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Best Wi-Fi 6E Routers of 2024

We tested a batch of Wi-Fi 6E routers to see if they're worth the upgrade from Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6.

  • Best overall
    Hero image of Linksys Hydra Pro 6E router
    Linksys Hydra Pro 6E
    • $274.26
    • 5Gbps internet support
    • Mesh support
    • Barebones design
  • Best for price
    TP-Link Archer AXE75
    • $199.99*
    • VPN tools
    • Basic parental controls
    • No multi-gig ports
  • Best for gamers
    MSI RadiX GRAXE66 Best for Speed
    MSI RadiX GRAXE66
    • $209.49*
    • Antenna illumination
    • BitTorrent client
    • No real gaming tools
  • Best for range
    NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 Hero Image
    NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
    • $438.02*
    • Long range
    • Media sharing
    • High price
  • Best for mesh
    TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro
    • $179.99*
    • IoT networking
    • Device isolation
    • Subscription-locked features

Our pick: Which Wi-Fi 6E router is best?

The Linksys Hydra Pro 6E takes our spot as the best Wi-Fi 6E router we’ve tested to date. Sure, it’s a bare-bones router compared to others on our list, but it offers great speeds and 5Gbps internet support at a decent price. If you want a router specific to gaming, the MSI RadiX GRAXE66 is a better fit. Want the longest range you can get? The NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 has the Hydra Pro 6E beat based on our 5 GHz tests.

How we test routers

We vigorously test routers to see how well they stack up against the competition in speed and range. We also evaluate the setup process and dig into the web and mobile apps to see if they’re easy or difficult to use. Check out our methodology section for more information.

The 5 best Wi-Fi 6E routers

Compare Wi-Fi 6E router speeds and prices

ModelMax throughputTested speed
@ 30 ft.
Price*Order online
Best overallLinksys Hydra Pro 6E6,600Mbps1,014Mbps$274.26View on Amazon
Best for budgetsTP-Link Archer AXE755,400Mbps545Mbps$199.99View on Amazon
Best for gamersMSI RadiX GRAXE666,600Mbps976Mbps$209.49View on Amazon
Best for rangeNETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE50011,000Mbps1,030Mbps$438.02View on Amazon
Best for meshTP-Link Deco XE75 Pro5,400Mbps413Mbps§$179.99View on Amazon

What should you look for in a Wi-Fi 6E router?

Wi-Fi 6E is a half-step between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7. It adds the 6 GHz Wi-Fi band to deliver faster wireless speeds than the 5 GHz band. But the new connection really shines if the router has a multi-gig internet (WAN) port. Just look at the difference between the Linksys Hydra Pro 6E and the TP-Link Archer AXE75, both listed in our roundup, to see how a multi-gig internet port makes a huge difference in your Wi-Fi speeds.

Do you have a multi-gig plan to go with your Wi-Fi 6E router?

If not, enter your zip code below to see what options are available to you.

Best overall—Linksys Hydra Pro 6E

Best overall

Hero image of Linksys Hydra Pro 6E router
Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

A good bare-bones candidate for 5Gbps internet

Score:

3.9

out of 5

The Hydra Pro 6E has great multi-gig speeds for the money thanks to its 5Gbps internet port and 6 GHz Wi-Fi band. But it lacks some features commonly found on other routers.
   Pros    Cons
  • 5Gbps internet support
  • Third 6 GHz Wi-Fi band
  • No VPN tools
  • No media sharing

$274.63*

 

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Expand for product details and ratings

Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Hits high 6 GHz speeds based on our tests.
Features 3 Lacks many features offered on competing routers.
Design 4 Includes a 5Gbps WAN port and a third 6 GHz band.
Setup 4 Requires the Linksys app to get your network running.
Ease of use 4 Presents a pretty interface but hides some settings by default.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The 5Gbps WAN port and the new 6 GHz band mean you’ll see great real-world multi-gig wireless speeds on your Wi-Fi 6E devices. It also has basic parental controls, file sharing, and mesh networking support.

What we wish it did better: It needs more of the USB-based features seen on comparable routers—like FTP and DLNA support and a built-in VPN server.

