Are you looking for the best routers for apartments? If so, then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we will be discussing the top three routers specifically designed for small apartments.
Whether it’s a one-bedroom or studio apartment, these wifi routers have been tested and proven to provide a reliable connection without compromising speed or quality.
We’ll also cover some of their features so that you can make an informed decision when choosing your best routers for apartments. So let us dive into what makes these top three routers stand out from the rest!
Best Overall: TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest On Amazon: NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream AX5400 WiFi 6 Router
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest Affordable: Motorola AC2600 4×4 WiFi Smart Gigabit Router
⇣ Jump to ReviewFeatures To Look For In Best Routers For Apartments
Keep in mind the following features when on the hunt for the best routers for apartments.
Wi-Fi 5 vs Wi-Fi 6
If you’re looking to enhance your internet performance, then Wi-Fi 6 is the way to go. Not only does it offer up to 250% faster speeds than its predecessor, but it also boasts a slightly better range within your home network.
However, before making the switch be sure that both your internet plan and intended usage can handle all of this power as well as check whether or not you are willing and able to cover the additional cost of purchasing a Wi-Fi 6 router instead of one supporting Wi-Fi 5 protocol.
After assessing the capabilities of Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, we concluded that any internet plan under 300 Mbps would not be worth using a Wi-Fi 6 router for. Those in the 400 – 500 Mbps range may get away with either technology; however, if your speeds are higher than 600Mbps you should certainly invest in a Wi-Fi 6 router!
Speed
As technology advances, so does the speed of WiFi routers – from 11Mbps for initial models to 54Mbps for mid-range 802.11g, up to 150 and 600 Mbps with 802.11n, and now above 1Gbps with the arrival of cutting-edge 802.11ac.
Don’t be fooled by the routers with the highest Mbps ratings – in reality, their performance often lags far behind those numbers. Keep in mind that a high-speed router cannot miraculously make a slow internet connection faster; its speed is determined by your ISP and the router itself.
WiFi Range & Coverage
If you’re in search of a router, range, and coverage should be at the forefront of your thoughts. A router with enhanced expanse can guarantee that all parts of your apartment will have access to an internet connection.
Ports
When perusing routers, examining the different ports available may help you make a more informed purchasing decision. Most router models feature WAN and LAN for Ethernet connections as well as USB ports.
Nowadays, these USB ports are frequently used to offer economical network storage solutions – simply plug in either an HDD or flash drive into your router and share with other devices on the same network.
Mesh
Mesh Wi-Fi technology makes it possible for you to stay connected throughout your entire home or office, no matter how far away from the original router.
Connecting to satellites is seamless and uninterrupted so that you can enjoy an expanded coverage area without dealing with any of the usual hassles.
QoS
Quality of Service, also known as QoS, is an incredible feature that allows you to assign priority levels for different activities on your network. To enable this function, simply access the control panel on your router and select which activities should receive higher prioritization – such as gaming applications or streaming services.
Beamforming
Beamforming is an advantageous technology to have in larger apartments, as it enhances both the range and quality of your router signal.
Parental control
As a parent, you want to make sure your kids are safe online. Parental control makes that possible by allowing you to block certain topics or URLs and keep your children away from inappropriate content. With this tool in place, parents can rest assured their kids will have a secure internet experience.
MU-MIMO
MU-MIMO significantly enhances your ability to communicate with multiple devices at once. Therefore, it is essential for any home that features smart products constantly send signals to the router.
The guest network
By establishing a guest network, you can ensure that your guests have limited access and the same level of security as your own devices. This way, there is no need to worry about sharing the same network with strangers.
Best Routers For Apartments Reviewed In This Guide
TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router
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Introducing the TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router, is a top choice among the best routers for apartments.
This powerful and reliable router is equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi 6 Internet to give you speeds up to 1.8 Gbps (1200 Mbps on 5 GHz band and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz band).
It utilizes advanced beamforming technology and 4 high-gain antennas for increased coverage, even in far corners of your home or apartment. The built-in VPN server/client supports OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP over IPSec protocols and is certified as user friendly which makes it simple to set up with Alexa.
Enjoy smooth streaming, gaming, and downloading experience with this great router that works with all major internet service providers.
NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream AX5400 WiFi 6 Router
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The NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream AX5400 WiFi 6 Router is the perfect solution for apartments and other small spaces, offering coverage of up to 2,500 sq. ft.
Its fast Gigabit speed and the latest WiFi 6 technology delivers seamless streaming, HD gaming, and web conferencing for up to 25 devices simultaneously.
