In an ever-evolving world of online gaming, having a powerful and reliable gaming router is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity. With increasingly demanding games and consoles, investing in the best gaming router can make all the difference between victory and defeat. Are you tired of lag spikes and unstable connections hindering your gaming experience? Worry not, for we have compiled a list of the best gaming routers of 2023 that will elevate your gaming experience to new heights.
From powerful Wi-Fi 6 routers to budget-friendly options, our comprehensive guide will help you navigate the world of gaming routers, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your gaming needs. So buckle up and dive into the realm of the best gaming routers, as we guide you on a quest to find your ultimate gaming ally.
Best Gaming Routers 2023: Short Summary
- 2023 offers a range of top gaming routers for an optimal experience, with features such as reduced latency, traffic prioritization and advanced management.
- Professional gamers prefer Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500, TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Gaming Router and Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 Tri-Band to ensure smooth performance.
- Understanding Wi Fi 6/6E compatibility is important when selecting a router. Optimizing placement & security can optimize its performance.
Top Gaming Routers for 2023
The year 2023 brings a plethora of gaming routers designed to cater to different gaming needs and budgets. Whether you’re a console gamer or a gaming pc enthusiast, these top gaming routers guarantee a smoother, lag-free, and immersive gaming experience.
Let’s delve into our top picks and explore their unique features that set them apart from the rest.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro is a powerhouse of a gaming router, boasting a tri-band design and impressive features. With four downstream Gigabit LAN ports, including a dedicated gaming LAN port, a 2.5G Base T Ethernet connection, and two USB 3.0 ports, this router offers unparalleled connectivity options for gamers who demand the best from their gaming setup. Not to mention, the GT-AX11000 Pro also features WTFast, latency-killing Games Radar, and VPN Fusion to segregate gaming traffic, ensuring an uninterrupted and blazing-fast gaming experience. Additionally, the router is equipped with gigabit Ethernet ports for enhanced connectivity.
In terms of performance, the GT-AX11000 Pro truly shines. With 2.4 GHz speeds of 171 Mbps on the far test and an outstanding 5 GHz speed of 334 Mbps, this gaming router guarantees a fast and stable internet connection for even the most demanding online gaming sessions. While it may not be a mesh router, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 may not be a mesh router. Pro offers extended range performance, gaming and security enhancements, configurability, and an integrated stand – making it a top contender in the gaming router arena.
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000
Next on our list is the Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR1000, a Wi-Fi 6 gaming router equipped with robust hardware and specialized firmware designed to optimize gaming performance. The XR1000 offers features such as malware protection, flexible configuration options, gamer-oriented tools and interfaces, QoS gaming prioritization technology, DumaOS software, and built-in security to protect against malicious hackers.
The XR1000’s performance is nothing short of impressive. It offers 2×2 MU-MIMO on the 2.4GHz band for 574Mbps speeds and 4×4 MU-MIMO on the 5GHz channel for 4,804Mbps speeds. With close testing speeds of 344 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz frequency and 345 Mbps on the 5 GHz frequency, and far testing speeds of 222 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 309 Mbps on the 5 GHz frequency, the Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 provides exceptional performance for gamers who require a router that can match their prowess.
TP-Link Archer C5400X
The TP-Link Archer C5400X is a highly regarded Wi-Fi 5 gaming router renowned for its user-friendly features and control options. It offers gamers ease of use and control, as well as a plethora of features to help them customize their setup, including Quality of Service (QoS) options that prioritize gaming traffic, ensuring a smooth and immersive gaming experience.
With very impressive speeds over the 5GHz range and above-average performance on the 2.4GHz range, the TP-Link Archer C5400X is a strong contender in the gaming router market. Boasting more than 100 feet of excellent coverage, this router ensures a robust and clear Wi-Fi signal for most homes, making it a top choice for gamers who demand both performance and convenience.
ASUS RT-AC86U
The ASUS RT-AC86U is a high-performing wireless router that has been highly regarded as one of the best gaming routers in 2023. It boasts four antennas, a wide range of management features, and advanced settings, making it an excellent choice for gamers looking for a cost-effective yet powerful gaming router.
What sets the ASUS RT-AC86U apart is its NitroQAM adapter, which extends its speed capabilities, as well as its array of management features and advanced settings. The RT-AC86U router is user-friendly and offers excellent 5GHz speeds, making it a top choice for gamers who want a powerful gaming router without breaking the bank.
