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If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi router that is great for general needs and has customization for specific games, you’re at the right spot. This post is a collection of the best gaming routers I’ve reviewed.
All listed here meet at least one of my criteria that qualify them as gaming routers. While you can generally play online games with any router, these are those that will give you an edge, most as Wi-Fi machines, but all as placebos.
Dong’s note: I last updated this frequently revised post on December 5, 2021.
Table of Contents
Best gaming routers of 2021: The list
All routers on this list are excellent for general use. On top of that, they collectively check all the boxes to be qualified as gaming gear.
They are listed here on reviewed orders with the latest on top — the number in front of their name is not for ranking, but just numerical.
10. TP-Link Archer GX90: The latest among gaming routers that “look the part”
In case you didn’t read the intro: This is the latest member of this list. The number is not the ranking.
The GX90 is somewhat a replacement for the Archer AX11000 (below). It is also somewhat of a pseudo gaming router since it doesn’t have any game-related novelty.
But it does look the part, and you sure can play a lot of online games just fine with it. And the fast Wi-Fi performance doesn’t hurt, either.
TP-Link Archer GX90: Rating
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance
2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN
Excellent feature set and network settings
Robust full web user interface
Nice design and comparatively affordable
Cons
Thin on gaming
Single Multi-Gig port; no Dual-WAN or Link Aggregation
USB-based storage performance could be better
9. Asus ROG STRIX GS-AX5400: Representing a new gaming product line
The GS-AX5400 is an excellent new (gaming) router. It represents the new ROG STRIX product line and is a better version of the similar GS-AX3000.
Note: Asus has a large selection of gaming routers itself. For more on that, check out this post on Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters.
Asus ROG STRIX GS-AX5400's Rating
Pros
Excellent overall performance
Complete AiMesh 2.0 support, including system-wide Guest network
Robust web interface, well-designed mobile app, no login account required
Lots of useful features, including those for gamers
Cool-looking front-facing AURA Game light
Cons
No Multi-Gig port or Gamer VPN (WTFast)
Performance as a NAS server could be better
The ROG logo doesn't light up, a bit boring
8. Asus GT-AXE11000: Wi-Fi 6E is a still blur, but gamering is a sure thing
The GT-AXE11000, despite the similar hardware, is not an upgrade to the GT-AX11000 below. It’s the first Wi-Fi 6E router on the market.
One thing is for sure, though. This Wi-Fi machine is of the routers that Asus has put a crazy amount of what I called “gamering” on. It has everything you’d need to get the best out of your games, with the rights to brag like there’s no tomorrow.
Note: Asus has a large selection of gaming routers itself. For more on that, check out this post on Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters.
Asus GT-AXE11000's Rating
Pros
Tri-band with Wi-Fi 6E support
Excellent 5GHz and 2.4GHz performance
Excellent set of game-related, online protection and monitoring features, full AiMesh 2.0 support
2.5Gbps LAN/WAN port, Dual-WAN, and LAN/WAN Link Aggregations
Cons
Expensive
Wi-Fi 6E is not fully available
Only one 2.5Gbps port, no 10Gbps port
Bulky design, not wall-mountable, buggy firmware (at launch)
7. Asus RT-AX92U: The little router that could
The Asus RT-AX92U is an interesting case. It was a bit of controversy at launch due to the odd hardware specs and shoddy firmware. Later on, though, Asus improved it a great deal via updates.
As of now, this is one of the best tri-band Wi-Fi 6 routers you can buy, and in many ways, it’s like the mini version of the ultimate gaming router that is the GT-AX11000 below.
Note: Asus has a large selection of gaming routers itself. For more on that, check out this post on Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters.
ASUS RT-AX92U's Rating
Pros
Compact design, tri-band specs
Good performance, large coverage
Excellent set of features, including online protection, WTFast VPN for gamers, and system-wide Guest network when working as a mesh
Link Aggregation and Dual-WAN support, wall-mountable
Comparatively affordable
Cons
Wi-Fi 6 available only on one of the 5GHz bands
No Multi-Gig port
6. Netgear XR1000: A sophisticated gaming router
The XR1000 is somewhat of an upgrade to the XR500 below. It’s the second gaming router based on the DumaOS and the first that uses Wi-Fi 6.
