Wireless Router Reviews

Updated January 2011
Wi-Fi is a great thing - but it's only as good as the wireless router behind it. More than two dozen sources put a variety of routers through the paces, testing them for connection speed and reliability, range and interference problems. The models we name below were chosen based on these rigorous tests. Hundreds of user reviews are also considered.
 

Best wireless router for Mac

Apple AirPort Extreme *Est. $170 Compare Prices

CNET: A revised AirPort Extreme, released late in 2009, delivers faster throughput in the 5 GHz band than the old model in this test.

Which? magazine: The U.K.'s Which? magazine (similar to ConsumerReports.org) tests 16 routers, including the Apple AirPort Extreme.

Macworld: The Apple AirPort Extreme is one of Macworld's favorite routers.

PCMag.com: PCMag.com says the Apple AirPort Extreme is a "solid" choice if you run Macs or a combination of Mac and Windows computers, but if you run all Windows, "you can get better features for less money."

Computerworld.com: Michael deAgonia tests the Apple AirPort Extreme with a variety of Apple devices like iPhones and MacBooks.

Small Net Builder.com: Unlike other sources, SmallNetBuilder.com recommends against buying the Apple AirPort Extreme.

PCMag.com: PCMag.com readers vote Apple AirPort routers the most reliable and best overall in a June/July 2010 survey.

PC World: Apple routers win this reader survey too, beating Buffalo Technology, D-Link, Linksys and Netgear.

Amazon.com: The Apple AirPort Extreme is one of the top-rated routers among owners at Amazon.com, averaging 4.5 stars out of 5 with more than 190 reviews posted.

Advanced wireless router for Windows

Netgear WNDR3700 *Est. $165 Compare Prices

MaximumPC.com: The Netgear WNDR3700 beats all rivals (including the D-Link DIR-855 and Linksys E3000) in this seven-router shootout.

PC World (Australia): Editors here test 12 of the latest Wireless-N routers, including the Netgear WNDR3700.

Small Net Builder.com: With high-end features (including guest networks on both bands) and "routing speed well above what most of us can use," the Netgear WNDR3700 is one of this website's most highly recommended routers.

CNET: The Netgear WNDR3700 earns a spot on CNET's list of the best wireless routers.

Information Week: The Netgear WNDR3700 "truly is packed with features," which Bill O'Brien lists briefly here, along with five other routers he recommends.

NewEgg.com: With more than 400 reviews posted, the Netgear WNDR3700 earns an overall score of 4 out of 5.

Amazon.com: The Netgear WNDR3700 gets an average overall score of 4 stars out of 5 from more than 350 owners here.

Best-value wireless router

Linksys E2000 *Est. $90 Compare Prices

PC World (Australia): During this week-long test, the Linksys E2000 never once dropped its connection.

CNET: The Linksys E2000 "is by far the fastest router for home [use] we've seen," says CNET's Dong Ngo.

PCMag.com: Among easy-to-use home routers, Samara Lynn prefers the Cisco Valet Plus to the Linksys E2000.

Which? magazine: Which? magazine tests 16 wireless routers, including the Linksys E2000, in a typical home environment.

Expert Reviews (U.K.): The Linksys WRT320N, the immediate predecessor to the Linksys E2000, earns a perfect 5-star rating at this website.

Amazon.com: The Linksys E2000 gets an overall score of 3.5 stars out of 5 in more than 120 owner reviews here.

NewEgg.com: With more than 90 reviews posted, the Linksys E2000 earns an overall score of 4 out of 5.

Tried-and-true (and hackable) Wireless-G router

Linksys WRT54GL *Est. $60 Compare Prices

Wi-FiPlanet.com: This article explains how and why the Linksys WRT54G-series routers came to be so hacker-friendly, and how to find and use outside firmware for them -- along with some cautions about such firmware.

PCMag.com: PCMag.com's Eric Griffith lists 10 ways to make your home network run faster.

NewEgg.com: Because professional reviews of the Linksys WRT54GL are hard to come by, user reviews are more meaningful.

Amazon.com: Amazon.com has nearly 900 user reviews of the Linksys WRT54GL. Its average score is 4.5 stars, with more than 600 giving it a perfect 5 stars.

Wireless Routers Runners Up:

Novatel MiFi 2200 Free with 2-yr contract

5 picks by top review sites.

Linksys E3000 *Est. $165

4 picks by top review sites.

D-Link DIR-615 *Est. $55

3 picks by top review sites.

D-Link DIR-825 *Est. $135

3 picks by top review sites.

Apple Time Capsule *Est. $320 to $475

3 picks by top review sites.

Buffalo Nfiniti WZR-HP-G300NH *Est. $90

3 picks by top review sites.

D-Link DIR-685 *Est. $240

3 picks by top review sites.

Cisco Valet Plus *Est. $105

2 picks by top review sites.

Linksys E1000 *Est. $60

2 picks by top review sites.

     
   
 
 
 
     
 
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Cisco-Linksys E3000 Wireless-N Router
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
 
 
 
 
     
 
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D-Link DIR-615/RE Wireless N 300 Router Refurbished
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
 
 
 
 
     
 
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D-Link DIR-825 Extreme-N Dual-Band Gigabit Router
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
 
 
 
 
     
   
 
 
 
     
   
 
 
 
     
   
 
 
 
     
 
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Cisco-Valet Plus Wireless Router
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
 
 
 
 
     
 
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Cisco-Linksys E1000 Wireless-N Router
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
 
 
 
 

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