Best Gaming Routers of 2021
People familiar with gaming know that high-performance hardware in the hands of capable gamers will help them perform well in competitive games. For this reason, gamers often invest in expensive peripherals and computer hardware to boost their gaming performance. For example, a gamer might consider buying a 144-hertz monitor instead of a 60-hertz monitor. This choice would generate a massive improvement in aim precision and slice off that extra millisecond to get that frag. What gamers often forget is that performing well in an online game not only requires a great gaming mouse or the best controller in the market, but it also requires a stable and low latency network solution.
Nothing feels worse when you are about to enter beast mode in one of your favorite video games, and your ping starts spiking. This high-ping monster plagues every hardcore gamer at least once in their gaming life. , What makes this high-ping dilemma even worse is the fact that you have all the best gaming equipment the industry has to offer. This instability in latency is not always due to a bad internet connection. You might have the best internet connection you can get and still be experiencing ping spikes. This happens because whenever a user connects to your internet connection and starts using much of the bandwidth, your ping is bound to spike. It is for this reason that gaming hardware manufacturers began manufacturing special internet routers dedicated to gamers. These gaming routers are designed to keep your latency as low as possible and as stable as possible. While using a gaming router, you will experience little to no ping spikes while gaming even if a user is sucking starts sucking up your bandwidth.
For The Budget Gamers
The following is a list of our top picks of the best gaming routers:
D-Link DIR-867
We are gamers, and we know that not everyone has tons of money to spend on expensive gaming peripherals and hardware. The D-Link DIR-867 is one of the best budget options when it comes to gaming routers. Right now, you can buy the DIR-867 for 170 USD, but this price has frequently been observed to go down to 120 USD. This price of 120 USD puts the DIR-867 in one of the cheapest gaming routers in the market. You can expect above-average performance from this router as compared to regular wireless routers that might even cost more. The DIR-867 will minimize latency spikes by prioritizing gaming traffic over normal network traffic. Powered by a dual-core 880MHz CPU and 128MB of RAM, the DIR-867 can achieve speeds of up to 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band. Being one of the cheapest routers, the DIR-867 does not come with any USB port.
Asus RT-AC86U AC2900
Our top pick for the best gaming router for a budget gamer is the Asus RT-AC86U AC2900. As far as gaming optimization and network protection are concerned, the RT-AC86U checks all the boxes. Coming in at 189.99 USD to 157.70 USD, the RT-AC86U is not the cheapest gaming router, but it provides all the best features with a refreshing angular design that would please any gamer. A total of four (gigabit) LAN ports, one USB 3.1 port, one USB 2 port, and a WAN port can be found on the back of the router, including the power button, reset button, and the LED On/Off button. Utilizing a dual-core 1,8GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, the RT-AC86U is more than capable of pushing out speeds of 750Mbps and 2167Mbps on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band, respectively.
TP-Link Archer AX50 (AX3000)
Selling for as low as 129.99 USD, the TP-Link Archer AX50 (AX3000) becomes one of the cheapest gaming-oriented routers on the market right now. While the Archer AX50 might not have the flashiest of designs, it looks better than any regular wireless router. A total of four (gigabit) LAN ports, one USB 3.0 port, and a WAN port can be found on the back of the router, including the power button, reset button, and the Wi-Fi/WPS button. Speeds of up to 2,402Mbps and 574Mbps on the 5GHz and 2.5 GHz bands, respectively, can be expected from the Archer AX50.
For The Competitive Gamers:
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC2900
The design of the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC2900 makes it look like it came out of an alien spaceship or a Si-Fi movie. The selling price of the Rapture GT-AC2900 is not a joke either. Starting at 298.85 USD and going as high as 449.99 USD makes the Rapture GT-AC2900 one of the most expensive gaming routers in the market. This router is not for your average gamer who plays only one or two hours a day. The Rapture GT-AC2900 is designed to cater to the needs of gamers who are either highly competitive or even play at the professional level. Looking at the hardware spec sheet of the Rapture GT-AC2900, one might mistake it for a low-end PC. It is powered by a quad-core CPU clocking in at 1.8GHz with 1 GB of RAM. To put that into perspective, to run GTA San Andreas, a computer must have 256MB of RAM, and for GTA IV, 2 GB of RAM is required. The Rapture GT-AC2900 can push a whopping 1,000Mbps and 2,167Mbps on the 2.4GHz bands and 5GHz bands, respectively.
TP-Link Archer AX6000
If you are the kind of gamer who wants the highest possible network speeds, then the TP-Link Archer AX6000 is made for you. Although it is not a gaming router, it does not compromise performance in any way whatsoever. The Archer AX6000 can push speeds of up to 5952Mbps on the 5GHz band and 1148Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. These performance numbers make the Archer AX6000 the fastest router currently on the market period. Moreover, the Archer AX6000 does not lack network security features as well. If you buy the Archer AX6000, you will receive a free lifetime subscription to the TP-Link Home Care that provides complete antimalware and antivirus services.
Final Words
Going back a few years, we only had a couple of choices when it came to good quality and reliable routers. However, things are very different now. We now have routers for specific needs. So, if you are someone who loves gaming and needs a stable wireless connection, then these are routers are your best picks.