The new router runs version 3.0 of the game-centric firmware and has fantastic features, including an improved Geo-Filter with polygon mode and Ping heatmap.
The new firmware version is a bit heavy for the router’s hardware specs, and the XR1000 is a bit pricey, but overall, it’s an excellent router for those playing a set of specific games.
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000's Rating
Pros
Sophisticated game-centric firmware
Fast Wi-Fi speeds and reliable performance
Robust web UI, beautiful hardware design
Useful mobile app, wall-mountable
Cons
Expensive but underpowered – items of the web interface can take a long time to fully load
Limited Wi-Fi settings
Mobile app can't manage any gaming features
No multi-gig port, Dual-WAN or Link Aggregation
Online protection and VPN require subscriptions
Buggy — firmware needs some serious updates; no mesh option
5. Asus RT-AX82U: Possibly the coolest-looking gaming router
The Asus RT-AX82U is the RT-AX86U below with slightly lesser hardware. In return, it unique has a fantastic-looking programmable front lighting that sure will turn any gamer on! If you’re into gaming routers with bling, this is the router for you.
Note: Asus has a large selection of gaming routers itself. For more on that, check out this post on Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters.
Asus RT-AX82U's Rating
Pros
Excellent performance
Beautiful design with tons of helpful networking, game-related features, and settings
Robust web UI, well-designed mobile app
Comparatively affordable
Cons
No support for WTFast Gamer VPN
No multi-gig network port
Network storage performance (when hosting a portable drive) could use some improvement
Not wall-mountable
4. Asus RT-AX86U: The best dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router to date
I called the Asus RT-AX86U the best dual-band router to date for a reason. It’s great.
As for gaming, it has lots of features, including a set of robust pre-programmed settings, a game LAN port, and more. The 2.5 Gbps multi-gig port also means it’s ready if you need an ultra-fast wired connection.
Note: Asus has a large selection of gaming routers itself. For more on that, check out this post on Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters.
Asus RT-AX86U's Rating
Pros
Fast performance, excellent range, reliable
Tons of helpful networking features and settings
Useful settings for online gaming
Robust web UI, well-designed mobile app
Multi-Gig, WAN/LAN Link Aggregation support
Excellent NAS performance and features when hosting a storage device
Comparatively affordable
Cons
Single, low-speed (2.5Gbps) Multi-Gig port
Not wall-mountable
Gaming features turn Adaptive QoS off
No support for WTFast Gamer VPN
3. TP-Link Archer AX11000: A chicken who thinks it’s a duck
Yes, this is the one I called “fake.” But the TP-Link Archer AX11000 does look the part as a gaming router, and it has a robust QoS where you can easily turn on prioritization for gaming.
TP-Link Archer AX11000's Rating
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance
2.5 Gbps WAN port with eight Gigabit LAN ports
160 MHz channel bandwidth support
Excellent, Antivirus, QoS, and Parental Control features
Robust full web user interface, helpful mobile app
Eye-catching and convenient hardware design
USB-C ready, wall-mountable
Cons
Misleading gaming veneer, no actual gaming-specific features
No multi-gig LAN port, bulky design
Not mesh-ready (at launch)
Artificial" "Game" items make the interface unnecessarily confusing
Mobile app requires a login account
2. Asus GT-AX11000: The ultimate gamers’ edition of a Wi-Fi 6 router
The GT-AX11000 is the first Wi-Fi 6 router for gamers, and it delivers. Among other things, it has built-in support for WTFast gamer VPN, which allows it to be part of a unique VPN where you can enjoy certain games with extremely low lags.
Alternatively, you can also opt for the RT-AX92U, which is the mini version of this router.
Note: Asus has a large selection of gaming routers itself. For more on that, check out this post on Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters.
Asus GT-AX11000's Rating
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance with an excellent range
Lots of useful features for home users
Unique and effective settings for online gaming
Multi-Gig network port, Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation
Mesh ready
Cons
Expensive
Bulky design, loose antennas, non-wall-mountable
Fewer LAN ports than the previous model
Long boot-up time, buggy (at launch), fluctuating Wi-Fi throughputs
1. Netgear XR500: A gaming router at heart
In case you didn’t read the intro: This is the first member of this list. The number is not the ranking.
