There’s a gadget in the internet home chain that gets away with figurative murder. If gameplay lags slow down first-person combat until it’s like fighting through molasses, players blame their hardware. The computer, specifically the GPU, is too old and is driving you crazy with screen glitches. For the keen media streamer, they end up blaming their ISP, the movie of the day is buffering continuously, so the head of the family has had enough. They’re switching to a new fiber-optics provider, one that’s super expensive.
What if the internet coming into the home is as fast as ever? And what if that gaming rig isn’t responsible for all those respawns during a heavy session of online play? The real culprit is a slow router, one that can’t keep up with multiple streams of online access. No delay, down to your big electronics depot, you need a fast, high-bandwidth Wi-Fi 6 router to take over. And it wouldn’t hurt if the final purchase doesn’t break the bank or suck your wallet dry.
A Wi-Fi 6 Router Primer!
Readers are in a hurry to get into their cars, or Amazon stores, so that they can finish the buy, get the router, and get back to their various online activities. Hold on, there’s no point going off half-cocked. You want to be fully cocked, if that’s a thing, by being fully informed on the various ins and outs concerning the Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard and the routers that have since dropped. Knowledge is power, as they say.
Wi-Fi 6, aka 802.11ax, is the sixth generation “No duh” of wireless router technology. It’s been designed to offer frequencies and neat connectivity tricks that solve bandwidth overcrowding problems and similar issues. You’ll find the ubiquitous 5GHz frequency range, 2.4GHz as well, and speed gains. Techy terms like OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) and MU-MIMO seem to crop up often when reading over listed features on a Wi-Fi 6 router, but they’re essentially there to bring faster speeds and shorter lag times.
For those who like their infodumps on the short side, no headache-inducing technobabble included, you get faster downloads, smoother streaming, lower latency for gaming, and better handling of multiple devices when your new budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6 router is doing its job properly. Better security in the form of WPA3 is also built-in, keeping your online habits free from invasive neighbors.
Here’s a short list of popular features and their explanations, so you can nod along to the router beat and select an affordable model that suits your needs:
- Dual-band frequency – Can send signals on either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands. The 2.4GHz band gives longer ranges but can be crowded in some locations, such as apartment complexes. 5GHz is faster, has less interference, and is considered ideal for gaming.
- Speed – Usually expressed at around 1800Gbps, on the 5GHz band, and 574Gbps, on the 2.4GHz band. These are theoretical limits, but the practical speeds are more than fast enough for modern gaming and 4K streaming.
- OFDMA Technology – Built to split channels into sub-channels, with the upshot being more simultaneous device connections. Imagine the scene. If a 4K stream starts up off of Netflix, it won’t cause any slowdown or lags in a PS5 game. This is one of the bigger features to look out for when shopping.
- Special extras like Amazon Alexa connectivity and VPN server setups might seal the purchase when potential buyers come shopping. Alexa is a handy digital companion, but a VPN (Virtual Private Network) could be seen as more useful, allowing access to overseas streaming content.
- Advanced security – WPA3 is the latest Wi-Fi encryption protocol, offering stronger protection against nasty hackers and their brute-force attacks. If WPA2 had vulnerabilities, and hackers always find them, then they’ve been addressed in WPA3.
- Beamforming – Like a focused laser beam, the router intelligently transmits data in the direction of a connected device. That means more power efficiency and more connection reliability, fewer if any signal drops. We definitely want a beamforming Wi-Fi 6 router if we have the budget.
Main on-the-box bulleted router capabilities now explained, we can’t delay any more. The prep work has been laid and it’s time for some hardcore product testing, with an eye fixed on keeping the products on today’s list affordable and ready to perform at their best, no matter the real-world conditions.
Top 6 Best Budget Wifi 6 Router for the Home
TP-Link AX1800 (Archer AX21v4) Wi-Fi 6 Home Router
- Archer AX21 V4 Supports both Open VPN Server and PPTP VPN Server
- AX1800
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE
What Tipped The Scales: Beamforming was mentioned in the router talents list straight away. This feature was quickly followed up by dual-band connectivity and 4 high-gain antennas. There’s a clear engineering bias towards reliable signal transmission and reception here, matched by VPN server capabilities and multi-device OFDMA support. The little black box also has a slim profile, perfect for smaller home shelves.
