These days, several aspects of our day to day activities and lives rely so much on the internet that it’s difficult to imagine life without it.
Not only is it essential for increased productivity in the office, but it is also instrumental to the smooth running of homes, particularly since homes have become smarter. A lot of internet-reliant and data-intensive tasks are being performed in homes on a daily basis.
This list is designed to point you in the right direction by highlighting the essential features of the best WiFi routers for home use in India and identifying some routers that incorporate these features while being offered at a budget-friendly price. After reading this post, you’ll be able to approach the market from a position of strength and make informed decisions, saving valuable time and money.
- 2.4 GHz Bandwidth
- Wired & Wireless Connection
- QoS Function
- WPS Button
- 300Mbps Speed
- Warranty: 3 years
- Dual-band Frequency
- 1167Mbps Speed
- Wired & Wireless Connection
- 4 Ethernet Ports
- Tether App
- Warranty: 3 years
- 2.4Ghz Frequency
- WPA/WPA2 Encryption
- WPS Setup
- Wired & Wireless Connection
- 300Mbps Speed
- Warranty: 3 years
WiFi Routers For Home Use – Reviews
Whether you’re streaming 4K videos online, playing online games, coordinating a live CCTV system or working from home, WiFi routers can accommodate all these tasks often simultaneously, from multiple devices.
In addition to offering mobility (unlike wired Ethernet connections), WiFi routers offer a number of excellent features that can certainly make your life easier and satisfy every member of the family. Guests are not left out too, as WiFi routers also have a guest network that negates the need for you to share your primary network. They also offer unlimited control and serious flexibility with mobile app accessibility.
However, before you go in search of that perfect WiFi router for your home, there are some things you need to know, and you’ll find them in this post.
TP-Link TL-WR841N 300Mbps Router
Quick Summary
- 2.4 GHz Bandwidth
- App Control
- Wired & Wireless Connection
- QoS Function
- WPS Button
- 300Mbps Speed
- Warranty: 3 years
The TP-Link TL-WR841N WiFi router offers a wide range of really impressive features at a budget-friendly price, offering great value for money and making it the consummate device.
It takes a compact and lightweight shape, with a look of simple elegance that will not look out of place anywhere in your home. We also love the fact that this router is extremely easy to set up and install, even for those with a fairly limited aptitude for mobile gadgets.
This router offers adequate coverage, irrespective of barriers, and boasts an uninterrupted speed of 300Mbps, which supports gaming and streaming tasks flawlessly. This is surprising, considering the fact that it only uses a single-core processor and only supports the 2.4 GHz band frequency.
You can protect your router from unauthorized usage with a variety of functions such as WPS and Whitelist/Blacklist functions. Also, protect your kids from the dark side of the internet with the parental control feature.
Other features such as the QoS function and App Control via the TP-LINK Tether App ensure that complete control of this device rests in your hands.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to install
- App Control
- WPS Security
Cons
- Not very durable
- Single-core processor
D-Link DIR-615 Wireless-N300 Router
Quick Summary
- 2.4Ghz Frequency
- WPA/WPA2 Encryption
- WPS Setup
- Wired & Wireless Connection
- 300Mbps Speed
- Warranty: 3 years
The perfect blend of performance and efficiency, this wireless router offers services that are as mild on your pockets as they are on the environment, which marks it apart from its contemporaries.
The D-LINK DIR-615 router is very easy to install and setup. It features a setup wizard that walks you through the whole installation process, getting your network up and running within minutes. You don’t even have to be really tech-savvy to achieve this.
It sports a really attractive and lightweight look which belies its performance rate. This router boasts a speed of 300Mbps, with a frequency of 2.4Ghz which renders it capable of handling a number of intensive tasks across multiple gadgets and devices.
With a number of security features such as SPI and NAT firewalls and WPA/WPA2 wireless encryption, your network is adequately protected from unauthorized access.
Adding devices to your network has never been easier, with a dedicated WPS button making connectivity a breeze. You also get to decide how much bandwidth to assign to particular gadgets, with its QoS function.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Good security features
- Lightweight and attractive design
- 300Mbps speed
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- The range is not very wide
- Signal fluctuates sometimes
TP-Link Archer C1200 Gigabit Wireless Wi-Fi Router
Quick Summary
- Dual-band Frequency
- 1167Mbps Speed
- Wired & Wireless Connection
- 4 Ethernet Ports
- Tether App
- Warranty: 3 years
We’re not exaggerating when we call this wireless router a truly high-end device. It offers speed, versatility and ease of usage that ensure an immersive experience for the whole family.