You can’t deny the Netgear XR500 is a gaming router. That’s because it was the first, in the U.S., that runs DumaOS, a special firmware made by the U.K. firm Netduma which develops special gaming routers.
As a result, the XR500 has lots of unique game-related features, including Geo-Filter, which allows you to create a low-lag zone for gaming. Alternatively, you can also find the XR300 and XR700.
The former is the lesser version of the XR500, while the latter is a souped-up version that, unfortunately, uses 802.11ad Wi-Fi standard that adds no extra value since it’s not widely adopted.
Netgear Nighthawk XR500's Rating
Pros
DumaOS delivers comprehensive and effective QoS and online gaming features with a robust web interface
Excellent overall performance
Easy to set up and fun to use
Cons
No built-in security to protect the entire network from online threats
Content filtering can't block secure website sites such as Facebook or Youtube
Limited Wi-Fi settings
Best gaming routers of 2021: Hardware specifications and Wi-Fi performance
I tested all of these routers the way I do all Wi-Fi broadcaster. I also tried their gaming features via wired and wireless connections, without a retail or mesh extender.
It’s best to use a game console (or PC) via a wired connection as a rule. If you have to use Wi-Fi, make sure the device connects directly to the very first broadcaster of your home if you have more than one Wi-Fi hub.
Best gaming routers: Wi-Fi performance
I got the 5GHz numbers below via a 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 160MHz client and a 4×4 Wi-Fi 5 client.
On the 2.4GHz, I use the same 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 160MHz client and a 3×3 Wi-Fi 4 client.
Best gaming routers: Hardware specifications
Looking to compare these routers side by side? The table of hardware specifications below will help.
Note: This is a wide table. Make sure you scroll horizontally.
| TP-Link Archer AX6600 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router | Asus ROG STRIX GS-AX5400 Dual-band Gaming Router | Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 Wi-Fi 6E Gaming Router | Asus RT-AX92U AX6100 Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 Router | Netgear XR1000 Nighthawk Wi-Fi 6 Pro Gaming Router | Asus RT-AX82U AX5400 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router | Asus RT-AX86U AX5700 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router | TP-Link Archer AX11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router | Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router | Netgear XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Wi-Fi 5 Router | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Archer GX90 | GS-AX5400 | GT-AXE11000 | RT-AX92U | XR1000 | RT-AX82U | RT-AX86U | Archer AX11000 | GT-AX11000 | XR500 |
| Wi-Fi Technology | Tri-band AX6600 | Dual-band AX5400 | Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E AX11000 | Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 AX6100 | Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 AX5400 | Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 AX5400 | Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 AX5700 | Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 AX11000 | Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 AX11000 | Dual-Band Wi-Fi 5 AC2600 |
| First Band | 2.4GHz 2×2 AX: Up to 574Mbps | 2.4GHz 2×2 AX: Up to 574Mbps | 2.4GHz 4×4 AX Up to 1148Mbps | 2.4Ghz 2×2 Wi-Fi 4 Up to 400Mbps | 2.4GHz 2×2 AX Up to 574Mbps | 2.4GHz 2×2 AX Up to 574Mbps | 2.4Ghz 3×3 AX Up to 861Mbps | 2.4GHz 4×4 AX Up to 1148Mbps | 2.4GHz 4×4 AX Up to 1148Mbps | 2.4GHz 4×4 AC Up to 800Mbps |
