Best Routers For Apartments 2022: Reviews, Quick buying Guide & Verdict

Things become very challenging when we relate them to our purpose, agreed? Whether you buy a wireless router or a needle, it doesn’t matter. So when it comes to the router, our purpose can be anything,

for example:

• best WiFi router for multiple devices
• best WiFi router for long range

and of course,

• best router for apartment

The only thing is how to find the perfect one that can fit our needs? Though, it is very difficult these days, at least in 2022. Why?

Let’s get into it.

Before I walk you through my five top routers list, let me save some of your time by showing you my all-time favorite router that will fit your apartment.

So what is the best WIFI router for an apartment in 2022? The Tp-Link Archer AX50 is a mid-price range router and ready to get your apartment covered. However, if your apartment is not that big, then Netgear Nighthawk R6700 will be the perfect option for you.

Choose as per your apartment’s area

• 1000 sq. ft – 1500 sq. ft.
• 1500 sq. ft. – 2,000 sq. ft.
• 2,000 sq. ft. – 2500 sq. ft.
• 2,500 sq.ft. – 3,000 sq.ft.
• 3,000 sq feet & above

Best routers for apartment In 2022

Router	Type/Best For	Rating
TP-Link Archer AX50	Best Value	4.9
ASUS WIFI 6 AX3000	Gaming	4.9
Netgear Nighthawk R6700	Small apartment	4.8
Tp-Link Archer A20	Medium apartment	4.8
Google WiFi system	Large apartment	4.8

1. Tp-Link AX3000 (Archer AX50) – Best Value

Highlights

1. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
2. Max. Wireless speeds up to 3Gbps
3. OFDMA & MU-MIMO (4 streams)
4. Dual-band (2.4GHz + 5Ghz)
5. Beamforming
6. Backward compatible

Overview

The TP-Link AX3000 is one of the best routers for an Apartment when the next-gen wireless standard 802.11ax is concerned. That is because Wi-Fi 6 technology can achieve up to 3 times faster speeds than the previous wireless standard Wi-Fi 5. Since apartments are of different sizes, speeds of a router become crucial; a router should be at least good at penetrating the thick walls and other obstructions. This is why Tp-Link AX3000 in the play. 

In order to reach the promised 3Gbps maximum wireless speeds, its dual-band functionality backs it up; the 2.4GHz band tops out 574bps while the 5GHz band up to 2402Mbps. As a result, your experience over streaming and gaming becomes more smooth and lag-free, even when multiple devices are connected at once. 

Though the router utilizes a powerful dual-core processor to handle these heavy-duty tasks and your multiple device connections, its OFDMA 4x stream technology is available for communicating more data to all connected devices simultaneously. Therefore, 4K streaming, online gaming, and video chatting are up to the mark and quite smooth. Plus, you won’t have any network congestion issues. 

Pros & Cons:

What I like:

1. Incredible wireless speeds
2. Reliable and stable coverage 
3. Its design
4. Built-in Tp-Link HomeCare security
5. Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard
6. Setup is easy, Tp-Link tether App support
7. Backward compatibility

What I don’t:

1. No USB 3.0 port. 

Verdict

Tp-Link AX3000 has many advanced features and technologies for your Wi-Fi needs. Its price, available ports, setup, and speeds are incredible. However, you’ll enjoy a real difference when you connect Wi-Fi 6 compatible devices to it. Though it is backward compatible, it ensures better performance for Wi-Fi 6 clients. 

So, I recommend this TP-Link AX3000 archer AX50 for small to medium-sized homes without a doubt, especially when the price is concerned.

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2. ASUS Wi-FI 6 AX3000 – Best For Gaming 

Highlights

1. The next-gen Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard
2. OFDMA & MU-MIMO
3. Dual-band frequency (2.4GHz & 5GHz)
4. Maximum speeds up to 3Gbps
5. AiMesh compatible
6. AiProtection network security
7. Wi-FI coverage up to 3000 square feet

Overview

The ASUS AX3000 is another Wi-Fi 6 router on the list for your apartment, though it is better than Tp-Link AX3000 when gaming is concerned. There is no doubt that the ASUS router is more like a gaming unit as it is designed in that way, considering the features, such as MU-MIMO & OFDMA, lower latency, 160Mhz bandwidth with 1024-QAM, Etc. 

Like Tp-Link archer AX50, you get the same wireless speeds, the maximum of up to 3Gbps by both bands; on the 2.4GHz band, it delivers up to 574Mbps while the 5GHz band achieves up to 2402mbps. Moreover, the router supports 160MHz bandwidth that ensures better capacity and efficiency; it is crucial to consider when shopping for a gaming router. 

