When shopping for electronics and home devices these days, one of the main checks we conduct is their connectivity to the WiFi. In my home, a quick spot-check identified over 20 devices needing Wi-Fi and I have a very modest home. Therefore, to support all these devices (20, 30, 50, 75, or 100 devices), it is good to explore the best Wi-Fi router for multiple devices.
If your home has these smart thermostats in the house, laptops, smart TVs, phones, gaming consoles, washing machines, Smart locks, Smart LED lights, Smart sprinklers among other devices, then like me you will require a powerful router that can support many devices.
If therefore you are buying your first router, or are thinking about upgrading your router, you should keep in mind the number of Wi-Fi-enabled devices you may potentially own soon. You can explore the best overall routers too.
We will give you the best routers for multiple devices while also giving you tips on how to choose the router. This way you can rest assured that you will get the best device to serve you now and into the future.
What is the best wireless router for multiple devices?
The best device for multiple devices as reviewed by Technology Reviewer and other users is Netgear Nighthawk X6 Smart Router and Amazon Eero pro 6 for Mesh systems. Getting the best router for 20 devices or more will help cover your home devices with high-speed internet.
Getting the best router for connecting multiple devices simultaneously is very important today. However, for your choice, we will review the routers that made the top 8 in our tests as follows:
Device | Best feature | Number of devices | Range (square feet) | Max Wi-Fi Speeds | BANDS | CHECK IT OUT |
Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 Mesh System | Best Mesh router for multiple devices | 80 | 12,000 | 6000Mbps | Tri-band | CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON |
Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh system | Best multiple devices mesh router for home automation | 75 | 6,000 | 4200Mbps | Tri-band | CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON |
Netgear Nighthawk X6 Smart | Best router for multiple devices | 50 | 3500 | 3200 Mbps | Tri-band | CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON |
Netgear Orbi AX4200 Mesh Modem router combo | Best modem router combo mesh for multiple devices | 40 | 2,500 | 4,200 Mbps | Tri-band | CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON |
Asus ROG Capture GT-AX 11000 Router | Fastest Wi-Fi 6 router for multiple devices | 30 | 3500 | 11000 Mbps | Tri-band | CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON |
Netgear Nighthawk AX12 (AX6000) Wi-Fi 6 Router | Best Wi-Fi 6 router for multiple devices | 30 | 3500 | 6 Gbps | Dual-band | CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON |
TP-Link WiFi 6 AX6000 Router | Best priced Router for multiple devices | 30 | 1500* | 6Gbps | Dual-band | CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON |
Linksys WRT AC3200 Dual-Band router | Best router for multiple users for options | 32 | 1500* | 3.2 Gbps | Dual-band | CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON |
Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 Mesh System
As an ardent fan of the new router technology, the Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 Mesh System exceeds all my expectations. It is definitely the router for your business or home when you have several devices.
When it comes to the best WiFi for your home, the name of the game is big coverage and reliability. Multiple devices in your household need a strong signal that can reach every corner of your home and provide consistent connectivity.
Netgear is one of the top-rated brands for mesh WiFi systems, and their Orbi range is top-of-the-line. The Netgear Orbi range includes a variety of different configurations, but they all have one thing in common: they are built to deliver seamless WiFi connectivity anywhere in your home at once. Click here to read more about how Netgear’s Orbi range makes life easier.
The router is loaded with all the current features thus enabling it to support up to 80 devices with WiFi speeds of up to 6Gbps and a range of up to 12,000 square feet. In addition, the WiFi 6 mesh router comes with 4 SSIDs, VLAN, and QoS.
Why is Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 unique?
The Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 Pro is a tri-band mesh system built with modern Wi-Fi 6 technology to give small businesses the ultimate staff and business customer experience. It provides a 12,000 square feet coverage area for your office as well as connection capacity at 6000Mbps speeds without any dead zones or speed decreases in between devices like other competing products on today’s market may have.
With this high-quality product from one of America’s leading electronics companies, such an investment will be surely worth it thanks not only to its flawless connectivity but also because there are no limits when comes down to PPPOE ( Passive Antenna ) usage which allows each user 100+ Mbps download/upload speeds.
