The Best Wi-Fi 6E Routers for Blazing Speeds
Wi-Fi 6E takes you from incredible to ludicrous speeds. Not only will you get a faster connection, but a more reliable one too, with lower latency that can cover the entire home.
No matter if you already have the top speeds possible from your internet service provider, or are just getting your home future-proof ready, you won’t get a faster or more reliable connection than you will with Wi-Fi 6E routers (and perhaps aWi-Fi extenderor two for even coverage).
Here are the best Wi-Fi 6E routers available today.
1. ASUS ZenWiFi Pro AXE11000
If you have a large home or want to extend your home’s network coverage, a mesh Wi-Fi system is often the best choice. And, what better way to seal the deal than to invest in both a mesh router and Wi-Fi 6E? Not only does the ASUS ZenWiFi Pro AXE11000 tick all of these boxes, but it also comes with an intuitive companion app that makes configuring your new Wi-Fi 6E network a breeze.
While the Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 units look like something you’d see out of a movie, they are actually real, and they work incredibly well. Each unit packs 10 Wi-Fi antennas for wide coverage and includes a WAN connection alongside three Ethernet ports. Thus, it’s crucial when placing them to think about which devices you might want to connect via an Ethernet cable to where they’re going to be situated.
To get the best speeds from this Wi-Fi 6E mesh system, you’ll need to ensure that your devices are Wi-Fi 6E capable. However, if you haven’t upgraded some of the technology in your home just yet, you’ll be pleased to know that this router can support older standards since it uses three bands; 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz.
The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro AXE11000 comes packed with all of the features you’d expect it to, including OFDMA, beamforming, 1024-QAM, and other technical jargon you may (or may not) be interested in. But what all of these features amount to is a more reliable connection, efficient speeds and performance, and fast data transfer.
2. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000
Investing in the best of the best does mean you’ll have to splash out a bit more cash, but often it’s worth it, and that’s certainly the case with this Wi-Fi 6E router. The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 looks pretty futuristic, and, if this is something you’re looking for, it’s future-proof too. Onboard you’ll find four Gigabit LAN ports, a Gigabit WAN port, a 2.5G WAN/LAN port, and 256MB of flash storage.
Connectivity-wise, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE1100 supports the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands, optimized for a throughput of 4804Mbps on the 6GHz band. And, if you’re eager to get started, you’ll be pleased to know that this router is incredibly easy to set up, with the option of using browser-based installation instructions.
Once you’re ready to go, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 includes different options for network-level security, powered by Trend Micro. This includes Router Security Assessment, Malicious Site Blocking, and Two-Way Intrusion Prevention System, just to name a few. In essence, you can apply network-level security to all devices in your home, rather than installing security software on every PC, laptop, and so on.
3. TP-Link AXE5400
The TP-Link Archer AXE75 is one of the most affordable routers you can get if you’re looking to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E. The easy-to-use app gets you set up in minutes, and the router includes plenty of next-gen features to please the whole family. And, if you’re working from home or need to regularly use a VPN, this router includes OpenVPN technology to make the whole process much easier.
For the gamers at home, this Wi-Fi 6E router offers the kind of port management you’d expect, like NAT port forwarding and UPnP to ensure you don’t encounter any networking issues while gaming. And although you won’t get as fast speeds as some Wi-Fi 6E routers, the performance is definitely worth investing in considering the affordable cost.
Basic security features are available on the TP-Link Archer AXE75, with more advanced settings in the app. However, you will need to sign up for a paid subscription if you want to access things like parental controls.
4. Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
As one of the earlier Wi-Fi 6E routers to enter the market, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 looks the part, and on paper, it offers decent performance. With no antennas to install, this router is fairly easy to set up in either an internet browser or using the smartphone app.
Whether you’re looking to invest in the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 for a family home or office workspace, it’s important to understand what security features are on offer. While many security aspects are “built-in” to the router, these do actually require a subscription to continue after the initial 30-day period. It’s worth considering, though, to ensure your network is protected, but disappointing since many high-end routers offer this without an additional cost.
