The best gaming routers let you level up your home network with top-notch performance for lag-free online gaming, multi-gig ports for faster wired downloads, unique designs complete with RGB lighting and extra features you just won’t find anywhere else.
To determine which gaming routers provide the best wired and wireless experience, our expert team puts them through extensive real-world testing. In addition to running network benchmarks at multiple distances in a multi-story home to measure their speed and range, we also take a close look at their gaming-specific features like bandwidth prioritization and game accelerators.
What's the best gaming router you can get right now? The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI is it, delivering warp speeds and an incredible amount of bandwidth that any gamer will benefit from. But there are other options covering a wide range of scenarios to fit your connectivity needs. These are the best gaming routers you can buy right now for the ultimate online gaming experience
I've spent years shaking my fist at my router whenever I missed winning a match due to lag or completely dropped out of a multiplayer session. After owning a high-speed gaming router, I now have nothing to complain about when getting beaten in Street Fighter or losing all my loot in Marathon. It's well worth investing in to upgrade your connectivity for gaming (and beyond), and our experts here at Tom's Guide have done the testing to help you find the right gaming monitor for your setup.
The best gaming routers you can buy today
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The best gaming router overall
The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE1900AI grants your Wi-Fi the ultimate potential, with the Wi-Fi 7 router being built for the modern gamer in need of lag-free, blazing-fast speeds and far-reaching range. Right now, it's the best gaming router we've tested, but its $900 price tag will sting (despite being well worth it).
Featuring all the premium connectivity features to expect from Wi-Fi 7, including ultra-wide 320MHz data channels, Multi-Link Operations and 4K Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), what's important here is the amount of throughput it blazes through. This tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (6 GHz included) reaches 2.580 Gbps at 15 feet, and even more impressively, 1.006 Gbps at 50 feet.
Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI
Performance Results
Slide through to see speeds at different distances
15 feet
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI | 2.58 |
But a wired 15-foot connection yielded 3.519 Gbps, too, and it offers multiple connections with its dual 10Gbps ports (one dedicated specifically for gaming) and four 2.5Gbps ports.
The ROG Rapture GT-BE1900AI is also AI-powered, featuring a whopping 70 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage to run machine learning models locally, helping to deliver smart, lag-free gaming connections to PCs, consoles and more.
It's an incredibly capable router, and its premium cost reflects this. Using up 26.0 watts, usage could cost you around $33 annually in electricity, and be warned, it can get hot under the hood when put under pressure. Regardless, if you're after the best connectivity for the ultimate gaming experience and a router that can handle data-hungry homes, this flashy, feature-filled Wi-Fi 7 router is it.
- Read our full Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI review
The best gaming router for value
The TP-Link Archer GE650 is a very affordable, feature-packed Wi-Fi 7 gaming router that delivers excellent performance with a unique design. If you want the best balance of price, speed, and features you can get today, this gaming router delivers and then some with full Wi-Fi 7 support, a low-latency design, and, of course, built-in RGB lighting.
When testing the Archer GE650, our reviewer Brian Nadel was highly impressed by its raw wireless power. At close range, where speed matters most for gaming, the router set a new benchmark for its class, reaching a peak throughput of 2.019 Gbps at 15 feet. These strong wireless speeds continued at 50 and 75 feet, proving the GE650 can handle broader home coverage. While it struggled to fill Brian’s full home, the limited range is by no means a deal-breaker, and the performance for the price is stellar.
TP-Link Archer GE650 Performance Results
Slide through to see speeds at different distances
15 feet
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| TP-Link Archer GE650 | 2.019 |
The GE650 features a sharp triangular shape, and its RGB lighting extends up from the center of the front panel. Around the back, you get a serious array of connections that are perfect for competitive gamers. These include a 5 GbE input port, a 5 GbE output port, three 2.5 GbE output ports (one serves as a dedicated gaming port), and a USB port for sharing data across your home network.
Finally, the Archer GE650 features TP-Link’s Game Center dashboard, which lets you easily boost network performance in specific games, monitor traffic and tweak the router’s customizable lighting.
You can certainly spend more on a gaming router, but with the Archer GE650, you don’t have to. Instead, you’re getting a fully equipped Wi-Fi 7 gaming router with loads of features and ports for a whole lot less.