The office setup used for this review was a little more minimalist than usual. A couple of Samsung TVs, a gaming console, and a media box, they all competed for attention with the TP-Link AX1800 in our office. And since we are one of many groups renting space in our building, other Wi-Fi signals crowded the local bandwidth. The dual-band selectivity on the smart little Wi-Fi 6 device did the heavy lifting, configuring signal strengths. The 2.4GHz band handled the media box and any other streaming devices, while the 5 GHz band was reserved for high-demand activities such as gaming and streaming on the Samsung TVs. We didn’t experience any buffering during our tests, and the OFDMA support worked seamlessly in the background, connecting every test device and smartphone without experiencing overburdening.
Beamforming, complete with those 4 high-gain antennas, kept signal locks solid. The 1800Gbps speeds allowed for lag-free gaming inputs while we played Final Fantasy XIV, a large-scale MMORPG that swept our office staffers with addictive gameplay. The gaming PC was similarly lagless during gaming sessions. Review complete, the TP-Link AX1800, though highly affordable, really uses its next-gen chipset to full effect, hooking up OneMesh extenders, optimizing VPN and QoS (Quality of Service) settings, proving that budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6 can deliver stable high-speeds on both games and media streams. Designed to cover a 2 to 3 bedroom home, equipped with 4x Gigabit LAN ports, for wired connections.
Netgear R6700AXv3 Wi-Fi 6 Home Router
- Coverage up to 1,500 sq. ft. for up to 20 devices
- Fast AX1800 Gigabit speed with WiFi 6 technology
- NETGEAR devices come with security measures built in
What Tipped The Scales: Comes with a powerhouse dual-core 880MHz processor for taking charge of Wi-Fi band configuring. Delivers AX1800 data transmitting speeds wirelessly. For those with medium-sized homes, the 1500 sq. ft. coverage is a winner, as is the fact that up to 20 concurrent devices can take advantage of reliable signal strength. Better yet, for non-tech types, has an easy-to-configure dashboard phone app.
Yet another black box, the rounded corners of this Wi-Fi 6 budget router stand upright, making the task of looking at its blinking indicator lights easier than when the unit is lying flat. Not that this was a major feature when routers typically hide behind larger devices, but it was still a thoughtful form factor to review. The short-handed AX1800 speeds were printed legibly close to the top of the features list on the Netgear R6700AXv3, followed up by promises of covering a 1500 sq. ft. home while up to 20 devices are connected. However, there was no mention of beamforming but there are 4x Gigabit ports if signal reliability becomes a concern. With dual-band Wi-Fi 6 technology onboard, we didn’t feel that stream drops were likely.
That being said, some Reddit users did complain of unreliable wireless low speeds. Most of these issues were fixed by calling Netgear customer support, though. Next, making out-of-the-box setup a breeze, the Nighthawk app quickly dismissed configuration headaches. Then there was the management section on the app, displaying key metrics, giving us faith in our 4K streaming and gaming efforts. We were now on a PC, soaking up the action in a multiplayer mod on Cyberpunk 2077 with all graphics turned up to the max. Despite a few naysayers, the Netgear R6700AXv3 performed with distinction, and we could imagine upstairs TVs spilling out 4K content all the way to the router’s coverage limits while we gamed.
Asus RT-AX1800S Wi-Fi 6 Home Router
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique
What Tipped The Scales: Another day in the office, another dual-band Wi-Fi 6 winner incoming. The 4 antenna build is back, and it’s better than ever. The box exudes a cool modern aesthetic, choosing not to opt for a boring black box build. Its innards reflect that build, offering the expected MU-MIMO and OFDMA functionality associated with premium routers, yet it’s priced to sell and marketed for gaming and streaming fidelity.
There’s a lot to pack into this short block of review text, so let’s get down to the facts. The Asus RT-AX1800S uses MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output) and OFDMA to transform the sleek box of wireless transmitting electronics into a multimedia beast. It’s armed to the gills with 1024 QAM, which is short for Quadrature Amplitude Modulation and the usual 1800Gbps, 574Mbps speeds, not to mention those 4 external antennas and the beamforming protocol we covered earlier. A fast dual-core processor accelerates this digitally complex chip architecture, keeping wireless connection speeds reliable at all times. There’s even a 256MB RAM module inbuilt, plus the 128MB flash memory. The larger memory makes light of VPN server duties, eliminating annoying stream buffering effects.
