The comparison of four models clarifies what distinguishes a gaming router from a normal router and which models are worthwhile for gamers.
When it comes to online gaming, nothing is more annoying than lag and high latency. Therefore, gamers should always connect the console or computer to the router or modem using a LAN cable. Sometimes this is not possible and gamers have to rely on a wireless connection. However, routers provided by the provider quickly reach their limits when vacuum cleaner robots, consoles, computers, tablets, smartphones, etc. are idling together in the Wi-Fi. Somewhat more powerful models can help here.
What a gaming router must be able to do
One thing in advance: Gamers do not necessarily need a designated gaming router. This is more of a marketing jargon that is of little use. No matter how good the router is, it cannot change anything about the data throughput of your line. So if you share your 50 Mbit/s line with several people and devices and all want to stream or gamble at the same time, stuttering is inevitable. The first thing to do here – if possible – is to use a higher bandwidth.
Gaming routers: more antennas, more frequency bands
A new router only makes sense if the WLAN fails despite the high bandwidth, and this can be for a number of reasons. The most common is that your router is using an old Wi-Fi standard. In 2023 it should be Wi-Fi 6, because that enables higher transfer rates for many devices in the WLAN – of course only if the router offers enough antennas. After all, Wi-Fi 6 is backward compatible. So smartphones, TVs & Co. with a Wi-Fi 5 antenna connect to a Wi-Fi 6 network.
This is because both Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 operate in the 5 gigahertz band. Incidentally, the special feature of proven gaming routers is also buried in the antennas: Compared to “normal” routers, they offer more of them, which then also transmit in different frequency ranges. Typically, a router creates at least one 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) and one 5 GHz Wi-Fi band. Gaming routers then offer either a second 5 GHz band or even a 6 GHz band. The 6 GHz band is also called WiFi 6E. Why is that important?
Wi-Fi 6E not backward compatible
Because wifi 6E compared to Wi-Fi 6 is not backward compatible! So PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and most computers cannot receive Wi-Fi 6E and will not find the frequency band. Here you need one new wifi antenna on the computer. So for most consumers, a dual 5GHz router makes more sense.
In addition, a new router should be mesh-enabled. A mesh network is an intelligent Wi-Fi network that always finds the best access point for the devices in the network without you having to keep reconnecting your smartphone, laptop, etc. to a repeater.
Mesh and more frequency bands
Each frequency range offers different strengths and weaknesses. The lower the wave (2.4GHz), the better the range. The higher the wave (5 or 6 GHz), the more data can be passed through faster. If the console and computer are close to the router, you should connect the two to the WLAN in the high frequency range. If the devices are further away, in the low. The reason why it makes sense to have several 5 GHz bands or a 6 GHz band is that the individual bands are of course also limited in terms of their data throughput.
If, for example, a Smart TV, several laptops and the console all transmit on the same frequency band, this can become blocked even though the bandwidth of your connection is not exhausted. In order to be able to gamble properly, a second frequency band in which you only place gaming computers or consoles helps. This guarantees a free line. You can also prioritize individual devices in the router settings. This also makes sense if you want to gamble in peace while other people in the household are blocking the line.
Gaming routers in comparison: These models are worth it
Enough of the gray theory, let’s take a closer look at the gaming routers according to the criteria mentioned. So we want a router that creates at least two 5GHz bands and one 2.4GHz band. Wi-Fi 6E would be desirable if we are already using devices that receive the new standard. Wi-Fi 6 is a must. Of course, the router should also be mesh-capable if we want to expand our network and it should also have at least four Ethernet sockets. If you need more because the smart home is overflowing with bridges and hubs, you should of course keep an eye on that.
TP-Link Next-Gen WIFI 6 Gigabit Tri-Band
- Gigabit Ethernet Ports: 4
- 2.5 Gbps port: 1
- USB-A sockets: 2
- USB-C sockets: 0
- WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS: Tri-band 2x 5 GHz, 1×2.4 GHz, up to 6600 Mbit/s
- CPU: quad core
A comparatively cheap gaming router starts with theTP-Link AX6600 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6. Gamers pay around 300 euros for the router and receive a model with four gigabit Ethernet ports and a 2.5 gigabit per second port. No private line can take full advantage of it yet, but at least gamers are prepared for the future. For Wi-Fi, TP-Link uses a tri-band, which is divided into two Wi-Fi 6 bands in the 5 GHz frequency range and one 2.4 GHz band. However, the gaming router does not yet offer Wi-Fi 6E. Overall, the router offers a data throughput of 6600 megabits per second (Mbit/s).