- Read our full TP-Link Archer GE650 review
The best mesh gaming router
The Acer Predator Connect T7 might look like a slimmed-down version of an Xbox Series X at first glance, but it’s actually a Wi-Fi 7-powered mesh gaming router. Available in black or white, this gaming router is very easy to set up, comes with built-in security software from Trend Micro and because it’s one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems, you get excellent range too.
During testing, our reviewer, Brian, saw download speeds of 1.914 Gbps at close range (15 feet). These fast speeds kept up at middle distances too, where the Predator Connect T7 hit 476 Mbps at 50 feet. Most importantly for a mesh system, Acer’s gaming router excelled at long range, where it delivered 121 Mbps at 90 feet, proving its strength as a true whole-home gaming solution.
Acer Predator Connect T7 Performance Results
Slide through to see speeds at different distances
15 feet
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Acer Predator Connect T7 | 1.914 |
While other gaming routers tend to have flashier designs, I really love the more subtle look of the Predator Connect T7. It does have built-in RGB lighting, but instead of being front and center, you just get a splash of color on top. One other thing that really makes the Predator Connect T7 stand out is the fact that it uses Intel’s Killer Prioritization engine for peak gaming performance.
As a high-end specialist, this mesh gaming router isn’t without its downsides, which include its higher $330-per-device price and the fact that it’s not available in a multi-pack. Furthermore, you are limited to just two gigabit output ports for wired devices, though you do get a 2.5 GbE input port and a USB-C port around back.
If you want the wider coverage of a mesh router with gaming-level performance and a more subtle look, the Acer Predator Connect T7 is an excellent mesh Wi-Fi system with full Wi-Fi 7 support.
- Read our full Acer Predator Connect T7 review
The best gaming router for fiber internet
The TP-Link Archer GE800 is a fully loaded, Wi-Fi 7 gaming router that will serve you well for years to come thanks to its impressive array of multi-gig ports. If that wasn’t enough, though, you also get a dedicated fiber internet hookup, customizable RGB lighting effects and, of course, great download and upload speeds.
In his testing, Brian saw that the Archer GE800 excelled when hardwired to his laptop with a blazing-fast 4.44 Gbps. For wireless performance, at a more practical close range of 15 feet, speeds were strong at 1.322 Gbps. The Archer GE800 also maintained excellent coverage and mid-range performance, hitting speeds of 456.7 Mbps at 50 feet and it was still online at 90 feet with download speeds of 65.8 Mbps.
TP-Link Archer GE800 Performance Results
Slide through to see speeds at different distances
15 feet
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| TP-Link Archer GE800 | 1.322 |
What really sets the Archer GE800 apart from the competition, though, is its ports. Not only do you get two 10 GbE inputs, but you also get a dedicated SFP+ input to connect directly to the fiber internet line coming into your home. Likewise, you also get four 2.5 GbE input ports and a USB 3.0 port.
The Archer GE800 also has some handy gaming features built-in like a Game Detector to test your real-time ping for individual games. However, my favorite is the dedicated Game Mode button on the front, right next to the button to control its RGB lighting effects.
If you’re after a powerful gaming router with full Wi-Fi 7 support and don’t mind the Archer GE800’s futuristic design and the fact that it has a fan to help keep it cool, this gaming router is an excellent choice, especially if you have fiber internet and don’t want to use the ONT terminal from your internet service provider.
- Read our full TP-Link Archer GE800 review
The best gaming router for range
The TP-Link Archer BE770 delivers the kind of real-world Wi-Fi 7 speed you'd expect from a flagship, but at $400, it outpaces pricier competitors for those who care most about gaming performance per dollar. In our testing, we measured 2.181 Gbps of wireless throughput at 15 feet — numbers that put it in the same league as much more expensive models. Even better? It keeps up those speeds over further distances.
The BE770 excels in both throughput and range. Even with a house full of devices and lag-sensitive games, Brian found latency stayed low and connections stable, which is exactly what you want in a gaming router aimed at value-focused buyers.
