A router acts as bridge between the internet and your device. Given that many devices require internet connection, it is important to own a router at home. The good thing is that you don’t need to break the bank to have a reliable router. With just $100 or less, you can get a wireless router that will provide you with Wi-Fi connection to your internet-enabled devices. Check out the 5 best routers for under $100 here.
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5 Best Budget Routers
Nighthawk AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router
The Nighthawk AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi router can allow up to 25 devices to connect to its supply of high speed internet. The devices may access different services and it can provide a dual band speed of up to 1.75 Gbps. A 1GHz dual-core processor provides processing power to the router and it relies on 256MB of RAM. You won’t have connectivity issues as far as your devices are within 1500 square feet around your house, thanks to its 3 detachable attennas. The router doesn’t broadcast signal but streaming is done to the specific devices individually through the Beamforming+ technology. USB 3.0 is supported on it and is provided through a port so that you can connect your printer or other devices. Available for you are five gigabit Ethernet ports (1 WAN, 4 LAN). The router operates with standards ranging from 802.11ac to 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5).
2. Linksys EA 6350
If you’re interested in getting something smaller maybe because of space, then you should consider the Linksys EA6350. Owing to its slim and elegant design, you can put it in a small spaced environment. There’s more to the device than just an impressive look. Within it lies powerful features that will make connecting to the internet easier and faster. The router supports dual wireless bands with speeds attainting up to 300Mbps for the 2.4GHz network and 867 Mbps for the 5GHz network. It has a bunch of ports for connectivity and they include 4 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet ports, one USB 3.0. The router is smart enough to differentiate your internet activities so it can tell the difference between playing an online game or browsing through Amazon. For security, it is equipped with WPA/WPA 2 encryption and an SPI firewall.
3. TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1500
This is another budget friendly router on the market. The router is one of the few under $100 routers that uses Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6 is no joke on the wireless marker as it is the newest Wi-Fi standard. Wi-Fi 6 brings more to the table than the Wi-Fi 5. From Wi-Fi 6 comes better speed, network capacity, greater network stability and is equipped with the top-notch security standard of WPA 3. On the TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1500 are four antennas providing wider coverage for internet devices in the home. It is compatible with Multi-user Multiple-input Multiple-output (MU-MIMO). This feature gets multiple users connected simultaneously and they can send and receive data without a drop in speed.
4. Google Wi-Fi
Google Wi-Fi brings on mind-blowing features to this list. Its ability to cover a wide range of 3000 or 4500 square feet is really eye-opening and so for a larger home, it will cater for a device that may not be covered by some other budget routers. The dual-band Wi-Fi router is capable of connecting devies with its 2.5GHz and 5GHz networks and IEE 802.11 a/b/gn/ac standard. What’s more, the router doesn’t even possess antennas, can you believe that? It is powered by a 710MHz quad-core processor and 512MB RAM. For other forms of connectivity, there are 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports and it is smart enough to support Alexa and Google Home voice commands.
5. Netgear N600 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router (WNDR3400)
Get your devices connected to Netgear N600 which is great for a medium-sized home. Speeds from the router are up to 600Mbs and you have security features such as double firewall protection, WPA/WPA 2, and DoS attack prevention. Don’t think of its small size, the router boasts of five Ethernet ports; 1 WAN, 4 LAN and one USB 2.0 ports. It comes with the free NETGEAR genie that lets you monitor devices on the network, place parental restrictions and do some network repairs when things go wrong. The two bands present help to prevent interference so that you have a reliable Wi-Fi signal. These bands are 2.4GHz and 5GHz and the router can make use of both simultaneously.
