Best Wi-Fi Routers Compared in 2026

These five routers are compared on wireless bands and standards as listed, Ethernet port count and speed, router type and intended use, and price. The range spans a basic dual-band router through to tri-band and quad-band models, plus one device supplied without any stated wireless specification. Buyers should match the listed bands and Ethernet speeds to their own network needs, since the products here serve quite different use cases and price points.

5 selected productsListing snapshot 23 October 2026Selection Editorial

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PC Hardware Compare editorial teamProduct information editor

Winner

TP-Link AX3000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 XPON Router wireless router Gigabit Et

The TP-Link AX3000 at £73.48 is the lowest priced option here and a sensible starting point for a straightforward dual-band setup, rather than a pick for every use case.

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Product	Brand	Price	Retailers	Wireless standard	Listed product details	Memory capacity	Interface
TP-Link AX3000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 XPON Router wireless router Gigabit Et	TP-Link	£73.48	PCHub	WiFi 6	TP-Link AX3000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 XPON Router wireless router Gigabit Ethernet Dual-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) Black	Not listed	Not listed
NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 8-Stream AX6600 WiFi 6 Router (RAX70) w	Netgear	£75.41	PCHub	WiFi 6	NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 8-Stream AX6600 WiFi 6 Router (RAX70) wireless router Gigabit Ethernet Tri-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 5 GHz) Black	Not listed	Not listed
Synology RT6600ax Router WiFi6 1xWAN 3xGbE 1x2.5Gb wireless router Tri	Synology	£222.84	PCHub	WiFi6	Synology RT6600ax Router WiFi6 1xWAN 3xGbE 1x2.5Gb wireless router Tri-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 5 GHz) Black	5Gb	Not listed
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 wireless router 10 Gigabit Ethernet Quad-band	Asus	£684.57	PCHub	Not listed	ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 wireless router 10 Gigabit Ethernet Quad-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz-1 / 5 GHz-2 / 6 GHz) Black. White	Not listed	Not listed
Cisco C1101-4P Integrated Services Router with 4-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE	Cisco	£1,143.80	PCHub	Not listed	Cisco C1101-4P Integrated Services Router with 4-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) Ports. GE Ethernet WAN Router. Integrated USB 3+. 1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty (C1101-4P)	Not listed	USB 3

1. TP-Link AX3000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 XPON Router wireless router Gigabit Et

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Price shown £73.48

A dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router covering 2.4 and 5 GHz with Gigabit Ethernet, suited to straightforward home networking.

The TP-Link AX3000 provides dual-band Wi-Fi 6 coverage across the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, aimed at buyers wanting a straightforward single router upgrade.

Ethernet connectivity is limited to Gigabit ports, which matches the wired speed offered by the NETGEAR and Synology routers further up this roundup.

Benchmark

Geekbench does not benchmark the primary function of TP-Link AX3000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 XPON Router wireless router Gigabit Et. Its scores measure the processor or graphics device in the test computer, not this product.

Browse Geekbench Community Results

English-language manufacturer specifications for the exact XX530v model, not independent benchmark results

Rated 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi link rate: 574 Mbps
Rated 5 GHz Wi-Fi link rate: 2,402 Mbps
GPON maximum downstream rate: 2.488 Gbps
GPON maximum upstream rate: 1.244 Gbps
Ethernet port link rate: 1 Gbps

View TP-Link English datasheet

The Wi-Fi values are advertised PHY link rates, not measured application throughput. GPON rates are interface limits and actual service speed depends on the optical network and ISP. The English TP-Link datasheet does not publish an independent test run for this model.

These results use different equipment and test conditions, so they should not be treated as a head-to-head ranking.

At £73.48 this is the cheapest router in the roundup, narrowly undercutting the NETGEAR model.

Product specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	TP-Link
Price	£73.48
Wireless standard	WiFi 6
Listed product details	TP-Link AX3000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 XPON Router wireless router Gigabit Ethernet Dual-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) Black

Compatible hardware

Check against Network switchesMatch router LAN speed and uplink needs to the switch ports.
Check against Wireless access pointsCheck whether the router supports the access point mode and network configuration required.
Check against Ethernet and fibre cablesMatch cable category, connector and length to the router link speed and installation.

What we like

Lowest price in the roundup
Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 as listed
Gigabit Ethernet included

What we don't like

Dual-band only, unlike the tri-band and quad-band routers in this group
No higher speed Ethernet ports listed

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2. NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 8-Stream AX6600 WiFi 6 Router (RAX70) w

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Price shown £75.41

A tri-band AX6600 Wi-Fi 6 router with 8-stream support, offering a combined band speed listing above the entry level TP-Link model.

The NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX70 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router rated AX6600, with 8-stream support and listed band figures of 1.2, 4.8 and 0.6 Gbps.

Gigabit Ethernet ports are included, the same wired speed as the TP-Link AX3000, though the tri-band wireless listing offers an extra band over that router.