Why do we recommend it? If speed is all you need, the Hydra Pro 6E delivers with its 5Gbps WAN port and the new 6 GHz Wi-Fi band. It can handle lots of devices simultaneously, too, making it a great network centerpiece.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

6 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
2,400 1,590 1,014 171

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6E
  • Max throughput: 6,600 Mbps
  • Antennas: 5
  • Streams: 8
  • Bands: 3
  • WAN ports (5Gbps): 1
  • LAN ports (1Gbps): 4
  • USB 3.2 ports: 1
  • Max internet speed supported: ~4,700Mbps

 

Best for price—TP-Link Archer AXE75

Best for price

 

Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

A decent and affordable upgrade from Wi-Fi 5

Score:

3.8

out of 5

The Archer AXE75 is a decent pick if you’re upgrading from a Wi-Fi 5 router. It includes a third 6 GHz band, but it doesn’t have the wired speeds to back up the advertised throughput.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Third 6 GHz band
  • Built-in VPN tools
  • No multi-gig wired support
  • Subscription-locked features

$199.99*

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Matches the speeds of other 5,400Mbps routers in our tests.
Features 4 Includes VPN tools, file sharing, and basic parental controls.
Design 3 Lacks a multi-gig internet port to back the 160 MHz channels.
Setup 3 Takes longer to set up due to a few unnecessary steps.
Ease of use 4 Provides a decent user experience in the web interface and Tether app.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The Archer AXE75 has good Wi-Fi 6 speeds based on our tests, with an 854Mbps average at close range and 254Mbps at 120 feet. The built-in VPN server and client are a plus.

What we wish it did better: The router needs a multi-gig internet port to back up the advertised 2,402Mbps throughput on the 5 GHz and 6 GHz Wi-Fi bands.

Why do we recommend it? The Archer AXE75 is a decent upgrade from a Wi-Fi 5 router. It packs VPN tools, file and media sharing, and a third 6 GHz band. It has good Wi-Fi 6 speeds based on our tests, too.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

6 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
2,400 926 150 N/A

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6E
  • Max throughput: 5,400Mbps
  • Antennas: 6
  • Streams: 6
  • Bands: 3
  • WAN ports: 1
  • LAN ports: 4
  • USB 3.2 ports: 1
  • Max internet speed supported: ~940Mps

 

Best for gamers—MSI RadiX GRAXE66

Best for gamers

 

 

MSI RadiX GRAXE66 Best for Speed
Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

The best for Windows gamers with MSI products

Score:

4.5

out of 5

The RadiX GRAXE66 is best for Windows gamers with MSI products. There’s a lot to love here for gamers and non-gamers alike, but you may find the previous Wi-Fi 6 model a better deal if you don’t need cool lighting.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Customizable lighting
  • Multi-gig internet support
  • No real gaming tools
  • Frustrating router management

$209.49*

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 5 Has some of the fastest close-range tested speeds.
Features 4 Includes a built-in VPN server and BitTorrent client.
Design 5 Supports multi-gig internet and actual wireless speeds above 1,000Mbps.
Setup 4 Gets you up and running in no time.
Ease of use 3 Lacks tools to change the LEDs outside the Windows app.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The RadiX GRAXE66 has some of the best close-range Wi-Fi 6 speeds we’ve tested to date. Other notable wins include multi-gig internet support, customizable lighting, and a built-in BitTorrent client.

What we wish it did better: It lacks lighting controls in the web interface, meaning Linux and Mac gamers can’t customize the colors and effects.

Why do we recommend it? The RadiX GRAXE66 has stellar performance based on our tests, making it a better megabit-per-dollar value than our top speed demon in stock, the NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500. The colored lighting is neat if you’re into that sort of thing, plus it can prioritize traffic from other MSI PCs and hardware. There are non-gaming features as well, including basic parental controls and a built-in BitTorrent client.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

6 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
2,400 1,530 390 135

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6E
  • Max throughput: 6,600Mbps
  • Antennas: 6
  • Streams: 8
  • Bands: 3
  • WAN/LAN ports (2.5Gbps): 1
  • WAN/LAN ports (1Gbps): 1
  • LAN ports: 3
  • USB 3.2 ports: 1
  • Max internet speed supported: ~2,370Mbps