That’s a lot to unpack. For QAM, let’s just say the antennas compress wireless data streams efficiently. High-octane games arrive at consoles and computers without lag, streaming platforms keep their crisp pictures, and downloads don’t slow. In tests, we placed a console and TV in an adjoining office; the Asus RT-AX1800S didn’t drop a single streaming movie or game, nor did downloads falter. If security had been a concern, crossing offices as we were, the router offered AiProtection, a Trend Micro security measure that backed up the device’s own WPA3 security layer. All-in-all, it’s a budget-friendly router with some very powerful features built in. As usual, on the rear, there’s the 4x output ports again.
GL.iNet GL-AX1800 Flint Wi-Fi 6 Home Router
- Faster OpenVPN&Wireguard
- AdGuard Home & EAP Supported
- Connect up to 120 devices
What Tipped The Scales: For those who like to tinker, although a little more expensive, this is a flexible router with enough configurable options to make endless tweaks. Four low-profile external antennas, a choice between WireGuard and OpenVPN as built-in tunneling platforms, and root-level access via OpenWRT, this is the Wi-Fi 6 router our VPN power users rely on for privacy. Dual band connects up to 120 devices simultaneously.
Although the GL.iNet GL-AX1800 is a strong contender as a stock Wi-Fi 6 router, equipped with OFDMA and MU-MIMO, plus all those other coveted high-speed and low-latency wireless technologies, it’s the privacy-enhancing features that really inspired us to put the device through its paces. The router is already configured for WireGuard and OpenVPN setups, and 30+ more VPNs can easily be configured due to the use of OpenWRT as the easily upgradeable firmware in this compact little box, complete with four foldable external antennas. It’s maybe a little more expensive than some of the other models on this list, but it can often be found for sale at less than $100. That’s a bargain for a wireless router that can handle 120 connected devices at once, by the way.
Putting aside the 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi 6 speeds, the GL.iNet GL-AX1800 Flint boasts 667Mbps speeds when VPN traffic is encrypted. Anyone who’s ever used a VPN knows how speeds can vary from country to country, so that degree of reliability is very welcome. We’re not going to say it could access 4K streaming content internationally—it could, in theory—but what really matters is that your connection stays fast, stable, and private no matter where you tunnel from. Gaming with an overseas friend? No problem at all, the router keeps gameplay silky fast and lag times to a minimum. It really is the whole package, adding in WPA3 security, customizable firmware, AdGuard Home, and Gigabit Ethernet as well. As you’d expect, 4x wired LAN ports sit behind the foldable antenna. VPN client/server capabilities.
Reyee AX3000 RG-E4 Wi-Fi 6 Home Router
- Faster OpenVPN&Wireguard
- AdGuard Home & EAP Supported
- Connect up to 120 devices
What Tipped The Scales: Possibly the most attractive device we’ve reviewed yet, the Reyee AX3000 looks as if it’s about to take off. It’s a 5 external antenna beast of a machine, equipped with a narrow profile and top-mounted circular display. Enough on the outside, the guts of this router demonstrate extreme dual band speeds. It’s also a VPN traffic anonymizing powerhouse, proving itself entirely flexible. Incidentally, the router is designed to prioritize gaming sessions.
The Reyee AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 router impressed our staffers with its good looks, its sleek form factor finding its way onto a narrow ledge in one office corner. It was easy to forget, sitting back there, but we had a job to do. On configuring, the 802.11ax chipset used Reyee’s own game traffic prioritization technology to give player data packets the fast lane, keeping latency low and frame rates steady even when the rest of the office was streaming, browsing, and hogging bandwidth. Bandwidth consumption is a big issue in the office, but the 5 little antennas sucked signals in, using a combination of 2.4GHz (574Mbps) and 5GHz (2402Mbps) wireless connectivity to avoid game crashing interruptions during intense combat. We’d switched to Fortnite, several other testers using their smartphones to download their own games, yet gameplay on our PS5 stayed steady. Talking devices, we could’ve connected up to 128 of them.