| Second Band | 5GHz 2×2 AX: Up to 1201Mbps | 5GHz 4×4 AX Up to 4804Mbps | 5GHz 4×4 AX Up to 4804Mbps | 5GHz 2×2 AC Up to 867Mbps (low band) | 5GHz 4×4 AX Up to 4804Mbps | 5GHz 4×4 AX Up to 4804Mbps | 5GHz 4×4 AX Up to 4804Mbps | 5GHz 4×4 AX 6 Up to 4804Mbps | 5GHz 4×4 AX 6 Up to 4804Mbps | 5GHz 4×4 AC Up to 1733Mbps |
| Third Band | 5GHz 4×4 AX Up to 4804Mbps | None | 6GHz 4×4 Wi-Fi 6E Up to 4804Mbps | 5GHz 4×4 AX Up to 4804Mbps | None | None | None | 5GHz 4×4 AX 6 Up to 4804Mbps | 5GHz 4×4 AX Up to 4804Mbps | None |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz) Support | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| AP Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mesh-ready | Yes (OneMesh) | Yes (AiMesh 2.0) | Yes (AiMesh 2.0) | Yes (AiMesh 2.0) | No | Yes (AiMesh 2.0) | Yes (AiMesh 2.0) | Yes (OneMesh) | Yes (AiMesh 2.0) | No |
| 160MHz Channel Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Number of 160MHz Channels | 1x on the 5GHz-2 band | 2x on one 5GHz band | 7x on one 6GHz band 2x on one 5GHz band | 1x one 5GHz band | 2x on one 5GHz band | 2x on one 5GHz band | 2x on one 5GHz band | 2x on two 5GHz bands | 2x on two 5GHz bands | None |
| Gigabit Port | 1x LAN/WAN 3x LAN | 4x LAN, 1x WAN | 4x LAN, 1x WAN | 4x LAN, 1x WAN | 4x LAN, 1x WAN | 4x LAN, 1x WAN | 4x LAN, 1x WAN | 8× LAN | 4x LAN, 1x WAN | 4x LAN, 1x WAN |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN | None | 1x 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN | None | None | None | 1x 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN | 1× 2.5Gbps WAN | 1x 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN | None |
| LAN Link Aggregation | No | Yes | Yes (LAN ports 1 and 2) | Yes (LAN1 + LAN2) | None | Yes (LAN 1 and LAN 2) | Yes (LAN ports 1 and 2) | Yes (LAN 2 + LAN 3) | Yes (LAN ports 1 and 2) | None |
| WAN Link Aggregation | No | Yes | Yes (WAN + LAN4) | Yes (WAN + LAN4) | None | Yes (WAN + LAN4) | Yes (WAN + LAN4) | No | Yes (WAN + LAN4) | None |
| Dual-WAN | No | Yes | Yes (WAN + USB or LAN4 or 2.5Gbps) | Yes (WAN + LAN 1, or WAN + USB) | None | Yes (WAN + LAN4 or USB) | Yes (WAN + LAN4 or USB) | No | Yes (WAN + USB or LAN4 or 2.5Gbps) | None |
| USB | 1× USB 3.0 Port 1× USB 2.0 Port | 1x USB 3.0 | 2x USB 3.0 | 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0 | 1x USB 3.0 | 1x USB 3.0 | 2x USB 3.0 | 1× USB-C 3.0, 1× USB-A 3.0 | 2x USB 3.0 | 2x USB 3.0 |
| Mobile App | TP-Link Tether | Asus Router | Asus Router | Asus Router | Netgear Nighthawk | Asus Router | Asus Router | TP-Link Tether | Asus Router | None |
| Gaming Features | Fancy-looking hardware and web interface QoS | Aura Gaming Light Gaming Port Game Boost Gear Accelerator Mobile Game Mode OpenNAT ROG First VPN Fusion | Dedicated Game Port OutFox Game Boost Open NAT Mobile Game Mode QoS Aura Lighting | WTFast VPN Game Boost Open NAT Mobile Game Mode QoS | DumaOS 2.0 Geo-Filter Ping Heatmap QoS | Dedicated Game Port Game Boost Open NAT Mobile Game Mode QoS Aura Lighting | Dedicated Game Port Game Boost Open NAT Mobile Game Mode QoS | Fancy-looking hardware and web interface QoS | WTFast VPN Game Boost Open NAT Mobile Game Mode QoS Aura Lighting | DumaOS Geo-Filter QoS |
