Price and performance: Discover our Top picks for WiFi routers in the UK, and how NETGEAR UK is number 1

This is paid for content, and the results are not from an independent test carried out by the Blackpool Gazette.
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Published 8th Jan 2024, 09:47 BST
Updated 9th Jan 2024, 11:36 BST
The best WiFi routers for your home. Picture suppliedThe best WiFi routers for your home. Picture supplied
The best WiFi routers for your home. Picture supplied

Today’s progressive WiFi routers deliver blazing-fast speeds and stable performance for streaming, gaming, animation, video creation, and more. However, the best WiFi routers can come with a premium price tag, so now is a good time to weigh up WiFi price and performance to get the best available deal.

What to look for in a new WiFi router

WiFi technology has rapidly progressed during the past decade. If you haven’t upgraded your system for a few years, now is the right time to take a quantum leap into the future of 5G home router WiFi. Technologies and features to look for include dual-band, tri-band, and quad-band systems, plus whole-home mesh networks that offer several WiFi access points around the house, indoors and outside.

Take a little time to explore the WiFi 6, WiFi 6E, and WiFi 7 standards that offer superior performance, along with USB ports and Ethernet ports. You may like to investigate the potential of range extenders also. Consider your living space, the number of devices you need to simultaneously connect, advanced security features, and parental controls to ensure your kids are safe while online. The following are our top WiFi picks for price and performance.

  1. NETGEAR Orbi 963 Black
  2. TP-Link Deco XE75
  3. ASUS ZenWiFi ROG Rapture GT6
  4. NETGEAR Orbi 863 Black
  5. eero 6+

1. NETGEAR Orbi 963 Black

This is the world’s most powerful whole-home WiFi 6E system, deserving its place at the top of the list. The NETGEAR Orbi 963 delivers speeds up to 10.8Gbps and coverage up to 9,000 sq. ft. The secret is in the exclusive quad-band technology and dedicated backhaul that ensures maximum speeds for up to 200 connected devices. This product opens up an entirely new 6GHz band that delivers optimal speeds for WiFi 6E-ready computers, phones, and other connected devices.

Features include a 10 Gig internet port, patented antenna design, and NETGEAR Armor, the automatic shield of security for all your devices. The NETGEAR Orbi 963 is compatible with any internet service provider and can be set up in minutes using the Orbi app on your phone. For even more amazing WiFi, check out the latest NETGEAR Orbi 970, featuring the latest WiFi 7 standard.

2. TP-Link Deco XE75

The best WiFi performance comes at a price, including the TP-Link Deco XE75. However, the return is whole-home WiFi 6E that can cover up to 7,200 sq. ft. with seamless WiFi that will relegate dead zones to a thing of the past. The 6GHz band eliminates interference from all legacy devices and delivers a powerful dedicated backhaul for streamlined performance.

The TP-Link Deco XE75 offers tri-band speeds of 5,400 Mbps for up to 200 devices that can all be united with a single password for the entire system. This is home network mesh at its best, with backward compatibility with all previous WiFi generations. We found the setup very easy using the Deco app, including TP-Link HomeShield for keeping the entire network safe from malicious intruders, while also eliminating WiFi dead spots around the house.

3. ASUS ZenWiFi ROG Rapture GT6

This WiFi mesh router offers game-ready internet speeds. The ASUS ZenWiFi ROG Rapture GT6 is a favourite with gamers, streamers, video producers, and virtual reality creators who insist on faster speeds. The ROG Rapture GT6 is the first tri-band ROG mesh WiFi system for next-gen gaming and other high-tech experiences. This is a premium tri-band WiFi main router mesh system, and it cannot be matched by a traditional router or WiFi extender.

With more uplink/downlink bandwidth and MU-MIMO, the ASUS WiFi 6 router provides up to 4X more capacity and 2.7X the speed of WiFi 5. We appreciated the seamless multi-gigabit low-latency connections for real-time gameplay. The nine internal antennas offer greater square feet reach and eliminate dead zones so you can set up your device anywhere around the house and enjoy the fastest available internet speeds.

4. NETGEAR Orbi 863 Black

Another NETGEAR Orbi mesh system that is too good to leave off this list of favourites. The NETGEAR Orbi 863 is high-performance whole-home WiFi with up to 6Gbps WiFi speeds and 8,000 sq. ft. coverage. Future-proof your mesh system with a 10 Gig internet port for unleashing super-fast download speeds, plus 20% better WiFi coverage courtesy of the patented antenna design. The Orbi 863 is a budget-friendly alternative to the NETGEAR Orbi 970 WiFi 7 system and is compatible with any internet service provider (ISP).

Available with two-pack or three-pack satellite systems, Orbi mesh WiFi routers are attractive to look at and exciting to use, with dedicated backhaul and maximum speeds for up to 100 connected devices. I like the easy-to-use NETGEAR Armor security shield that protects all connected devices, including computers, Apple iPhones, Amazon Alexa smart speakers, and smart home security systems. The Orbi mobile app is easy to install, and you can be up and running with a high-speed guest network in only 15 minutes.

5. eero 6+

Last but by no means least is the Amazon eero 6+ dual-band WiFi mesh system. With eero 6, you get the fastest available 5G wireless router connection and enough WiFi for the entire household for work and play. Gigabit speeds are a reality for video conferencing, gaming, animation creation, music recording, and streaming your favourite Netflix programs. eero 6 is a very affordable gigabit mesh system.

There are two auto-sensing ports for fast LAN and WAN connectivity, and the eero 6+ is backward compatible with older WiFi standards. In other words, your older connected devices will continue to function optimally, and your newer WiFi 6 mesh system devices will deliver blazing-fast speeds across the entire system. I like the easy setup and attractive design.

Additional WiFi favourites worth considering include Google Nest WiFi and Linksys Velop. If your router, modem, or internet connection is slowing you down, it’s probably time to upgrade your WiFi network. Get the most out of the 2.4GHz band, 5GHz band, and 6GHz band with your choice from the best mesh WiFi routers on the planet.

Are there other ways to improve WiFi performance?

If you are using a single router, try positioning it close to the centre of the house, away from obstructions. Alternatively, use a WiFi extender for further WiFi reach. Use an Ethernet cable broadband connection wherever possible for guaranteed fast speeds. Newer mesh systems such as NETGEAR Orbi have Ethernet ports built into the satellite nodes.

Can more satellites be added to a mesh WiFi system?

You can add additional satellites without diminishing internet speeds or WiFi signals. The entire 5G router mesh system works harmoniously as one united system for whole-home WiFi connectivity - upstairs, downstairs, and even out in the backyard. If you have a large home and need a stronger connection, mesh WiFi is the answer.