TP-Link Archer BE770 Performance Results
Slide through to see speeds at different distances
15 feet
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| TP-Link Archer BE770 | 2.181 |
The BE770’s range reached 130 feet in our tests, surpassing not only its predecessor but also other gaming routers like the ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI’s 120-foot result. For wired gaming, you also get one 10Gbps WAN, one 10Gbps LAN, four 1Gbps LAN ports, and dual USB 3.. That's enough to handle a console, a PC and big downloads without bottlenecks.
Still, there are a few things you miss by skipping the flagship tier. The Archer BE770’s wireless throughput at 15 feet is up there with the fastest around, but you'll miss out on gaming-specific features. That includes pre-configured port forwarding options for gaming consoles and access to the WTFast links for the GPN (Gamers Private Network).
On the plus side, setup is a breeze: the BE770 worked on the first try and took just six minutes to get a network up and running. If you’re a budget-conscious gamer who wants near-flagship speeds, modern Wi-Fi 7 tech, and enough ports for serious play, this is the router I’d recommend.
- Read our full TP-Link Archer BE770 review
The best gaming router for wired speeds
The Asus TUF Gaming BE6500 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming router with a unique look and some very impressive wired speeds. Like the ROG Rapture GT6, it comes with Asus’ AiProtection security software built in, but you can also plug in your phone for internet backup in case of an outage so you can keep gaming when your provider’s network is down.
During his tests, the TUF Gaming BE6500 provided Brian with a respectable max speed of 960.9 Mbps at close range (15 feet). Although its wireless speeds aren’t anything to write home about, the same can’t be said for its wired speeds.
When plugged in via a 15-foot Ethernet cable, Brian was seriously impressed with the TUF Gaming BE6500’s speeds of 4.653 Gbps. While you won’t see the fastest wireless speeds with this very affordable gaming router, its wired speeds surpass even those of much more expensive devices.
Asus TUF Gaming BE6500 Performance Results
Slide through to see speeds at different distances
15 feet
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Asus TUF Gaming BE6500 | 0.9609 |
Another thing that really stands out with the TUF Gaming BE6500 is its unique design. Not only is it smaller than most other gaming routers, but there are cutouts on either side to help keep it cool. There’s also an aluminum heat sink inside, and together with this more open design, the TUF Gaming BE6500 is completely fanless. In terms of ports, you get a 2.5 GbE input along with three 2.5 GbE outputs and a USB 3.2 port. Besides internet backup, this USB port also lets you quickly move data across your network.
If you want an affordable gaming router with a unique design and most of Wi-Fi 7’s best features, the Asus TUF Gaming BE6500 delivers for the price, and this is especially true if you plan to use it wired for super-fast downloads.
- Read our full Asus TUF Gaming BE6500 review
Testing Results
Gaming routers are meant to deliver amazingly fast speeds for online gameplay, and we prove this by testing each one we've chosen for this guide at a various range of distances. This shows you the speeds you can expect, but how do they compare to each other?
I've put together a versus table to help you see the speeds of each gaming router at different ranges to help you make the right choice.
Best Gaming Routers Performance Results
Select a gaming router to compare internet speed at different distances (measured in Gbps and Mbps)
| Attribute | Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI | TP-Link Archer GE650 | Acer Predator Connect T7 | TP-Link Archer GE800 | TP-Link Archer BE770 | Asus TUF Gaming BE6500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 feet | 2.58 | 2.019 | 1.914 | 1.322 | 2.181 | 0.9609 |
| 50 feet | 1006 | 552.5 | 476 | 456.7 | 1239 | 336.1 |
| 75 feet | 528.3 | 238.2 | 231.5 | 197.1 | 772.1 | 189.4 |
| 90 feet | 49.1 | 4.3 | 121 | 65.8 | 70.9 | 27.9 |
Meet our testers
As someone who's been working from home for the past six years, Anthony Spadafora has tried everything from Wi-Fi extenders to powerline adapters to get the most out of his home network before finally upgrading to a mesh Wi-Fi system. Along the way, he's tested out loads of different routers and network configurations. Based on what he's learned, Anthony tries to highlight the critical role Wi-Fi routers play in our day to day lives and how a mesh network can help solve the most common connectivity issues like Wi-Fi dead spots.