Other noticeable features are its security and Mesh system; Asus claims that the router comes with a lifetime free commercial-grade security that prevents extreme level security threats. In addition, it is compatible with ASUS’s AiMesh Wi-Fi system, which expands the whole-home Wi-Fi coverage by adding two more AiMesh compatible routers. 

Pros & Cons:

What I like:

1. The next-gen Wi-Fi 6 capability
2. Its overall setup, installation, and configuration
3. Speeds are incredible on both bands
4. Its sleek gaming design 
5. Security features and Mesh system support

What I don’t:

1. Its user interface could be improved.

Verdict

The ASUS AX3000 is the better option for gamers over Tp-Link AX50. It has everything that gamers require for their online gaming and other simultaneous tasks. Additionally, you get lifetime internet security support with the router. 

Considering all the features and technologies, the ASUS AX3000 is worth every penny; it is suitable for everyone from a home user to a gamer. For a medium-sized apartment, it’d be the best router for you as it can cover up to 3000 square feet. 

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3. Netgear Nighthawk R6700 – Best for small apartments

Highlights:

1. Coverage: 1000 ~ 1500 sq.ft.
2. Up to 25 devices
3. Circle app Parental controls
4. WiFi stand – AC1750
5. Ports – 4x LAN Gigabit, 1 WAN, 1×3.0 USB
6. Antennas – 3x External 

My Views:

The first best budget-friendly router for an apartment or small home with the coverage of 1500 sq.ft is Netgear Nighthawk R6700. It is the best router under $100. Despite being budget-friendly, this router offers some advanced features and technologies and deserves the first position on my list. 

Overview:

The Netgear Nighthawk AC1750 is a complete router for those who want reliable video streaming, gaming, or surfing the internet. It is a powerful and very popular router from Netgear. It is backed by CIRCLE APP, which gives you full control of your kids’ and guests’ devices.

The overall design of the router is quite impressive and looks premium with the busy back panel. On the backside of the router houses three powerful external antennas that provide excellent coverage up to 1500sq. Ft. Along with these antennas, you will also find one USB 3.0 port, four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, and some physical buttons. 

When it comes to security and safety, this router is packed with Armor network-wide antivirus, which is powered by BitDefender. Plus, It also includes Guest WiFi access, QoS, VPN, and the firewall with WPA2 protocol. 

Pros & Cons:

What I like:

1. Excellent coverage up to 1500 sq.ft.
2. It provides seamless WiFi up to 25 devices at the same time.
3. The Armor security threat protection by Bitdefender. 
4. The Circle Smart Parental Control app is exellent. 
5. Setup is quite easy and only takes 5-minutes. 
6. Fast 1Gbps wired connections through four LAN ports.

I don’t like:

1. The status LED’s lights are a bit brighter; however, it can be turned off. 

Summary:

If you don’t want to spend much money on the router but looking for a powerful one, then this router is perfect for you as it comes under 100 bucks. The coverage, design, features, and performance of the router are enough for an apartment. 

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4. Tp-Link Archer A20 – Best for large apartments

Highlights:

1. Bands: Tri-band 
2. MU-MIMO, Beamforming, Smart connect & NitroQAM
3. 1.8 GHz Quad-core CPU
4. Compatible: Alexa & IFTTT
5. Built-In Antivirus
6. Warranty: 2-year

My Views:

A router with six antennas from Tp-Link is worth the money as it is a feature-packed router for those who have a large apartment or large home. However, you have to spend more money compared to the Netgear Nighthawk R6700. 

Overview:

The Tp-Link Archer A20 is a tri-band router and provides excellent coverage as it is using some advanced technologies together, such as Beamforming and RangeBoost, in order to give you a far-reaching coverage throughout our apartment. It is equipped with a 1.8Ghz 64bit quad-core processor with MU-MIMO technology, meaning there will be no problem when it comes to connecting multiple at once. 

The design of the router is incredible; it houses six external antennas that are designed to work with high-end technologies called NitroQAM (1024-QAM) and MU-MIMO. Using them, it boosts WiFi speed for Multiple connected devices. Being tri-band, it delivers fast WiFi speed up to 4000Mbp using all its bands: (1625Mbps +1625mbps ~ 5Ghz), and ( 750Mbps ~ 2.4Ghz). 

The get advanced security and safety with this router, in-built antivirus, powered by homecare, can easily take care of the network from malicious attacks and allows you to manage network access using its App. 