Other features must be mentioned, we’re not quite done with the Reyee AX3000 yet. Beamforming accompanies the external antennas, making the router a signal magnet. Next, it turns to reveal fewer ports than we’d expected, but there’s a feature called WAN Aggregation clearly labeled, so you can pair a LAN port, almost doubling available bandwidth. Then there’s the fact that it’ll cover close to 3000 sq. ft. of home. We reckoned that was enough to send a stable signal through walls to devices at the other end of a large home or office. With high-power FEMs driving coverage, built-in mesh support, and enhanced VPN compatibility including OpenVPN, the Reyee AX3000 packs so much performance under the hood that mesh extenders may feel redundant, yet the option is there if you need it.
TP-Link AX5400 (Archer AX73) Wi-Fi 6 Home Router
- Gigabit WiFi for 8K Streaming – Up to 5400 Mbps WiFi
- Extensive Coverage
- More Vents, Less Heat – Improved vented areas help unleash the full power of the router
What Tipped The Scales: The 6 external antennas on this upgrade partner again with beamforming technology. This time, though, wireless streaming throughput moves at a breathtaking 5400Gbps. That’s fast enough for 8K content. Includes a USB 3.0 port on the rear, for fast and easy media sharing. MU MIMO and OFDMA incorporated connecting can host up to 4x more wireless devices. Supports OneMesh home network extending.
The TP-Link AX5400 made our editor think of a home full of streaming and gaming addicts. Maybe Mom and Dad are watching 4K streams off Netflix. An older son is downloading raw 8K footage off a media server, while a younger sister plays her PS5 at 4K. Most Wi-Fi 6 routers would balk at the prospect. This slender black box and its 6 external antennas cooly accepts the multiple streams, staying cool and collected thanks to an array of FEM chips. Their power amplifiers maintain signal strength. If that’s not quite enough, there’s beamforming technology and a 4T4R (4 Transmit, 4 Receive) antenna architecture handling broad bandwidth duties. No doubt about it, the router is built to shoulder the digital chaos in a modern household, keeping every screen smooth and every controller responsive without breaking a sweat. And for regular users, that same wireless muscle translates into Wi-Fi that just works everywhere in the house, at speed, no lag accepted.
It’s worth mentioning a number of interesting extras. The TP-Link AX5400 is equipped, as most of these are, with MU MIMO and OFDMA, so it’s hard to imagine it hitting a wall when it comes to too many electronics gadgets straining its wireless connectivity. All the same, 8K streaming is fairly new, so we can’t help worrying about annoying moments of buffering. To offset such worries, the Wi-Fi 6 router uses 1024-QAM and HT160 bandwidth doubling, which takes care of moments of data congestion, ensuring smooth performance under heavy loads. The rest is down to your ISP and the manner in which your TV or streaming box handles stream buffering. Finally, for security, expect the peace of mind offered by WPA3 and TP-Link’s very own HomeShield software. As an addendum, we couldn’t find any details on VPN functions on the main sales page, but the specs section does list OpenVPN PPTP client capabilities.
Get Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 Without Price Tag Shock!
Efforts have been made to keep our elite selection of affordable Wi-Fi 6 routers at or around the $100 mark. A few even come in at just over $50. We’ve gone for top brands and features users really want. If shortcuts were made, it was in cutting extraneous features like personal assistants and unnecessary ports, not in sacrificing core performance. A USB 3.0 connector on the rear is handy but hardly essential. For all that, the TP-Link AX5400 does have that facility. More importantly, though, we prioritize dual band speeds and bandwidth. Coming from a modern digital home, the whole family owning smartphones, smart watches, consoles as well, then MU MIMO and OFDMA are going to be important. The GL.iNet GL-AX1800 Flint connects up to 120 devices, for instance, but it’s not the most user-friendly black box on our list.
We’d reserve something like the GL.iNet for those who run VPNs and want to tinker. Instead, the Asus RT-AX1800S or the Reyee AX3000 RG-E4 suit those who just want to unbox their Wi-Fi 6 router and start gaming or streaming 4K Netflix. The Netgear R6700AXv3 is also a compelling home network addition, capable of covering medium-sized homes in reliable, lag-less Wi-Fi. Of course, the Reyee AX3000 RG-E4 has the range edge, pushing coverage through 3000 sq. ft. of big household walls and floors. For signal strength like this, not prone to dropouts or dead zones, this is the sort of router that’ll keep the whole family connected without anyone fighting over bandwidth.
Doubling up on that approach, it won’t do any harm to pick a model outfitted with FEMs as well. They really shine when extending wireless signals into tricky spots. Happy streaming, downloading, even VPN-ing to you all!
