How to choose the best Wi-Fi router for gaming

There are a few things you’ll look for in any high-quality router (speed capability, antennas, etc.), but a device designed with gaming in mind will boast other key features to optimize your experience. Consider the following when it’s time to choose the best gaming router for you:

QoS (Quality of service) prioritization

Congestion on your network can result in lag and latency that will heavily affect your performance. All routers have QoS features to an extent, but a good gaming router will prioritize certain consoles and applications over common household traffic like smartphones and smart home devices. A great one will allow users to specify bandwidth priorities as they please.

Bands

Dual-band routers have become standard for connected households with more than just a couple devices competing for bandwidth. Serious gamers should go one step further and shoot for a tri-band device. Lower priority traffic normally uses the 2.4 GHz band while smart TVs and laptops tend to take up space on the 5Ghz band. Tri-band routers will add a second 5 GHz band that you can dedicate specifically to gaming. Think of it as adding an express lane to a busy two-lane highway to break up traffic.

Antennas/range

The more antennas your device features, the better range and signal it will project. This is especially important when it comes to decreasing latency and the lag issues that plague frustrated gamers.

Gigabit ethernet ports

Going wireless can be helpful, but every serious gamer knows that a wired connection is best for an uninterrupted signal and the fastest speeds your router allows. Evaluate how many devices you’ll be connecting directly and then choose a router with the appropriate amount of ports. Generally, four ports is enough for a large household with multiple devices.

MU-MIMO technology

Many top-rated gaming routers feature Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology which allows for simultaneous data streaming to multiple users instead of sequential. In order to take advantage of the upgrade in throughput, be sure that each user device supports MU-MIMO technology before purchasing your new gaming router or vice versa.

Updated Wi-Fi standards

You may have heard them referred to as standards, protocols or Wi-Fi specs, but all of these are terms for the standard of wireless internet compatibility on your router. The most current standards are 802.11n and 802.11ac, also known as Wi-Fi 4 and 5 respectively. The majority of devices currently sold and in use by most users are running Wi-Fi 5. Certification for Wi-Fi 6 began on September 16, 2019 and the first devices featuring the faster standard are already on the market. A router running Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with only one connected device is said to experience speeds up to 40% faster than Wi-Fi 5. If possible, spring for a device running the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard for an upgrade in throughput and network efficiency. Notice that we didn’t mention price? That’s because going with a lesser-priced router may not deliver the gaming experience or Wi-Fi connectivity you need. Anyone who’s familiar with excessive game lag or frequent disconnections will tell you that spending a little extra for the right router is definitely worth it.