With experience in testing, using and evaluating wireless data from before Wi-Fi was even a word, Brian Nadel has tried out and reviewed every major router available in his home networking lab. A LAN nerd, his philosophy is to use the router the way you would, testing networking gear for ease of setup, performance, security and above all for value. The result is peace of mind when it comes to choosing the right router.
How to choose the best gaming router for you
Since internet providers don’t hand out gaming routers when you sign up for a new plan, this may likely be your first time buying one. If that’s the case, then I’m here to help by breaking down the speeds, features and everything else you need to look for in a gaming router.
Whether you want the fastest speeds possible when playing competitively on your PC, want to download new games to your PS5 in record time, or want to be able to play on one of the best handheld gaming consoles from anywhere in your house, here’s everything you need to consider before upgrading to a gaming router.
Speed and Wi-Fi standard
The biggest question gamers often ask is, “How fast is it?” However, speed is only half the battle, and the other half is latency (or lag). The latest Wi-Fi standards are designed to solve both of these problems simultaneously, to ensure your ping stays low and stable.
Just like one of the best Wi-Fi routers, your gaming router uses multiple frequencies or bands. These include the 2.4 GHz band, which has wider coverage but slower speeds, the 5 GHz band, which trades faster speeds for slightly less range and, more importantly for gaming, the 6 GHz band.
If your router gives you access to the 6 GHz band like all Wi-Fi 6E and most Wi-Fi 7 models do, you can use it like a private, exclusive lane since the rest of your connected devices will most likely be connected to the other two. If you want the best overall performance and want to give your home network the same futureproofing you would with your gaming PC, then Wi-Fi 7 is the best choice.
Not only do you get access to the 6 GHz band, but it’s also enhanced by technologies like Multi-Link Operation (MLO). While older routers could only use one band at a time to send and receive data, Wi-Fi 7 routers can use multiple bands simultaneously for a rock-solid connection. This also reduces lag spikes and provides a level of stability that almost matches a wired Ethernet connection.
If you’re on a budget but still want access to this faster band, Wi-Fi 6E is the sweet spot between performance and affordability. However, the best Wi-Fi 7 routers have now started to come down in price, so it’s definitely worth spending a bit more now so that you don’t have to upgrade later.
Wired ports and multi-gig capacity
When it comes to defeating lag for good, wired connections are the ultimate secret weapon. Fortunately, your gaming router will likely come equipped with more high-speed, multi-gig ports than a traditional router. In fact, it may even have a dedicated gaming port just for your PC or console.
In addition to this highly specialized port, many gaming routers feature both multi-gig input and output ports. While a multi-gig input port will let you make the most of your internet plan’s max speeds, a multi-gig output port will ensure that your gaming devices get this same high-speed connection.
As you shop for a new gaming router, you want to take a close look at the ports around back. In addition to a multi-gig input port, you want at least one or, better yet, several multi-gig output ports. Likewise, some specialized gaming routers like the TP-Link Archer GE800 also feature a dedicated fiber hookup that lets you connect the optical line going into your home right into your gaming router.
Another nice feature to have is USB ports. While most let you share data across your home network, some can also be used to plug in your phone and use its connection for internet backup during an outage.
Range, mesh and signal stability
When shopping for a gaming router, you first need to decide if a single router is enough for your space or if you need a mesh Wi-Fi system instead.
The right one for you will depend on the size of your home, the thickness of your walls and where you like to game. If you live in a smaller apartment and play near your router, then a single unit is always the best choice for guaranteed, low-latency speed. However, if you live in a large, multi-story home or an older house with thick walls, you’re going to run into coverage issues. This is where one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems can help, and fortunately, there are now mesh routers specifically designed for gamers.
Instead of a single device, a mesh Wi-Fi system uses multiple nodes or satellites to spread the Wi-Fi signal from the main unit even farther. For the best stability and coverage, you want to look for a mesh gaming router with a tri-band design. That way, you can use one of the bands as a dedicated backhaul channel to send data between the main router and the satellites. Alternatively, if your home is wired for Ethernet, you can hardwire your units together for wired backhaul instead.
If a mesh system isn’t for you, stability is still key. Even with a single router, look for models with powerful internal or external antennas that are noted for their excellent signal penetration (like the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI). This feature means the router is specifically designed to push its signal effectively through common household barriers like thick walls and doors, ensuring a stable connection on the other side of your house.