| Processing Power | 1.5 GHz Quad-Core CPU | 1.5 GHz Tri-core CPU, 256 MB Flash, 512 MB RAM | 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU, 256MB Flash, 1GB RAM | 1.8Ghz dual-core CPU, 512 MB RAM, 256 MB Flash | 1.5 GHz tri-core CPU, 256 MB Flash, 512 MB RAM | 1.5 GHz tri-core CPU, 256 MB Flash, 512 MB RAM | 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU, 256 MB Flash, 1 GB RAM | 1.8 GHz 64 bit quad-core CPU, 512 MB Flash, 1 GB RAM | 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU, 256MB Flash, 1GB RAM | 1.7GHz dual-core CPU, 256MB Flash, 512MB RAM |
| Dimensions (no antennas) | 8.3 × 8.3 × 2.0 in (212 × 212 × 51.8 mm) | 10.56 x 7.08 x 6.53 in (268 x 180 x 160 mm) | 10.4 x 10.4 x 2.9 in (26.4 x 26.4x 7.4 cm) | 6.1 x 6.1 x 2.07 in (15.5 x 15.5 x 5.26 cm) | 11.61 x 7.87 x 2.51 in (29.5 x 20 x 6.4 cm) | 10.83 x 7.26 x 6.5 in (27.5 x 18.4 x 16.5 cm) | 9.52 x 3.93 x 12.79 inc. (24.2 x 10 x 32.5 cm) | 9.5 x 9.5 x 2.2 in (24.1 x 24.1 x 5.5 cm) | 9.5 x 9.5 x 2.4 in (24.1 x 24.1 x 6.1 cm) | 12.7 x 9.6 x 2.2 in (32.2 x 24.4x 5.5 cm) |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) | 1.55 lbs (701.3 g) | 3.94 lbs (1.79 kg) | 1.43 lbs (651 g) | 1.32 lb (.6 kg) | 1.63 lbs (740 g) | 1.8 lbs (814.5 g) | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) | 3.8 lbs (1.73 kg) | 1.77lbs (801g) |
| Price (as of post’s date) | $249.99 | $250 | $550 | $210 | $300 | $230 | $250 | $350 | $450 | $250 |
No Nano-Pi R2s/R4s?
How about a list of routers that support OpenWrt/DD-WRT that shows what specific CPU it has?
Gaming router should have SQM through Cake or fq_codel
You can find that list on the website of DDWRT. I talk about gaming routers in plain English in this post.
Hey Dong, Finally got new stock on the Ax86u was wondering if anything has changed and a better gaming router exists
Check out this post, Cary. You might want to read this post on Wi-Fi 7, too.
My problem is I have Sonos and most of the reviews on Asus routers specify firmware issues with Sonos products.
I’m not aware of any Sonos issues, Cary, but you don’t need to go with an Asus. Keep in mind that there’s no perfect router, so pick one that best fits your needs. Good luck!
I’ve been reading many articles on this site and trying to digest the amount of information. Thanks for such in depth articles. The question I have is that I recently lucked into a house with 5k-6k sqft. My office/gaming/lan party area is on the top floor on 1 end of the house with it being 3 stories. I am a pretty heavy gamer and have had issues in the past with other household members killing my game with streaming/downloading. I upgraded to 1.2gpbs cable connection and should have the opportunity to get 10gbps fiber in about 5 years. I seem to have a two diametrically opposed needs. I want a serious gaming router with QOS/gaming priority with wired connections in my PC gaming area (where I could have multiple friends over with PCs) and I need to cover 5/6k sqft over three floors. I will have many streaming TVs and many IOT devices on Wifi. My wife is opposed to wired lan connections running everywhere/anywhere other than my lan area. Since these routers are so expensive I was trying to do a buy it now for future proofing and get a new modem when I get fiber. This leans me towards the ASUS RT-AX89X, but it only has dual band and you recommend using a wired backhual which I don’t think I can do with distance/wife requirements. The best mesh system seems to be Netgear RBKE963B for blazing speeds and coverage, but with no gaming features. What would you suggest?
Get your home wired, James. There’s NO wireless mesh solution that’s ideal for gaming, no matter how much money you put into it — Orbi is actually the worst. More in this post.