Pro Gamers’ Preferred Routers
When it comes to professional gaming, having the right router can make or break your online performance. Pro gamers and streamers need routers that not only offer impeccable speed and performance, but also provide features tailored to their gaming needs. So, which gaming routers are the favorites among professional gamers?
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500, TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Gaming Router, and Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 Tri-Band are the most widely used wireless routers among professional gamers. These gaming routers offer features such as traffic prioritization, reduced latency, and Geo-Filter – a feature in Netgear gaming routers that restricts the proximity to the host servers you play on, minimizing network lag and ensuring a smooth and seamless gaming experience.
Having a gaming router that can keep up with the demands of professional gaming is essential, and these routers have proven time and time again that they are more than up to the task. So, if you’re looking to level up your gaming experience, consider investing in one of these pro gamers’ preferred routers.
Best Gaming Routers for PS5 and Xbox Series X
With the latest gaming consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X taking the gaming world by storm, it’s crucial to have a gaming router that can keep up with these powerful machines. The TP-Link Archer C5400X is a highly recommended option for the PS5, offering faster-than-average 5Ghz connections and an easy menu for convenient control, ensuring your gaming sessions on the latest consoles are nothing short of phenomenal.
While there are countless gaming routers available in the market, finding the perfect one for your PS5 or Xbox Series X can be a daunting task. However, with our recommendation of the TP-Link Archer C5400X, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a router that is not only compatible with your console, but also optimized for the ultimate gaming experience.
Gaming Router Benefits
Gaming routers may seem like a luxury, but the truth is, they come with a plethora of benefits that can significantly enhance your gaming experience. One of the main advantages of a gaming router over a traditional Wi-Fi router is its ability to prioritize gaming traffic. This means that your gaming sessions will remain uninterrupted even when other users in your household are making video calls or streaming content, ensuring a smooth and lag-free gaming experience.
Another benefit of gaming routers is their ability to minimize lag spikes, resulting in reduced ping times and a smoother online gaming experience. This is particularly important for competitive gamers, where every millisecond counts. Additionally, gaming routers often come with advanced features such as Quality of Service (QoS) options, which allow you to prioritize specific devices based on activity or service used, providing even greater control over your gaming experience.
In summary, gaming routers are designed to optimize your connection for gaming, making sure you always have the best possible experience. If you’re serious about gaming, investing in a top-notch gaming router is a decision you won’t regret.
Choosing the Right Gaming Router
Selecting the perfect gaming router might seem overwhelming, but by considering a few key factors, you can narrow down your options and find the ideal match for your gaming needs. First, take into account the version of Wi-Fi the router supports. Modern Wi-Fi standards such as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E offer increased speed and more reliable connections compared to previous Wi-Fi standards, making them a better choice for gaming.
Another important factor to consider is the router’s hardware, such as processor and RAM. A gaming router with powerful hardware will be able to handle multiple devices and prioritize gaming traffic more effectively. Additionally, look for features like multiple band Wi-Fi connectivity and QoS protocol that prioritize gaming activity. Finally, consider the size of your environment and the construction of your home, as these factors can affect the performance of your gaming router.
By taking these factors into account, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect gaming router for your needs. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a competitive player, having the right gaming router can make all the difference in your gaming experience.
Understanding Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is an evolution of the 802.11ac technology that offers higher throughput speeds, reduced network congestion, higher client capacity, and improved range performance. Wi-Fi 6E, on the other hand, is an extension of Wi-Fi 6 that operates in the 6GHz frequency band. But what does this mean for gaming routers, and why should you care?
The advantages of Wi-Fi 6 include increased throughput for a more reliable and efficient connection, reduced interference, and upgrades to MU-MIMO features. Wi-Fi 6E offers the same advantages as Wi-Fi 6, in addition to the benefit of operating in the 6GHz frequency band, which is less crowded than the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. This means that Wi-Fi 6E gaming routers can provide an even better gaming experience with less interference and more reliable connections.
When shopping for a gaming router, it’s crucial to consider the Wi-Fi standards it supports. By choosing a router that supports Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E, you’ll be ensuring a faster and more reliable gaming experience, making your investment in a gaming router truly worth it.
Gaming Router Compatibility
Before purchasing a gaming router, it’s essential to check its compatibility with your current Internet Service Provider (ISP). Most gaming routers are compatible with a wide range of devices, including PCs, gaming consoles such as PS5 and Xbox Series X, smartphones, and tablets.
