The 10 best wireless routers of 2017

In the information age, no home or office is complete without one of the top wireless routers. While some are ordinary black boxes with devilish antennas protruding from their heads, there are now boundless options of chic wireless mesh systems to choose from as well.

• Your router is nothing without one of the best laptops connected

With so many to choose from, we’ve gone hands-on with a wide range to find only the best wireless routers below. Each of these models has been thoroughly tested prior to its inclusion on the list, even if they haven’t all been given the full review treatment.

• Google Wifi
• Netgear Orbi
• Starry Station
• Synology RT2600ac
• Linksys WRT 3200 ACM
• Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600
• Linksys Velop
• Asus RT-AC88U
• Netgear Nighthawk X4S VDSL/ADSL Modem Router D7800
• Linksys WRT1900ACS

Gone is the seemingly distant past of Wi-Fi range extenders. It’s clear now that wireless mesh systems are the way of the future, the most notable of which is Google Wifi. A hub-based router that’s as easy to set up as scanning a QR code, Google Wifi is more than your basic, run-of-the mill home router. It is instead a pricey testament to the lackluster capabilities of its predecessors, which failed to exhibit nearly as impressive range as Google Wifi.

Read the full review: Google Wifi

• This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing, but will arrive in Australia on July 20.

Unlike Google Wi-Fi, the Netgear Orbi wireless mesh system ships with two units rather than three: a router and a satellite, much like a cell phone signal booster. It’s expensive, but once you get past the price, you’ll see that the price tag is justified. Its simple setup, requiring little more than being plugged into a modem and a spare wall adaptor, makes the Orbi accessible to say the least. Add that to its stately performance and you’ll see why we love it so much.

Read full review: Netgear Orbi

Billion is back at it again, this time with the fastest router it’s ever produced. Exhibiting a throughput of 2,400Mbps over both a 2.4GHz and 5GHz band, the BiPac 8900AX-2400 isn’t conventionally attractive by society’s standards, but it is immensely capable. In lieu of a shabby interface, this router dons a wide range of ports for added storage down the line in addition to integrating a state of the art ADSL2+ modem.

Read the full review: Billion BiPac 8900AX-2400

• This product is only available in the UK as of this writing. US and AU readers: check out a comparable alternative in the Linksys XAC1900.

For those of us clinging to (presumably leased) routers supplied to us by our ISPs, the Starry Station makes Wi-Fi easier without handing over your clean money month after month to a greedy conglomerate. Not only is it fast, bearing download speeds that are typically around the same as a Verizon FiOS stock router, but the Starry Station is stylish enough where you won’t have to tuck it away in a cabinet that will inevitably obstruct its signal. What’s more, it manages to avert those pesky numerical gateways that no one wants to memorize.

Read the full review: Starry Station

• This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Linksys Velop.

It’s not everyday you encounter a router that doubles as an NAS, or network-attached storage device – a type of server box that allows you to store and access files over your local internet connection. The Synology RT2600ac, on the other hand, combines the best of both worlds, going as far as to deliver third-party applications such as VPNs and DLNA media servers. There’s even Apple Time Machine support for over-the-air Mac backups.

Read the full review: Synology RT2600ac

The antithesis to wireless mesh systems, the Linksys WRT 3200 ACM doesn’t boast a particularly flashy design. However, by compromising in the looks department, Linksys was able to pull off a versatile wireless router aimed at traditional PC enthusiasts. Giving you boundless control over your wireless network connections, whether you want to toggle on and off guest connections or prioritize media devices, the WRT 3200 ACM has you covered.

Read the full review: Linksys WRT 3200 ACM

• This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Synology RT2600ac.

It may appear as though it would abduct a close friend or family member, but we assure you, the Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600 isn’t as alien in function as it is in looks. Equipped with MU-MIMO support, which improves speeds when multiple devices are connected to the same network, the Armor Z2 AC2600 prides itself on its performance capabilities. Paired with StreamBoost, Zyxel has devised a router that can not only handle ample traffic, but it can actually prioritize bandwidth based on the needs of each device connected to it.

Read the full review: Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600

The Linksys Velop makes a sound argument for a wireless mesh network’s ease of setup. With the aim of replacing both your router and your now-antiquated range extender, the Velop arrives at a time when companies like Google and Netgear are doing the same thing. The main way Linksys hopes to differentiate its contender in the wireless mesh networking space is with a user-friendly setup that anyone with a smartphone can understand. With just a visit to the App Store or Google Play marketplace, you’ll have the Linksys Velop running in a matter of minutes.

Read the full review: Linksys Velop

The Asus RT-AC88U justifies its above-average pricing with unrivalled record-breaking next-generation 802.11ac wireless performance. With four antennas and NitroQAM technology, which pushes speeds further still, this router enables wireless performance that can break the 1GB/sec limit. There's a minor catch - you'll need to invest in a NitroQAM wireless adapter, such as the Asus PCE-AC88, to see those faster speeds. It's worth it, though, because this router is a champion cheaper than its Asus RT-AC5300 Tri-band gigabit rival.

If routers had a fashion contest, Netgear’s D7800 would be among the top contenders. Its solid black finish is complemented by a quartet of antennas. Plus it’s damn fast and bettered by its inclusion of a duo of USB ports paired with an eSATA connector. The real centerpiece, though, is the VDSL 2 modem built into the Nighthawk X4S D7800, negating the need to buy or lease one separately. The outfitted software isn’t too shoddy either; a simple Dynamic QOS system makes it a breeze to govern a multitude of devices on a single home network.

Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

• We’ve also picked out the best wireless business routers of 2017

from HIGH BROADCAST Tech http://tech.highbroadcast.com/2017/08/the-10-best-wireless-routers-of-2017_30.html