7 Best WiFi 6E Routers in 2023 [For All Budgets]
Being an extended upgrade to WiFi 6, the WiFi 6E comes with an additional 6GHz band. This additional band helps the router to manage network traffic congestion and improves the signal strength, quality. But with so many WiFi 6E routers in the market, choosing the best one for your needs can be confusing.
Since, WiFi 6E is the latest wireless standard, the routers that come with are a bit expensive compared to normal WiFi 6 routers. Being a networking hardware enthusiast, I couldn’t resist from the technology. That’s why I got my hands 17 WiFi 6E routers, tested them for 3 months and have picked up the 7 best options.
Note: These are standalone wireless routers suitable for households measuring 1,000 to 2,500 Sq Ft. For more wider coverage, I’d recommend checking out WiFi 6E mesh systems.
Why Should You Get a WiFi 6E Router?
- A new 6GHz band comes with seven additional 160MHz, while Wi-Fi 6 operates over the same congested network. As a result, routers with WiFi 6E saw a six times increase in speed over its predecessor.
- Wi-Fi 6E minimizes the time required to pass data from a router to the client devices or vice versa. This, in turn, reduces the lag time for applications like gaming and video conferencing.
- Intel confirms Wi-Fi 6E is more efficient and reliable thanks to the exclusive 6GHz band.
- The latest standard made advancements with respect to the antennas it supports, which further enhances speeds and allows multiple users to share the bandwidth simultaneously.
7 Best WiFi 6E Routers in 2023 [High Speed, Low Interference]
As a tech nerd with years of experience in networking, I am well-versed in their functionality and what makes any device a great choice. So to suggest the best-suited 6 GHz WiFi routers, I tested 17 devices in terms of speeds, coverage, consistency, reliability, security, and performance. After immense tests, only 7 could make it to the list.
So, let’s get to their detailed reviews. FYI, I’ve included models that cater to the diverse use cases. That means you’ll get one from each category: premium, mid-range, and budget yet efficient devices.
1. Best Overall: TP-Link Archer AXE300
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Suitable Internet Plan: 2 Gbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 200+
- Frequency Bands: Quad-Band
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 1148 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 4804 + 4804 Mbps
- 6GHz Speeds: 4804 Mbps
- Ports: 1 x 10G RJ45/SFP WAN/LAN + 1 x 10G WAN/LAN + 1 x 2.5G WAN/LAN + 4 x 1 Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0
- Processor: 2.0GHz Quad-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 1GB + 256MB
- App Support: Yes
TP-Link AXE300 takes over its preceding model, Archer AX11000. Besides its 2.0GHz quad-core processor, an aggregated speed of 16000 Mbps and a massive selection of ports (including a 10 Gbps port) makes it the best available Wi-Fi 6E-compatible router on the market.
Why is it a suitable choice?
TP-Link Archer AX11000 packs a host of high-end features to qualify as the best overall choice. It operates on a quad-band frequency, making many WiFi channels available, contributing to its excellent performance. The availability of two 10 Gbps Ethernet ports is the best I have ever encountered in any router.
Speeds and WiFi Coverage
As mentioned earlier, Wi-Fi 6E-supported routers are known for their speeds, with the availability of additional 160MHz channels, and this TP-Link router stands on top of the podium. It boasts a massive speed capacity of 16000 Mbps, with band-wise distribution as:
| 6 GHz: 4804 Mbps | 5 GHz(1): 4804 Mbps | 5 GHz(2): 4804 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 1148 Mbps |
In my speed tests over respective bands, I paired the 2Gbps Xfinity internet plan, and the overall performance was top-notch. Over the 6GHz band, downloads transpired at 1.92 Gbps, while uploads averaged at 142 Mbps.
At the same time, respective speeds over the 5GHz band were 1.74 Gbps and 74 Mbps, while the 2.4GHz band clocked speeds at 1.07 Gbps and 47 Mbps.
Courtesy of additional 6GHz and 5GHz bands, the signals were exceptionally clear, and whether you’re streaming, gaming, or video conferencing in the highest quality possible, ensure a no-lag performance.
These bands work harmoniously with the router’s eight-antenna setup to deliver exceptional coverage. My 2,500 Sq Ft test lab was enveloped with strong signals, except for the underground parking area. So, the overall WiFi range is 2,800 Sq Ft, which is great for a stand-alone router.
And courtesy of MU-MIMO, QoS, and OFDMA, stable signals were transmitted over to around 65 devices at a stretch.
Security Features
This is the department where TP-Link Archer AXE300 loses a few points, as despite being a pricey model, it only ships with a free HomeShield plan. There are features like DDoS protection, VPN, WPA3, guest access, access control, and auto-firmware updates. It shall be enough for most home networks.
With respect to parental controls, there are features like website blocking, scheduled access, WiFi pausing, and an internet dashboard with an overall online time viewing. These should let you protect your kids from the dangers of spending too much time online.
In my tests, this router topped the scores in almost every department, and I had an unparalleled experience using this device. However, I wish it came with HomeShield Pro premium security for free.
- Lightning-fast speeds
- Dual 10 Gbps Ethernet port
- Great wireless coverage
- Easy to setup & manage
- Excellent parental controls
2. Best For Gaming: ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,500 Sq Ft
- Suitable Internet Plan: 2 Gbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 100+
- Frequency Bands: Tri-band
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 1148 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 4804 Mbps
- 6GHz Speeds:4804 Mbps
- Ports: 1 x 2.5G WAN/LAN + 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 2 x USB 3.2
- Processor: 1.8GHz Quad-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 1GB + 256MB
- App Support: Yes
If you are a professional gamer and need a gaming router that comes with Wi-Fi 6E, ASUS ROG GT-AXE11000 is the one I recommend. It’s packed with powerful hardware to handle heavy games on multiple devices. Aside from a tri-band setup, the company has inculcated several gaming-oriented features to enhance its performance a few folds over GT-6000.