The TP-LINK Archer C1200 is remarkably easy to set up, and even better, it supports a Tether App that allows you to manage options, set up your security and generally personalise your router.
This dual-band router offers a whole host of amazing features including speed of up to 1167Mbps with frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and RAM size of 16GB. All these features ensure a really flawless experience.
If a wired connection is more preferable to you, this router offers four Ethernet Gigabit connections along with two USB 2.0 ports. Coverage is also greatly enhanced by three external antennas, and QoS allows you to set your priorities.
It also boasts a number of advanced security and parental control features, along with a separate guest network which ensures that this device provides full value for money.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Dual-band Frequency
- Tether App
- 16GB RAM
- 4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Cons
- Not very budget-friendly
- Inflexible parental control
D-Link DSL-2750U Wireless N 300 ADSL2
Quick Summary
- Backwards Compatible
- 2.4 GHz to 2.484 GHz Frequency Range
- 300Mbps Speed
- WPA/WPA2 Encryption
- Four 10/100 LAN Ports
- Warranty: 3 years
This wireless router offers features and specs that you’d normally expect from its more expensive contemporaries. For the price it’s offered, this router offers immense value for money.
With air vents, LED-backlit notifications panel, and dual antennae, this router sports a design intended to optimize the capabilities of its hardware and promote durability.
It is also designed to be compatible with a broad range of devices and offers a speed of 300Mbps with a frequency range of 2.4 GHz to 2.484 GHz, which ensures that transactions are conducted seamlessly. Performance-wise, there’s not a lot to complain about this router.
This router makes a concerted effort to guarantee the safety of your data and prevent unauthorized access with features such as 64 and 128 bit WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS and Packet Filtering. It also incorporates Parental Control features, to ensure that your young ones are protected from unwholesome content.
You can distribute bandwidth according to your preferences, set up guest accounts and connect Ethernet-enabled PCs. All these qualities ensure that this router delivers top-notch performance irrespective of its low price.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Durable
- Easy to Install
- Does not overheat
- Good security options
Cons
- Requires firmware upgrade soon after purchase
- LED lights do not function effectively
TP-LINK TD-W8961N Wireless N300 Router
Quick Summary
- 300Mbps Speed
- NAT Router
- QoS
- Easy Setup Assistant
- WPS Button
- Warranty: 3 years
The TP-LINK TD-W8961N wireless router sports a compact, aesthetically pleasing look that blends in perfectly in your home. Beauty is not all it offers either, it boasts several features that make it a really adequate device.
This router is relatively easy to set up. It also features a setup assistant with multi-language support, which makes installation smooth and easy. It is also backward compatible with 802.11b/g products and offers ADSL2+ Modem, NAT Router, 4-Port Switch and Wireless N Access Point.
With a speed of up to 300Mbps, tasks such as gaming and HD movie streaming can be performed with a minimum of fuss. Its moulded antennae also ensure that the coverage range is wide and far-reaching.
The traffic shaping (or QoS) function of this wireless router enables you to set priorities and assign more bandwidth to specific tasks and devices.
This router also offers advanced security features to help you protect your network from alien access. Further, you only need to press the WPS button to add devices without having to disclose your WiFi password. All these features make this router one of the best on offer at its price range.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Budget-friendly
- Setup Assistant
- WPS Button
- Advanced security
Cons
- This router is pretty basic
- Fixed antennae is a disturbance for some users.
Netgear R6350 AC1750 Smart WiFi Router
Quick Summary
- Dual-band Frequency
- 880MHz Processor
- AC1750 WiFi
- 4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports
- 1750Mbps Speed
- Warranty: 3 years
The Netgear R6350 AC1750 Smart WiFi Router is eminently capable of handling the whole family’s internet connection demands. Whether you’re streaming HD videos or playing multiplayer games, this router has got you covered.
This dual-band router delivers AC1750 Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet speeds and sports a really lightweight look. It is also very easy to install and set up, with the Netgear Up app helping to easily set up, update and configure the router.
This router is no slacker when it comes to performance. It offers speeds of up to 1750Mbps and an 880MHz processor helps increase the quality of the connection. Its dual-band frequency reduces interference and improves the quality of the connection. It is also compatible with a wide range of device OS and provides wider coverage for larger homes.