Benchmark

Geekbench does not benchmark the primary function of NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 8-Stream AX6600 WiFi 6 Router (RAX70) w. Its scores measure the processor or graphics device in the test computer, not this product.

Browse Geekbench Community Results

English-language home review measurements for the exact RAX70 model

Wi-Fi download at 20 ft on 5 GHz: 925 Mbps
Wi-Fi upload at 20 ft on 5 GHz: 38.2 Mbps
Second-floor Wi-Fi download: 512 Mbps
Second-floor Wi-Fi upload: 23 Mbps
Wi-Fi download at about 70 ft: 228 Mbps
Wi-Fi upload at about 70 ft: 18 Mbps
2.4 GHz download in detached garage: 452 Mbps
2.4 GHz upload in detached garage: 29 Mbps
Wired download: 967 Mbps
Wired upload: about 41 Mbps

View Homeowner.com RAX70 test results

The reviewer used a gigabit Comcast Xfinity connection during a three-week home test. Client hardware, channel settings, building layout and ISP conditions are not fully controlled, so these results describe that test home rather than a repeatable lab comparison.

These results use different equipment and test conditions, so they should not be treated as a head-to-head ranking.

At £75.41 this is only slightly above the TP-Link AX3000, making it a close alternative at a similar price point.

Product specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	Netgear
Price	£75.41
Wireless standard	WiFi 6
Listed product details	NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band AX8 8-Stream AX6600 WiFi 6 Router (RAX70) wireless router Gigabit Ethernet Tri-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 5 GHz) Black

Compatible hardware

Check against Network switchesMatch router LAN speed and uplink needs to the switch ports.
Check against Wireless access pointsCheck whether the router supports the access point mode and network configuration required.
Check against Ethernet and fibre cablesMatch cable category, connector and length to the router link speed and installation.

What we like

Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 with 8-stream support
Close in price to the cheapest router in the roundup
Listed band figures of 1.2, 4.8 and 0.6 Gbps

What we don't like

Gigabit Ethernet only, matching the entry level TP-Link rather than the faster Synology ports
No 6 GHz band listed, unlike the ASUS model

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3. Synology RT6600ax Router WiFi6 1xWAN 3xGbE 1x2.5Gb wireless router Tri

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Price shown £222.84

A tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router with 5.9 GHz band support as reported in its listing, backed by a quad-core 1.8 GHz processor and a mixed Ethernet port setup.

The Synology RT6600ax offers tri-band Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, with its listing reporting 5.9 GHz band support alongside the standard 2.4 and 5 GHz bands.

Wired connectivity includes one WAN port, three Gigabit Ethernet ports and one 2.5GbE port, the only router in this roundup to list a port faster than Gigabit.

Benchmark

Geekbench does not benchmark the primary function of Synology RT6600ax Router WiFi6 1xWAN 3xGbE 1x2.5Gb wireless router Tri. Its scores measure the processor or graphics device in the test computer, not this product.

Browse Geekbench Community Results

English-language measurements for the exact RT6600ax model from two published reviews

Aggregate wired read throughput over 2.5GbE: 157 MB/s
Aggregate wired write throughput over 2.5GbE: 285.6 MB/s
Gigabit Ethernet wired throughput: 944 Mbps
Wi-Fi 6 close-range throughput: 738 Mbps

View StorageReview wired throughput test View KitGuru wired and Wi-Fi test results

StorageReview measured aggregate file transfers with three wired notebooks and a NAS on the 2.5GbE port. KitGuru's separate 944 Mbps result was a wired control near gigabit line rate, while its 738 Mbps Wi-Fi 6 result used an ASUS Wi-Fi 6 notebook at close range. Different workloads and equipment mean these figures are not one unified comparison.

These results use different equipment and test conditions, so they should not be treated as a head-to-head ranking.

At £222.84 this sits well above the TP-Link and NETGEAR routers, positioned below the ASUS and Cisco devices in this roundup.

Product specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	Synology
Price	£222.84
Memory capacity	5Gb
Wireless standard	WiFi6
Listed product details	Synology RT6600ax Router WiFi6 1xWAN 3xGbE 1x2.5Gb wireless router Tri-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 5 GHz) Black

Compatible hardware

Check against Network switchesMatch router LAN speed and uplink needs to the switch ports.
Check against Wireless access pointsCheck whether the router supports the access point mode and network configuration required.
Check against Ethernet and fibre cablesMatch cable category, connector and length to the router link speed and installation.

What we like

Only router here with a 2.5GbE port
Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 with 5.9 GHz support as listed
Quad-core 1.8 GHz processor

What we don't like

Considerably more expensive than the TP-Link and NETGEAR routers
No 6 GHz band listed, unlike the ASUS model

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4. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 wireless router 10 Gigabit Ethernet Quad-band

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Price shown £684.57

A quad-band router spanning 2.4 GHz, two separate 5 GHz bands and 6 GHz, paired with 10 Gigabit Ethernet and described in its product listing as a Wi-Fi 8 gaming router.

