If you’re looking to improve the internet connection in your home, then one of the best things you can do is to ensure you have a good wireless router. A router is essentially your gateway to the internet, so it’s important that you have the right one in place.
It can be difficult to know which wireless router would be best for you, as there are many different options out there. However, it is possible to differentiate between the routers available, and some are just clearly better than others.
If you get yourself a good router matched with the right wifi extender, then you should have the perfect setup at home. So, let’s take a look at some of the best wireless routers that you can currently buy.
Best Wireless Routers UK
| Product | Image | Speed | Band | Get More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Archer A7 AC1750 |  | 867 Mbps | Dual Band | Check Price at Amazon |
| TP-Link Deco M4 |  | 867 Mbps | Dual Band | Check Price at Amazon |
| ASUS ROG RaptureGT-AX11000 |  | 1.1 Gbps | Tri Band | Check Price at Amazon |
| TP-Link Archer AX6000 |  | 5952Mbps | Dual Band | Check Price at Amazon |
| Google Nest |  | 1733 Mbps | Tri Band | Check Price at Amazon |
| ASUS RT-AC85P |  | 2400Mbps | Dual Band | Check Price at Amazon |
| WAVLINK AC1200 |  | 1200Mbps | Dual Band | Check Price at Amazon |
| Dell Amazon eero |  | 550 Mbps | Dual Band | Check Price at Amazon |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 |  | 3200 Mbps | Tri Band | Check Price at Amazon |
TP-Link Archer A7 AC1750
Wi fi Speed over 5.0GHz: 867mbps | Maximum Device Capability: 50+ | Ethernet ports: 4 | Features: Easy to use guest network
When you’re looking for a router, you’re going to come across two brands more than any other. One is Netgear, who are the probably the biggest name when it comes to internet in the UK.
The other is TP Link, who are their closest competitors. They’re globally the biggest producer of internet gadgets, and they to offer both wi-fi and wired devices. And of their products, one of the best wi-fi routers out there is the TP Link Archer A7 AC1750.
This router supports speeds up to 867 Mbps over the 5 GHz band, which is more than enough for most families. It has 4 LAN ports, a USB port in the back and you can quite easily set it up with One Mesh if you want to create a Mesh wifi network in your home.
Another good thing about this router is that it’s very easy to set up a guest network that doesn’t have access to the main network. This means you can add parental controls to this external network, and it’s perfect if you don’t want to give someone full access to your wifi.
It’s also very simple to get yourself started with the Archer A7 AC1750 – the TP Link app is one of the best out there, and you can get everything ready in just a few minutes. So overall, this is undoubtedly one of the top options for those that are looking for a reliable wi-fi connection.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: For our money, this TP Link device is the best wireless router on the market right now. It manages to deliver everything you need, all within a reasonable price.
TP-Link Deco M4
Wi fi Speed over 5.0GHz: 867mbps | Maximum Device Capability: 100+ | Ethernet ports: 6 | Features: Full mesh system
If you have a larger house, or even if you just have solid brick walls in your house, then you may have suffered from dead spots or a lack of internet in certain areas in your house.
One of the best ways that you can combat this is by getting a mesh wifi system of 2 or 3 different devices, like this TP Link Deco M4 set. It allows you to connect as many devices as you need to your home network, and you won’t need to worry about interference causing a poor wi-fi signal.
This will allow you to put the devices all around the house, and in turn create a “mesh” system. This means that you’ll be able to get wi fi all around your house, and it won’t be confined to just one area, struggling to reach other parts of your home.
Another thing to mention about this set is that they’re fully integrated with Amazon Alexa, so you’ll be able to control the whole network with just your voice. If, like me, you’re intent on having a fully compatible smart home, then a mesh set that you can set up with your smart devices is essential.
So, if you’re suffering from a weak signal in certain areas of your house, then it can make sense to opt for a full mesh set. And if you’d like a mesh router set, then this TP Link Deco M4 set are pretty good and reliable.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: With mesh networking increasing in popularity, this set gives you the ability to set up your own mesh wifi system at a reasonable price.
ASUS ROG RaptureGT-AX11000
Wi fi Speed over 5.0GHz: 1.1gbps | Maximum Device Capability: 100+ | Ethernet ports: 4 | Features: Perfect for use with a gaming console
If you only have a limited budget to spend on a router, then you can skip right by the ASUS ROG RaptureGT-AX11000. It’s as expensive as it is ugly, but despite its unique appearance, its built up a core following of loyal gamers who swear by it.
It offers fast speeds with gaming acceleration and a quad-core processor that can definitely help you improve your overall gameplay. If you’re trying to play competitively, then having 1gbps speeds is definitely something you’ll want.
Having this fast speed means that it can easily cope with gaming, 4K video streaming and any other high bandwidth activities all happening at the same time. For busy households with a lot of network traffic, this is a must.
This is a MU-MIMO router, which means that it’s capable of dealing with many different devices at the same time. Eliminating congestion on home networks has been one of the main focuses of internet companies for years, and MU-MIMO technology can definitely help with this.
