Best WiFi Routers in India – March, 2023

Best Wifi Router in India – Buying Guide

Consider the following points before buying a Wifi Router in India:

1. Usage

The first thing that you need to consider is how you are going to use the router. Now, the usage can be divided into the following categories:

• Regular usage: This category covers activities like web document work(Google docs, sheets, etc), internet browsing, mobile gaming, smart TV,  audio/video streaming, etc.

For regular usage, you can opt for a single band N300/ AC750/ AC1200, where it covers an area of 500 sq ft. Also, if you want to increase the range up to 1000 sq ft, 1800 sq ft and above then you can opt for dual-band AC1200, AC1350, AC1750, or the AC 1300 mesh.

• Heavy Usage: This category includes heavy tasks such as competitive gaming, HD audio/video streaming, heavy downloads, etc.

For heavy usage, you can opt for dual-band AC1200, AC1350, AC1750, AC1900, AC2200, AC2600 Mesh, where it covers the area starting from 500 sq ft to 1800 sq ft and above.

• Very Heavy Usage: This category includes work such as live broadcasting/streaming, huge downloads, smart home, security systems, voice assistants,

When you consider, a router for very heavy usage, you can opt for dual-band AC 1350, AC 1750, AC 1900, AX 1500, AC 3000 Mesh, AX 3000 Mesh, AX 6000, where it covers an area between 500 sq ft to 1800 sq ft and above.

2. ISP Connection compatibility

The best wifi router in India should be compatible with your ISP connection because every connection ISP connection type is compatible with different router technologies and you need to buy the right one.

There are two types of connections available in India currently:

DSL(Digital Subscriber Line)/ ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

The DSL and ADSL connections work on a telephonic jack(RJ-11) for internet access. These connections are currently provided by MTNL, BSNL, Airtel Broadband, and Tata Indicom.

For such connections, it is recommended that you buy an ADSL2 modem + Wifi Router.

Fiber/ Cable broadband connections

These are modern connections that use fiber optic cables/coaxial cables for internet connectivity. This is a newer technology and superior to the old DSL/ADSL connections.

Some popular ISPs include Jio, Airtel, ACT Fibernet, Excitel, Hathway, etc. For such connections, it is recommended that you buy an AC router, which can handle high speeds with the lowest downtime.

3. Speed

The speed of a router refers to the amount of data that the router can receive and send per second. The speed is measured in Mbps(Megabits per second).

Keep in mind that wired connections are always faster than wireless connections because there is no interference from external factors in wired connections.

While accessing the internet via wireless connections you can experience a performance drop of 40% due to air drag, interference of other devices, and different partitions.

If you want to enjoy full speeds from your router, then make sure that you check the following things:

• Router’s maximum speed

To enjoy the 100% speed of your internet connection, then you make sure that your router speed exceeds the speed of your internet connection.

The router’s maximum speed is specified in the title itself, for example when a router specified N300, then it means that it can deliver speeds up to 300 megabits per second.

• Number of Antennas

The higher the antenna count, the better speeds you will get. Most high-performance routers come with 3 or more antennas and they can overcome all kinds of interference without any limitations.

• Dual-Band/Single Band

Single-band routers function on a single frequency which is 2.4 GHz, which can provide speeds up to 300 Megabits per second.

Whereas, the dual-band routers work on two frequencies i.e. (802.11n) 2.4 GHz and (802.11ac) 5 GHz, which can provide speeds up to 2 Gigabits per second.

In case if you live in an area with a lot of interference, then you should buy a Dual-band router because it will provide you blazing fast speeds.

4. Range

Range refers to the area to which the wifi router can send wireless signals. You should always buy a router that is capable of sending the wifi signals that cover your entire area.

In order to enjoy the full range of your wifi router, make sure that you keep the following points in  mind:

• Router Placement: The first thing that you need to consider is the router placement. Position your router in the center position of the house, so that the router can send signals to all the corners of your house. Also, placing the router in the center decreases the chances of all kinds of interference between the signals.
• Number of Antennas: Buying a router with multiple antennas is always better because multiple antennas improve the signal strength and consistency that helps to penetrate obstructions and boost the router range to its full potential.

5. Device Connectivity

Device Connectivity refers to the number of devices that can be connected to the internet via the wifi router. Wi-Fi routers can connect from 5 to 20 devices at one time.  Again, it depends on your usage, just make a list of all the devices that are going to use your internet connection.

But, keep in mind that the total speed also gets divided among the devices. For example, if you have a 40 Mbps connection and the router allows you to connect 5 devices, then the speed for each device would be 8 Mbps for each device.

Therefore, you have to make sure that your internet connection has enough bandwidth to provide fast speeds on all devices.

6. Brand

Always buy a wifi router from a trusted brand that has been in the industry for a long time. Some trusted brands are D-Link, TP-Link Nest, Netgear, ASUS, Eero, etc.

All these brands have been manufacturing wifi routers that deliver what they promise, and most of them come with good warranty policies that allow you to replace the router for any decrease.