What makes Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 stand out?
Netgear’s Orbi range of WiFi systems is top-of-the-line, and the Pro is no exception. This mesh WiFi system comes with all the modern features you could want and delivers seamless WiFi connectivity anywhere in your home at once.
The router is loaded with 4 SSIDs, VLAN, and QoS features that enable it to support up to 80 devices with WiFi speeds of up to 6Gbps.
In addition, the Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 Pro is a tri-band mesh system built with modern Wi-Fi 6 technology to give small businesses the ultimate staff and business customer experience. It provides a 12,000 square feet coverage area for your office.
Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 stands out for multiple devices because of its versatility. You can use it as a router, access point, or range extender and enjoy seamless WiFi connectivity in every room.
Orbi WiFi Systems are designed to be used with home internet service and deliver fast speeds for streaming and gaming. They are also perfect for growing offices due to the high-tech management software.
With Netgear Orbi SXK80B4, there’s no need to worry about dead zones or spotty connections anywhere in your house. In addition, it comes with a mobile app that allows you to manage your network from anywhere at any time and gives you the ability to monitor bandwidth usage on all your connected devices.
Pros
- Has the widest coverage (Up to 12,000 sq. ft.) of any reviewed routers which is still expandable
- The router offers excellent internet speeds (Up to 6000Mbps)
- Has business-grade security system (WPA3)
- Offers a connection to multiple devices simultaneously (up to 80)
- Has QoS for device prioritization across 1-4 dedicated network
- Supports any ISP with up to a 2.5Gbps connection plan
- Tri-band WiFi router
- Has gigabit Ethernet ports
- Internet of Things (IoT) compatible
- Features modern technology like MU-MIMO technology, Link aggregation, and Beamforming
-Ease of use. The Netgear Orbi has made it easier than ever to set up and manage your WiFi. Setup is as simple as plugging in the router and downloading the app. You’ll have a mesh system, which means an uninterrupted connection anywhere in your home, in minutes.
-Blazing-fast speeds. One of the best parts about Wi-Fi 6 technology is its speed. Of course, you need an excellent network that can keep up with those speeds and Netgear delivers on that promise. With a single Netgear Orbi device, you can reach speeds of up to 1Gbps throughout the entire house and still stream videos without any buffering or lag time. With two devices, this speed can reach up to 2Gbps.
-Great coverage area. The Netgear Orbi range includes a variety of different configurations, but they all have one thing in common: they are built to deliver seamless WiFi connectivity anywhere in your home at once. The router is loaded with all the current features thus enabling it to support up to 80 devices with WiFi speeds of up to 6Gbps and a range of up to 12,000 square feet.
Cons
- NETGEAR Insight Remote Management is a subscription service
- It is costly
The Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 is a great mesh WiFi system, but it has one significant drawback. The price point is extremely high. You can find a decent mesh system for half the price. So, if you’re looking for an affordable option to cover your entire home with WiFi, this may not be the best choice for you.
Recommendation
The tri-band Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 is the ultimate business-grade mesh system with modern Wi-Fi 6 technology to give small businesses 12,000 square feet of coverage for increased business efficiency while providing six times as much data transfer speeds on each IP address compared to other competitors’ offerings!
The fast connection rates also have enabled it to be compatible with any ISP thanks to no dead zones or buffering issues that plague some WiFi systems; all this at an affordable price point so you can make changes without having to worry about breaking your bank account.
With an easy setup process that doesn’t require a professional’s help (you’ll be able to complete it yourself), this device also includes everything you need from preconfigured VLANs so data can travel through designated networks only; QoS settings which prioritize online gaming requirements over other tasks like sending email) while still providing enough bandwidth left over after these specific devices are served.
Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh System
When looking for the best router for multiple devices, then we have just the router for your home. This router can offer high-speed internet to up to 75 devices simultaneously. This makes it the best router for lots of devices.
The router in addition to connecting multiple devices simultaneously gives an excellent Wi-Fi performance coupled with wide coverage. The 3 piece router will give you coverage of up to 6,000 square feet. It is one of the recommended routers for thick walls Wi-Fi coverage.