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 lists quad-band wireless coverage across 2.4 GHz, two 5 GHz bands and 6 GHz, the widest band spread in this roundup.

Its product description labels it a Wi-Fi 8 gaming router, as the listing's own description. It also includes 10 Gigabit Ethernet, the fastest wired port in this group.

Benchmark

Geekbench does not benchmark the primary function of ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 wireless router 10 Gigabit Ethernet Quad-band. Its scores measure the processor or graphics device in the test computer, not this product.

Browse Geekbench Community Results

PC Gamer large-file transfer tests with a Wi-Fi 7 laptop and tethered 10 Gbps NAS

Download nearby, light network load: 1,788 Mbps
Download two rooms away, light network load: 894 Mbps
Download 15 metres away outdoors, light network load: 120 Mbps
Download nearby with 4K streams active: 1,647 Mbps
Download two rooms away with 4K streams active: 695 Mbps
Download 15 metres away outdoors with 4K streams active: 120 Mbps

View PC Gamer router test

The reviewer copied large video files from a tethered 10 Gbps Synology NVMe NAS to a Wi-Fi 7 laptop in a Sydney home. The busy-network run added 4K YouTube and Netflix streams. Distance, walls, client capability and the reviewer's network setup affect results.

These results use different equipment and test conditions, so they should not be treated as a head-to-head ranking.

At £684.57 this is the second most expensive router in the roundup, well above the Synology but below the Cisco device.

Product specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	Asus
Price	£684.57
Listed product details	ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 wireless router 10 Gigabit Ethernet Quad-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz-1 / 5 GHz-2 / 6 GHz) Black. White

Compatible hardware

Check against Network switchesMatch router LAN speed and uplink needs to the switch ports.
Check against Wireless access pointsCheck whether the router supports the access point mode and network configuration required.
Check against Ethernet and fibre cablesMatch cable category, connector and length to the router link speed and installation.

What we like

Widest band spread in the roundup with quad-band coverage
10 Gigabit Ethernet, the fastest wired port listed here
Includes a dedicated 6 GHz band, unlike the other routers in this group

What we don't like

Wi-Fi 8 labelling comes from the product description rather than a verified standard
Second highest price in the roundup

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5. Cisco C1101-4P Integrated Services Router with 4-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE

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Price shown £1,143.80

An integrated services WAN router built around four Gigabit Ethernet ports and Cisco IOS XE software, with no wireless standard or bands stated in its listing.

The Cisco C1101-4P is an integrated services WAN router offering four Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB 3 plus connectivity and Cisco IOS XE software for network management.

No wireless standard or supported bands are stated in the listing, so compare this integrated services WAN router by its listed wired and software features rather than treating it as a Wi-Fi option.

Benchmark

Geekbench does not benchmark the primary function of Cisco C1101-4P Integrated Services Router with 4-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE. Its scores measure the processor or graphics device in the test computer, not this product.

Browse Geekbench Community Results

Cisco platform throughput ratings for the C1101 family, not independent benchmark results

Maximum encrypted throughput, single-tunnel IMIX: 475 Mbps
SD-WAN IPsec throughput with 512-byte packets: up to 450 Mbps
SD-WAN IPsec with QoS, DPI and Flexible NetFlow, 512-byte packets: up to 400 Mbps
Autonomous IPv4 forwarding, 512-byte packets: up to 1,600 Mbps
Autonomous IPsec throughput, 512-byte packets: up to 500 Mbps

View Cisco English performance datasheet

These are Cisco-published platform figures under different traffic profiles and packet sizes. They are not directly comparable to each other or to wireless consumer-router tests, and actual throughput depends on enabled services and configuration.

These results use different equipment and test conditions, so they should not be treated as a head-to-head ranking.

At £1,143.80 this is the most expensive product in the roundup by a wide margin.

Product specifications
Specification	Information
Brand	Cisco
Price	£1,143.80
Interface	USB 3
Listed product details	Cisco C1101-4P Integrated Services Router with 4-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) Ports. GE Ethernet WAN Router. Integrated USB 3+. 1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty (C1101-4P)

Compatible hardware

Check against Network switchesMatch router LAN speed and uplink needs to the switch ports.
Check against Wireless access pointsCheck whether the router supports the access point mode and network configuration required.
Check against Ethernet and fibre cablesMatch cable category, connector and length to the router link speed and installation.

What we like

Four Gigabit Ethernet ports
Runs Cisco IOS XE software
Includes USB 3 plus connectivity

What we don't like

No wireless standard or bands stated in the listing
Highest price in the roundup by a significant margin

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Prices shown reflect the available listing details and can change. Check stock, delivery, compatibility and full product specifications with PCHub before ordering.