Every day, we are welcoming a new smart device in our homes, such as a smartphone, smart TV, laptop, desktop, or even a smart fridge or washing machine. All of these smart devices need to be connected to a network to get access to all smart features.
If you also own several smart devices in your home, you should invest in a decent router so that you can connect all of these appliances to a single network and interlink them with each other for a smart home system. Here are some key points that should be noted before buying a router for your home:
- Range: The range of the router is the most important factor as it determines the compatibility of your router regarding your home size and distance between all smart devices. If you wish to connect smart devices from all of the rooms to a single router, it is crucial to get a router with more antennas as it will provide a higher range.
- Bandwidth Limit: Even if you are paying for a high-speed connection like 400mbps, you will not get similar data transfer speed on your smart devices unless your router allows it. Therefore, to enjoy high-speed internet, your router should have a high bandwidth limit so that your local network does not get bottlenecked by it.
- Ports: You can find various ports on the back of the router that are needed for multiple applications. In a few options, you can even get a USB port on a few options that will let you connect a storage device for network-attached storage functionality. Hence, make sure you check out the number of ports available on the router.
Along with above-mentioned features, there are a couple more things that you need to double-check before getting a new router. Even though your internet service provider has control over your bandwidth and data speed, the router you are using plays a very important role in your smart system.
As the newer systems are highly capable of delivering high data transfer speeds, it is essential to have a similarly powerful router that you can select from one of our selections mentioned below.
Best Wifi Routers for Home in India 2020
Name | No. of Antennas | Speed ( Mbps) | Warranty | Buy Now |
---|---|---|---|---|
TP-Link TL-WR940N WiFi Router | 3 | 450 | 3 year | Buy Now |
Mi WiFi Router | 4 | 300 | 1 year | Buy Now |
TP-Link TL-WR820N WiFi Router | 2 | 300 | 3 year | Buy Now |
D-Link DIR-615 WiFi Router | 2 | 300 | 3 year | Buy Now |
Mercusys MW325R WiFi Router | 4 | 300 | 3 year | Buy Now |
Tenda N301 WiFi Router | 2 | 300 | 3 year | Buy Now |
D-Link Dir-600M WiFi Router | 1 | 150 | 1 year | Buy Now |
TP-LINK TD-W8961N WiFi Router | 2 | 300 | 3 year | Buy Now |
Best Wifi Routers for Home in India 2020: Reviews
1. TP-Link TL-WR940N WiFi Router
There is a very strong need for high-speed internet connection these days as online gaming is more trending than ever, and high-quality 4K content streaming is becoming standard. Hence, our first pick from TP-Link is an ideal candidate for such usage.
TP-Link TL-WR940N has the highest bandwidth capacity from our list, which goes as high as 450 Mbps that makes it perfect for content creators and streamers as high-speed internet is a necessity for such uses.
Also, it has 3 antennas, so the range will not be a problem for any home. As for the connectivity, you will get a dedicated WPS button on the back of the router so that you can connect any trusted smartphone without entering the password with just 1 click.
Specifications of TP-Link TL-WR940N WiFi Router |
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Bandwidth Limit | 450 Mbps |
No. of Antennas | 3 |
No. of WAN ports | 1 |
No. of LAN ports | 4 |
WPS Button | Yes |
Warranty | 6 months |
2. Mi WiFi Router
Not everyone likes to spend a fortune on electronic products such as wireless routers, as you can easily find a highly compatible one under a very affordable budget. If you are also looking for such a router, check out this option from Mi.
300 Mbps is pretty high internet speed if you consider average internet speed over the country, and the Mi Smart Router 4C is fully compatible with such a high-speed connection. It is a 2.4 GHz router with 4 high-performance antennas to provide a massive coverage area and even speed distribution.
If you own a multi-story home, this can be the perfect fit for you as you will surely need a high range router.
Specifications of Mi WiFi Router |
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Bandwidth Limit | 300 Mbps |
No. of Antennas | 4 |
No. of WAN ports | 1 |
No. of LAN ports | 2 |
WPS Button | No |
Warranty | 1 Year |
3. TP-Link TL-WR820N WiFi Router
TP-Link is a very popular name in India and a go-to option for a lot of customers for routers and related equipment. As they have got a lot of options available for a variety of users, we have included a bunch of TP-Link routers on our list.
Our next pick for the best WiFi routers for home is the TP-Link TL-WR820N, and it has fairly secured its place on our list with support for up to 300 Mbps speed and IPv6 compatibility for a wider range of applications.
