Best routers for Verizon Fios of 2022

As tens of millions of individuals regulate to distant work, a dependable house community is extra essential than ever—and, subsequently, so is a dependable router. A constant connection that may deal with Zoom conferences, video uploads, and streaming shows with out buckling underneath the excessive bandwidth. Often, when your own home community fails to ship the speeds your ISP promised, a brand new and improved router may help fairly a bit. The rental router you get from Verizon Fios pales compared to the perfect routers available on the market. If you want a approach to make the service give you the results you want, the perfect routers for Verizon Fios can ship increased speeds throughout many extra gadgets and should assist as a lot as upgrading your plan.

How we selected the perfect routers for Verizon Fios

Before changing into a part of Popular Science’s commerce group, I lined devices and kit, together with routers, for websites like TechnoBuffalo, XDA Developers, and CNN Underscored. I’ve arrange a number of routers and mesh networks for work through the years, together with many on Fios, which has been my house web service supplier since 2016.

To make our choices, I drew on that have, in addition to PopSci’s many guides to purchasing the best routers proper now. Of course, I additionally cross-checked every suggestion for compatibility with Fios, thought of business guides, and browse underneath impressions to higher perceive what’s accessible.

Understanding Verizon Fios

Fios is the house web division of Verizon and runs completely on fiber-optic cable. Fiber optics use pulses of sunshine to ship information via tiny strands of clear materials like glass or plastic, carrying information on to your machine. Fiber’s typically thought of superior to cable as a result of it’s extra resilient to lag and buffering.

Depending in your location, Fios provides as much as 940 Mbps obtain speeds and 880 Mbps add speeds, which ought to enable for a really related house to do numerous streaming for work or play, gaming, and handle a community of sensible house gadgets. Often the draw back to Fios is availability. Though it’s accessible nationally, Fios isn’t accessible in every single place. You can at all times go to the Fios website to see if you will get service in your house or to request it.

Things to contemplate when shopping for the perfect router for Verizon Fios

Like most web service suppliers, Verizon will fortunately hire out a router and tack a price onto your invoice each month. There’s nothing that claims you must use that router although. In truth, if you happen to’re prepared to pay some cash upfront, the perfect routers provide a significantly better vary and assist for extra gadgets.

Technically, any router ought to be appropriate with Verizon’s web hookup. In order to be sure you can get probably the most out of Fios’ finest plan, we seemed for routers that may assist as much as 1 Gbps of bandwidth. We additionally thought of dual-band and tri-band routers that assist more moderen Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 requirements.

Picking a router can get sophisticated shortly. Router specs lean closely on business jargon. It will be complicated and irritating for even probably the most seasoned technophiles. We’ll stroll you thru the fundamentals, so you possibly can choose the fitting router to your house setup.

Speed and wi-fi protocol

If you’re going to pay for gigabit web, you’ll desire a router that may benefit from these speeds. Otherwise, you’re losing cash paying for a service plan you possibly can’t use. If potential, we advocate shopping for a router with a most bandwidth effectively excessive pace it’s best to obtain out of your plan. This offers you some flexibility if you happen to determine to improve to a quicker plan down the street. 

You also needs to pay shut consideration to what wireless-fidelity protocol your router helps. There are many variations of Wi-Fi, that are famous by numerous wi-fi protocols or, extra lately, by the numbered Wi-Fi customary. The protocol determines your router’s vary and throughput, which measures information speeds in your native community, together with different updates and optimizations. The wi-fi protocol is written out because the quantity 802.11, adopted by a string of numbers and letters. (You actually solely want to fret concerning the letters.) The Wi-Fi customary, which is available in less complicated variations like “Wi-Fi 5” and “Wi-Fi 6,” signifies the identical set of specs and optimizations.

Newer, dearer routers are often able to supporting the most recent variations, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, however additionally, you will probably discover older fashions on the market restricted to older, slower variations. Networking requirements are backward appropriate, so a Wi-Fi 6 router will hook up with gadgets designed with older Wi-Fi requirements in thoughts. Here’s a little bit breakdown of what the more moderen requirements provide:

11ax (Wi-Fi 6E): Wi-Fi 6E opens support for the 6 GHz band, which guarantees even quicker speeds and fewer community congestion over quick distances. Once Wi-Fi 6E turns into extra widespread throughout house networks and private gadgets, it’s best to by no means run into buffering throughout a Zoom name once more.