It is, therefore, a Wi-Fi router to get if you want a performance befitting your home. In addition, you can extend the coverage by adding another node.
This best router for multiple users offers fast Wi-Fi gigabit speeds. These speeds enable you to enjoy your time online when gaming, streaming, video conferencing, among others.
Amazon Eero Pro 6 router is Alexa compatible. What the router does best is to use the Zigbee Smart home hub technology to connect other compatible devices with Alexa. The result is that you don’t have to buy separate smart home hubs for every device.
You will get an easy setup process when you get this router. This is through the eero app which also enables you to easily manage the connection wherever you are.
Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh System comparison with other routers
The Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh System is different from other routers in a sense that it can offer fast, reliable internet connections to up to 75 devices simultaneously.
This router for multiple devices is also more affordable than other types of routers. For instance, it only costs $399 as compared to Google WiFi’s price of $498, Netgear Orbi’s price of $499, and Linksys Velop’s price of $299.
It is also easier to set up the Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh System as compared to other routers. All you need are your smartphones or tablets and the Amazon Echo App to get started.
For those looking for a router with features befitting their home, then this system is just what they need. It also has an excellent Wi-Fi performance coupled with wide coverage so that you don’t have any connectivity issues when using your various devices at home or while on the go. With its 3 piece mesh network system, you can extend your coverage by adding another node.
How can I use Netgear Orbi SXK80B4?
Netgear Orbi is the best mesh WiFi system for you if you have a large home, or multiple floors. This router will cover up to 6,000 square feet and get you fast gigabit speeds.
Netgear Orbi has a dedicated Wi-Fi network for your smart devices like TVs, gaming consoles, and printers.
If you have a lot of smart devices in your home, Netgear Orbi is the one for you. You are capable of connecting all your smart devices without having to buy separate wireless routers for every device. Just connect them to the Wi-Fi network that is specific just for them.
Imagine being able to use Alexa with different compatible devices. Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh System comes with this capability as well as other features.
This mesh WiFi router allows you to control your lights with Alexa also. With Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh System, you can turn off and on your lights with just a voice command
Amazon Eero Pro 6 Pros
- Excellent Wi-Fi performance
- The router connects to multiple devices simultaneously
- It has a wide coverage
- Has the best Alexa support
- It gives you an easy setup
- The router is aesthetically beautiful
Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh System is a router that offers superior Wi-Fi performance. This is coupled with wide coverage of up to 6,000 square feet.
The 3 piece router will give you coverage of up to 6,000 square feet. You do not have to worry about dead spots or slow internet as this mesh system will ensure you get maximum coverage and a strong signal for your entire home.
What makes this router one of the best routers for multiple devices is the fast Wi-Fi gigabit speeds that it offers. These speeds make it possible for you to enjoy time online without any interruptions when gaming, streaming, video conferencing among other activities.
This Wi-Fi router also comes with Alexa compatibility which means that you don’t have to buy separate smart home hubs for every device in your home.
The Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh System comes with a comprehensive parental control system and an excellent guest network set up which provides easy access points, no password required and secure entry points into your home network while still maintaining high security levels.
Cons
- Its quite pricey
One of the drawbacks of this router is that it doesn’t come with an Ethernet cable. You will, therefore, have to buy a cable separately if you need one.
Another drawback of this router is that it’s expensive.
Lastly, another disadvantage of the Eero Pro 6 Mesh System is that it consumes a lot of power. This means that the router will require a power outlet in every room where you want to use it.
Amazon Eero pro 6 VS Google WiFi
The Amazon Eero Pro 6 mesh system is a three-piece router that can offer Wi-Fi performance to up to 75 devices simultaneously. This router comes with Alexa compatibility so you get it all with one package.
Google’s Wi-Fi mesh system is also an excellent router for multiple devices. Google’s wifi mesh system provides easy network management, Wi-Fi coverage, and fast speeds.
This 3 pack of routers has a maximum range of 1,500 square feet per node and can cover up to 4,500 square feet when adding a satellite. The router also offers easy setup, parental controls, and guest networks.
Both the Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh System and Google WiFi are excellent routers for multiple devices as they provide great coverage and security while remaining simple to use. The decision will come down to your preference if you want 3 nodes or 3 packs of nodes as well as what device(s) you want to connect.
