We tested a few other routers that we liked, and there are several others in the queue. These aren’t as great as the options above but may be worth considering for some.
TP-Link Archer AX5400 Pro for $200: This dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router is almost identical to the Archer AX73, except for the 2.5 Gbps WAN port. It offers relatively fast speeds on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and has a 160 MHz channel width on 5 GHz. The range works well, easily covering my house and garden, but the performance is inconsistent. It is also relatively slow moving files locally. There’s support for TP-Link OneMesh, VPN, and QoS, but you only get basic parental controls and network security unless you subscribe to HomeShield Pro.
MSI RadiX AXE6600 for $287: This Wi-Fi 6E tri-band gaming router features the familiar red and black Sith spider, although you can customize the lighting. It proved to be very fast in most of my tests, coming close to the top of the table in the short range on the 6GHz band, and delivering average performance on the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands. But the mobile app has limited options, confusing layout, and lots of bugs (I’ve had the problem more than once). Better web interface, with more options, including open VPN, simple parental controls, guest network and QoS optimization for gaming. Unfortunately, the performance was erratic and I had a random drop twice in a week of testing.
Linksys Hydra Pro 6E for $280: One of the first Wi-Fi 6E (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz) tri-band routers to hit the market, the price of which has dropped significantly since its release. It proved to be easy to set up and has a very simple application, although it often loads slowly. It has one 5 Gbps WAN port and four gigabit LAN ports. Performance is proven to be reliable, and blazing speeds can be achieved at close range if you have a Wi-Fi 6E enabled device. Coverage and speed at mid-range and long-range are average. There are free basic parental controls that let you block websites and schedule downtime, but only on a device-by-device basis (no profile creation or age-restricted filters). You can split the band if you want and prioritize three devices. There’s also a guest network option and easy Wi-Fi sharing. Another positive is that this router works with any other Linksys Smart Mesh router (including the Velop mesh range).
Linksys Hydra 6 for $125: In terms of specs, this compact router is similar to our flagship router (TP-Link Archer AX55). It’s a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with 1 gigabit WAN port and 4 gigabit LAN ports. Setup is a breeze, and it uses the same Linksys app as the Pro 6E above, so you get parental controls, guest networks, priority, and band sharing for free. fee. It proved to be quick at close range and not bad at medium range, but if your house is more than 1,600 square feet, it could struggle. However, as a Smart Mesh router, it can mix and match with other Linksys routers or its Velop mesh system. Linksys recommends a limit of 25 connected devices. While it managed over 40 without issues in my testing, busy households will likely want something more robust.
Purple Firewall for $329: This quirky mobile device (8/10, WIRED recommends) is perfect for those worried about security and privacy. It offers comprehensive tools to monitor all traffic entering and leaving your house, powerful and granular parental controls, ad blocking and advanced security with VPN option and built-in firewall. It works as a router, but you’ll want to pair another router in access point mode for your indoor Wi-Fi. It’s expensive and can seem intimidating to the inexperienced, but it offers great insight into your network and an impressive depth of security features without additional subscriptions.
Reyee RG-E5 for $150: Purely performance-based, this dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router impressed me. It offers excellent coverage, very fast speeds on the 5GHz band, and solid stability. It can also form a network with other Reyee routers, and the app boasts free parental controls. On the other hand, security is lacking (no WPA3, no 2FA, no anti-malware), you have to create a Ruijie Cloud account (Ruijie is the parent company of China), and the app is poorly translated. so it’s hard to understand.