11ax (Wi-Fi 6): Wi-Fi 6 is the most recent customary and delivers speeds as much as 10 Gbps, which not many gadgets and web connections assist. Wi-Fi 6 additionally options enhancements that assist it preserve increased speeds throughout many gadgets without delay. Previous Wi-Fi generations typically wrestle to remain speedy when a number of gadgets are streaming concurrently. For extra on the fundamentals of Wi-Fi protocols, try our Wi-Fi 6 explainer.

11ac (Wi-Fi 5): This is the usual present in most fashionable routers and helps speeds as much as 3.5 Gbps. 

11n (Wi-Fi 4): This is the slowest customary and helps speeds as much as 600 Mbps. It was the primary to permit each 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies (extra on that under).

If potential, we advocate shopping for a router that helps one of many latest Wi-Fi requirements. Not solely will you get the absolute best connection, however Wi-Fi 6 routers are higher outfitted to deal with congested networks, which regularly slows down house networks.

Frequency bands and channels

Frequency bands are a spread of radio wavelengths that transmit information over a wi-fi spectrum. With regard to wi-fi routers, frequency bands are successfully communication channels to your router to transmit information between your modem and gadgets.

Most routers characteristic 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands; the upper the frequency, the quicker the information transmission price. Unfortunately, increased frequency bands characteristic shorter sign ranges, so you should be nearer to your router for the quickest, most dependable connection.

Using 2.4 GHz frequencies sends information a little bit slower, however provides a greater vary (150 indoors and 300 ft open air). At 5 GHz, information strikes quicker, over a shorter vary. The connection can be extra inclined to interference from partitions and different stable objects. New high-end Wi-Fi 6E routers additionally provide a 3rd frequency band, 6 GHz, which provides even quicker speeds, on the expense of stability and vary.

Most routers characteristic both dual-band or tri-band radio performance, giving your gadgets both two or three channels to make a connection. Dual-band routers often characteristic a 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band, guaranteeing they will hook up with any Wi-Fi machine. Tri-band routers often add a second 5 GHz channel, minimizing congestion over the quicker frequency.

We advocate a tri-band router for giant house networks with many gadgets that keep related to the web across the clock. The additional band will enable extra gadgets to hook up with your community with none noticeable dips in pace. Be warned: Tri-band performance is a luxurious characteristic usually reserved for dearer routers.

Range

More highly effective routers can’t solely deal with extra gadgets and meet newer requirements, however in addition they push their wi-fi alerts additional. Wi-Fi alerts are at their strongest when you find yourself near a router, with no bodily objects getting between it and your machine. Start transferring away, or placing partitions and doorways between you and the router, and your connection will begin to degrade. High-end routers typically provide the next most vary, which, in flip, results in extra stability at longer distances.

Buying a router with the next most distance can enhance sign power in your house, however it isn’t at all times the best solution. If you’re having hassle getting a connection in a selected room or space of your own home, a Wi-Fi extender can increase your sign simply sufficient to enhance that particular subject. If you should cowl a really giant space, or expertise connection points even once you’re comparatively near your router, you could profit from utilizing a mesh Wi-Fi system, which generates Wi-Fi from a number of gadgets.

Before shopping for any new gear, it’s best to attempt repositioning your router to a centralized location in your house, on an open shelf away from any partitions. (Don’t conceal your router in a cupboard or TV stand!) Depending on the state of affairs, you could discover that optimizing your setup improves issues sufficient to make an improve superfluous. Also, changing your router received’t assist that a lot if you happen to’re hiding it in a closet.

Connectivity

In the age of Wi-Fi, counting on an Ethernet port might sound old-fashioned, however a wired connection gives a constant, uninterrupted connection on the highest potential pace. As such, we predict it’s essential to get a router with loads of further Ethernet ports so you possibly can join your most essential, bandwidth-hungry gadgets instantly. (I take advantage of Ethernet for my PlayStation 5 and Apple TV, for instance.) Modern routers sometimes provide 4 Ethernet ports, so you could not need to look too onerous. Still, we thought it was essential sufficient to spotlight, significantly if you happen to plug in your pc for work.

The finest routers for Verizon Fios: Reviews & Recommendations

The finest routers for Verizon Fios ought to be capable of deal with no matter you throw at them, whether or not you’re taking all-day video calls, watching 4K films, or enjoying video video games on-line. All of those routers provide a considerable improve over the usual Fios rental router, however that efficiency comes at a premium.

Best general: Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

Buy it used or refurbished: Amazon

Why it made the lower: Asus masses up on options, together with Wi-Fi 6E, RGB lighting, and extra with the superb ROG Rapture GT-AX11000.

Specs

• Speed: 11000 Mbps
• Wired LAN Ports: 4
• USB Ports: 2
• Bands: 3

Pros

• Wi-Fi 6E assist
• Plenty of ports
• Tri-band assist

Cons

The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 has each fashionable characteristic that you may want from a top-of-the-line router. Featuring assist for Wi-Fi 6E and a plethora of ports, this tri-band router will guarantee your community gives quick Wi-Fi to all your gadgets with out interruption. 

The Rapture GT-AX11000 additionally helps a quad-core CPU to assist hold issues working easily and options that prioritize on-line gaming for decreased latency and higher ping charges. It additionally incorporates a design that minimizes the space between the motherboard connectors and the antennas, which helps optimize the sign power in each route. In true gaming router trend, it’s lined in RGB lighting, although it isn’t only for present—you possibly can configure the router to glow totally different colours to point community standing, efficiency dips, and extra.

If you’re seeking to cowl a big house, the GT-AX11000 can even function a mesh community entry level when paired with different Asus routers. It could also be overkill for some, however the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 offers you great protection over a big selection of high-demand networking situations.

Best dual-band: Asus RT-AX86U Wi-Fi 6 gaming router

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the lower: The RT-AX86U from Asus gives customers with the perfect options of Wi-Fi 6 and extra.

Specs

• Speed: 5700 Mbps
• Wired LAN Ports: 4
• USB Ports: 2
• Bands: 2

Pros

• Mesh community assist
• Great for gaming
• Easy set up via internet browser or app

Cons

• Vertical orientation antennas make for a very tall router

If you’re searching for a strong router that gives an excellent steadiness of pace, expertise, and options, the Asus RT-AX86U is hard to beat. This dual-band router options Wi-Fi 6, 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and helps mesh networking, so you possibly can simply create a whole-home Wi-Fi community that reaches each room of your own home. 

The Asus RT-AX86U additionally helps a cellular app to simply management settings, three amplified antennas, beamforming, and adaptive QoS (Quality of Service), which lets customers prioritize particular community visitors, like streaming video and gaming. Speaking of gaming, the router features a devoted gaming port that mechanically prioritizes any wired gadgets related to it. If you play on-line multiplayer video games, it is a smart way to make sure you get the quickest, most constant connection.

Best for gaming: Asus AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router (RT-AX88U)

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the lower: The Asus AX6000 provides extensive protection, as much as 6 Gbps bandwidth, and superior options like QoS for no-lag gaming.

Specs

• Speed: 6000 Mbps
• Wired LAN Ports: 8
• USB Ports: 2
• Bands: 2

Pros

• 8 wired LAN ports
• Supports Wi-Fi 6
• Powerful security measures

Cons

Game consoles and PCs require a powerful, secure connection, so it is sensible to wire them up if you happen to can. The Asus AX6000 provides a whopping eight Gigabit Ethernet ports, so you possibly can wire up each close by console and PC with out a difficulty. For every part else, the dual-band router can transfer as much as 6 Gbps bandwidth, masking a 5,000-square-foot house. It’s a router for an enormous house community.

The AX6000 additionally provides superior options, together with AiProtection Pro, which blocks malicious web sites and protects your gadgets from malware and spam. If the system detects {that a} machine has been compromised, it is going to forestall your machine from making an outbound connection to transmit your delicate info.

Finally, the AX6000 options adaptive QoS and prioritizes particular gadgets, like your sport consoles and PC. That approach, your video games will nonetheless run easily in case your community will get quickly overloaded.

