Networking

Photos: The 10 best wireless routers for telecommuters and SMBs in 2018

By · April 13, 2018, 11:24 AM PST · connerforrest

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  • Asus AC2900 dual-band Wi-Fi router (RT-AC86U)

    For small businesses and remote workers, connectivity is key. Here are some of the best values in wireless routers.

    The Asus AC2900 dual-band Wi-Fi router (RT-AC86U) is a solid option for work-from-home professionals and mom-and-pop brick-and-mortar shops. As noted on our sister site CNET, it boasts blazing speeds on 5GHz and is heavily customizable.

    Image: Chris Monroe/CNET

  • D-Link AC5300 Ultra Wi-Fi Router (DIR-895L/R)

    The D-Link AC5300 Ultra Wi-Fi Router (DIR-895L/R) is expensive ($380), but it's designed to handle the load of multiple devices and can work for 4K streaming--which is good for creatives. It also features tri-band wireless and looks really cool.

    SEE: Telecommuting policy (Tech Pro Research)

    Image: D-Link

  • Synology RT2600ac

    The Synology RT2600ac has great range and can also work as a network storage server, as noted in its CNET review.

    Image: Dong Ngo/CNET

  • TP-LINK AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router

    This option from TP-LINK supports the 802.11ac standard, and can offer 1300Mbps connection on 5Ghz. The AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router is also budget-friendly, at $90.

    Image: TP-LINK

  • D-Link AC1200 Wi-Fi Router (DIR-842)

    For the extremely budget-conscious, the D-Link AC1200 Wi-Fi Router (DIR-842) will only set you back about $60, and features dual active firewalls (NAT/SPI) and Gigabit ethernet support.

    Image: D-Link

  • TP-Link Talon AD7200 Multi-Band Wi-Fi Router

    The TP-Link Talon AD7200 Multi-Band Wi-Fi Router has three bands (60GHz, 5GHz and 2.4GHz) and supports 802.11ad Wi-Fi.

    Image: Josh Miller/CNET

  • Asus RT-AC3200 Tri-Band Wireless Gigabit Router

    Although it's a few years old, the Asus RT-AC3200 Tri-Band Wireless Gigabit Router is a solid option, with built-in malware protection and the ability to work as a VPN/NAS server, according to its CNET review.

    Image: Josh Miller/CNET

  • TRENDnet AC2600 MU-MIMO WiFi Router

    The TRENDnet AC2600 MU-MIMO WiFi Router features pre-encrypted Wi-Fi and four separate Gigabit ports, making it a solid option for those who work from home.

    Image: TRENDnet

  • Zyxel Armor Z2

    The Zyxel Armor Z2 excels in easy setup and use. The router features four gigabit LAN ports and one gigabit WAN port.

    Image: Chris Monroe/CNET

  • Netgear R9000 Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Smart Wi-Fi Router

    The first 802.11ad router from Netgear, the R9000 Nighthawk X10 AD7200 has a built-in Plex server, six Gigabit LAN ports, and one 10Gbps LAN port. It costs roughly $500 retail and is a little complicated to set up.

    Image: Dong Ngo/CNET

Asus AC2900 dual-band Wi-Fi router (RT-AC86U)

For small businesses and remote workers, connectivity is key. Here are some of the best values in wireless routers.

The Asus AC2900 dual-band Wi-Fi router (RT-AC86U) is a solid option for work-from-home professionals and mom-and-pop brick-and-mortar shops. As noted on our sister site CNET, it boasts blazing speeds on 5GHz and is heavily customizable.

Image: Chris Monroe/CNET

Related Topics:
Networking SMBs Data Centers Storage Hardware Security Virtualization

By Conner Forrest

Conner Forrest is an analyst for 451 Research. He was formerly a Senior Editor for TechRepublic.

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