Best wireless routers 2023: get good WiFi no matter your budget

Get one of the best wireless routers set up in your home, and get fast and reliable WiFi

D-Link R15 Smart Router in white positioned on top of a white marble table top
(Image credit: D-Link)

While network providers have got a little better in recent years, chances are the router delivered from your supplier isn't going to be top shelf. It's going to have limited range, stability and performance and, simply put, that is where investing in one of the best wireless routers of 2023 comes in.

Whether you're after the best gaming router or the best router for 4K video streaming, upgrading your home WiFi hardware can make a big difference to your internet speeds and stability. Even if you have one of the best laptops around, if you don't have one of the very best wireless routers installed in your home then you run the risk of missing out on features and functionality that you might need – not to mention improved Wi-Fi coverage.

It's worth bearing in mind though that installing a new wireless router isn't going to magically boost the speed of the internet being piped into your home. You'll still be getting the same connection speed sent to you from the local exchange, and you'll need to pay your ISP more money to get an improvement on that.

Where a new router can help, though, is in getting that wireless signal faster even as it gets further away from your router, making sure that WiFi signal is more stable, and managing device loads more intelligently. Just like the best mesh networks, best SSDs and best webcams, a higher quality router can elevate your entire computing experience.

The best wireless routers you can buy today in 2023

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TP-Link Archer AX11000 wireless router shown on a white background. The router is black, grey, silver and red and is shown from isometric viewpoint.T3 Best Buy Award badge

(Image credit: TP-Link)
The best wireless router for most people

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 11 Gbps
CPU: Quad-core 1.8GHz
Wi-Fi support: 802.11ax
Wired ports: 8

Reasons to buy

+
Latest Wi-Fi 6 speeds
+
Huge range
+
Eight wired points

Reasons to avoid

-
Setup takes a while
-
Expensive

If you don't mind the looks of the Archer AX11000 from TP-Link, and you can stomach the price, then we reckon this is just about the best wireless router upgrade out there. If you're going to buy a new router then you might as well go all in on the idea, and the TP-Link Archer AX11000 is simply packed with features and performance to improve your network.

There's support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard for a start, plus a triple-band system that means the router won't break a sweat as you add more and more devices to the mix. No fewer than eight Ethernet ports mean you can easily hook up a host of computers and consoles with wires, and you even get a couple of USB ports added to the mix as well.

For even more details on this top-rated wireless router, and to see how it stacks up against a quality rival, then check out T3's TP-Link Archer AX11000 vs Asus RT-AC86U comparison feature.

Netgear Nighthawk XR700 wireless router shown in black colorway and on a white background.T3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Netgear)

2. Netgear Nighthawk XR700

The best premium wireless router

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 7,200 Mbps
CPU: Quad-core 1.7GHz
Wi-Fi support: 802.11ad
Wired ports: 6

Reasons to buy

+
Triple-band support
+
Wide-ranging coverage
+
10-gigabit Ethernet

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Too much for many people

If you absolutely must have the best router and don't care how much it costs, give the Nighthawk XR700 from Netgear a go – it offers custom-made, gamer-friendly software for squeezing every last drop out of your connection, a 10-gigabit wired port for super-fast Ethernet connectivity, and excellent Wi-Fi coverage for every corner of your home.

A lot of what makes the Nighthawk XR700 special is what goes on behind the scenes. The on-board software will prioritise bandwidth to the devices that need it most, guard against drops in connectivity, and give you all the dashboard stats you could ever want. Add in blazing fast speeds and ultra-stable performance, and it's a winner in every department.

To see how this router compares against our top choice, then check out T3's TP-Link Archer AX11000 vs Netgear Nighthawk XR700 comparison feature.

D-Link R15 Smart Router best wireless routersT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: D-Link)
The best budget wireless router

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 1,500 Mbps
CPU: Not specified
Wi-Fi support: Wi-Fi 6
Wired ports: 3

Reasons to buy

+
AI-enhanced operation
+
Affordable price point

Reasons to avoid

-
App is basic in places

If you're looking to get Wi-Fi 6 for the cheapest possible price then the D-Link R15 Smart Router is likely to be of interest: the "smart" part refers to all the background AI algorithms that are running to make sure every one of your devices gets enough bandwidth to do what it needs to do (and the router is able to support up to 128 devices in total).