If that is the case, would you recommend buying a ASUS RT-AX89X, running a cable to a more central location and connecting possibly a RT-AX92U to it? I noticed that you didn’t mention it and specifically say in this article https://dongknows.com/best-aimesh-routers-and-combos/ to use dual band for the mesh. If I did do the AX92U could I then add a second and it use the wireless backhual for those units to talk? In a separate article you say to use the AX86U as the best option for the wireless node.
If you read the post closely, you’ll note that I don’t recommend using dual-band primary router and tri-band satellites in an AiMesh setup and why. If you want to use that combo, it’s best to use the RT-AX92U as a separate mesh system in the AP mode, on top of the RT-AX89X as a standalone router. More in this post.
My 3 teenagers are big gamers so we just upgraded to Spectrum Ultra which is 400 mbps download speed. However, our current router is not working well. I’m trying to read reviews and I’m thinking about getting the ASUS RT-AX86U AX5700. I’m assuming it can handle the 400 mbps but just wanted to confirm that. Is that what the 5700 represents? If so, is this overkill for our needs? I wish my brain could understand all this technical jargon but it doesn’t. Since the kids are on a different floor than the router, should I consider buying something else to boost their signal?
Thanks for any insight on the matter!
If you want to know more about what that number means, Deb, check out this post on Wi-Fi. The RT-AX86U is an excellent router per my experience, but only you can answer the specific questions you asked since you’re there. More in this post. There’s no easy answer. 🙂
Thank you for the additional resources to read. That was a lot of information to digest but very helpful! I think I’ll give the RT-AX96U a try. Ultimately, I need to figure out how to get a wired connection to the second floor. I think that is probably better than finding an extender. Will it matter what type of hub I buy to add more ports to the router?
Sure, Deb. Yes, you can start with the RT-AX86U. After that, if you have a network cable connecting to the 2nd floor, get another dual-band AiMesh unit I mentioned here. If you don’t have a wire and you can’t run one, then it can be tricky, but in this case, get another RT-AX86U and use it as the satellite in an AiMesh setup. Good luck!
PS: You should make one of those spoilt teenagers do this! 🙂
Hey Dong, 1800 sqft apartment, 500mb connection, Only game on ps5 (wired) and kids on PS4. Mostly all other devices are on Wi-Fi. Looking at the ax86u. What do you think?
That’s an excellent choice, Cary. Check out the review for more!
Thanks for the reply sir. The router seems to back ordered and very difficult to get. Should I wait and try to get my hands on it or do you a better alternative for me?
You can also consider the RT-AX82U or GS-AX5400. Neither has Multi-Gig WAN/LAN though.
Hi Dong, hope your well. Do you think the ASUS TUF AX5400 and the ASUS ROG AX 5400 would have similar performance considering their specs are the same and their both marketed at gamers? I’m just asking as there is a considerable price difference In the two with the TUF being c.£100 cheaper. IF the performance is likely to be the same the TUF is a no-brainer!
Thanks in advance.
If you use just a router and not a other ROG hardware, then there’s likely no difference between the two, Aaron.
Hi Dong,
What a great read, I was wondering if you could help me, I’m in the process of finally upgrading to serious router at home and I’m stuck on 3 routers
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000
Netgear Nighthawk XR500
ASUS ROG RAPTURE GT-AX11000
Both the ROG and XR500 are available in South Africa but the XR1000 would need to be imported.
I’m big on network management and controlling bandwidth allocation and setting some VLANS up if possible, so I’m looking for a great UI and feature pack as well as performance when gaming.
Which of the above 3 would you recommend, WiFi6 is not a must but decent signal is.
None will give you real VLANs, Graham. But I’d go with the Asus.
Hello Dong,
First – thank you so much for these articles, it is so amazing to read everything you have written that is not just a top 5 – check price on Amazon site. I feel you have a site one can trust and you really break it down for us and the answering questions in the blog is amazing.
I’ve searched through all your articles and your comments to others but still am finding myself still not knowing my best setup.