Connect your existing cable modem and enjoy all its features with any internet service provider (up to 1 Gbps). There are also 4 x 1G Ethernet ports that allow you to plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, or anything else you may need.
You can even share storage drives with any connected device via the 3.0 USB port on this router so that you can access it from anywhere as personal cloud storage. Furthermore, NETGEAR Armor will protect your family’s network thanks to its automatic shield of security across all devices.
Motorola AC2600 4×4 WiFi Smart Gigabit Router
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The Motorola AC2600 4×4 WiFi Smart Gigabit Router is considered among the best routers for apartments, providing fast and reliable internet access with dual-band Wi-Fi and concurrent 4X4 performance.
This router features 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO technology which brings blazing-fast speeds even when you’re far away from it or surrounded by noise from neighbors.
It also has a USB 3.0 port, DLNA media sharing support, Dual Core processor to ensure better data processing, Smart QoS (Quality of Service) support that allows users to prioritize important traffic flows, user-friendly firewall setup with parental controls and guest networks capability that can be easily enabled/disabled through its intuitive interface as well as IPv4 and IPv6 support for future compatibility.
Types Of Routers For Apartments
Dual-band routers
The majority of routers now boast two distinct frequencies, 2.4GHz and 5GHz. While the former offers a broader reach but slower speeds, the latter provides maximum speed over shorter distances.
A 5 GHz band on most routers will comfortably cover medium-sized apartments – enough coverage to support at least two bedrooms! If you require further range, Wi-Fi extenders provide an easy solution for expanding your network’s perimeter without sacrificing pace.
Tri-band routers
Are you curious about the benefits of tri-band routers? Not only do they receive two 5 GHz bands, but also an extra one. This could be beneficial for people living in large apartments – your device can get better performance due to less congestion on the third band.
Ultimately, if you share a space with many tenants who are often streaming or downloading content and have frequent visitors over, this router may be worth its higher cost.
Common Questions About Best Routers For Apartments
Is Wi-Fi 6e worth it for an apartment?
Wi-Fi 6e boasts tremendous speeds, yet the short range of its higher performance capabilities may be an issue in larger rooms or homes.
As opposed to a 5 GHz band that has greater reach, 6 GHz offers even faster connection rates; Nighthawk devices are prime examples as they provide up to 1200 Mbps.
Although this could present some difficulties for bigger spaces like apartments and houses, Wi-Fi 6e definitely provides increased speed with a shorter range compared to other types of wireless internet services.
Although the range of Wi-Fi 6e routers may not be suitable for massive apartments, many of them are Mesh compatible, allowing you to easily extend their coverage. That said, it is important to consider that these types of routers can often be quite expensive.
How much does range matter in an apartment?
Not Much! Most routers are more than robust enough to cover an average-sized apartment, so you shouldn’t need to stress about range.
However, if you do find yourself having difficulty accessing the internet in certain parts of your home, consider installing a Wi-Fi extender.
Are there any routers with a range too short for an apartment?
If your apartment is of a sizable size, it may be beneficial to examine the range of both 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands for optimal speeds. Even in small- or medium-sized apartments, you’d struggle to select a router that’s too short – however worth checking first.
Will other apartments nearby dampen the internet speed?
If your apartment is surrounded by strong Wi-Fi signals from surrounding neighbors, it’s likely that those signals could interfere with yours. This interference will be more pronounced on the 2.4 GHz band frequencies and should be considered when you’re looking for a budget router option.
Thankfully, there are some steps to help mitigate such issues: repositioning your router, switching over to 5GHz frequency, or adjusting its channel settings if possible.
How to position your wifi router?
- Boost your router’s performance by elevating it off the ground. This ensures that signals are being transmitted with no disruption and maximizing their effectiveness, without having large pieces of furniture obstructing its line of sight.
- Position the router in a central spot – This way, every area can receive its signal seamlessly.
- To make sure your WiFi signal is clear and strong, ensure there are no large obstacles between the router and the areas of your apartment where you need it most. Stone, metals, or tile can all weaken a WiFi connection – so pick an area for your router which doesn’t have any of these materials in its vicinity.
Video Top 5 Best Wifi Router For Apartments In 2023
Watch the video below to learn more about the Best Routers For Apartments currently available now.
Final Thoughts
Finding the best routers for apartments can be a daunting task, but with the knowledge of what to look for and our list of recommended routers, you should have no problem finding one that will provide reliable coverage and performance.
Whether it’s choosing between Mesh or traditional Wi-Fi networks, dual-band or tri-band capabilities, powerline networking technology, or any other feature unique to your situation – we are confident that you now know everything needed to make an educated decision about which router is best suited for your needs.