With simple setup, wide Wi-Fi coverage, reliable operation and a choice of three wired ports, you get a lot for your money here. For upgrading speeds and range in smaller properties it should be ideal, and for larger areas you can easily combine the R15 with other D-Link kit to set up your own mesh network.

It's really the price point that's the star here though, because you'll struggle to get these Wi-Fi speeds and this many features in a router than costs the same or less. While there are of course more powerful routers out there, with more options and features to play around with, you're also going to have to pay significantly more to get your hands on them.

Linksys MR8300 wireless router shown on a white background.T3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Linksys)

4. Linksys MR8300

A more modest wireless router

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 2,200 Mbps
CPU: Quad-core 716Mhz
Wi-Fi support: 802.11ac
Wired ports: 4

Reasons to buy

+
Good power/price balance
+
Copes well with multiple connections
+
Can operate in a mesh network

Reasons to avoid

-
Range isn't top shelf

Not everyone needs or wants all of the advanced features you can find on some of the more expensive routers listed here, and for a more modest choice we recommend the Linksys MR8300: you still get features and performance way above what you would expect from a standard home router, but you don't have to pay a small fortune along the way.

Despite the appealing price, you still get high-speed 802.11ac Wi-Fi across an impressively wide range – enough to cover every house under mansion size – while the on-board software intelligently manages connections from dozens of devices. You can also add several nodes to use the Linksys MR8300 as part of a mesh network too, if needed.

TP-Link Archer AX90 (AX6600) wireless router shown on a white background. The router has a massive eight antennas.T3 Approved badge

(Image credit: TP-Link)
A mid-range wireless router with loads of smart features

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 6.5 Gbps
CPU: 1.5 GHz Quad-Core
Wi-Fi support: 802.11ax
Wired ports: 7

Reasons to buy

+
Improves Wi-Fi speed and capacity
+
Easy to use and manage through the app
+
HomeShield is free and protects your devices

Reasons to avoid

-
The 2.4GHz channel could be faster
-
You have to create an account
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There’s a subscription fee for the advanced security features

The TP-Link Archer AX90 (AX6600) is a cheaper alternative to the TP-Link Archer AX11000 - it'll cover a home up to about four bedrooms using its eight antennas, and offers plenty in the way of speed to boost the capacity and efficiency of your home network. With TP-Link OneMesh support, it can be used with other compatible Wi-Fi extenders to stretch coverage to every corner of your home, eliminating Wi-Fi dead spots.

A tri-band router with Wi-Fi 6 technology, it'll intelligently assign your devices to the best channel, meaning you'll be able to make the most of your home network and your tech. Through the intuitive Tether app, you can prioritise certain devices, like your gaming consoles for instance. You'll also get some voice control through Alexa - you can manage your guest network and run speed tests without needing to open the app or your web browser. 

Asus GT-AX11000 ROG Rapture wireless router shown in black and grey colourway and on a white backgroundT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Asus)

6. Asus GT-AX11000 ROG Rapture

A top wireless router for power users and gamers

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 1.1 Gbps
CPU: Quad-core 1.8GHz
Wi-Fi support: 802.11ax
Wired ports: 5

Reasons to buy

+
Support for Wi-Fi 6
+
Powerful software control
+
Eight Wi-Fi antennas

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Large

Now admittedly the Asus GT-AX11000 ROG Rapture isn't going to appeal to everyone in the looks department, but when the performance of a router is this good, do the aesthetics really matter all that much? With support for triple-band connectivity, the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, and a bunch of cool software features, this wireless router is hard to beat.

This router will certainly cost you, but with eight antennas on board, the GT-AX11000 should be able to spread Wi-Fi into the furthest reaches of your home (it can also be used as part of a mesh setup). As for those cool software tricks that come built in, they let you do everything from prioritising particular devices to customising port forwarding settings.

D-Link DIR-3060 EXO AC3000 wireless router on a white backgroundT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: D-Link)
One of the best wireless routers from one of the best in the router business

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 3,000 Mbps
CPU: Dual-core
Wi-Fi support: 802.11ac
Wired ports: 4

Reasons to buy

+
Three wireless bands
+
Six dedicated antennas
+
Two USB ports

Reasons to avoid

-
Design is a bit flat

Anyone shopping for the best wireless router should give the top-of-the-line EXO AC3000 from D-Link careful consideration: tri-band connectivity, six high-strength Wi-Fi antennas, and an abundance of USB and Ethernet ports means this device will do everything you need from your router and then some. You can combine the router with the various mesh networking options that D-Link manufactures, or use it on its own.