Gaming software and features
Compared to a traditional router or mesh router, what makes gaming routers stand out is their software. Most of them have a built-in dashboard — often called a Game Center — that allows you to manually control your network traffic. Here, you’ll be able to enable the most important feature for gaming, bandwidth prioritization or (QoS). This allows you to tell your router to give your primary gaming device (PC, console or handheld) a massive share of your available bandwidth and move its data packets to the front of the line, even if others in your home are streaming 4K video or downloading updates.
Beyond simple prioritization, you also want to look for specialized features to give you a competitive edge. For instance, some gaming routers include Game Accelerators that actively look for the shortest, fastest path to a given game’s servers, which helps reduce ping and overall lag. Likewise, other high-end models offer valuable utility features like simplified port forwarding for consoles or the ability to use a VPN directly on your router. These add-ons are what really set premium gaming routers apart from the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a gaming router and a regular router?
Prioritization is what sets the two apart. Unlike a traditional router, a gaming router uses specialized Quality of Service (QoS) software to identify gaming data (like traffic from your gaming PC or PS5) and moves it to the front of the line. This helps ensure your online gaming sessions result in a perfectly stable, low-latency connection, even if someone else in your home is streaming 4K video or downloading large files.
Will a new gaming router help me download games faster?
Not directly, since your download speeds are ultimately determined by your current plan with your internet service provider (ISP). However, a new gaming router, especially one with Wi-Fi 7 support, can ensure you get the absolute maximum speed that your plan allows for. Gaming routers do this by reducing congestion on your home network and utilizing high-speed, multi-gig ports, which helps large game files download faster by maximizing the router’s efficiency.
Do I need a mesh Wi-Fi system if I only play on one device?
This really depends on the size of your house or apartment. If you mainly play near your router, then a single, powerful gaming router will be better for stability and speed. However, if your gaming PC or console is in another faraway room, or if you like to use your handheld on your couch or in your bed in a large multi-story home, then you may want to consider a mesh router. This is especially true if you live in a home with thick walls that weaken your router’s signal strength. A mesh Wi-Fi system guarantees good performance everywhere.
Is it better to connect my PC or console using Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable?
For fast, lag-free gaming and downloads, it’s always best to use an Ethernet cable when you can. Although modern Wi-Fi is very fast, a direct, physical connection always offers the most reliable and stable connection since you don’t have to deal with potential wireless interference. The one exception to this would be with the PS5 Pro, as it supports Wi-Fi 7 but only has a gigabit Ethernet port, so you may see faster wireless than wired speeds.
How we test gaming routers
To determine which gaming routers are truly the best, we put them through a rigorous gauntlet of both real-world and benchmark testing, just like we do with traditional routers and mesh routers. This allows us to measure their performance under both typical daily use and ideal testing conditions. In our real-world tests, we set up each gaming router in a 100-year-old, multi-story home.
This lets our expert team test their ability to transmit data between floors and, just as importantly, through walls. Throughout the review period, we used each gaming router as our daily driver, pushing it to the limit with tasks like transferring large files, streaming 4K video and of course, competitive online gaming.
For our benchmark testing, we use Keysight’s IxChariot software to simulate complex network traffic in a repeatable and controlled way with 10 active users simultaneously. This lets us measure the quality and stability of a network powered by a gaming router — including metrics like latency, jitter, and packet loss — rather than just peak download speeds.
Crucially, this process allows us to verify that a router's gaming acceleration and Quality of Service (QoS) software successfully prioritizes game traffic. IxChariot then provides us with the key performance metrics that form the basis of the performance sections of our reviews and the testing data you see throughout this guide.
Finally, we test data transmission throughput at set distance intervals of 15, 50, 75, and 90 feet. This process gives us a clear idea of performance both up close and at a distance and allows us to determine a router’s maximum effective range. Specifically for gaming routers, we also test their wired performance since you’re more likely to use one of these routers with an Ethernet connection.
Since we use the same testing process for each router we review, we can then compare speed test results between models to tell you exactly why one router is better in certain situations and households than another.
For more information on how we test networking devices, check out our guide on how we test Wi-Fi routers, along with our more general how we test page for Tom's Guide.
