What to look for in high-speed routers

　　The latest wireless standards

　　Wi-Fi devices operate on a set of standard protocols that ensure all connected devices can communicate with each other. These are the 802.11 numbers you see in device spec sheets. The current standard in popular use is 802.11ac, which offers speeds up to 1,300 Mbps on a single band.

　　There is also the newer 802.11ad, with speeds up to 4,600 Mbps, but it isn’t widely used yet. So even if your router supports it, you might not see the full benefit for a few more years. Still, buying a fast router that supports the newest standards will keep your router sharp for years to come.

　　In short, for future-proofing, get a router with the 802.11ad standard, but for maximum performance today that comes at a cheaper price, go with 802.11ac.

　　Lots of gigabit Ethernet ports

　　Although these routers all bring ultrafast wireless internet to your home, make sure you have plenty of Ethernet ports on board for wired connections. Ethernet tends to be both faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi, mostly because you don’t have to worry about wireless signal interference. For maximum performance, connect the following devices via Ethernet, if possible:

　　Streaming TV boxes

　　Gaming consoles

　　Your primary computer

　　It does reduce mobility, but plenty of available Ethernet ports means you won’t have to prioritize devices as much. For that reason, we recommend having at least four Ethernet ports on your router.

　　Powerful processor

　　If someone asked you what features you thought were important in a wireless router, you probably wouldn’t say “processors.” That’s because processors are typically associated with computers and smartphones. However, they’re also important for routers—if you want the best performance possible, that is. Router processors are pretty important. They handle incoming requests and route devices to the right bands and antennas.

　　Processors consist of several “cores” that work together to make the device run. While it’s not an absolute rule, generally more processor cores are better. Look for a quad-core processor for peak performance, though dual-core processors can also get the job done.

　　Specialized features

　　There are some advanced router features that you’ll want to keep an eye out for. These are common in high-end routers, and they make a big difference in day-to-day performance. They’re also starting to trickle down to more affordable models as the tech becomes cheaper to produce.

　　MU-MIMO: Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) is a multi-tasking feature that makes a Wi-Fi router much better at handling more than one connected device at a time. Nearly every home will have more than one device connected at once these days—laptops, tablets, phones, streaming TV boxes, security cameras—so this feature should be on any router you purchase for Wi-Fi speed.

　　Beamforming: Beamforming is a feature that directs the wireless signal toward the connected devices rather than just spreading it around a room evenly. This can significantly improve signal strength, which in turn improves speed and reliability. Most high-end routers like the ones on our list will have beamforming, but it’s something to double-check.

　　Quench your need for Wi-Fi speed.

　　Our Wi-Fi networks are more crowded than ever. If you want to get the most out of your devices, you need one of these powerful routers to shoulder the load. Do you have a favorite router we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments.