Apps taking forever to load? Upgrade with these Prime ASUS Wi-Fi deals
You don't have to put up with subpar Wi-Fi. Upgrade your home network with one of these ASUS Wi-Fi deals.
From tablets to smart TVs, the need for fast and reliable Wi-Fi in every corner of the house is bigger than ever. While the router that came with your internet plan may be fine for a couple of rooms, it could be holding your network back with older Wi-Fi standards and weaker hardware that can’t quite keep up with dozens of devices trying to connect at once. Luckily Prime Day is the perfect time to get upgraded with these deals from ASUS so that you can get the most out of your internet.
If your Wi-Fi router isn’t giving you the speed you need in every room of the house, a mesh system is likely the best solution. A mesh Wi-Fi system works by connecting multiple routers, or nodes, wirelessly to create a blanket of coverage around your home. Each node is linked with a high-speed wireless connection that way your wireless devices can connect to the nearest node allowing the mesh to do the heavy lifting. Whether you just need enough speed for browsing and streaming or have more demanding requirements like gaming, there’s a mesh for you.
Best VPN providers in 2023
VPNs have become extremely common these days, and there are almost too many options for both free and paid VPNs.
We spend a lot of time online, but in this increasingly digital world comes a heightened risk of online threats or cyber criminals that may try to use your information against you. Luckily, there's an easy way to lock your data down as it travels through your internet connection. With a VPN (Virtual Private Network), you can hide your location by disguising your IP (internet protocol) address and encrypting all the data you share over the internet. Of course, VPNs won't protect you from every threat (for more on that, check out our piece on common VPN misunderstandings), but some security is better than no security at all.
Best Wi-Fi routers in 2023
Upgrade your home Wi-Fi so your speeds are fast and consistent in every room of your house.
Whether you have just a handful of online devices or a house packed with smart home tech, Wi-Fi has become the center of our connected lives. Competition and necessity have pushed ISPs to increase their internet speeds as well as the tech that keeps customers connected. Even so, ISP-provided gateways are a one-size-fits-all solution to WI-Fi when just about every home has a different set of needs. Whether you're looking to get the best speeds possible in a suburban home or are looking to make the most out of your network in a congested apartment building, upgrading your home network with the right router has never been easier.
Best VPN apps for Android in 2023
Looking for a great VPN app for Android? We have picked the best VPN apps for Android that you can download from Google Play right now.
Virtual Private Networks (VPN) can be super beneficial, whether you're trying to hide your browsing from prying eyes or just want to access a different country's video streaming catalogs. They encrypt your outgoing and incoming internet traffic and pass it through their servers, so your data remains private, and your location gets obfuscated behind the VPN service's IPs. VPNs won't save you from everything online (be sure to check out our piece on common VPN misunderstandings), but it's an additional layer of security that can be good to have.
AmpliFi Alien review: A powerful Wi-Fi 6 router with software that nails the basics
The AmpliFi Alien from Ubiquiti is a quick Wi-Fi 6 router with a sleek design and excellent, easy-to-use software.
AmpliFi isn’t the first name to come to mind regarding WI-Fi routers, but if you’ve been gravitating towards sleek and simple mesh solutions like eero and Nest Wifi, AmpliFi should be on your radar. I love the matte black design that stands out with its green underflow and touchscreen. The Alien looks good enough to leave front and center and with night mode shutting off the lighting at night, it’s not bothersome when watching TV in the dark.
Best VPN routers in 2023: Top picks for Virtual Private Networks
Want to connect to a VPN without installing apps or configurations on every device? Get a router with VPN support and get them all connected at once.
VPN support on a router can mean a few different things, but to most people, it means using a VPN service to add a layer of protection between your device and the internet at large. For this, you need a router with VPN client mode support, and luckily, there are quite a few of the best Wi-Fi routers building this feature in by default. TP-Link, for example, has even been adding VPN client mode to its routers, even the cheap ones, with firmware updates.
DD-WRT vs. OpenWrt: Which open-source router firmware should you pick?
Installing a custom firmware on your router gives you more control and longer support than the stock firmware.
Somewhere between the device in your hand and the server where this article is being stored, there is a router. Physically, a router is mostly a compact computer with software specifically tailored to directing network traffic to the proper device. Routers have also inherited some other tasks like such as preventing unwanted traffic from entering your local network with a firewall, deciding which type of traffic should be prioritized with a QoS, and making the internet wireless with Wi-Fi support.
Best Wi-Fi routers for large homes in 2023
If you want Wi-Fi coverage for a large home without losing any speed, you'll want a fast Wi-Fi 6 router with plenty of capacity.
Despite topping the list as one of the most important considerations when picking a router, Wi-Fi coverage can be extremely difficult to predict. Upgrading to a fast mesh system is one option, but finding a router that can cover your entire home is likely cheaper and easier. Router manufacturers have shied away from providing square foot estimates and really, there are so many factors at play, those figures can rarely be trusted.