2400 sqft on top 2 levels and 1000 sqft basement (where we use phones and home theatre and switch). Current router on top floor is Internet modem/router and a repeater in basement but its not always great. Usage is a Family of 4, 3 tvs 2 laptops 2 desktops(wired), 2 tablets, Nintendo switch, 3 TVs and a dozen smart plugs and an Alexa and newly an Occulus Quest 2 that I’d like to use to play pcvr via airlink on occasion – my computer is beefy with rtx 3080 and id like to run as high resolution as possible and have future bandwidth for when but headsets improve in the next generation of hardware. And playing it ideally not in same room as current computer and router setup on the top floor.
I was fairly settled on the a 86u but read your recommendation to someone to get the ax92u (but wired) and dedicate the third band to their quest.
I was further motivated to get the ax92u because I can get two of them for 460 Canadian (or one for 250) where a single ac86u costs about 400 Canadian here and the ax11000 is 500.
Budget is a consideration as I don’t want to be frivolous, but it’s not my first one and I really just prefer to get the best product that has a noticeable real world benefit over the others.
Where I’m having trouble is a direct comparison between the products – you recommend the ax86u as the best in one article, but for something like the ax11000 I’ve seen you rate it an 8 for performance on one page but a 9.5 on another and I’m having analysis paralysis here in determining what the best experience is and what cost is reasonable. Just about every device but the quest and our phones at the moment are on the 2.4 ghz though I imagine but expect that will change over time.
My house is not yet wired for Ethernet but I expect to eventually place a second router somewhere in the home and wire to it rather than a wireless mesh system. Much as I really don’t feel like patching holes, I still want the best experience.
My computer motherboard also has built-in wifi6 and I’ve read I can hotspot my computer for the quest which is intriguing though again I may not be in the same room as my computer when using the quest.
Thanks so much, I’ve searched your site and Reddit exhaustively and the ax86u seems to come out ahead, but it’s seems often to be made by people who don’t realize you can use the third band… and I gave a lot of weight to your comment to another user to use the ax92u and after reading your ac92 review.
Help!
Check out this post on the OQ2, Ian. So for your case, I’d go with the RT-AX92U — it has gaming and stuff, plus an excellent support for a mixed wired/wireless setup. But you can also go with the RT-AX86U + XD6 plus an additional PCIe adapter card for your VR machine. But it boils down to how you configure the setup. It’s always the nuances that matter. Have fun!
BTW, we love Ontario. Stay warm!:)
Hi Dong.
I am wondering if I should get a triband or not.
I have a 600ft apartment with walls and like 5-8 devices connecting.
Need low latency for gaming.
Will a dual band router with MU-MIMO and QoS set towards consoles, perform the same, with a tri-band router which I maybe able to set a private band for the console?
Currently running a 1gb fibre broadband.
For similar budget of the triband entry levels like MX4200, I may get the Asus RTAX82u (with like USD40 more).
Would like to seek your advice.
Thanks!
Check out this post, Alex.
Thanks Dong.
I have read this post but I guess it’s about bandwidth (speed) but not latency. Just wondering with the ODFMA or MU-MIMO if a dual band could maintain similar performance to a private band in the tri-band setup, both will all the QoS thing employed.
Sorry I am not really knowledgeable in routers, just recently going into it and read several of your guides, please correct me if I am wrong. Your website has been super helpful!
Sure, Alex. For your place, the RT-AX82U or even the RT-AX68U will work out great. BAsically, you can go with any dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers on this list.
Hey Dong, Great reviews.
I am happy I found your website. I currently have an RT-AC3100 with Lyra mesh that I want to get rid off. Constantly have to reboot it and it just stops accepting new DHCP clients.
Anyhow, I am a console gamer using mostly wired connections for that and my wife and I work from home. Everything apart from the consoles is wireless, problem I face is that to have my console wired my router has to be in the basement, so solid coverage is important (that’s why I use the Lyra mesh).
I was looking for an AX1000 (Asus or TP Link) but wondered if you think it may be overkill, however I would like to remove the mesh nodes if possible. Maybe the AX86U will give me most of the same features?
Internet is 500up/20 down =(
Thanks for your help!!!
The Lyra is the worst of all Asus broadcasters, Victor. If you have a wired home, you can keep the RT-AX3100 (which is the same as the RT-AC88U for the most part) and then a few dual-band Wi-Fi 5 routers (like the Blue Cave, RT-AC86u, or RT-AC68U as AiMesh satellites. If you want to go all Wi-Fi 6, this post on AiMesh combos will help. Good luck!