Performance-wise, you can expect good things from the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500. But, if you have a busy household with multiple devices fighting for top speeds, you may find the lack of QoS to prioritize traffic causes frustrating congestion. With fewer devices competing for the attention of this router, you’ll find games run with low latency and films buffer at lightning speeds.
5. ASUS ZenWiFi ET8 WiFi 6E
If you’d rather not invest in a Wi-Fi 6E router that doesn’t look out of place in outer space, the ASUS ZenWiFi ET8 offers a stylish and minimalist design. With a single LED bar under the ASUS logo on the front of each unit, you won’t have to deal with blinking lights and intrusive LEDs.
Using the ASUS ZenWiFi ET8’s AiMesh system, you can set up eight data streams with beamforming. It also supports MU-MIMO technology which means multi-device households won’t encounter any drops in speed when all competing on the same network. On the 6GHz band, you can expect speeds of up to 4804Mbps and 1201Mbps on the 5GHz band. This should be plenty for all your work and entertainment needs.
While the ASUS ZenWiFi ET8 is more expensive than some other Wi-Fi 6E routers, bear in mind this is a mesh system, with two units provided. But, don’t let this put you off. Set up is just as simple as you’d expect from a similar router, and you can use the app or browser to view all of your network’s information and assign optimized profiles for data prioritization.
6. Amazon Eero Pro 6
The Amazon Eero Pro 6 (6E version) is one of the best Wi-Fi 6E routers for novices. It doesn’t require any complicated settings to get the router connected, and it allows you to manage your entire network via the app. For this reason, it’s not the best option for users who like to explore more advanced settings. Similarly, there are only two Ethernet ports which means a network switch would be required for more.
Rated as AX5400, the Amazon Eero Pro 6 isn’t as fast as some Wi-Fi 6E routers on the market. However, for a standard family home, it’s still capable of delivering speeds of up to 2.5Gbps (wired) and 1.3Gbps (wireless). This is going to be plenty for watching Netflix, playing games, and working from home. And, if you have guests or your family unit expands, there’s support for over 100 devices simultaneously.
But possibly the main selling point of the Amazon Eero Pro 6 is the fact it can double up as a smart home hub. This Wi-Fi 6E router lets you use Alexa voice controls to manage your Wi-Fi network, and can connect to Zigbee-based smart home devices.
7. Linksys Mesh WiFi 6E Router
While the Linksys Hydra Pro 6E is considered a mainstream router, it does have a few tricks that make it worth investing in if you’re looking for slightly more advanced features. And, although it’s cheaper than similar routers on the market, it does boast MU-MIMO technology, beamforming, and 1024-QAM alongside eight data streams. Unfortunately, it’s limited to 2,700 square feet, which isn’t as great as competing models.
Still, for family homes and gamers, the Linksys Hydra Pro 6E should offer a substantial performance increase over a Wi-Fi 6 or earlier router. Although you can’t aggregate the Ethernet ports, there are four downstream 1Gbps wired ports that offer a stable and reliable connection. On the 6GHz band, this router can support speeds of up to 4800Mbps.
Set up is straightforward, and you may use the browser-based interface or app to rename your networks, add a guest network, configure MAC filtering, and so on. There’s also a decent amount of customization through the advanced tab for users who want to tinker a little. Plus, you can enable QoS settings to set your network data priorities, with a simple drag and drop screen.
Q: Is It Worth Getting A Wi-Fi 6E Router?
If you want the fastest speeds possible across your network, then yes, investing in a Wi-Fi 6E router is worth it.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that not all devices are currently Wi-Fi 6E capable.
Q: Is Wi-Fi 6E Better Than Wi-Fi 6?
Yes, Wi-Fi 6E is better than Wi-Fi 6 since it’s faster. It’s an extension of Wi-Fi 6 that essentially creates a fast lane for those devices that are compatible.
Q: Can An iPhone Use Wi-Fi 6E?
There are currently no iPhones that support Wi-Fi 6E, up to and including the iPhone 13 series.