The 300 Mbps speed range is quite balanced and ideal for both sensitive tasks as well as basic work. TP-Link TL-WR820N powers the network via 2 antennas that have a great build quality and robustness for greater stability.
Specifications of TP-Link TL-WR820N WiFi Router |
|
Bandwidth Limit | 300 Mbps |
No. of Antennas | 2 |
No. of WAN ports | 1 |
No. of LAN ports | 2 |
WPS Button | Yes |
Warranty | 3 Year |
4. D-Link DIR-615 WiFi Router
D-Link provides some of the best budget routers on the market with very high bandwidth compatibility and multi-system connectivity. The D-link DIR series is very well received in the community in the past, and hence, it is our next pick for our list.
D-Link DIR-615 is one of the many affordable routers you can find on the market that are highly reliable and widely compatible for several purposes. As for this router, you will be getting access to 4 different LAN ports and 1 WAN port so that it can be simultaneously used for 4 different LAN based systems easily.
In case you already own a router, you can purchase the D-Link DIR-615 as a range extender with 2 antennas.
Specifications of D-Link DIR-615 WiFi Router |
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Bandwidth Limit | 300 Mbps |
No. of Antennas | 2 |
No. of WAN ports | 1 |
No. of LAN ports | 4 |
WPS Button | Yes |
Warranty | 3 Year |
5. Mercusys MW325R WiFi Router
As many of you might be looking for a budget-friendly router for your home, we have decided to include all of the budget-oriented options available in the market as of now in the market. Amongst these routers, the Mercusys MW325R is one of the cheapest routers you can find,
You might be expecting lower internet speeds on a cheaper router, but Mercusys MW325R will surely change your mind. This wireless router marks the lowest price tag on our list and still supports up to 300 Mbps connection. Apart from that, it features a great 4 antenna setup for a very long distance and range that goes up to 500-meter square area.
The antennas themselves are high gain antennas that significantly increase wireless signal and strength for larger areas. Mercusys MW325R is backed by 3 years of warranty, which is exceptional at this price tag.
Specifications of Mercusys MW325R WiFi Router |
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Bandwidth Limit | 300 Mbps |
No. of Antennas | 4 |
No. of WAN ports | 1 |
No. of LAN ports | 4 |
WPS Button | Yes |
Warranty | 3 Year |
6. Tenda N301 WiFi Router
Most of the time, you will find yourself with a packed desktop setup and have a very little place available to adjust a router. In such a case, you will require a compact router that is suitable for all your needs and packs quite some power with a tighter form factor. The Tenda N301 is such a router with all of its important details mentioned below.
Here are another 300 Mbps wireless router from our list, but this one is a little special because it takes significantly less space in comparison and still delivers almost identical performance. It features 2 5DBI omnidirectional antennas that allow this router to cover the equal distance from all sides and provide a balanced output on each device.
Even though there is much smaller space available in the rear, Tenda has managed to include 1 WAN port along with 3 LAN ports and a dedicated WPS button as well, which is missing from many high-end routers.
Specifications of Tenda N301 WiFi Router |
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Bandwidth Limit | 300 Mbps |
No. of Antennas | 2 |
No. of WAN ports | 1 |
No. of LAN ports | 2 |
WPS Button | Yes |
Warranty | 3 Year |
7. D-Link Dir-600M WiFi Router
There is no point in spending a fortune and getting a high-end router unless you have similarly great internet service available in your region. D-Link Dir-600M N150 might turn out to be a great option for you under a very affordable budget if you have a bandwidth under 150 Mbps.
D-Link Dir-600M N150 is yet another router from our list that has one of the lowest price tags on the market. It is a single antenna 150 Mbps router with sufficient coverage for any home and can be accessed even if you are a room apart from the router.
You will have the option to connect up to 4 LAN devices on this router with up to 100 Mbps capacity on each outlet. It offers all the other standard security features as well that can be seen on any high-end router such as WPA/WPA2 wireless encryption, NAT firewall, and WPS connectivity.
Specifications of D-Link Dir-600M WiFi Router |
|
Bandwidth Limit | 150 Mbps |
No. of Antennas | 1 |
No. of WAN ports | 1 |
No. of LAN ports | 4 |
WPS Button | No |
Warranty | 1 Year |
8. TP-LINK TD-W8961N WiFi Router
We have reserved the most popular router from our list till the end, which is the TD-W8961N from TP-Link. As mentioned earlier, TP-Link caters to a wide variety of audiences, and hence, it has a suitable router for all applications.