 

Best for range—NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500

Best for range

Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

An expensive speedster with an incredible range

Score:

4.2

out of 5

The RAXE500 has some of the fastest speeds we’ve tested to date. Plus, it has an excellent range if you’re in the mood to stream video to your neighbor’s front yard.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Excellent long range
  • Fastest tested speeds
  • Subscription requirements
  • High price

$438.02*

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 5 Outpaces nearly every gaming and non-gaming router we’ve tested.
Features 3 Requires subscriptions to use the parental controls and security fully.
Design 4 Includes a third Wi-Fi band and multi-gig internet support.
Setup 4 Has one of the fastest setups we’ve endured.
Ease of use 4 Provides a better experience in the app than the web interface.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The RAXE500 has the best range and some of the fastest speeds we’ve tested, thanks to the new 6 GHz band. It also has an OpenVPN server to hide your actions online and a built-in media server to share your files locally and across the internet.

What we wish it did better: The RAXE500 needs more free parental controls—all you can do is create a profile, assign a device, and pause the internet. It should also have a free built-in VPN client like the competition, versus forcing you to pay for Bitdefender VPN.

Why do we recommend it? You can’t beat the RAXE500 in speed and range. The new 6 GHz connection promises the ultrafast speeds the 5 GHz band doesn’t consistently deliver. Plus, there are a few tidbits thrown in to sweeten the deal. Get it if you’re good with the hefty price.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
2,400 1,550 396 120

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6E
  • Max throughput: 11,000Mbps
  • Antennas: 8
  • Streams: 12
  • Bands: 3
  • WAN ports (1Gbps): 1
  • LAN ports (1Gbps): 4
  • WAN / LAN port (1–2.5Gbps): 1
  • USB 3.2 ports: 2
  • Max internet speed supported: ~2,370Mbps

 

Best for mesh—TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro

Best for mesh

Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

 

One of the best mesh systems we’ve tested

Score:

4.3

out of 5

You can’t go wrong with the Deco XE75 Pro. It’s surprisingly loaded with features, but expect to pay for a subscription to get the most out of it.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Third Wi-Fi 6 band
  • Built-in VPN tools
  • No Wi-Fi channel controls
  • Subscription-locked features

$139.99*

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Has some of the best speeds we’ve tested for a mesh system.
Features 5 Packs VPN tools, IoT networking, and more.
Design 4 Includes a third 6 GHz Wi-Fi band for Deco-to-Deco communication.
Setup 4 Gets you up and running quickly.
Ease of use 5 Makes network management easy through the Deco app.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: We recorded good speeds, especially when we tested the communication between the router and the satellite unit. The system also has a few decent features you normally don’t see from a mesh system.

What we wish it did better: We need the ability to manually change the Wi-Fi channels, as the best one picked by the AI may not be ideal in your home or office.

Why do we recommend it? The Deco XE75 has the best speeds we’ve tested to date for a mesh system in part due to the dedicated Deco-to-Deco line. It also packs some cool features for the money, like basic parental controls and built-in VPN tools.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
1,200 829 413 124

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6E
  • Max throughput: 5,400Mbps
  • Antennas: 4
  • Streams: 6
  • Bands: 3
  • WAN/LAN port (2.5Gbps): 1
  • WAN/LAN port (1Gbps): 2
  • Max internet speed supported: ~2,370Mbps

 

Wi-Fi 6E specs and features

So, what do you look for in a Wi-Fi 6E standalone router or mesh system? We list a few callouts to keep in mind.

Multi-gig WAN

The 6 GHz Wi-Fi band enables real-world multi-gig wireless speeds. To get the most out of this new connection, the router needs a multi-gig internet (WAN) port. As we show in our benchmarks, the faster port can make a huge difference

For example, when we test a router’s 160 MHz Wi-Fi channel at close range, we can get an 1,530Mbps average if it has a multi-gig Ethernet port. Slower Gigabit Ethernet ports reduce our speed results to around 926Mbps average. Sure, you can get superfast file transfers between two Wi-Fi 6E devices, but we’re betting you’re gunning for faster Wi-Fi speeds for internet use.

