Best Wireless Routers in the UK

Now, if we're talking about a device that wouldn't just be able to secure a wireless connection for an entire house but could very well replace up to three different routers on its own, it would have to have a few things up its sleeve in order to deliver on that premise. One of those things is a set of six external adjustable antennas that do not just provide exceptional performance on their own but also come equipped with powerful amplifiers that deliver an outstanding coverage throughout an entire office. Of course, in order to handle that kind of range and speed, the device would require some serious hardware, like a 1 GHz dual-core processor that incorporates three offload processors to boost its performance.

Naturally, a powerful hardware setup requires some serious software to hold its back, and that's where the Smart Connect technology comes in. With the help of the latter, this Netgear router will be able to designate slower and faster devices to separate Wi-Fi bands, securing a fast connection to everyone regardless of the sort of gadget they're using in order to connect to the Internet. However, that's not all there is in terms of software since the model in question will also allow you to access NetGear Genie, a program that is easy to install and the one that will provide you with a personal dashboard to monitor, control, and repair the home network from the comforts of your own smartphone. And if you feel like that still isn't enough for your taste, there's also a free ReadySHARE Vault application that will secure automatic backups for Windows PCs directly to all of the connected USB storage devices.

In conclusion, the NETGEAR R8000-100UKS is the kind of wireless router that you acquire if you absolutely need to secure a reliable connection for a sizable group of people and cover the largest possible area. It isn't a cheap solution, but it's the one you invest in if you value quality above anything else and if you're the kind that likes to have full control over your network.

Just having a router geared towards gaming can help a lot with improving your networked and online gaming performance, but there are other things that can be done as well to give you the best frame rates and the fastest updates possible. Below are some ways to help improve your performance when playing online games.

- Close down other applications whenever you are gaming, especially ones that require constant access to the Internet. These applications may be taking up extra resources on your computer, as well as using up some of the overall bandwidth of your Internet connection. Closing these apps down will ensure that your gaming experience can use the maximum amount of resources possible.

- Try doing your serious gaming outside of peak Internet usage times. Since the lack of bandwidth available isn't always coming from your own household, doing your serious gaming sessions outside of peak usage hours (usually early evening) will ensure that you are getting the best network performance possible, minimising network performance issues.

Of course, a router's ability to handle heavy network traffic doesn't just come down to the specific wireless technologies it offers. The internal hardware of the router must also be powerful enough to process the data fast enough to keep up, and with this router, you have plenty of power. The router includes a 1 GHz dual-core processor that can keep up with even a fully saturated network, so you won't have to worry about network performance issues even if you are maxing out your network.

This router has plenty to offer outside of its performance. Included in the router is the NETGEAR Armor technology that provides the ultimate in network security, automatically screening any potential malware that may be coming into your network, keeping all of your devices safe. The router also offers 4 wired Ethernet ports for anyone who prefers to directly connect their computers or devices through a wired connection instead of through wireless. The router even supports Amazon Alexa voice controls for full configuration and management of your internal network. Simply put, if you're looking for one of the most powerful wireless routers around, then you should look no further than this device.

One of the hallmarks of this particular router is the MU-MIMO technology that it uses to ensure that all devices connected to the network get maximum throughput. This works by the router reducing wait times for network packets while also giving each device the maximum amount of bandwidth possible through its connection. This results in instantaneous loading of web pages as well as quick sending and receiving of data, which will end up with your home network seeming to be something faster than you previously thought possible.

While the wireless capabilities of this router are nice, those who still utilize a lot of computers or other devices with physical Ethernet ports will be happy to know that this router provides four different Ethernet ports for wired connections. This means that no matter what devices you are using in your home or small office, you can be assured of them being able to connect to the network.

Just because a router is easy to setup doesn't mean it's easy to manage, but this is not the case here. Between the intuitive web interface and the powerful Tether app, keeping your network running in tip-top condition has never been easier. If you find this kind of ease of use coupled with the powerful features to be appealing, then you should find this wireless router from TP-LINK to be a great choice.

One of the best selling points in this router is how well it is able to handle both wired and wireless network connections. The router, in addition to its already mentioned wireless capabilities, includes four auto-sensing Ethernet ports that automatically detect any devices connected to them. All wired devices are detected to determine the optimal operating mode, ensuring that you get the best network speed that your device is capable of handling. This helps ensure that both wired and wireless connections maintain fast networking speeds without the need of worrying about one device dragging down the performance of others.

Plenty of other features are packed into this router as well. Setup of the router is quite easy, and managing it is equally so, as you can actually do it with the help of a voice assistant such as Amazon Alexa, or even with your smartphone. All of the latest wireless standards are supported, including 802.11ac, along with all of the most popular wireless encryption for providing maximum security for your home network. About the only negative we can find here is that unlike most of the other routers in this review, this one doesn't include any USB ports for connecting network storage options, but this shouldn't be much of an issue for those who need it for a modest home network. At the end of the day, anyone with a small home or apartment will find this budget router to be the perfect choice.