However, it’s always a good idea to double-check and ensure that the gaming router you’re interested in is compatible with your ISP, to avoid any potential issues down the road.
Wired vs. Wireless Connections for Gaming
When it comes to gaming, the debate between wired and wireless connections is a never-ending one. Wired connections typically provide greater speed than wireless connections, which can be crucial in competitive gaming where every millisecond counts. However, the most recent wireless kits are capable of achieving the same speed and latency as a wired connection, making the choice between the two less clear-cut.
Wired connections, such as Ethernet cables, provide a more consistent connection with reduced latency compared to Wi-Fi. This can be especially important for gamers who require a stable connection for online gaming. On the other hand, a wireless connection offers more flexibility in terms of router placement and device connectivity, making it a more convenient option for many gamers.
Ultimately, the choice between wired and wireless connections for gaming comes down to personal preference and individual needs. With modern gaming routers offering excellent performance for both wired and wireless connections, gamers can now enjoy the best of both worlds.
Optimizing Your Gaming Router’s Performance
To get the most out of your gaming router, there are a few tips and tricks you can follow to optimize its performance. First, consider the placement of your router. Ideally, it should be positioned in a central location in your living space, preferably at a higher level and with minimal interference. This will help ensure a strong and stable Wi-Fi signal throughout your home.
In addition to proper placement, limiting the number of devices connected to your Wi-Fi at any given time can help improve your gaming router’s performance. The more devices connected to your network, the greater the strain on your router, potentially leading to slower speeds and increased latency. Lastly, it’s essential to secure your router with a strong password and consider disabling any guest networks to prevent unauthorized access and maintain optimal performance.
By following these simple tips, you can optimize your gaming router’s performance and enjoy a seamless, lag-free gaming experience like never before.
What to Look for in a Gaming Router
When selecting a gaming-specific router, there’s a lot to consider.
Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E: Wi-Fi 6, or High Efficiency (HE) wireless is the 802.11ax protocol. It boasts improved throughput speeds, lower network congestion, and better range. With faster speeds that can reach over 9,000Mbps, low latency, reduced network congestion, and longer wireless range, Wi-Fi 6 is a complete game-changer, particularly for online gaming and streaming. However, in order to take full advantage of Wi-Fi 6, you’ll need compatible Wi-Fi 6 devices. Older Wi-Fi 5 and earlier gadgets will still work, but you won’t see the theoretical 9.6Gbps or higher networking speeds that Wi-Fi 6 is capable of delivering.
Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 6 expanded adds a 6GHz spectrum band that will reduce latency and congestion even further.
Price: Cost is a major factor, with routers ranging from just over $100 USD to several hundred dollars.
Number of bands: With dual-band Wi-Fi routers, you’ll be able to utilize both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Although the range of the 2.4GHz network is much broader than that of a 5GHz network, the 2.4GHz band can’t compare to the speeds of a 5GHz connection. If you have a bunch of devices that all use the 5GHz band, a tri-band router could deliver better network speeds.
Essentially, a tri-band router provides a second 5GHz band that you can dedicate to specific devices. As such, you can avoid the congestion of a single 5GHz network. So you can stream movies and TV shows in 4K while gaming. You could split your 5GHz bands by devices, applications such as gaming PCs and consoles on one band and streaming devices on the other, or a mix of the two. And Wi-Fi 6E routers can take advantage of the 6GHz band.
Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA): Orthogonal frequency division multiple access or OFDMA, is means of bolstering wireless network performance with independently modulated subcarriers within different frequencies. Features like low-data-rate transmission from multiple users and per-channel or per-subchannel power means your router is capable of utilizing additional Internet frequencies. Multi-tasking or high-data transmission activities like gaming and ultra-high-definition 4K or 8K streaming should be significantly smoother since OFDMA lets you take advantage of multiple frequencies for things like gaming or streaming.
Quality of Service (QoS): Chances are, particularly if you live with others such as roommates or family members, your router isn’t reserved for gaming. Just like you set priorities when writing down your chores, so too does your router have priorities. Quality of service, or QoS, is a networking feature that lets you prioritize network packets with data for different applications like streaming media, voice over IP (VoIP), and gaming. A router engineered for gaming offers additional QoS options, for instance the ability to prioritize different video game applications or systems.