Best for streaming: TP-Link Archer A20 (AC4000)

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the lower: The TP-Link Archer A20 is a good router for house with numerous gadgets due to its three frequency bands, 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and sufficient bandwidth to transmit 4 Gbps of knowledge.

Specs

• Speed: 4000 Mbps
• Wired LAN Ports: 4
• USB Ports: 2
• Bands: 3

Pros

• Tri-band
• Beamforming and MU-MIMO assist
• Built-in antivirus
• Companion app and Amazon Alexa assist
• Very reasonably priced

Cons

For those that spend nights and weekends binge-watching reveals on Netflix and HBO Max, the TP-Link Archer A20 ought to be in your wishlist. The tri-band router helps as much as 4GB bandwidth and 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, giving customers loads of flexibility to plug in TVs, gaming consoles, and set-top containers. The Archer A20 additionally incorporates a 1.8 GHz processor, 512GB of RAM, which helps hold every part working easily. It additionally options “vary increase” expertise that gives a extra constant, lag-free connection within the far corners of your own home. 

The TP-Link Archer A20 additionally helps beamforming expertise, which focuses wi-fi alerts towards a selected receiving machine. It additionally options MU-MIMO, or “multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output” expertise to facilitate communication with a number of gadgets concurrently. These options make the Archer A20 nice for properties filled with streaming devices, guaranteeing nobody has to undergo via lengthy bouts of buffering.

Best Wi-Fi 6E: Netgear Nighthawk Wi-Fi 6E Router (RAXE500)

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the lower: If you need to put together for the way forward for Wi-Fi, the Netgear Nighthawk Wi-Fi 6E provides 6 GHz assist, which is able to open the door for quick close-range connections in new gadgets quickly.

Specs

• Speed: 10800 Mbps
• Wired LAN Ports: 4
• USB Ports: 2
• Bands: 3

Pros

• Can join as much as 60 gadgets
• Supports as much as 10.8 Gbps bandwidth
• Supports new 6 GHz band

Cons

Featuring assist for the brand new 6 GHz band and protection of as much as 3,500 sq. ft, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is likely one of the most future-proof routers you should purchase proper now. The Wi-Fi 6E router helps as much as 10.8 Gbps bandwidth and a whopping 60 gadgets, which is ideal for properties with a number of sensible house devices. It contains 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, a single 2.5G Multi-Gig port for supporting speeds between 10 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps, and a quad-core 1.8 GHz processor with 1GB of RAM. There’s additionally a Nighthawk app for straightforward setup and entry to parental controls and superior security measures to maintain your family protected. Fittingly, Netgear’s futuristic router incorporates a futuristic design, giving it a modern look to match the highly effective options.

Best funds: TP-Link Archer A7

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the lower: The TP-Link Archer 7 can cowl a 2,500-square-foot house, helps as much as 1.75 Gbps, and has an app for deep parental controls.

Specs

• Speed: 1750 Mbps
• Wired LAN Ports: 4
• USB Ports: 1
• Bands: 2

Pros

• Great protection for the worth
• Up to 1750 Mbps of bandwidth
• App assist for parental controls

Cons

• No beamforming or MU-MIMO
• No Wi-Fi 6 assist

The TP-Link Archer A7 is spectacular for a sub-$100 router. It helps as much as 1.75 Gbps of bandwidth throughout 2,500 sq. ft. This offers customers loads of flexibility to stream over Wi-Fi and hardwire gadgets that may profit from a extra constant connection, like a PC or gaming console. The TP-Link Archer A7 additionally options an app for extra granular management over the expertise and TP-Link OneMesh assist, permitting customers to shortly arrange a mesh community for whole-home protection. Unfortunately, the Archer A7 doesn’t assist extra superior options like beamforming and MU-MIMO, however the router nonetheless provides loads of worth for the worth.

FAQs

Final ideas on the perfect routers for Verizon Fios

No matter which router you select, it ought to present a constant connection that doesn’t buckle underneath the calls for of contemporary residing. There’s sufficient to emphasize over whereas working remotely, and we don’t need your web to be certainly one of them. Whether you go together with a 1 Gbps plan on Verizon Fios or one thing a little bit slower, the above routers will guarantee your Wi-Fi can deal with back-to-back video conferences, high-resolution media, and streaming your favourite reveals on Netflix.