EmailBest Reviewed
Wireless Routers
- Best wireless router for Mac Apple AirPort Extreme *Est. $175
- Advanced wireless router for PC Linksys WRT610N *Est. $165
- Best value wireless router Linksys WRT400N *Est. $115
- Tried-and-true (and hackable) Wireless-G router Linksys WRT54GL *Est. $55
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Best wireless router for Mac
- Good range and coverage
- Reliable
- Excels with Macs, mixed networks
- External hard drive/printer sharing
- Guest networking
- Only three Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Some drawbacks with Windows in tests
The Apple AirPort Extreme gets the most consistently high praise in reviews -- especially for Mac and mixed Mac/Windows users. Owners say it's reliable and easy to use, and experts often recommend it for novice users. In professional tests, the Apple AirPort Extreme delivers speedy throughput, even from 50 feet away. It includes a few features most routers don't, such as wireless printer sharing and guest networking (so you can add guests to your network without telling them your password). Mac-centric reviews recommend the Apple AirPort Extreme more enthusiastically than any other router -- but for Windows, critics are lukewarm. They say Windows-only users can spend less on a non-Apple router like the Linksys WRT610N (*Est. $165) and get an extra Gigabit Ethernet port (the Apple AirPort Extreme has three, whereas most rival routers have four).
Macworld and Computerworld test the Apple AirPort Extreme with Mac computers, PCMag.com tests it with Windows computers, and CNET and InformationWeek.com test it with both types. The Apple AirPort Extreme has accumulated plenty of recent owner reviews at Amazon.com, and nearly all report good experiences with it. Readers at PC World rate the reliability of several router brands, including Apple.
Our Sources
The Apple AirPort Extreme is one of Macworld's favorite routers. It earns a rating of 4.5 (out of five) for being easy to set up and use, with great range and the latest technology. The only cons are its bulky power adapter and only three Gigabit Ethernet ports.
Review: AirPort Extreme Base Station, Scott McNulty, March 27, 2009
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."
Review: Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station 802.11n, Mario Morejon, April 20, 2009
3. CNET
Dong Ngo tests the Apple AirPort Extreme with both Mac and Windows and finds some drawbacks with the Windows computers. He says the router is great for novices or Mac users, but "savvy Windows users" can get more bang for their buck elsewhere.
Review: Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station, Dong Ngo, March 16, 2009
Michael DeAgonia tests the Apple AirPort Extreme with a variety of Apple devices like iPhones and MacBooks. He says its dual-band support and guest networking option make it "worth the price."
Review: Review: Apple's New AirPort Extreme Gets Dual-Band Wi-Fi, Michael DeAgonia, March 29, 2009
The Apple AirPort Extreme is an InformationWeek.com favorite in this PC-centric test of five dual-band routers. Tester Bill O'Brien says it's "equally capable under either a Mac or PC environment." This review was written before the 2009 incarnation of the Apple AirPort Extreme, which is dual-band, dual-radio (the 2008 model tested here was dual-band, single-radio), but the other points made are still relevant.
Review: Dual-Band Router Showdown, Bill O'Brien, Oct. 6, 2008
6. Amazon.com
The Apple AirPort Extreme is one of the top-rated routers among owners at Amazon.com, averaging 4.5 stars (out of five) in more than 50 reviews. Only four reviewers had rated it below a four when we checked, and none complained of any dropped connections.
Review: Apple AirPort Extreme Dual-band Base Station, Contributors to Amazon.com
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