Recommendation
The Amazon Eero Pro is a Wi-Fi system that can give you high-speed internet to up to 75 devices at the same time.
It also has a powerful Wi-Fi signal and covered a large area of up to 4500 sq. ft.
You can also extend its range by adding another node. The router uses Zigbee Smart home hub technology which means you don’t have to buy separate smart home hubs for every device.
Integrating Amazon’s Alexa with your router will help you easily manage your daily tasks without leaving the device you are on.
Netgear Nighthawk X6 Smart router (The best router for multiple devices)
When we talk about the best router for multiple devices, Netgear Nighthawk X6 Smart Router is the ultimate winner. This is the best router for 50 devices theoretically, this device will give you what you want.
The device is made with multiple devices in mind, it gives you Wi-Fi speeds of up to 3200 Mbps on the tri-band technology. Therefore you get a device that can be used for gaming, streaming, surfing in addition to connecting other smart devices at home.
In addition to the long-range Wi-Fi coverage of up to 3500 square feet, the Netgear Nighthawk X6 Smart router has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports. It also comes with USB ports to connect to storage devices and printers.
With the current advanced technology including Beamforming, Dynamic Qos, Amazon Alexa voice controls, and the six amplified antennas, the device will give you the best internet connection. It also comes with a 1Ghz dual-core processor.
As with all good routers, the Netgear Nighthawk X6 Smart router comes with great parental controls. This makes it easy to regulate how the children are using the Wi-Fi in your house.
In addition, this best router for multiple users will ensure that your devices are protected from malware and hackers. This way your data is protected. The router is also the best wireless router for multiple streaming devices.
Netgear Nighthawk X6 Pros
- This router is the best for multiple devices. It is the best router for 50 devices
- The router is easy to set up and has a mobile app that helps in the management of the device
- Nightgear Nighthawk X6 smart router has tri-band technology for fast internet speeds
Cons
- The customer support from Netgear is a bit average and the support is for one year only
Netgear Orbi AX4200 Mesh Modem router combo
Looking for a complete package? Look no further! The Netgear Orbi AX4200 Mesh Modem router combo gives you a combination of a high-performance modem and an equally high-performance router. This Wi-Fi 6 device offers Wi-Fi speeds of up to 4,200Mbps, connection to over 40 devices, and an expandable range of up to 2,500 square feet.
The router combo gives Wi-Fi speeds of up to 4,200Mbps spread as follows: 600 + 1400 + 2400Mbps. Therefore, the router can support ISP plans of up 6Gbps. These speeds can support all the internet intense activities in your home.
The combo has a DOCSIS 3.1 modem which assures you of high performance. The modem gives you high download speeds of up to 10Gbps and upload speeds of up to 1Gbps. The modem is also backward compatible.
The Wi-Fi 6 router combo gives you a wide coverage of up to 2,500 square feet. To expand the range, you can add another Wi-Fi 6 satellite which adds the range by up to 2,500 square feet. This way, you can cover your whole home with high-speed internet.
This is one of the best routers for multiple devices because it connects up to 40 devices with high-speed internet. Since the router is a Wi-Fi 6 router, it delivers fast speeds to all the connected devices.
The best router for multiple users comes with built-in Netgear Armor security software. The Multi-layer software can screen all materials to ensure your data and connected users are safe online.
Finally, the WiFi multiple devices router comes with advanced parental controls to ensure your children use the internet on their devices when needed. You can manage the connections for your children using the app.
Pros
- Delivers a fast Wi-Fi performance
- Comes with excellent security
- Saves you modem rental fees
- Has an expandable wide coverage
- Connects multiple devices
- Easy to manage
Cons
- Its pricey
Asus ROG Capture GT-AX 11000 Router (Fastest Wi-Fi 6 router for multiple devices)
The Asus ROG Capture GT-AX11000 router is one of the best wireless routers for multiple devices this year. Operating on Wi-Fi 6, the new Wi-Fi technology, the device promises ultra-fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps.
This device can cover your whole home since the device can provide stable and reliable Wi-Fi to up to 3,500 square feet. Due to the device having ASUS wrt, it can offer control and prioritization in the use of bandwidth.