It also offers good malware protection, as the in-built security software can deal with viruses before they even reach your device. It’s a great choice for gamers, but many people won’t want to stump up the cash for an advanced router like this (and they probably don’t need to, either).
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: Only the more experienced gamers will benefit from this pretty perfect router.
TP-Link Archer AX6000
Wi fi Speed over 5.0GHz: 4804Mbps | Maximum Device Capability: 100+ | Ethernet ports: 8 | Features: High performance
Wi-fi 6 routers are all the rage at the moment, with this new generation being amongst some of the best routers you can buy. One to consider is the Archer AX6000, which is the little brother of the tri-band AX11000, a well known gaming router.
Despite having quite an intimidating look for technophobes, it is surprisingly simple for pretty much anyone to set up. You can do this in quick time too, so it won’t take long for you to see a dramatic improvement in the quality of your internet.
Another good thing to mention about this wi-fi 6 router is that it has eight different gigabit ethernet ports that you can use. This is one of the most available with any model on the market, and it may actually be overkill for small households.
For those looking for a full wifi system that works over both a 2.4GHz band and at 5.0GHz too, then the TP-Link Archer AX6000 could be the right option. It is a high end router though, so bear in mind it comes with a high price tag.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: With mesh networking increasing in popularity, this set gives you the ability to set up your own mesh wifi system at a reasonable price.
Google Nest
Wi fi Speed over 5.0GHz: 1733Mbps | Maximum Device Capability: 100+ | Ethernet ports: 2 | Features: Google integration
Potentially the most well known router on the market, the end of 2023 will mark 7 years since the Google Nest wi-fi was first released. In that time, we’ve seen some of Google’s other products become even more popular.
And the Nest wi-fi has done pretty well for itself too. It’s mainly going to appeal to people who are already using Google Home devices in their household, as they can be integrated together now seamlessly. Using the Home app to control your routers makes things really easy.
One thing I really like about the Google Nest wifi setup is that you have your main router, but you also have “points”. These points are essentially small boosters that connect to the mesh router system and allow you to spread the wireless signal through your home.
They also double up as a smart speaker. This means just like a Nest Audio, you can use the Google Assistant feature with these additional units. For those on a budget, this is great, as you can get more functionality within the same device.
So, if you’re set on getting a new router, the Nest wi-fi may be a good option. The ability to set up a full mesh home network won’t be necessary for many. But if you have a lot of devices or more than one gamer in the same house, it can allow you to get better wi-fi signal to all devices.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: It’s hard to look past the Google Nest wi-fi if you’ve opted to go for Google Home as a smart setup, as they all work so well together. Though, we’d liked to have seen a wi-fi 6 release this year.
ASUS RT-AC85P
Wi fi Speed over 5.0GHz: 867mbps | Maximum Device Capability: 30+ | Ethernet ports: 4 | Features: Good parental controls
If you’re looking for the best compromise of price and performance of a router, then another model that you check out is this ASUS Wi-fi router. It manages to do well in all different wireless performance tests, and it has four gigabit LAN ports.
This router supports wifi speeds of up to 2400Mbps, which is more than enough megabits for the majority of people. The good thing about ASUS routers is that they use MIMO technology.
This essentially helps to keep your devices separate from each other, and will help to eliminate any effect of another device using a lot of bandwidth. So if you’re in a shared household, then this router is going to be a good fit.
It also uses something called AI radar, which helps to ensure that your signal is strong. If you have kids, then you can easily set the parental controls on this wifi router as well. You can either restrict a devices activity entirely, or just minimize their time on adult sites.
For those who aren’t particularly tech savvy, this router is very easy to set up too. So overall, this is definitely one of the best choices if you’re located in the UK. And, it is especially useful if you’re someone trying to keep costs down.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: If you already have a Virgin Media or Sky hub at home, then this could be the best router to use with it to increase your overall wifi speeds.
WAVLINK AC1200
Wi fi Speed over 5.0GHz: 867mbps | Maximum Device Capability: 20+ | Ethernet ports: 2 | Features: Reasonable budget price
If you’re on a tighter budget, then you can look at other cheaper brands. This WAVLINK AC1200 model is a cheap price, but it still works as well as any other router.
The only problem with lower cost routers is that typically they aren’t made to the same high standard. However, this isn’t the case with this model, and you’ll be able to easily connect to this device with as many devices as necessary.
The four antennae on top of this router help give it the capabilities for long distance connection. So if you’re in a 3 story house, you’re not going to have any problems with this model, as it works at a long range.
When you’re going to set this router up, you’ll need to use the WPS button to do this if you want the easiest method. This button is simply used to make things a little easier, although it can come with security issues. It might be worth putting in more effort and setting the router up properly.
This router is good for people who aren’t really bothered about which router they get; they just want something reliable that’s going to get the job done. Obviously, by opting for a low cost router you’re going to compromise on the mbps capabilities of your router. But overall, this is best cheap wireless router currently available.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: For those looking for a new router without spending a lot of cash, this device makes perfect sense.
Amazon eero
Wi fi Speed over 5.0GHz: 600mbps | Maximum Device Capability: 30+ | Ethernet ports: 2 | Features: Good eero app makes things easy
The eero is Amazons answer to the wireless router, and it’s fair to say that it has been a massive success. The key to this is its simplicity, essentially just offers a solid home connection that’s easy to connect to your home devices.