The Netgear R6350 AC1750 Smart WiFi Router offers 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for flawless HD video streaming and smooth, lag-free gaming. You can also upload and share your files without hassle, using the USB 2.0 port.
This wireless router also offers a guest network and several security features such as firewalls and WPA/WPA2 encryption in order to protect your device from unauthorized access.
Pros
- Dual-band Frequency
- Lightweight
- Wider range
- 4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports
- USB 2.0 Port
Cons
- Not budget-friendly
- Not very Durable
WiFi Routers – Buyer’s Guide
Finding the perfect WiFi router that can cope with the demands of speed, reliability and flexibility in homes is therefore imperative. Unfortunately, however, this is not a straightforward task as the market is congested with several makes and models. Some of them are defective, and some do not provide enough bang for your buck.
Here are some things you need to look out for when buying a WiFi router for your home use.
Processor and RAM
WiFi routers perform really heavy tasks nowadays, and to enable a smooth experience, they need to have the serious processing power. They are usually equipped with either single-core, dual-core or quad-core processors. For the best performance, we recommend at least a dual-core processor, as routers with a bigger number of cores ultimately perform better.
Ideally, you should aim to purchase a router that boasts at least 128MB of RAM. This is also necessary to ensure the smooth running of your router.
Bandwidth and Frequency
For optimal performance, you may be best served to go for a router that offers dual-band frequency. This is due to the fact that single-band routers broadcast on the 2.4GHz band, which supports old devices but is prone to lagging due to congestion, as most people are logged on this frequency.
Dual-band and Tri-band routers operate on the 5GHz frequency which is faster and covers a shorter range.
Speed
Before settling on a router, you need to verify how much speed it offers, as slow routers can be really frustrating. Unfortunately, you must have to take the speed specified by the manufacturer with a pinch of salt, as they do not reveal the true story. To get a clearer picture, you may have to read reviews of the product written by users and specialists. Thankfully, we’re always on hand to assist with this.
Tether Apps
Look for routers that offer smartphone apps, particularly ones that allow you to access the router from anywhere on the internet. Smartphone apps can exponentially increase convenience. They also let you manage your device and streamline it to suit your preferences. Some tether apps only work when the smartphone is connected to the network that is broadcast by the router. If you can live with that, fine. If you think it’s less than ideal, ensure that your router offers remote management from anywhere.
QoS
Most routers offer an integrated Quality of Service feature, but less technically knowledgeable users usually ignore it, because it is very effort-intensive, and the results are not commensurate to their efforts. However, some routers offer Dynamic QoS, which manages bandwidth automatically, with little or no input from users, and with awesome results. You should check for this feature when purchasing a router.
Security Features
You should also seek out routers that protect your data with a number of useful security features such as firewalls, VPN servers, antivirus and WPA/WPA2 encryption. If you’re a parent, you should also consider purchasing routers that offer parental control features, in order to protect your little ones from the toxic part of the internet.
Frequently Asked Question
Q: Should I leave my router on all the time?
A: This would depend on your preferences. You may decide to turn them off if they’re not going to be in use for several hours. On the other hand, home routers consume minimal amounts of power and are designed to be left on at all times.
Q: How do I check the performance of my router?
A: Install QCheck on two computers, one computer should be connected to your router via Ethernet and the other should be wireless. Start QCheck, then enter the IP address of both computers. When this is done, select “Throughput” in the Options section and click the Run button.
Q: Should I turn off WiFi at night?
A: WiFi signals expose you and your family to EMF radiation, so, turning off your WiFi at night can help protect your family from the negative effects of EMF radiation.
Q: Is it bad to sleep near a router?
A: It’s best if you avoid sleeping next to a WiFi router as routers emit harmful EMF radiation, and if you sleep close to them, you’d be exposing your body to these rays for more than 8 hours. These rays are usually stronger the closer you get to the router.
Concluding Remarks
Wireless routers have evolved to become extremely essential to the fabric of homes and offices. Modern WiFi routers boast a whole host of features that can lead to improved productivity in offices, and enhanced enjoyment in homes and as a result of this, their popularity is at an all-time high.
Manufacturers are not oblivious to this, and there’s a wide range of products on offer, which can complicate your decision-making process. This post points you towards WiFi routers that incorporate the best features, and which are offered at a price that won’t leave a hole in your pocket.