High throughput

The throughput number doesn’t mean a single device will see 11,000Mbps speeds. Instead, it’s the maximum data amount a router can transfer across all bands working at once. The higher a router’s throughput, the more likely it can handle the multitude of devices connected to it in any given second. For example, the Nighthawk router listed above can transfer data to 12 devices every second, whereas the Deco mesh system can only transmit to six devices each second.

Mesh networking

Standalone routers are now really good about blasting the 5 GHz connection throughout a home, but the 6 GHz band has a shorter range, so it has a harder time penetrating walls and objects. Plus, it broadcasts at a lower power, so while you may get superfast speeds at close range, you may get garbage speeds usually where you see good speeds using a 5 GHz connection. If you need whole-home coverage, we suggest getting a router with built-in mesh networking so you can easily add a similar router or Wi-Fi extender. Wi-Fi EasyMesh is becoming the new standard, so watch for that.

Antennas

The number of antennas usually coincides with a router’s maximum throughput and wireless radio count. Each wireless radio needs at least two antennas for MU-MIMO and Beamforming features, which enable simultaneous multi-device transmissions and stronger connections. And based on our tests, we always get more megabits per second at 120 feet from routers with external antennas than those with internal ones.

Our verdict

The Linksys Hydra Pro 6E is our top pick for the best Wi-Fi 6E router we’ve tested to date. While it lacks some standard features we normally get on routers, like built-in VPN tools and media sharing, it makes up for its shortcomings through great Wi-Fi 6E speeds and 5Gbps internet support at a great price. But if you’re looking for gaming-specific features or fast speeds at a superlong range, MSI and NETGEAR have Wi-Fi 6E routers that are a better fit.

Methodology

We test router speed by setting up each router in an office and connecting it to a local test server. Then, we transmit test data between our wireless devices and the server, taking numerous measurements to account for fluctuations in Wi-Fi speeds.

The first tests occur close to the router, without obstructions—so the Wi-Fi is as strong and fast as it’s gonna get. We repeat the process straight out at 10, 20, and 30 feet, with only a glass door obstructing our view of the router. The same glass door and an exterior door blocks our path when we test outside at 40 and 50 feet.

We also run tests in a hallway to the left of the TV room and office—where there’s a glass door, three walls, and an air handler unit blocking our view of the router. The dining room, another testing point, sits to the right of the kitchen, TV room, and office—two walls and a glass door block the path in this test.

To test video streaming, we connect a fast storage device to the router and stream a 4K video to six wireless devices simultaneously—two phones, three tablets, and a laptop—connected to the same wireless band.

Client devices used in testing

Google Pixel 6iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
Wi-Fi versionWi-Fi 6EWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 5
Stream configuration2 x 22 x 22 x 2
Max channel width160MHz80MHz80MHz
Max 6GHz speed (AXE)2,400Mbps
Max 5GHz speed (AX)2,400Mbps1,200Mbps
Max 5GHz speed (AC)866Mbps866Mbps866Mbps
Max 2.4GHz speed (AX)195Mbps195Mbps
Max 2.4GHz speed (AC)144Mbps195Mbps144Mbps
Max 2.4 GHz speed (N)144Mbps144Mbps144Mbps
Wi-Fi version
Google Pixel 6Wi-Fi 6E
iPhone 12 Pro MaxWi-Fi 6
Google Pixel 3Wi-Fi 5
Stream configuration
Google Pixel 62 x 2
iPhone 12 Pro Max2 x 2
Google Pixel 32 x 2
Max channel width
Google Pixel 6160MHz
iPhone 12 Pro Max80MHz
Google Pixel 380MHz
Max 6GHz speed (AXE)
Google Pixel 62,400Mbps
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Google Pixel 3
Max 5GHz speed (AX)
Google Pixel 62,400Mbps
iPhone 12 Pro Max1,200Mbps
Google Pixel 3
Max 5GHz speed (AC)
Google Pixel 6866Mbps
iPhone 12 Pro Max866Mbps
Google Pixel 3866Mbps
Max 2.4GHz speed (AX)
Google Pixel 6195Mbps
iPhone 12 Pro Max195Mbps
Google Pixel 3
Max 2.4GHz speed (AC)
Google Pixel 6144Mbps
iPhone 12 Pro Max195Mbps
Google Pixel 3144Mbps
Max 2.4 GHz speed (N)
Google Pixel 6144Mbps
iPhone 12 Pro Max144Mbps
Google Pixel 3144Mbps

Router benchmarks

Here are the average speeds recorded for each router and system. Wi-Fi speeds fluctuate significantly, so these numbers reflect at least three tests taken at each 10-foot interval.

