Three Netgear Orbi devices
Credit: Netgear
Spring is springing, and if you're doing a lot of gaming or movie-watching through streaming platforms, your home network might be struggling. If that's the case, consider either a speedy new router or a cutting-edge mesh network to spread signal to every corner of your home. Here are the top Wi-Fi hardware deals we've found for March.
The Best Router and Mesh Network Deals In March
ASUS RT-AX82U Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router for $139.99 (list price $199.99)
Netgear Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router for $173 (list price $269.99)
TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router for $199.99 (list price $299.99)
Asus RT-AX1800S Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router for $69.99 (list price $99.99)
TP-Link Deco AC1900 Mesh WiFi System for $99.98 (list price $129.99) (must apply coupon)
ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System for $259.99 (list price $329.99)
Google Nest Pro Mesh WiFi 6 System for $319.99 (list price $399.99)
TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender for $23.99 (list price $49.99)
Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender EX6120 for $17.99 (list price $37.99)
The Best Wi-Fi Router Deals
ASUS RT-AX82U Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router
Credit: Amazon
ASUS RT-AX82U Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router
Specs: 5,400Mbps | 2,000 sq. ft | 4 LAN ports | Wi-Fi 6
If you're looking for a router specifically designed to boost your wireless gaming performance, this Asus model is a real deal at 20% off. With a pair of customizable LED panels on the front, it'll blend in perfectly with the rest of your hardware setup. It's not just a pretty face, though. You get speedy performance on both 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, as well as smart tethering to your mobile devices, the ability to connect to multiple VPN tunnels simultaneously, advanced parental controls, and more. It's a breeze to set up and maintain, with easy firmware upgrades.
ASUS RT-AX82U Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router for $139.99 (list price $199.99)
Netgear Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router
Credit: Amazon
Netgear Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router
Specs: 4,200Mbps | 2,000 sq. ft | 1 USB 3.0 port | 1 WAN port | 4 LAN ports | Wi-Fi 6
Here's a significant 36% discount on an extremely capable Wi-Fi 6 router that can handle streaming, gaming, and more without breaking a sweat. The Netgear Nighthawk boasts a coverage area of up to 2,000 sq. ft for 25 devices, and a triple-core 1.5GHz processor ensures stable and reliable data in both directions. The visual design is aggressive and angular, with a quartet of antennas coming out of a sloped wedge-shaped body. It's a breeze to set up and manage, with included parental controls.
Netgear Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router for $173 (list price $269.99)
TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router
TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router
Credit: Credit: Amazon
TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router
Specs: 5,760Mbps | 2,000 sq. ft | 1 WAN port | 4 LAN ports | Wi-Fi 7
Looking to surf the cutting edge of the Web? Wi-Fi 7 is the new hotness, and this monolithic router is one of the best ways to harness it on the market. Six optimally positioned antennas use Beamforming technology to make stable and speedy connections with all your devices. With a peak bandwidth of 9,200Mbps, it's fast enough to handle nearly anything you throw at it. If you need even more speed, consider a wired connection through the device's one 2.5G WAN port and four 2.5G LAN ports. It also includes TP-Link's HomeShield security technology to keep bad actors out of your machines.
TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router for $199.99 (list price $299.99)
Asus RT-AX1800S Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router
Asus RT-AX1800S Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router Credit: Amazon
Asus RT-AX1800S Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router
Specs: 1,800Mbps | 3,000 sq. ft | 1 WAN port | 4 LAN ports | Wi-Fi 6
This is the best budget deal we've seen on routers recently, with a very nice 33% discount making it even more worth your time. The RT-AX1800S delivers solid throughput, with Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) through a quartet of antennas. It's a breeze to set up, with very little documentation, and you can use either Asus app or a web-based interface to get it running. It also includes access to Trend Micro's AIProtection security software for free without a subscription. One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports let you set up multiple wired connections.
Asus RT-AX1800S Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router for $68.99 (list price $99.99)
The Best Mesh Wi-Fi System Deals
If just one router isn't doing the job, it might be time to upgrade to a mesh system. These standalone devices collaborate to provide Wi-Fi connections to numerous devices, with the load being split between them with proprietary algorithms. They're extremely effective for extending signal over a large area, and most are easy to build out with additional units.
TP-Link Deco AC1900 Mesh WiFi System
Credit: Amazon
TP-Link Deco AC1900 Mesh WiFi System
Specs: 1,900Mbps | 5,500 sq. ft | Wi-Fi 5
Here's a budget-priced mesh network that gives you solid coverage at moderate speeds. It's an older model, so don't expect compatibility with the latest bandwidth upgrades, but for streaming and smart home integration it'll perform quite well. The trio of cylinders can be positioned in a variety of locations, and it's easy to install. In PCMag's review, the site said that the AC1900 "offers fast router performance and strong parental controls," and at $100 it's a very good deal.
TP-Link Deco AC1900 Mesh WiFi System for $99.98 (list price $129.99) (must apply coupon)
Asus ZenWifi BD4 Mesh WiFi System
Credit: Amazon
ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System
Specs: 6,600Mbps | 5,500 sq. ft | 3 LAN ports | Wi-Fi 6
The ZenWiFi AX6600 is a solid midrange mesh system with a surprisingly large coverage area for just two units, stretching across 5,500 square feet and boasting top speeds more than enough for low-ping gaming and high-definition media streaming. Setup is a breeze, with just three simple steps to get the system up and running through the Asus app. It also comes with free lifetime system security powered by Trend Micro to keep bad actors and bugs out of your home network.
ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System for $259.99 (list price $329.99)
Google Nest WiFi Pro Mesh System
Credit: Amazon
Google Nest Pro Mesh WiFi 6 System
Specs: 5,400Mbps | 6,600 sq. ft | 2 LAN ports | Wi-Fi 6
Google's entry into the mesh networking space is subtle and unobtrusive, but the Nest Pro delivers reliable throughput and coverage of up to 2,200 square feet per unit. This three-pack is on sale for 20% off right now at Amazon and can easily cover a good-sized home with Wi-Fi 6 signal. In PCMag's review of the Nest Pro, they said that it "posted respectable scores in our performance testing" and praised its easy installation, built-in parental controls and support for Thread and Matter smart home devices.
Google Nest Pro Mesh WiFi 6 System for $319.99 (list price $399.99)
The Best Wi-Fi Extender Deals
Are you not in the mood to set up an entirely new network? Don't want to change your passwords? Adding a Wi-Fi extender might be the solution. These devices are typically inexpensive, plug into a wall power socket, and provide a stepping stone from your existing router, building network coverage in a simpler (and dumber) way. They're great for spreading signal to areas like a garage or back patio.
TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender
Credit: Amazon
TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender
Specs: 1,200Mbps | 1,500 sq. ft | Wi-Fi 5
Here's a nice double discount on an extremely capable extender that's great for Wi-Fi 5 networks and devices. Just plug it in and it will boost your router's signal up to 1,500 square feet and connect up to 30 devices. A physical Fast Ethernet port lets you connect high-bandwidth devices right to the extender for optimal speeds. It's also usable as a mesh node for compatible OneMesh systems. Setup is simple, and firmware updates are seamless.
TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender for $23.99 (list price $49.99)
Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender EX6120
Credit: Amazon
Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender EX6120
Specs: 1,200Mbps | 1,500 sq. ft | Wi-Fi 5 | 1 LAN port
If your home network just needs a little boost to get signal in a hard-to-reach area, this extender will do the job at a nice low price. The simple plug-and-play installation lets you get the EX6120 set up in minutes, and the dual-band wireless coverage can accommodate 32 unique devices over a 1,500-square-foot range with a maximum data transfer speed of 1200 MB per second. It supports both WEP and WPA/WPA2 wireless security protocols so as not to leave your network vulnerable, and it even includes a 10/100 Ethernet port in case you want to hook up a wired connection.
Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender EX6120 for $17.99 (list price $37.99)
Router and Mesh Network Buying Guide
When you're shopping for a wireless networking system, there are a few important features to keep in mind:
The Wi-Fi spectrum is continually increasing as new antennas can transmit along additional frequencies. The wider the range of your antenna, the more data you'll be able to upload and download, and the more devices you'll be able to connect simultaneously. But you'll also spend more for that coverage, so balance out your needs with your budget.
Mesh networks are often sold in bundles, with the number of units corresponding to the square footage that needs coverage. In general, each node can cover 1,000 to 1,500 square feet. Measure your space, add a little allowance for walls and other things that create interference, and purchase the appropriate number of nodes.
Numerous networking options are available, including routers, extenders, mesh networks, and more. You can also always run Ethernet cable for dependably wired speeds to machines that need low ping, like your gaming PC. Explore your choices before you make a purchase.
Frequently Asked Router and Mesh Network Questions
Does a Mesh Wi-Fi System Replace a Router?
Not necessarily. Some mesh Wi-Fi systems have built-in router functionality and just need to be plugged into a phone or Ethernet line. Others do not and require a separate router to be plugged into a node to create the network. If we had to choose, we'd opt for systems like Amazon's Eero that include a router, just to eliminate concerns about cross-compatibility.
How Much Speed Do You Lose With Mesh Wi-Fi?
It's a fact of life that whenever you jump from one device to another, you lose signal strength. For mesh Wi-Fi, the rule of thumb is that you lose about 50% effectiveness with each jump. That might sound like a lot, but because you can split the load between multiple nodes, it often doesn't reflect in your actual speeds. A well-configured network with intelligently placed hardware will result in larger coverage areas with comparable speed.
Where Is the Best Place to Put Wi-Fi Mesh?
There are a few ground rules for ensuring optimal mesh Wi-Fi coverage. In general, having them in line of sight is ideal. Placing a mesh node near the ground will result in dampened signal. Ideally, you want your main router to be in a central location and have additional nodes no more than two rooms away from it. If you need to extend the network further, that two-room rule stays in effect. Keep the nodes away from large appliances, as electrical interference can mess with the signal.
The Hottest Router and Mesh Network Deals Right Now
ASUS RT-AX82U Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router for $139.99 (list price $199.99)
Netgear Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router for $173 (list price $269.99)
TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router for $199.99 (list price $299.99)
Asus RT-AX1800S Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router for $69.99 (list price $99.99)
TP-Link Deco AC1900 Mesh WiFi System for $99.98 (list price $129.99) (must apply coupon)
ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System for $259.99 (list price $329.99)
Google Nest Pro Mesh WiFi 6 System for $319.99 (list price $399.99)
TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender for $23.99 (list price $49.99)
Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender EX6120 for $17.99 (list price $37.99)