Pros & Cons:

I like:

1. I didn’t have any issues while playing 4K video and streaming UltraHD content. 
2. It is compatible with Alexa and IFTTT. 
3. Extended coverage with RangeBoost technology. 
4. HyperFast and Powerful 1.8Ghz quad-core 64bit processor for fast Wired connections up to 2Gbps. 
5. In-built antivirus from Homecare to prevent online threats. 
6. A 2-year warranty with 24/7 technical support.

I don’t like:

1. A bit expensive. 

Summary:

I would love to recommend this router for those who are living in big apartments or large homes (coverage from 1500sq.ft. to 3000sq.ft). However, It can be an expensive option for you as it comes with some advanced technologies. Other than that, this router is top of the line. 

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5. Google WiFi system – Best whole apartment router

Highlights:

1. Coverage: 1500 sq.ft x 1 single point 
2. Ports: 2 Gigabit Ethernet Ports per point
3. AC1200 2×2 Wave 2 WiFi
4. Band: Dual-band 
5. Network Assist Technology

How many points do you actually need?

• One point: 500 ~ 1500 sq.ft. – best for small home and apartment
• Two points: 1500 ~ 3000 sq.ft. – best for medium home and large apartment
• Three Points: 3000 ~ 4500 sq.ft. – best for a very large apartment (college) with so many dead zones 

My views:

When it comes to whole-home coverage, the Google WiFi system is an excellent choice for you. It is not a router but a mesh WiFi system that allows you to add multiple WiFi points in order to create a whole WiFi system. 

Overview:

The Google WiFi system is a new type of connected system that can provide seamless WiFi coverage throughout our apartment. In other words, it allows you to add multiple WiFi points into one so that it can get your whole home covered. 

When it comes to the overall design, its every point houses 2 Gigabit Ethernet Ports; however, the main unit or primary WiFi point comes with WAN and LAN port. It is a dual-band WiFi system and supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards. 

The Setup of this WiFi system is quite easy; however, it requires some basic things such as Google account, Android device with atleast of 4.0+ operating system & iOS device with 8+, broadband connection, and a modem. 

Pros & Cons:

I like:

1. Connectivity is impressive and provides a fast signal in every room.
2. The network Assist feature automatically selects the best channel and fastest band. 
3. Control on Kids’ and Guest’s devices with limited Internet use is another excellent feature. 
4. A single point can provide coverage up to 1500 sq.ft. You can add more if you need extra coverage. 
5. It comes with a simple app that allows you to set it up within minutes. 

I don’t like:

1. Single Wired Ethernet Port on each point. 

Summary:

Google WiFi system can be an excellent replacement for expensive routers. However, WiFi systems can be costly as well if you buy more WiFi points. The good thing about Google WiFi system is that you don’t have to purchase all three units; instead, you can go for a single unit that can provide coverage up to 1500 sq.ft.

Quick Guide: How to find the best router for your apartment?

Before we go over, let’s understand some of the most important buying key factors that allow you to find an ideal router for your apartment, such as apartment size, a number of simultaneous devices, and Wi-Fi Interference.

1. Size of your apartment

No doubt, when it comes to finding the best router for an apartment, the very first thing you need to think of is the size. However, it is not easy to measure the exact area of your apartment, so it is better to have an overall size idea and approx. range. Moreover, you also need to think about rooms as the number of walls affects the overall performance of your router.

2. How many devices at a time

In 2022, we can’t expect a person to use a single device or a gadget. In other words, we use multiple devices at the same time, plus our family members. So it becomes essential to our router to be the best in terms of handling multiple devices at once. That is why this is another important key factor for you.

3. WiFi Interference

Apartments, complexes, condos, and subdivisions are considered the most populated areas. Meaning, the more congested WiFi. In our case, we belong to apartments. So crowded areas with lots of people make our WiFi slower as their routers also using the same WiFi channels and frequency, meaning WiFi interference. That is why we need to buy a powerful router when apartments are concerned.

These are the three main key factors you should keep in mind before buying. However, there are some others as well, which I can’t tell you in a single article and I don’t want you to get bored. That is why I’ve made a list of five best routers for apartments keeping all sorts of users.

Note: there are some other reasons too that make your router slower, read here.

FAQs: Some Common Questions and their Answers

Conclusion

In this article ‘best routers for an apartment,’ I’ve reviewed some of the best routers of 2022. I picked these routers keeping all types of users in mind. All of the above-recommended routers come under 200 bucks. You can go for one that fits your needs the most.