Best 5 wireless routers
(Updated December 10, 2012 3:00 AM PST)
Dong Ngo
Senior associate editor
The wireless router is arguably the most important piece of computer equipment in your home (and even when traveling), since it connects the rest of your gadgets to one another and the Internet. As there are so many choices on the market, it's always hard to find the best one for your money. This is a list of the current Top 5 routers I've reviewed so far. They come with different feature sets and prices, but all of them share great performance and have earned high CNET ratings.
Best fun, feature, and speed combo
Asus RT-AC66U 802.11ac Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router
The Asus RT-AC66U is an excellent router and is currently one of the best options among those that support the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard.
Price: $189.99 - $249.97 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
Totally new type of home router
Linksys EA4500 Media Stream N900 Smart Wi-Fi Router
Running Cisco Connect Cloud firmware, the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router EA4500 makes an excellent router for those who want a fast and advanced home network that's easily manageable from anywhere.
Price: $159.00 - $199.99 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
Fastest Wi-Fi speed to date
NetGear R6300 WiFi Router
The Netgear R6300 WiFi Router is for a high-standards, low-ego type of user: it's not something you can show off aesthetically, but a powerhouse for a robust, fast home network, both for now and tomorrow.
Price: $198.00 - $199.99 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
HD streaming fans' delight
D-Link DIR-857 HD Media Router 3000
Though not perfect, the D-Link DIR-857 HD Media Router 3000 makes a great router for homes thanks to its top-notch performance on the 5GHz band and a nice set of features.
Price: $129.00 - $156.56 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
Best all-around router
Asus RT-N66U Dark Knight Double 450Mbps N Router
Though not perfect, the Asus RT-N66U Dark Knight Double 450Mbps N Router would make an excellent network gateway for home and small-office environments.
Price: $149.99 - $180.00 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review