8 Best Gaming Routers That You Should Check Out

Are you tired of dealing with lags whenever you try to play an online game? Well, before you call your internet service provider, you should first check out the router you are using. It’s not common knowledge but a router can make or break your internet gaming experience. If you are using a free router from your internet service provider, then it is time to make an upgrade. Not all routers are built for the same purpose. In this article, we will talk about why you should make a switch to gaming routers and the best ones in the market. So hang on tight because you don’t have to suffer from poor internet connection anymore. 

Why gaming routers?

As mentioned earlier, there are different routers for different purposes. In this case, gaming routers are a powerful type of router that can handle data-heavy actions. Any professional gamer would tell you that it is ideal to use an ethernet router whenever you play. But if you want to be technical, the main advantage of gaming routers compared to standard ones is the Quality of Service or QoS. With QoS, you can allocate and prioritize data to gaming. On the other hand, standard routers will not do that for you. This means that all internet actions and activities are equal for standard routers. Going back, you can prioritize your gaming traffic through service, network, IP address, or MAC address.

With hundreds of gaming routers out there, it could be confusing to know where to start. Don’t worry though because we did all the hard work for you! We narrowed it to 8 best gaming routers that you should check out. Without further ado, here are the best gaming routers for all your gaming needs. 

• NETGEAR Router Nighthawk XR500 Pro-Gaming

For the uninitiated, NETGEAR is one of the pioneers when it comes to gaming routers. Their lineup alone has a good selection of gaming routers. One of the best is the NETGEAR Router Nighthawk XR500 Pro-Gaming. This NETGEAR router is hailed as the ultimate dream router for gamers. Given its specs and features, this is not a surprise. It is supported by NetDuma’s DumaOS software. It gives access to all tools, features, analytics, and functions of the router. One of its unique features is geo-filtering. This feature enables gamers to connect with other fellow gamers near their area. In terms of security, this router also has a hybrid VPN. 

• NETGEAR Router Nighthawk XR300 Pro-Gaming

Next on the list is another NETGEAR router. Just like the XR500, it is also powered by DumaOS software. However, XR300 is way cheaper than the XR500. So if you are on a budget and looking for a good alternative for the XR500, then the XR300 is the way to go. One of their difference is wireless Wi-Fi speed. XR300’s speed is 1.7 GBPS while the XR500 can go up to 2.6 GBPS. XR300’s speed can still sufficiently support any online game with minimized ping and lags. 

• NETGEAR Wi-Fi Router Nighthawk X4S R7800 Pro-Gaming

The dynamic and ability to stream 4k content make this router one of the crowd favorites. This tri-band router has a speed of up to 2.53Gbps and has a powerful 1.7GHz dual-core processor. Some features of the NETGEAR R7800 are ReadyCLOUD®, OpenVPN, Dynamic QoS, and Beamforming+ technology. 

• Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600

Another affordable router, compared to other routers here on the list, is the Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600. It is not exactly a gaming router per se but given its powerful hardware and ability to prioritize traffic, then it’s still worth a shot to try this router. It’s safe to say that this is best for beginners. This router is easy to navigate and customize, and it also allows you to see real-time where your data is being allocated. It is also supported by MU-MIMO which is ideal for multiple devices that are connected to the router. 

• TP-Link Archer C5400X

The TP-Link Archer C5400X is a Tri-Band gaming router that can support multiple devices at once. Aside from its performance, this router also has integrated antivirus software. This protects you and anyone who is connected to the router from attacks and malware. It has a speed of up to 5334 Mbps in total, it also features a 1.8GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU, 3 co-processors, and 1GB RAM. The only downside of this router is the price point. 

• Linksys WRT AC3200

If you like tinkering your routers, then this is for you. The Linksys WRT AC3200 is open source ready so anyone can configure and customize according to their needs. It also has MU-MIMO support and 1.8 GHz dual-core CPU. It has fast 5GHz throughput and fast transfer speeds. Though the design of the router is not as sleek as the other routers in this list, its Tri-Stream 160MHz technologies are commendable. 

• ASUS Dual-Band Gigabit WiFi Router (AC1750)

If you’re looking for a budget router, check out ASUS AC1750. You can have up to 6 guest networks, has an AiCloud feature, 4 LAN ports, and 1 WAN port. This router is also supported by NVIDIA GameStream™ technology, which enhances your overall gaming experience. This router is also powered by 5th generation Wi-Fi technology. 

• Netgear Orbi RBK752

We are ending this list with another NETGEAR router. The design alone of this router sets it apart from other routers. This router can cover large homes because of its Powerful AX Mesh WiFi System. It is also supported by the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology. Though it has no USB ports or parental controls, its 1Gbps Ethernet port support makes up for it. 

Switch to a good gaming router now!

Often, when you experience game lags and an unreliable internet connection, the problem is not with your internet service provider. To improve your gaming experience, it is best to invest in a good gaming router. The gaming routers featured in this article are some of the best ones in the market. Whether you want to connect via ethernet or Wi-Fi, there’s certainly a gaming router for you.