The device offers excellent coverage for 802.11ac devices as well as the next-generation 802.11ax devices.
With a powerful 1.8GHz Quad-core CPU, you are sure that the device will perform excellently for multiple devices and gaming. For gaming, the Asus ROG Capture GT-AX11000 router has a 2.5G gaming port thus assuring you the best performance.
It has all the current innovative technology for a router to ensure it supports multiple devices and gaming. This technology includes a powerful CPU, Beamforming, MU-MIMO, QoS, and Dynamic frequency selection (DFS) among others.
This device has a compatible Asus AiMesh Wi-Fi system to ensure a fast internet connection at whatever distance from the router.
For non-Wi-Fi enabled devices, this Wi-Fi multiple devices router comes with four 1G Ethernet ports. These ports offer fast wired connections for gaming, streaming, or surfing.
Asus ROG Capture GT-AX11000 router also comes with the AiProtection Pro security for the security of your data. It also has advanced parental controls.
The router is also one of the best wireless routers for multiple streaming devices. The speed helps in several streaming devices.
ASUS ROG Capture GT-AX11000 Pros
- Asus ROG Capture GT-AX11000 router is very easy to install
- The device gives you the fastest Wi-Fi speeds of all the reviewed routers
- This device offers Wi-Fi 6 support for the latest Wi-Fi connections
- The AiMesh support enables a stable and range Wi-Fi provision
- The router comes with gaming specifications to ensure a great gaming experience in addition to multiple devices.
Cons
- The device is a high-end router
- This router may drop Wi-Fi after some time according to several reviews from clients which may be solved with firmware updates and changes in settings.
Netgear Nighthawk AX12 (AX6000) Wi-Fi 6 Router (Best Wi-Fi 6 router for multiple devices)
Netgear has proven time and time again as one of the companies that produce great routers. The second router on this list gives you assured fast Wi-Fi speeds, a long-range, and a big number of devices.
It comes with the latest AX technology that makes it able to deliver Wi-Fi speeds of up to 6Gbps. It also is packed with the newest Wi-Fi innovations such as MU-MIMO (up to 8 users), Qos, 2 2GHz Quad-core processor, Beamforming in addition to amplified antennas.
Therefore, this multiple devices router comes with excellent features that make it one of the best routers for multiple devices in 2020.
For wired devices, Netgear Nighthawk AX12 (AX6000) Wi-Fi 6 router has four 1G Ethernet ports for a fast connection. This enables you to use wired connections at a fast speed for game consoles among other devices.
This device also comes with Smart parental controls to ensure your devices can only access the sites that are safe for the users. It is thus one of the best parental control routers. In addition, it enables safe Guest Wi-Fi access.
The router is also one of the best wireless routers for multiple streaming devices. This is because Wi-Fi 6 is made with several devices and intensive use in mind.
Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Pros
- Netgear Nighthawk AX12 (AX6000) Wi-Fi 6 router gives you fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 6Gbps
- The device offers Wi-Fi 6 internet speeds which offer 4 times more capacity
- It can support Wi-Fi for up to 30 devices.
- It is easy to set up using the Nighthawk app
- The antennas of the Nightgear Nighthawk AX12 (AX6000) Wi-Fi 6 router are futuristic
Cons
- The customer support for Netgear is a bit average and the support is for one year only
- The 5GHz band does not have a good range
TP-Link WiFi 6 AX6000 Router (Best priced Router for multiple devices)
The TP-Link WiFi 6 AX6000 Router is the new generation AX WiFi 6 device that comes with MU-MIMO, Dual-band, and QoS to ensure the multiple users can access fast internet speeds of up to 6Gbps.
In addition, it has eight(8) 1G Ethernet ports for all your wired devices, thus making it an excellent wired router together with its wireless capabilities. It also comes with 2 USB (type A and type C) ports. This will enable you to make sure all your devices are connected since it can also connect up to 30 devices with Wi-Fi.
When comparing with the other Wi-Fi 6 devices, the TP-Link WiFi 6 AX6000 Router is more fairly priced. This means that you can access all the benefits that come with Wi-Fi 6 at a better price than most.