574 Mbit/s are distributed over the 2.4 GHz band, 1200 Mbit/s over the normal 5 GHz band and 4800 Mbit/s over the additional 5 GHz band. The router has a total of eight antennas. Of course, the router is also mesh-capable, but you have to be careful here: Not all repeaters from TP-Link are compatible with each other. With the AX6600, TP Link relies on OneMesh. TP Link deco mesh systems will not work with the router!
Netgear Nighthawk 12-Stream WiFi 6E Router AXE11000
- Gigabit Ethernet Ports: 4
- 2.5 Gbps port: 1
- USB-A sockets: 0
- USB-C sockets: 2
- WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS: Tri-band 1x 5 GHz, 1x 6 GHz, 1x 2.4 GHz, up to 10800 Mbit/s
- CPU: quad core
It is around 200 euros more expensive Netgear Nighthawk WiFi 6E Router AXE11000. The ne plus ultra of a gaming router is hidden behind the cryptic name. It also supplies a household with three WLAN bands. Of course, there is a 2.4 GHz band for the long distance, which offers a bandwidth of 1.2 Gbit/s. That’s almost twice as much as the TP-Link router, although both routers work with a total of eight antennas. This is joined by a 5 GHz band that offers a bandwidth of 4.8 Gbit/s.
As a reminder, the TP-Link router has two 5 GHz bands, one with a bandwidth of 4.8 Gbps and one with a bandwidth of 1.2 Gbps. There is also the Wi-Fi 6E band (6 GHz) with a bandwidth of 4.8 Gbit/s. You may need a new one to receive the band PCIe card with corresponding antenna. What also distinguishes the Netgear router from the TP model are the USB sockets. TP still relies on the bulky USB-A sockets, the Netgear router has two USB-C sockets installed.
Tip: With this voucher you save at Saturn. Of course, the electronics store also has gaming routers on offer.
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000
- Gigabit Ethernet Ports: 4
- 2.5 Gbps port: 1
- Dual 10G ports: 2
- USB-A sockets: 2
- USB-C sockets: 0
- WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS: Quad band 2x 5 GHz, 1x 6 GHz, 1×2.4 GHz, up to 15560 bit/s
- CPU: quad core
Asus is more known to gamers for their graphics cards and motherboards, but the manufacturer also offers proven gaming routers. His top model is the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000. A special feature immediately catches the eye in comparison to its two competitors: The router offers four Wi-Fi bands, the previously presented only three. With the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000, the bands are divided into a 2.4 GHz (1148 Mbit/s), two 5 GHz (2x 4804 Mbit/s) and a 6 GHz band (4804 Mbit/s) on. This offers gamers the maximum design options and is also future-proof.
Gamers can reserve one of the 5 GHz bands for consoles and gaming PCs, the 2.4 GHz band provides the necessary range and the 6 GHz band is available for future devices. In addition to four Gigabit Ethernet sockets, the router also offers two 10 Gbit/s ports. This should be interesting for users who want to connect a server that requires a high bandwidth in the home network. Of course, the router also has a 2.5 Gbit/s WAN connection, which it uses to connect to the modem, and it is also mesh-capable with the appropriate Asus repeaters.
Affordable Wi-Fi 6 router: D-Link EXO AX AX1800
- Gigabit Ethernet Ports: 4
- Gigabit WAN port: 1
- no USB
- WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS: Dual band: 1x 5 GHz, 1x 2.4 GHz, up to
- CPU: dual core
If you have now decided that you do not need a wireless router with eight antennas and four bands because there are only a few devices on the home network anyway, then a normal Wi-Fi 6 router will do just fine. A cheap representative of this genus is the Wi-Fi 6 router: D-Link EXO AX AX1800. It is limited to the essentials and offers a 2.4 GHz band (574 Mbit/s) and a 5 GHz band (1200 Mbit/s). You won’t find any USB sockets, but instead it has four Gigabit Ethernet ports for cable connections and, of course, the WAN socket for the modem. Warning: the router is not mesh-capable. It is therefore more suitable for small apartments.
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