There's smart assistant support here too, so you can, for example, turn the internet off with an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice command when it's time for the kids to go to bed. In terms of both parental controls and Quality of Service management the D-Link DIR-3060 excels, making it an even more appealing proposition for your next router.

Netgear Nighthawk XR300 wireless router finished in black colorway and shown on white backgroundT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Netgear)

8. Netgear Nighthawk XR300

Some neat gaming features at a reasonable price

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 1,750 Mbps
CPU: Dual-core 1GHz
Wi-Fi support: 802.11ac
Wired ports: 4

Reasons to buy

+
Advanced network management
+
Plenty of speed and bandwidth
+
Very appealing price

Reasons to avoid

-
Do you need the gaming features?

If you can't quite stretch to the XR700 model we've mentioned above, then the Netgear Nighthawk XR300 is a very decent gaming router from the same series – not quite as much power or range, but with many of the same features that make the XR700 special. It's definitely worth a look as one of the best wireless routers on the market at the moment.

You get the same custom software for managing bandwidth and prioritising traffic as you do on the other Nighthawk models, while the router scores well in all the other areas that matter too: speed, latency, stability and more. It's a little older now, but that also means you can pick this up for a very good price, and upgrade your router on a tighter budget.

TP-Link Archer VR2800 wireless router finished in black colorway and shown on a white backgroundT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: TP-Link)
Plenty of features and functionality

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 2,800 Mbps
CPU: Dual-core 1GHz
Wi-Fi support: 802.11ac
Wired ports: 4

Reasons to buy

+
Simple and straightforward
+
High-speed performance
+
Good parental controls

Reasons to avoid

-
Dated aesthetics

Don't be deceived by the looks of the Archer VR2800 from TP-Link (also known as the TP-Link AC2800): this may appear to be a very plain and unassuming router, but it packs in stacks of performance and functionality. There's the high-speed, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi support to begin with, followed by support for multiple connections to single gadgets.

Setting up the device is easy and from there the intuitive user interface lets you manage features such as parental control and individual access for devices. The router performs strongly in terms of speeds and range too, which makes it well worth considering as an upgrade if you're weighing up the best wireless routers on the market in 2020.

Netgear Nighthawk AX8 wireless router shown in gunmetal grey colorway and on a white backgroundT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Netgear)

10. Netgear Nighthawk AX8

Wi-Fi 6 support and much more besides

Specifications

Maximum bandwidth: 6,000 Mbps
CPU: Quad-core 1.8GHz
Wi-Fi support: 802.11ax
Wired ports: 5

Reasons to buy

+
Support for Wi-Fi 6
+
Stunning design
+
Excellent traffic management

Reasons to avoid

-
Very expensive

If you're after a router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standards and looks like it just arrived from another planet, then perhaps the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 is the router you're looking for. It's particularly good at keeping multiple devices connected at high speeds, and doesn't get ruffled by having to beam Wi-Fi across long distances inside a home.

This really does raise the bar in terms of specs for a Wi-Fi router, from the way it manages data traffic between devices, to the number of connections it can keep going at once, and it's one of the most affordable ways of getting Wi-Fi 6 up and running in your dwelling. There are five wired ports too, and you can use two of them together for increased speeds.

How to choose the best wireless router for you

Router manufacturers like to throw a lot of specs around, but when it comes to choosing the best wireless router, look at the maximum bandwidth – an indication of how well and how quickly multiple devices can be connected – and the latest supported Wi-Fi standard.

The newest Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is the best to go for in terms of futureproofing, though it hasn't made its way to many gadgets yet. The earlier 802.11ac is still going to be enough for the majority of people when it comes to gaming and 4K streaming, but if you want to spend extra for Wi-Fi 6, then the option is there.

You also need to look out for extra software features that might come in handy: traffic prioritisation for gamers, for example, or parental controls if you've got little ones and home and want to make sure they're staying safe online.

David Nield

Dave has over 20 years' experience in the tech journalism industry, covering hardware and software across mobile, computing, smart home, home entertainment, wearables, gaming and the web – you can find his writing online, in print, and even in the occasional scientific paper, across major tech titles like T3, TechRadar, Gizmodo and Wired. Outside of work, he enjoys long walks in the countryside, skiing down mountains, watching football matches (as long as his team is winning) and keeping up with the latest movies.