The device is also able to offer Wi-Fi to a relatively large home while also offering great speeds. This is because it has 8 high-gain antennas in addition to the Rangeboost and Beamforming technology.
This device is a Dual-band router unlike the other routers reviewed which are Tri-band. This gives you two band options to connect your devices to WiFi. It has MU-MIMO technology to ensure the connection is prioritized for several devices.
One of the best things about the TP-Link WiFi 6 AX6000 Router is the easy setup using Bluetooth and the tether app. This ensures you can set up this multiple devices router within a few minutes.
Like other reviewed devices above, it also comes with parental controls, Guest Wi-Fi, and Alexa voice control. This makes it easy for you to manage the internet connections flowing through your router.
The device also comes with a powerful antivirus to protect your data from viruses and malware. It is, therefore, one of the best wireless routers for multiple devices and gaming.
TP-Link AX6000 Pros
- This device offers some of the fastest Wi-Fi 6 speeds of up to 6Gbps.
- TP-Link WiFi 6 AX6000 Router is cheaper than most Wi-Fi 6 routers
- The router has 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports to connect all your wired devices which it the best wireless router for multiple streaming devices using LAN cables
- Very easy setup using the Tether app via Bluetooth.
- The company has a responsive customer service
Cons
- As compared to some of the devices reviewed above, it is a Dual-band technology router.
- The device may reboot once or twice a day after using it for some time.
Linksys WRT AC3200 Dual-Band router (Best router for options)
The Linksys WRT AC3200 Router is a great device for multiple users. It gives you the benefit of being an open-source firmware Wi-Fi router thus giving you more room for customization and performance improvement.
The device is a Dual-band technology router that gives it speeds of up to 3.2 Gbps. This top speed ensures that you can carry out your online activities without lags and buffering.
In addition, the device has MU-MIMO technology and Tri-stream 160 helps to make sure that the multiple devices that you are using all get connected to fast Wi-Fi speeds. The Dynamic frequency selection enables the devices to get clear airspace.
It also comes with four(4) 1G Ethernet ports for your wired devices. The best WiFi router for multiple devices also comes with a USB 3.0 port.
Like most other modern routers, the Linksys WRT AC3200 Router comes with parental controls to ensure you regulate what your children are engaged in online.
Finally, the router is the best when you want to use open-source firmware. It, therefore, is the best router for DD-WRT, the exceptional router for OpenWRT, or the top-rated router for Tomato firmware. You will love the customization and performance improvement provided by the firmware.
Linksys WRT AC3200 Pros
- The Wi-Fi router gives you open-source firmware to give you control over your internet. This way you can also easily set up a secure VPN.
- You can use the Smart Wi-Fi app to maintain control and also to monitor your network remotely
- It gives you great service on the Dual-band technology
Cons
- It is a Dual-band technology router
- Due to the open-source firmware, it may require rebooting once in a while to get it working
What features make a device good for multiple devices?
The best routers for multiple devices all have some similarities. They can be identified by following the following features that make them good for homes or offices where we have several streamers, gamers, and people downloading stuff from the internet.
The best router for 20 devices or more should have some features to support the number of devices. The features that should be considered when choosing a good router for multiple devices include:
- Number of frequency bands
- The Wi-Fi coverage required/ size of home
- Your internet speeds
- Number of devices in your home
- Security/safety features
- Router type
- Wi-Fi standards
- Other features
The number of bands
Routers that can comfortably support many devices should have dual-band or tri-band technology. This way the devices are put in a band that offers fast and reliable Wi-Fi wherever you are in your home.
A dual-band router will have one 2.4GHz band and one 5GHz band. The 2.4GHz band will give you wide coverage. The 5GHz band on the other hand will give you higher speeds.
The 2.4GHz band is however prone to interference by other wireless devices. These devices include microwave ovens, baby monitors, walkie talkies among others. The Wi-Fi speeds are also limited.
The 5GHz band on the other hand is limited in the coverage. This means that you will access high speeds when you are near the router on this band.
Coverage required/ Size of your home
These days, devices are spread throughout the house and outside. This is because we have devices like smart sprinklers and smart doors located outside the house.