Custom firmware (i.e. DD-WRT): Although routers come pre-loaded with their own software, you might want to use custom firmware such as DD-WRT, Tomato, or OpenWRT. With custom third-party firmware, you can access useful features such as the ability to fully prioritize bandwidth and monitor your network traffic.
MU-MIMO: MU-MIMO, or multi-user multiple-input multiple-output technology allows for streaming to multiple clients rather than sequential streaming. However, to use MU-MIMO, each device must support MU-MIMO.
IPv6: Internet Protocol version 6, or IPv6, is the most recent iteration of the Internet Protocol, and succeeds IPv4. It’s a network layer protocol that enabled data transfers and communication on a network.
VPN client: A virtual private network, or VPN, client on your router allows you to enable a whole-home VPN. That way, you can route all of your network traffic through servers elsewhere.
Security features: For security, you may seek parental controls, anti-malware software, guest networking, and different security protocols such as WPA2, WPA3, or WPS.
Gaming router considerations:
- Quality of Service (QoS): The ability to prioritize specific devices and applications, i.e. certain video games or systems
- Dual-band vs. Tri-band: A dual-band router has a 2.4GHz network and a 5GHz network, while a tri-band router includes a 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands. Wi-Fi 6E adds a 6GHz band. If you have a lot of devices that need 5GHz connectivity, a tri-band router is your best option
- MU-MIMO: Multiple-user multiple input multiple output technology for streaming to multiple clients instead of sequential streaming
- Wi-Fi 6/Wi-Fi 6E: High-efficiency wireless, runs on the 802.11ax protocol and ushers in less network congestion, longer range, and greater throughput speeds
- Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA): Lets you split Wi-Fi channels into small frequency allocations which are known as resource units for less network congestion since bandwidth is used more efficiently
- IPv6: Internet protocol version 6
- Security: Parental controls, anti-malware software, guest networking, security protocols (I.e. WPA2, WPA3, WPS, etc.)
- VPN client: For running a whole-home VPN
- Custom open-source firmware: OpenWRT, DD-Wrt, or Tomato
Best Routers for Gaming in 2023 – Final Thoughts
In conclusion, investing in a gaming router is an essential step in elevating your gaming experience. With the right gaming router, you’ll enjoy faster speeds, reduced lag, and a more stable connection, ensuring that your online gaming sessions are always a blast. Our comprehensive guide has provided you with the top gaming routers of 2023, as well as tips on choosing the right router, understanding Wi-Fi standards, and optimizing your router’s performance.
Armed with this knowledge, you can now confidently choose the perfect gaming router for your needs and start dominating the online gaming world. So go ahead, level up your gaming experience, and leave your competition in the dust with the power of a top-notch gaming router.
Whatever your needs and budget, there’s a router to complement your gaming life.
Best Gaming Router FAQs
Asus Republic of Gamers line routers, such as the ROG Rapture GT6 and the ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro, are popular among pro gamers for their robust feature set, impressive port selection, and excellent Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
These routers offer a wide range of features, including advanced gaming-specific features such as Game Boost, Game Radar, and Game IPS. They also offer a variety of ports, including USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and Ethernet ports. Additionally, they offer excellent Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, allowing for faster speeds and better range.
Gaming routers make a difference by offering advanced features like QoS (Quality of Service) to prioritize your network bandwidth, higher ram and stronger processors for better performance, cutting-edge technologies for improved coverage, and antennae that help increase range and efficiency.
All this contributes to a lag-free gaming experience.
For gaming, it’s recommended to have an internet plan with a download speed of at least 25 Mbps. The FCC recommends 4 Mbps minimum for multiplayer online gaming. However, larger households should upgrade to plans with a minimum download speed of 150 Mbps.
Gaming routers offer improved performance with prioritization of gaming traffic, minimized lag spikes, and Quality of Service (QoS) options for smoother gaming, making them an excellent choice for gamers.
They provide a range of features that can help gamers get the most out of their gaming experience, such as faster speeds, better range, and improved latency. Additionally, they offer advanced features such as port forwarding, traffic shaping, and parental controls.
These features are included.
Optimize your gaming router’s performance by placing it in a central location, limiting the number of connected devices, securing your router with a strong password, and disabling guest networks.
This will help ensure that your gaming experience is as smooth and lag-free as possible.
Your turn: which gaming routers do YOU recommend for 2023?
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