The TP-LINK TD-W8961N is somewhat a premium router from our list with 300 Mbps bandwidth capacity and 2 heavy-duty antennas for a great performance. Also, it is one of the most reliable options you can get as it has a 3 year warranty period. It acts as an all in one router for all types of internet connections such as RJ-11, ADSL2+ modem NAT, RJ-45, etc.
There is a 4 port switch and a wireless N access point on the back along with a WPS button and a separate WiFi button to turn off the wireless connectivity with a single click.
Specifications of TP-LINK TD-W8961N WiFi Router |
|
Bandwidth Limit | 300 Mbps |
No. of Antennas | 2 |
No. of WAN ports | 1 |
No. of LAN ports | 4 |
WPS Button | Yes |
Warranty | 3 Year |
Things To Consider Before Buying A Wifi Router For Home
There is not one single router that is suitable for all applications. There are always factors such as capacity, bandwidth limit, a higher number of ports that varies from product to product. Although you can sure find very high-end routers that can satisfy all of your needs, those come at a very high price tag that is not suitable for general purpose applications.
You will also encounter a lot of technical terms such as 2.4 GHz, 5GHz, single band, dual and IEEE 802.1, IEEE 802.11, etc. that will surely confuse you if you are buying a router for the first time. To make the selection task easier for you, we have prepared the following section, where we will guide you towards a successful purchase. Here, we will try to explain these features to you in a much simpler language so that you can easily understand and pick up the best option without spending a fortune.
1. Speed
Speed is probably the most important aspect when it comes to using the internet as your data download, and upload rate depends upon it. In the current era, everyone prefers a faster internet connection, even if the usage is basic.
You might also be paying quite a sum to your internet service provider for a faster connection, but you can only enjoy it fully with a compatible router. In our article, you can find routers with bandwidth limits of 150 Mbps up to 450 Mbps.
2. Ports
Even though WiFi routers are widely used for wireless connections such as a laptop, smartphone, or a smart TV, you might have to connect a certain gadget to the router with a cable. Hence, you should keep an eye out for the available LAN ports on the backside of the router.
If you are looking to play co-op games with your friends, then a wired LAN connection is best as it allows low latency gaming sessions with equal network distribution.
3. Privacy & Security
Data privacy and security is getting more and more important nowadays because of online banking and other related sensitive tasks. If your router lacks the necessary security aspects, anyone connected to your router can gather the information and misuse the data.
To avoid this, make sure your router has WPA2 PSK password protection along with a network firewall and encryption for extended safety. Also, having a guest mode on the router is also pretty good as it allows you to keep the host network private.
4. Warranty
When you are buying a router for either your home or office, you will surely want it to last longer and provide uninterrupted service at all times. Most of the internet users keep the router turned on 24×7, which is a very heavy duty usage. In such a situation, routers might get damaged due to the internal heat generation.
If you get a router with a long warranty period, you can get a free repair or even replacement on the router under the warranty period. This will surely give you peace of mind while using your router up to its maximum potential.
Conclusion
These were some of the best routers available in the market for a home, as well as official use that you can grab right now. All of these options will surely satisfy your network connectivity needs while providing you with a secure and wider network coverage under a considerable budget.
The details for each router are thoroughly explained so that it will become much easier for you to compare a couple of options and pick one without any doubt. But, to help you a little bit more, we are providing you with our personal favorite picks from the list:
- As D-link has got you covered with a variety of routers, our first recommendation would be the most affordable router from our list, which is the D-Link Dir-600M N150. As it is aimed at home application only, it has a 150 Mbps bandwidth capacity and a single antenna. But, you can use the repeater mode option available on this router to extend the coverage area if you need it in the future.
- If high internet speed is your priority, we will recommend you to go with the TP-Link TL-WR940N as it supports a whopping 450 Mbps bandwidth and has 4 fast LAN ports with 100 Mbps bandwidth capacity each. You will be getting a 3 year warranty period on this router that increases its overall reliability in the long run.
- Talking about the reliability, TP-Link TL-WR820N is yet another reliable router for your home with a 300 Mbps speed capability, which is fairly decent considering its low price tag. Also, there are all of the standard security features available on this router, such as the WPA2 PSK network key and WPS connection for overall secured connectivity.
Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!