Moreover, we have devices in bedrooms, and living rooms among other areas. These devices include smart TVs, smartphones, laptops, printers, computers, gaming consoles, streaming devices, coffee makers, and smart thermostats among other devices.
This means that you have to get the size of your home before getting the router. The size will determine if you will go for a long-range router either a mesh router or a traditional router.
A smaller home will require a smaller range router while a large home will require a router that can cover a large house.
Your internet speeds
We all want what is the best for our home. However, as discussed before, a router will not increase your Wi-Fi speed. This is because this is majorly limited by your ISP tier/ plan.
So before running after a router with speeds of 6Gbps, kindly consider the speeds that you have subscribed for. Therefore, if you have subscribed for a 200Mbps internet speed, that is the speed you will get from your router as long as its speed exceeds the ISP speed.
In that case, there is no need to get a super-fast router since its speeds will be limited by the ISP plan. You should therefore not waste your money on a multiple-gigabit speed router if that is your subscription.
Number of devices in your home
These days, every home is becoming smarter. This means that buying a router that can handle less than 5 devices simultaneously does not work anymore.
In most American homes, there are more than 10 smart devices available most time. This means that you have to get a router that can serve more than 10 devices simultaneously to get the best service.
The device that can support several devices simultaneously has several technological advancements. They will be able to handle devices as per their internet requirements.
If you have highly demanding devices such as streaming devices and gaming devices, you will require a device with high speed, a large CPU size, and qualities like QoS and MU-MIMO.
Security/safety features
What is a smart home if you and your family do not feel safe, secured, and with lots of privacy? I feel that would not be a peaceful home to be living in.
A good router for multiple devices must be able to handle the security needs of your home. This means that every user must get the level of security required for them to feel safe online.
The router must have the latest security standards. In addition, the router can have the latest parental control features to ensure your children are kept safe online.
For security purposes, consider getting a router with WPA2 protocols. The WPA2 is the second implementation of the Wi-Fi Protected Access protocol.
The security protocols will work if your devices also support WPA2. This is because your entire network is only as secure as the least secure device that is connected to it.
However, you should not dismiss your router or devices if they support WPA. This is because even though there are better Wi-Fi safety protocols, they are better than nothing at all.
Router type
There are traditional and mesh devices available in the market today. The traditional routers are one device whose coverage is good. However, to extend the coverage you have to use a Wi-Fi extender or get a compatible mesh system.
On the other hand, a mesh system is a connection of several units of the same/ identical gadgets that give a seamless connection. Therefore, you can extend the coverage by adding a node/ satellite.
Therefore, depending on your needs, you may decide to pick a traditional router or a mesh system. If you want a device where coverage can be easily extended with the formation of a mesh network, then go for a mesh system.
There are several mesh systems or traditional routers that support multiple devices. You will therefore use your other needs to decide the device you will get.
Wi-Fi standards
The current Wi-Fi standards are the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11AX). It was preceded by the 802.11ac standards (Wi-Fi 5). These two standards make a router perform well.
However, Wi-Fi 6 was made to support more devices as compared to any previous standards. The challenge with Wi-Fi 6 is that not many devices have been manufactured featuring compatibility with these standards.
Therefore, if your home has multiple devices, you may consider getting a Wi-Fi 6 router.
These routers will give you a connection to multiple devices, better security features, and increased speeds among other features.
Other features
There are other important features in a router that you need to consider as you plan to invest in one. They include:
CPU: Multi WiFi routers with more powerful CPUs tend to support more devices. This is because they can be able to sort information flowing to and from several devices at once. Routers with less powerful CPUs may not be able to perform that.
RAM: Routers with a bigger RAM can support more devices as compared with the ones with smaller RAMs. The best routers for multiple devices and gaming must have big enough RAM to accommodate the demands of the router.
MU-MIMO (Multi-User- Multiple In Multiple Out): This is the feature that gives your Wi-Fi router the ability to use the MIMO technology simultaneously. The technology enables your devices to access fast Wi-Fi speeds. It is because it improves connections and speeds up data throughput.
