A large house or office full of devices requires a heavy-duty router, especially when you figure in gamers, 4K streamers, and those who still want a wired connection. Our favorite is the Linksys EA9500 with two 5GHz bands with speeds up to 2,166Mbps.
Linksys EA9500 Max Stream
Staff pick
The Linksys EA9500 Max Stream has just about everything you want from a router. You get three bands of Wi-Fi, 4 x 4 MU-MIMO, and a ton of ports to connect your wired devices. A 2.4GHz band with speeds up to 1,000Mbps is perfect for older devices, and two 5GHz bands at up to 2,166Mbps support 4K streaming and seamless online gaming. Toss in some extra features, like device prioritization and parental controls, and you have a strong multipurpose router.
The router's 4 x 4 multi-user, multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) capability allows for constant streams of data to up to four of your capable devices, rather than the usual method of rotating data delivery. This is especially important for gamers and anyone looking to stream high-bandwidth video.
Eight Ethernet ports on the back of the router ensure you'll have no problem connecting all your wired devices, and eight antennas broadcast a strong signal throughout your home or office. For a powerful router that can handle pretty much anything you throw at it, definitely give this one a thought.
TP-Link Archer C7
Great connection for all your devices
Many people don't need a router as powerful or expensive as the Nighthawk X8. Enter the TP-Link Archer C7. It has two Wi-Fi bands — one 2.4GHz at 450Mbps for 802.11a/b/g/n devices and one 5GHz at 1,300Mbps for 802.11ac devices — to better connect all your laptops, phones, and consoles. Two USB ports on the back of the router allow you to connect external storage for media sharing across all devices in your home. This router has plenty of bandwidth for streaming movies, sharing files, and playing games.
Linksys Velop
The Linksys Velop Tri-band Whole Home Wi-Fi Mesh System is a next-generation mesh-style router. If you're not familiar with mesh routers, they use multiple access points to provide fast, reliable coverage for larger, more irregular, and more challenging environments. Velop isn't as cheap as Google or as small and pretty as eero, but it's combination of performance and features makes it not only Amazon's choice, but Apple's choice for mesh routers.
NETGEAR R7000P Nighthawk
Upgrade your streaming quality
The NETGEAR R7000P Nighthawk is the updated version of the R7000, now offering slightly higher speeds in its 5GHz band and a bit better range. The 2.4GHz band offers speeds up to 600Mbps for 802.11a/b/g/n devices, and the 5GHz band offers speeds up to 1,625Mbps for 802.11ac devices. Bandwidth is automatically prioritized to deliver lag-free gaming and video streaming, and four Ethernet ports provide access for plenty of wired connections. If it's range you want without having to spend a fortune, this is the router for you.
Bottom line
The best overall router right now is the Linksys EA9500 Max Stream. It delivers three bands of wifi, plenty of ports for connections, and speeds to ensure you have lag-free gaming or streaming. If you're looking for something that fits into your budget, we suggest taking a look at the TP-link Archer C7. It has two wifi bands, four ports for connecting devices, and still has plenty of bandwidth for streaming movies or playing games.
