aren’t that many wired devices in your house then you can buy a 4 port one easily.
2. Wifi
Always buy those gaming routers which come with tri-band WiFis. Tri-band WiFi means that you will get dual channels of 5 GHz and one channel of 2.4 GHz. The 5 GHz channel will give you more speed whereas the 2.4 channel will give you more range although you will get comparatively lesser speeds. If you are a hardcore gamer then you will be able to use the dual 5 GHz band to get unprecedented speeds to enjoy blazing-fast gaming.
3. Processor
While buying make sure that the processor is always quad-core and give you speeds of 1.7GHz or 1.8GHz. If you don’t have the budget for a quad-core then opt for a dual-core. It also works well and will give the network speed and stability you need to game in peace.
4. Customizable dashboard
Make sure that the gaming router you are buying comes with a customizable dashboard. This dashboard will show you the bandwidth being used. If you feel like excess bandwidth is being used then you can detect the devices which are doing that and prevent bandwidth hogging.
5. MU-MIMO technology
Generally, all gaming routers do come with this feature but it’s always better to ensure that your gaming router comes loaded with the MU-MIMO technology. This feature will allow you to connect multiple devices to your wifi without experiencing any kind of speed loss. All the devices will get to experience accelerated speeds.
6. Quality-of-Service
While buying a gaming router make sure that it comes with the Quality-of-Service feature. This feature ensures that you will be able to direct the bandwidth to the activity you want like gaming. Due to this, you will be able to enjoy stable and fast gaming speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Best Gaming Routers in 2023
1. Should you get a gaming router with an app?
Yes, you should. An app will allow you to control bandwidth access, access parental controls, give guests a password, and more. As such it will make your work a whole lot easier.
2. How to use the parental controls on a gaming router?
Different gaming routers have different ways of accessing parental controls. It’s better if you check the instruction manual or call the technical staff to guide you on this.
3. Will you be able to block guests from accessing particular websites with a parental block system?
Yes, using parental controls you will be able to block any device from accessing websites you don’t want them to.
4. How many antennas should a gaming router ideally have?
You can choose as many as you want. But it is advised that you buy a router that at least has 4.
5. What makes a gaming router different?
Gaming users do high-end gaming, which requires high-powered specifications in a system; the same goes for routers. Online gaming or multiplayer gaming requires stable connectivity offered by gaming routers. These routers are faster and more powerful than a regular router; they have better CPUs and RAM with improved power and memory for your gaming needs. These gaming routers can handle more connections with more QoS features and issues in network connectivity.
6. What does a gaming router do?
A gamer needs a high-end setup for their gaming, like a sound, graphic card system, and excellent connectivity internet with the advanced router. Standard routers are not made for heavy usage, but gaming routers, on the other hand, are made for your high usage.
These gaming routers are the advanced version of your old routers, and they are designed to enhance and simplify user performance & management. The gaming router comes with the standards to configure your LAN traffic for making it more efficient and easier to use.
7. What are the benefits of a Gaming Router?
Gaming lovers are the people who love speed and smoothness in their system to enjoy their gaming to the fullest. To enjoy the gaming experience, you need best-class specifications to play hassle-free heavy games. The same goes with the internet connection required for multiplayer and online gaming or to update the gaming setup.
You will get a good internet connection experience only until you have a capable wireless device that delivers stable and long-range connectivity all day long. Standard routers do not stand a chance compared to gaming routers designed to improve network connectivity.
There are many benefits of gaming routers like QoS features, audio/ graphic fidelity, better hardware, better hardware, better security features, parental controls, more comprehensive WiFi range, and excellent overall performance for gaming.
As such, gaming routers are a boon to those gamers who are constantly struggling with low internet speeds in a busy household. These devices will allow you to allocate bandwidth to gaming so that you can enjoy unlimited and uninterrupted gaming. While buying a gaming router always check for the two most important things- processor and WiFi type. There are many other important factors too but these two will mainly decide just how much internet stability and speed you will enjoy.
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