Quality of service (QoS): The QoS helps when your networks start getting congested and give priority to where more traffic is needed as compared to others. For example, QoS will prioritize streaming or voice calls over other activities like downloads. This feature may also be referred to as Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM).
Other tips on what is the best wireless router for multiple devices
When you feel like you have so many devices that require both Wi-Fi and wired connections, you can consider setting up a second router or access point. This will enable your devices to share the workload. Adding the second router, however, may make your network harder to manage.
For the wireless connections to give faster connections, you may think of increasing your bandwidth from your internet service provider. This is because the more devices you have sharing the same bandwidth, the slower the internet speeds will be.
If you want to cover your whole home with a Wi-Fi connection, you can consider getting a router Mesh network. This makes it easy to place the different satellites in different corners of your home for faster internet.
In some homes, you may consider a Wi-Fi extender if you need to get more range of Wi-Fi coverage. The extender, however, reduces the strength of the network except for tri-band extenders.
To get an excellent Wi-Fi connection for multiple devices, get a device that can send and receive lots of data at the same time. This means getting a router with a big RAM and CPU to enable the process to happen.
FAQs
How can I get the maximum speed of WiFi when multiple users are connected?
There are several ways to get faster internet speeds when multiple devices are connected. The best way is to connect via Ethernet cables while others are using Wi-Fi. Additionally, you can request the other users to stop using Wi-Fi or use powerline adapters. Other commonly used methods to get maximum bandwidth includes using quality of service (QoS) to focus Wi-Fi on your device or getting a better router. These simple methods will improve your connection performance
How many devices/ clients can be connected to a WiFi router?
Theoretically, you can connect up to 255 devices/ clients to a Wi-Fi router or wireless access point. However, since the internet is shared among connected devices, this number is significantly lower. For optimal use, most routers recommend between 5 and 100 devices depending on the router capacity. When so many devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network, overcrowding occurs. In this case, due to the competition among the devices, you get lags, low-quality video during the streaming, or sometimes buffering, latency is experienced when gaming, and in general, there are very slow browsing speeds.
Can too many devices slow down WiFi?
Having too many connected devices will not necessarily crash your router but it can definitely impact performance and connectivity issues generally including delayed load times or occasionally needing to reconnect; these problems however usually stem from non-outdoorsy options. A lot of devices connected to your router can be a headache. Buffering, latency, and delayed load times are just some common issues that you may experience if this is the case.
What router can handle 50 devices?
From our tests, Netgear Nighthawk X6 Smart, Amazon Eero Pro 6 Mesh system, and Netgear Orbi SXK80B4 Mesh System can handle more than 50 devices. There are other routers that can handle 50 devices but must be equipped with a powerful processor and antennas, while also having technologies such as Beamforming and QoS.
Will a better router handle more devices?
Yes, a better router will handle more devices. The router should have a powerful processor and antennas to handle the number of devices. Moreover, it should have technologies such as Beamforming, QoS, and dual-band/ tri-band WiFi frequencies. This will reduce interference and also improve the router efficiency.
How many devices can a dual-band router support?
The number of devices supported depends on the activity you will be carrying out on your devices and the specifications of your router. A dual-band router such as Netgear Nighthawk can support up to 64 devices simultaneously while a single band can only support 32. The devices must also be within a certain range. This is because each band (2.4GHz and 5GHz bands) can handle up to 32 devices.
To wrap it up
With the current increase in smart/Wi-Fi-enabled devices in our homes and also the need to control what the different users are accessing, we need to explore ‘what is the best wireless router for multiple devices?’ Some homes also require the best router for 50 devices due to the high number of smart devices.
The best wireless router for multiple devices must be able to accommodate the number of devices you are having or you aspire to have soon. This makes this list very necessary to consider.
Having multiple internet-connected devices in one household has become more popular over time as technology advances have made it easier for people to own several pieces of hardware with wireless capabilities such as smartphones, tablets etcetera.
However, while these new advancements make life much simpler than ever before they can also cause problems when there’s an abundance of them all working off the same network at once – something known technically as being “congested.” This congestion will usually result in slower download speeds (and sometimes
You can also consider the best modem router combo and if you are on spectrum internet you can consider using the spectrum compatible modem.
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