If you already use Alexa, then obviously this would be a good option to match with it. Plus, unlike many other routers which companies abandon them, with Amazon you’re going to get continuous updates to help improve the device.
Another good thing about the eero is that you can easily control the settings for it via your phone app. The app also makes it very to check the usage of your internet and which devices are using a lot of bandwidth.
If you’re wondering how a mesh router differs to a regular router, then here’s how. A Mesh Wi-Fi router has many different points of access. This difference can give the Mesh Wi-Fi the ability to offer better speed and more reliability.
If you like the idea of the Amazon eero but just feel like you would need higher mbps capability, then you could consider going for the eero Pro. The pro version supports speeds up to 1 gigabit per second, which is much faster than the standard eero.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: The eero will likely increase in popularity over the next few years, with frequent updates making it one for the future.
NETGEAR Nighthawk X6
Wi fi Speed over 5.0GHz: 1300mbps | Maximum Device Capability: 50+ | Ethernet ports: 4 | Features: Good for gaming
If you want a more expensive router that gives the best performance possible, then you should consider the NETGEAR Nighthawk X6. It’s more expensive than many other routers out there, but obviously with this comes better performance.
The first thing you’ll probably notice about this is its design, which is probably its major selling point. Not only does it look cool, but it also supports speeds of up to 3200Mbps, which is faster than any other router that I’ve listed here.
The reason why you might need a better router like this one is if you’re going to connect a large amount of devices to it. This model can actually handle up to 50 different devices at once, which should be more than enough for most households and even some offices.
It also has some comprehensive filtering controls too, so if you want the ability to restrict some people from the internet, this is a good choice. You can use Quality of Service to adjust which devices you want preference too.
All in all, this router is definitely more expensive that the rest, but it’s the better option if you have a large household of people who might have more than 10 or 20 devices.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: Although it is quite costly, the Netgear Nighthawk is definitely worth considering if you have a lot of devices to connect to the internet.
Common Questions about Wireless Routers
What is the purpose of a wireless router?
The purpose of a wireless router is quite simply to allow you to maintain a good connection to the internet. It simply allows your home devices the ability to communicate clearly with your internet – this is what a good wireless router does, at least! You can think of a router as your ‘gateway’ to the internet.
Should I get a wired connection instead?
It’s no secret that a wired connection is going to be faster that using a wireless one. However, the majority of wireless routers actually have the ability for you to connect to them with a cable as well. So, you can have the best of both worlds with a wireless router. But, if you went for a wired router, then obviously you’re going to have issues connecting to the internet of several devices at once, and you don’t really want to be restricted by a cable if you’re just browsing the internet on your phone!
What is a Dual Band Router?
You’ll likely see that the majority of routers available will say that they’re “dual band” routers, but most people don’t really know what this means. Essentially it is just that these routers have the ability to transmit data at both a 2.4GHz frequency and a 5.0GHz channel. This reduces the possibility of any interference, and the 5.0GHz is typically much cleaner too. So with more bandwidth, you’ll be able to get a better connection on your devices.
What should I consider when buying a router?
When you’re going to be purchasing a router for your home, there are a couple of things that you’re going to want to take into account. Firstly, the most important thing is the performance of the router. How many mbps can it support? How good is the coverage? Is it a dual band router, meaning it can work over two channels and provide more bandwidth? These are all questions you’ll want to be asking yourself. You also want to consider how much security the router offers, and whether it can keep you secure from hackers.
Is a WiFi Router the same as a Wireless Router?
You’ll see the term wireless router and wifi router used interchangeable all over the internet. But yes, don’t worry – they mean the same thing! The confusion comes in the difference between the terms wireless router and wireless access point, which although are slightly different, are often used interchangeably with each other.
What is a Wifi 6 router?
To put it quite simply, Wifi 6 is just the newest generation of wifi out there – it was preceded by Wifi 5, and so on. Essentially, it’s just an improved version of the previous wifi 5 capabilities, with much of the improvement being in its speed not just with one device, but amongst all the devices on your network. Bear in mind that smart home appliances are going to increase in popularity over the next decade – it’s likely that whilst now you might only have 5 or 10 devices connected to your router, in ten years you might have 40 or 50. So, new generations of wifi help with handling this better.
Wi-Fi Router Buying Guide
Getting the right router for your needs isn’t always, easy, as there’s a ton of different features and terms mentioned that aren’t part of our everyday language. What even is MU-MIMO, anyway? Well, here’s a few things to look out for when purchasing a router.
Conclusion
A good connection is an essential for the majority of people nowadays, especially if you may be working from home more, which it seems like the majority of us will be doing!.
However, you don’t need to go out and spend a fortune on a wireless router, as there are many options available that are quite affordable. So, just make sure you do your research before you buy one and you can ensure that the internet in your home stays solid.
Competent bandwidth management and setting up good security protocols are something that’s easily done with a router. Opting for one to use with your modem or Wi-fi hub gives you much more control over the internet in your home.