Why is it a suitable choice?
GT-AXE11000 is a holy grail for gamers, as it entails a triple-level game acceleration that establishes a few channels as a game server for faster data transfer. There’s a dedicated gaming port with a 2.5 Gbps speed capacity to fulfill all your devices’ bandwidth needs. Besides, its VPN fusion allows you to connect to VPN and enjoy maximum gaming speeds.
Speeds and WiFi Coverage
This Asus gaming router boasts an aggregated speed of 11000 Mbps, distributed over its three bands as follow:
| 6 GHz: 4804 Mbps | 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 1174 Mbps |
I paired up an Xfinity 2 Gbps plan and measured the download and upload speeds over three bands. And expectedly, the performance was exceptional. Over the 6GHz band, respective values were recorded at 1.89 Gbps and 122 Mbps.
And the best part is signals were never dropped, irrespective of how many devices you connect to. Technologies like MU-MIMO and OFDMA are to be credited for that.
At the same time, the 5GHz band had values around 1.74 Gbps and 109 Mbps, while it was 1.02 Gbps and 96 Mbps for the 2.4GHz band. Although congestion is expected in these compared to the 6GHz, games like Destiny 2, Valorant, and Red Dead Redemption 2 ran at 15ms ping and 85fps.
Moving on, its eight high-performance antennas do wonders in terms of coverage. At a stretch, around 2,900 Sq Ft area was filled with powerful signals, the size of a three-bedroom apartment. So if you’re searching for a good 3,000 Sq Ft router, you can’t go wrong with the Rapture GT-AXE11000.
Besides, MU-MIMO enhanced its multi-device handling capacity, and I could connect up to 45 gaming consoles and hosted a Fortnite tournament, which concluded well.
Security Features
Security is where this router gets some extra brownie points to its overall score. Asus WiFi 6E gaming router offers AiProtection Pro default, which entails a range of advanced features, and you don’t have to pay a single penny.
The features include anti-malware, intrusion blocking, and malicious website detection, alongside standard ones like WPA3, VPN, guest access, and auto-firmware update. With these features in hand, the network ecosystem isn’t vulnerable to any unwanted or external threats.
Besides, some advanced parental controls like scheduled access, age-based filter, and tracking online activities. In this way, digital mothers ensure their child isn’t exposing themselves to unwanted or explicit online activities. So, security-wise, it’s on par with some of the most secure WiFi routers today.
Asus GT-AXE11000 is an exceptional gaming router that sets a new standard for speed, coverage, and security performance. In addition to gaming-friendly settings, the router impresses in most aspects. The reason it’s put in the second position is the availability of less band and throughput capacity compared to my previous suggestion.
- Exceptional throughput
- Seamless tri-band operation
- Lifetime-free advanced security
- Excellent customization options
- Gaming accelerator
3. Best Value: TP-Link Archer AXE75
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,500 Sq Ft
- Suitable Internet Plan: 1 Gbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 574 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 2402 Mbps
- 6GHz Speeds: 2402 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 200
- Ports: 1 x 1 Gig WAN + 4 x 1 Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0
- Processor: 1.7GHz Quad-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: N/A
- App Support: Yes
Next on my list is the latest WiFi 6E offering of TP-Link in the affordable range, Archer AXE75. Aside from a tri-band offering, its standout feature is its multi-core processor setup, which works harmoniously to deliver a powerful performance. And when you compare it with its preceding model, you will find plenty of upgrades have been made in the right areas.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Irrespective of the cost, you won’t have to compromise on performance, as the tri-band setup could easily breeze through my hardware-intensive tasks. Although its processor is somewhat entry-level, stay sure about staying lag-free. It doesn’t instill any multi-gig ports, but its four 1GigE ports let you move beyond the barriers of thick walls and other devices.
Speeds and WiFi Coverage
With TP-Link Archer AXE75, you have plenty of speeds to work with. An aggregate of 5400 Mbps is distributed amongst its bands as:
| 6 GHz: 2402 Mbps | 5 GHz: 2402 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps |
In my tests, I paired it with a 1 Gbps Xfinity Plan, and despite its lower capacity compared to my previous recommendations, the results were impressive. Over the 6GHz band, I could complete downloading my long pending 135GB game at 978 Mbps in around 8-9 minutes, while uploads were great at 38 Mbps.
Over the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, respective downloads were recorded at 927 Mbps and 801 Mbps, while uploads were rated at 39 Mbps and 26 Mbps. With near-gigabit speeds over the 6GHz band, any heavy or light task shouldn’t budge an inch. Besides, the router performed exceedingly well with multiple devices connected.
Coverage is also the strong suit of this routing device, as its six antenna setup could cover a 2,200 Sq Ft area in my range tests. It’s further OneMesh supported, so you can pair it with a compatible router to double its coverage.
The ingrained technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO serve as a helping hand for running high-bandwidth applications on multiple devices without weakening the signals. Depending on your network setup, the number could extend to 65 devices, probably more.
Security Features
With the basic HomeShield security, you’ve got some handy features like access control, guest access, VPN, WPA3, and auto-security update. These features, I reckon, should secure your residential network and let you browse anything without compromising your identity.
At the same time, parental control features like scheduled access and WiFi pausing let you ensure that your kids aren’t spending too much time online. At the same time, an internet dashboard feature displays the time your kids spend online. These features combined make it as good as routers designed for parental control.
To conclude, TP-Link Archer AXE75 is an affordable yet reliable device, especially regarding stability and features. Its performance is almost on par with many high-price range routers available in the market. And when compared to my previous recommendations, it stays way behind them, thereby, its rank.