You’ll find in this post the five current best Wi-Fi 7 routers to bring home today. They are all excellent options to consider when you need a new router or about to upgrade yours.
Generally, a Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster will work with most existing clients right out of the box—as long as they are not too old—or can be tweaked to work with all legacy ones.
So, other than the cost, it probably doesn’t hurt to get a Wi-Fi 6 router today if all you need is a single broadcaster. Need extended Wi-Fi coverage? Get multiple units of Asus routers below to form an AiMesh system—preferably via wired backhauling—or check out this list of Wi-Fi 7 purpose-built mesh options.
Dong’s note: I first published this frequently-revised post on December 12, 2023, and last updated it on October 24, 2024, to keep the hardware list current.
Five best Wi-Fi 7 routers: The real-world tested list and an extra
You need supported devices (clients) and a broadcaster to enjoy the new Wi-Fi standard.
On the client side, most flagship phones released in the second part of 2023 and newer, such as the One Plus 11 5G or the Pixel 8 Pro, support the new standard. There are also upgrade options based on the Intel BE200 adapter or Qualcomm NCM865 adapter for your existing Windows computers—or buy a new computer with one of the two built-in.
On the broadcasting side, below is the list of top Wi-Fi 7 routers you can bring home today. This list is sorted in the recommended order, with the best on top—the numbers are the ranking. Nonetheless, all of these routers are close in ratings, as shown below.
1. Asus GT-BE98 Pro
The GT-BE98 Pro, as the name suggested, is the flagship gaming router. It’s a clear upgrade to the RT-BE96U below by having more Multi-Gig ports and tons of gaming-related features. However, the splitting of the 6GHz band can be complicated, and the result is that it’s not available in many parts of the world where the non-pro GT-BE98 version takes its place.
Like all Asus routers, you can use multiple units of the GT-BE98 Pro, a formidable AiMesh Wi-Fi system.
Pros
Quad-band with top-tier Wi-Fi 7 support and excellent real-world performance
Lots of free, in-depth, and valuable networking features and settings (VPN, AiProtection, Parental Control, Guest Network Pro, Bandwidth monitoring, etc.); tons of gaming-related features; AiMesh-ready
Two 10Gbps and four 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig ports with WAN/LAN flexibility; supports Dual-WAN and LAN/WAN Link Aggregations
No vendor required login account; fanless design; silent performer
Cons
Bulky design; lots of plastic wraps
MLO and AFC not available at launch
Unavailable outside of America
2. Asus RT-BE96U
The RT-BE96U is very much a tri-band version of the GT-BE98 Pro above. It has an excellent combo of performance and features. While not categorized as a “gaming router,” it also has game-related features.
Pros
Top-tier dual-band Wi-Fi with MLO support and excellent real-world performance
Tons of valuable features, including AiMesh 2.0, Gaming, Guest Network Pro, and VLAN
One 10Gbps and four 2.5Gbps flexible network ports with Dual-WAN and Link Aggregation support
Universal setting backup and restoration; open source firmware; fanless design
Relatively compact design, comparatively affordable
Cons
No 6GHz band; no 2nd 10Gbps port
3. TP-Link Archer GE800
The Archer GE800 is TP-Link’s first real gaming router. It comes in a radical design and has almost everything one would ask for in a Wi-Fi 7 router.
Alternatives (compare their current prices):
Pros
Top-tier tri-band Wi-Fi 7 specs with full multi-Gigabit to deliver excellent real-world performance
Robust web user interface with an excellent set of network features and Wi-Fi settings, including MLO and gaming-related features
Competitively priced; useful (optional) mobile app; EasyMesh-ready; cool-looking design
Cons
Bulky design with audible internal fan; runs hot; Wi-Fi throughputs could be comparatively a tad better
No AFC (at launch); online protection and advanced parental controls require subscriptions
5. TP-Link BE550/BE9300
The Archer BE550 is the lesser version of the Archer BE800 due to the fact it has five 2.5Gbps (instead of 10Gbps) ports. In return, it carries half the cost to be one of the best entry-level multi-Gigabit routers.
Pros
Wi-Fi 7 and Multi-Gig support; competitively priced
Robust web user interface with a good set of network features and Wi-Fi settings
Useful (optional) mobile app; EasyMesh-ready; compact and practical design
Cons
No 10Gbps ports or Dual-WAN; mid-tier Wi-Fi 7 specs and real-world performance; comparatively short-range
Online protection and advanced parental controls require subscriptions
5. Netgear Nighthawk RS700S
The Night Hawk RS700S is Netgear’s best standalone router to date, and it has excellent performance. Unfortunately, its firmware shares the same app-oriented approach and might not be suitable for advanced or business users. It’s also the only one on this list that’s not mesh-ready. Still, this is a great option for any home users needing a single Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster.
Alternative:
Pros
Top-tier tri-band specs with Wi-Fi 7 support
Two 10Gbps Multi-Gig ports
Robust web interface, helpful (optional) mobile app
Practical fan-less design; runs cool and quiet
Cons
Only two Multi-Gig ports; no standard Remote Management via Dynamic DNS
Online protection and Parental Controls require the Nighthawk mobile app and premium subscriptions
Extra: ARRIS SURFboard G54—the first Wi-Fi 7 retail Cable Gateway
The ARRIS SURFboard G54 is the first residential Cable Gateway with Wi-Fi 7—a perfect candidate for those who want to replace the ISP-supplied hardware and stay on the cutting edge.
The hardware has some oddities, but if you can overcome those—some of which will be lessened or removed via firmware updates—it’ll pay for itself if you’re still renting the equipment from your Intenet provider.
Only cable Internet subscribers who need a single Wi-Fi broadcaster should apply.
Pros
Wi-Fi 7 with one 10GBASE-T LAN port and a built-in DOCSIS 3.1 modem
Full web-based local user interface
Reliable Wi-Fi performance with good coverage; small footprint; runs cool and silent
Cons
Frustratingly ill-thought-out security requirements (at launch); no standalone router or access point mode
No 160MHz channel width on the 5GHz bands; no advanced networking features (VPN, QoS, Link Aggregation, web-based remote management, etc.)
Only one Multi-Gig port; large physical design that can topple easily
The final thoughts
Wi-Fi 7 is here, but it will still take a while longer to mature fully. That said, there’s no rush to get a new router that supports the standard today.
But there’s no downside in getting one, either, other than the cost. If you want to experience the new standard in all of its stages as it evolves, getting into Wi-Fi 7 today can be a gratifying experience. You can start with a broadcaster and build yourself a Windows-based client or two.