What is Wi-Fi 7?
Wi-Fi 7 makes more efficient use of wireless spectrum to offer incredible speeds and better latency compared to even Wi-Fi 6E.
So much of our lives take place on the internet that it’s no surprise that the companies behind our Wi-Fi have been racing towards the next generation of wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi 7. Wi-Fi 7 does more than just cram more speed into the same spectrum we’ve been using for years. Wi-Fi 7 makes better use of the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz spectrum to deliver higher top speeds, lower latency, and more efficient use of the available bandwidth.
Best router-modem combos in 2023
If you want to eliminate rental fees or are just ready for an upgraded router, getting a router-modem combo gets it done with a single purchase.
For millions of people, the best way to get connected to high-speed internet is through a local cable provider. While the companies are happy to provide a router-modem combo unit, often called a gateway, for a monthly fee, you’re stuck using their hardware and software, which may not be a match for your needs. If you’re looking to get rid of modem rental fees and don’t want the hassle of setting up a separate modem and router, getting a combo is the way to go.
What is Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E uses 6GHz spectrum to improve speeds over Wi-Fi 6 by reducing congestion with multiple new 160MHz channels.
When it comes to sending and receiving data over the air, one of the most important resources is spectrum. When you change the station on your radio, you’re selecting a new chunk of spectrum called a channel. The same goes for just about anything that uses wireless tech, meaning that which spectrum each service uses is tightly controlled by the FCC. When it comes to tech in your home, you have some spectrum at 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Over the years, we have amassed dozens of devices using this spectrum, and even with Wi-Fi 6, congestion is still a real issue for many people.
Best Netgear routers in 2023
Netgear is known for building fast and reliable routers and it continues that trend with its latest Nighthawk and Orbi options.
Netgear and its Nighthawk line have earned a reputation for delivering quick and reliable Wi-Fi with little fuss, and it still makes some of the best routers you can buy. Netgear's Orbi line has been growing with mesh kits and stylish standalone routers. Netgear is also pushing its software subscriptions hard with Netgear Armor and Smart Parental Controls both requiring a monthly or yearly subscription to get the most of them. Luckily, most of the Netgear routers you buy today come with a month or a year to try out these services to see how they fit into your life.
What is QoS on routers?
QoS on your router keeps your most important connections feeling fast by prioritizing their packets.
QoS, or Quality of Service, is a feature on routers that allows for the prioritization of data from one connected device over the others. Normally, all traffic is treated equally on your network so all the devices connected to your network get a very similar amount of speed. If you have a slower connection or want the smoothest possible experience, enabling QoS will make sure data reaches your most important devices first.
Best carriers in 2023
Picking the right carrier ensures you have the coverage your need with plenty of speed for your phone.
The way we use our phones has continued to evolve with newer SoCs enabling more efficient video playback, betters photography, faster gaming performance, and most importantly, faster and more consistent data connections. With carriers going hard in the paint over 5G spectrum and mid-band deployment, the battle has shifted from total coverage to how much data these carriers can deliver and how fast.
Best ASUS routers in 2023
ASUS makes some of the best WI-Fi routers you can get with basic routers, ZenWiFi mesh systems, and even ROG gaming routers.
While ASUS is well-known for its laptops and motherboards, it also makes some of the best Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems you can get. ASUS routers range from basic dual-band models with enough speed for a small house, to the fastest gaming routers with the latest tech. ASUS also makes mesh Wi-Fi easy with mesh support in software for on most of its routers, as well as a line of ZenWiFi kits with clean and compact designs. Through all of it, ASUS allows customers full access to advanced settings, even on ZenWiFi, with an easy-to-use app for those that would rather stick with the basics.
What is NAT on your router?
Wondering what those pesky NAT warnings are about? It's a little complicated.
The only time most of us think about NAT is when it’s a problem. If you’re a gamer, there’s a chance you’ve seen the dreaded double NAT warning or have been informed that your strict NAT type could cause issues. A strict NAT type can also make it more difficult to connect to a specific device from an external network. In gaming, this usually manifests as longer than ordinary matchmaking times or the inability to hear others in voice chat.
There’s a lot to like about TP-Link's current crop of routers between strong speeds, easy-to-use software, and modern designs. TP-Link’s routers are easy to recommend thanks to their relatively low prices without giving up any real-world performance. With Wi-Fi 6, TP-Link has consistently offered some of the best values in terms of price to performance with its software and user experience equaling the best in the business in many areas.
For the most part, a gaming router is just a powerful router with enough speed and capacity to handle all the devices in your home without big latency spikes. Even so, gaming-specific routers add more value for gamers with customized quality of service (QoS) features and specialized hardware. For a competitive gamer, the overall goal is getting the lowest pings possible to the game server, but these days, gamers may also want the capacity to stream 1080p 60fps video to Twitch.