Linksys Hydra Pro 6E (6 GHz)

Google Pixel 6
2 feet1,590
10 feet1,520
20 feet1,436
30 feet1,014
40 feet (porch)679
120 feet (across street)171
2 feet
Google Pixel 61,590
10 feet
Google Pixel 61,520
20 feet
Google Pixel 61,436
30 feet
Google Pixel 61,014
40 feet (porch)
Google Pixel 6679
120 feet (across street)
Google Pixel 6171

TP-Link Archer AXE75 (6 GHz)

Google Pixel 6
2 feet926
10 feet875
20 feet779
30 feet545
40 feet (porch)150
120 feet (across street)No connection
2 feet
Google Pixel 6926
10 feet
Google Pixel 6875
20 feet
Google Pixel 6779
30 feet
Google Pixel 6545
40 feet (porch)
Google Pixel 6150
120 feet (across street)
Google Pixel 6No connection

MSI RadiX GRAXE66 (6 GHz)

Google Pixel 6
2 feet1,530
10 feet1,380
20 feet1,003
30 feet976
40 feet (porch)390
120 feet (across street)135
2 feet
Google Pixel 61,530
10 feet
Google Pixel 61,380
20 feet
Google Pixel 61,003
30 feet
Google Pixel 6976
40 feet (porch)
Google Pixel 6390
120 feet (across street)
Google Pixel 6135

NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 (6 GHz)

Google Pixel 6
2 feet1,550
10 feet1,325
20 feet1,180
30 feet1,030
40 feet (porch)396
120 feet (across street)120
2 feet
Google Pixel 61,550
10 feet
Google Pixel 61,325
20 feet
Google Pixel 61,180
30 feet
Google Pixel 61,030
40 feet (porch)
Google Pixel 6396
120 feet (across street)
Google Pixel 6120

TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro (5 GHz)

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
2 feet829621
10 feet767570
20 feet634509
30 feet595419
40 feet (porch)413254
120 feet (across street)12493
2 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max829
Google Pixel 3621
10 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max767
Google Pixel 3570
20 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max634
Google Pixel 3509
30 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max595
Google Pixel 3419
40 feet (porch)
iPhone 12 Pro Max413
Google Pixel 3254
120 feet (across street)
iPhone 12 Pro Max124
Google Pixel 393

FAQ about Wi-Fi 6E routers

Why didn't you test the 6 GHz speeds on the Deco XE75 Pro?

We did, but here’s the thing. The system uses this band as a dedicated backhaul connection. As we stated in our review, you can enable Wi-Fi Network & Backhaul mode, but your traffic mixes with Deco-to-Deco traffic, reducing your speeds. Plus, you can’t change channels, so your speeds are at the mercy of the system’s AI.

Our Pixel 6 averages were all over the place when we benchmarked the 6 GHz connection, but we did manage to get a few quick shots of around 1,590Mbps at close range. Of course, you can open up the 6 GHz connection for your use and install Ethernet for the backbone, although the system’s AI still switches between the two connections for the best Deco-to-Deco speeds, depending on the traffic. Honestly, your best bet is to leave the 6 GHz setting alone so you can get the most 5 GHz speeds out of the satellite units.

Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 6E: What's the difference?

All you really need to know is Wi-Fi 6E has the 6 GHz band, and Wi-Fi 6 doesn’t. Every Wi-Fi 6E router we’ve tested has a 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz configuration, whereas tri-band Wi-Fi 6 routers usually have a 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz (lower) + 5 GHz (upper) configuration. We go into more detail in our separate Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 6E comparison.

Disclaimer

Author -

Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.

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