Thank you for the information!
I’m very happy I found this site!
Welcome aboard, Hiline! 🙂
Hi Dong,
I have an ASUS ac2400 which I run wired to a ps4. Would the Netgear xr500 be an upgrade? Also my house is 1350 sq ft, would the xr500 be powerful enough for coverage. 300mbps connection btw. Thank you.
I would say yes, George. However, 2 things:
1. You’ll see no difference in wired clients.
2. The Asus has a much better web interface. You might get frustrated with how different that of the Netgear is. It’ll take some getting used to.
Thanks for the reply, Dong. After much research, I think I’m going with the RT-AX86U. Do you think I’ll notice much difference over the AC2400 I currently run as far as better coverage/speed etc?
The coverage might be slightly better, George. As for speed, it depends on your clients, too. Specifically, if you only have Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, then yes, if you have a lot of legacy clients, then maybe no. More here. But that’s a good choice.
I currently have the TPLink Archer AX6000. While it’s not gaming centric, it does have slighter faster speeds than the RT-AX86U. Which router do you like better between the TPLink and Asus?
I’d go with the Asus for sure.
Hey Dong,
Now I have a tp-link ax6000, what do you think if I buy an ax86u? Do you think there will be a difference on the gaming side?
The Asus RT-AX86U is better overall, Clone. How much better it is (for gaming) depends on your games and expectations.
Hi Dong,
I have an R7000 that seems to have issues with ping spikes that I cannot fix and do not have when wired directly into the modem.
Looking to upgrade to a newer gaming router. Price is not an issue at all and I only game hardwired. I am only semi-network savvy so ease of use is a priority for me.
I am leaning towards the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Gaming Router. What do you think?
That one will work well, Adam, but it’s quite huge compared to the R7000. You can also consider one out of this pair. Any on this list, by the way, is better than your current router.
Thanks! Appreciate the site.
Dong,
Great list of routers. As a PC Gamer, I’m hard wired into my current router. It’s an older Nighthawk (R6700) and performance is poor, even at wired speeds. Wireless is 2nd priority at this point. I recently subscribed to Gig Internet and my router can’t keep up. Is there a top 2-3 routers from this list that would shine as far as hardware and ethernet performance?
I’d go with one of the Asus ones, Rory. Pick one that fits your budget and home size. They are kinda all the same in the gaming department.
Thank you!
I’ve been tossing and turning deciding between the Asus AX86u and the Asus AX88u. Which would offer a gamer a better experience? Currently using the Asus AC3100. Most a console gamer hardwired.
Either is fine, Amanda, considering you’re all wired. I’d go with the former.
Hi Mr. Dong,
first sorry so much for my poor english and my low level in this area…
I need to buy a new single router and my question is, can you tell me between ax92, ax86 and ax82 (215€, 250€ and 113€) which one is better for a family use (3 person with wifi use, 1 xbox and 1 PC gamers). My home 100m2. Its enough the ax82u or is better go for other… take care a lot, thanks and Greetings from Spain.
Tu ingles es muy bueno, Sergio, major que mi español, eso es seguro! Go with the RT-AX82U. That’s enough for your place. Place it as close to the center of the house as possible.
Ok Mr. Dong The space shuttle is coming! 🤣
Have fun with it! 🙂
Hey Dong,
I am curious of your opinion of the RT-AX89X as a gaming router. I realize it is not marketed as such, but given the hardware, I would expect it to perform very well with regards to low latency and high bandwidth. I need to upgrade my current router, just not sure if I want to go with the 89X or wait on the GT-AXE11000 to be available and stable. Of if the RT-AX86U might work just as well for less money? I have 3 gamers in my household, and occasionally 2 more that stop by. My current overclocked R7000 on FreshTomato just can’t keep up when everyone starts gaming and streaming.
I’d go with the RT-AX86U, Man. The R7000 is a bit too old.
This article is a joke. Your a JOKER!
Thanks, Ben. I take that as a compliment. 🙂
Why the hate ben x, if you do not like then don’t comment…move on, pft