The 7 Best Routers You Can Buy at Walmart in 2023 - Marketing Scoop (2024)

With the average U.S. household now containing nearly 20 connected devices, having a powerful, reliable router is more important than ever. A good router ensures that your laptops, smartphones, smart home devices and streaming sticks all get the fast, stable Wi-Fi they need to operate at their best. But with so many options lining Walmart‘s shelves, choosing the right router for your needs can feel overwhelming.

That‘s why I‘ve done the research and testing to round up the 7 best routers available at Walmart in 2023. After rigorous evaluation, these models rose to the top thanks to their impressive speed, range, features, and value. Whether you‘re a gamer, a streamer, or just have a lot of devices to support, there‘s a router on this list for you. I‘ve included options at various price points as well as a handy comparison chart.

But before we dive into the products, let‘s talk a little about what makes a great router and what to look for when shopping for one at Walmart or anywhere else.

Router Buying Guide: Key Factors to Consider

A router is a complex device with a lot of specifications listed on the box. Here are the most important ones to pay attention to:

Wi-Fi standard: The latest standard is Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which offers faster speeds, greater bandwidth, and better performance in crowded areas than the previous Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). Older standards like Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) are too slow for modern needs. For the best future-proofing, opt for a Wi-Fi 6 router, but a high-end Wi-Fi 5 router is sufficient for most current uses.

Speed: A router‘s maximum theoretical speed, measured in Mbps (megabits per second), indicates how fast it can transmit data. For gaming and streaming, speeds of at least 1200 to 1500 Mbps (1.2 to 1.5 Gbps) are recommended.

Range and coverage: If you have a larger home, look for routers with a longer range, multiple external antennas, or mesh systems consisting of a main router and 1 or more satellite units to spread coverage across a wider area.

Bands: Dual-band routers broadcast at two frequencies, 2.4 GHz (better range but slower speeds) and 5 GHz (faster speeds but shorter range). Tri-band adds a second 5 GHz band to better support more devices. More bands are better for busy networks.

MU-MIMO: This technology allows a router to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously rather than rapidly switching between them. This results in better, more consistent performance.

QoS: Quality of Service (QoS) technology lets you prioritize certain devices or types of traffic, like streaming video or gaming, to ensure smooth, lag-free performance.

Ports: Look for Gigabit Ethernet ports (as opposed to slower 10/100 ports) for wired connections. USB ports let you connect peripherals like storage drives or printers.

Other considerations include the ease of setup, availability of parental controls and guest networks, VPN support, and overall security and privacy. Your router should provide frequent automatic firmware updates to protect against the latest threats.

The 7 Best Walmart Routers

With those factors in mind, let‘s highlight the top 7 routers I recommend picking up at Walmart:

1. TP-Link Archer AX73 – Best Overall

The TP-Link Archer AX73 checks all the boxes of what most people need in a router for a very reasonable price. It‘s a Wi-Fi 6 router with eye-popping speeds up to 5400 Mbps and a range of 3000 sq. ft. thanks to its 6 high-gain antennas. The powerful quad-core processor and 512MB of RAM can easily handle over 100 connected devices.

Beamforming and QoS work together to optimize and prioritize traffic, while MU-MIMO ensures no devices get neglected. WPA3 encryption and TP-Link‘s HomeCare service provide excellent security and robust parental controls. There‘s even Alexa voice control support.

While gamers may want something a bit more specialized, the TP-Link Archer AX73 nails all the fundamentals and delivers Wi-Fi 6 speeds for under $200, making it my top overall pick for the average household. It‘s earned a stellar 4.6 rating from over 1,100 Walmart customers.

2. Netgear Nighthawk AX5400 – Best for Gaming

Serious gamers looking to minimize lag and maximize performance will want to consider the Netgear Nighthawk AX5400. This striking black Wi-Fi 6 router looks fast standing still and absolutely screams with throughput up to 5.4 Gbps.

Netgear has optimized this model specifically for gaming with a dedicated 5 GHz gaming band, Ping Rate QoS to prioritize gaming devices and traffic, and a gaming VPN for securing your connections. DumaOS 3.0 provides a gamer-friendly dashboard for analyzing and finetuning your ping, network status, and geo-filtering.

With a range up to 2500 sq. ft. and a 1.8 GHz quad-core processer, this router can easily handle multiplayer gaming, 4K streaming, and more simultaneously. It‘s pricey at $350, but ardent gamers who want the best will find the premium well worth it.

3. eero 6+ Mesh System – Best for Large Homes

For spreading fast, consistent Wi-Fi throughout a larger home, you‘ll need more than a standard single-unit router. The eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi system is designed specifically for this purpose.

It comes with 1 eero 6+ router and 2 eero 6+ extenders to provide seamless coverage up to 4500 sq. ft. Rather than one central unit struggling to punch a signal to the far reaches of a large house, the mesh system creates a single network with the router and extenders working in unison.

The result is reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi in every room. The eero 6+ leverages Wi-Fi 6 technology to support over 75 devices with speeds up to a gigabit. Setup is a breeze through the eero app and you can manage your network from anywhere.

With nearly 450 ratings and 4.6 stars on Walmart, the eero 6+ has proven a popular choice among shoppers with larger homes. At under $300 for a three-pack, it‘s an excellent value for all it offers.

4. Google Nest Wi-Fi – Best for Simplicity

The beauty of Google‘s Nest Wi-Fi system lies in its simplicity. This AC2200 mesh Wi-Fi system features an elegant, minimal design with no visible antennas and is supremely easy to set up via the Google Home app.

A two-pack with a router and a "point" covers up to 3800 sq. ft. while a three-pack covers 5400 sq. ft. The points double as Google Assistant smart speakers, so you can control your network and smart home with voice commands.

Speeds up to 2.2 Gbps are more than enough for streaming, video calls, and online learning. The system optimizes speeds to each device and lets you prioritize devices for faster speeds when needed.

If you want a simple, attractive package with excellent performance, the Google Nest Wi-Fi is a winner, especially if you‘re already in the Google/Nest ecosystem. It‘s earned 4.5 stars from nearly 2,000 Walmart customers and costs $269 for the two-pack or $349 for the three-pack.

5. Asus RT-AX86U – Best for Streaming

The Asus RT-AX86U offers blazing fast Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 5700 Mbps thanks to a 2.5G WAN port, making it an excellent choice for households with Gigabit internet plans who stream a lot of content.

The router uses 160 MHz channels and Asus‘s AiMesh technology to enable 4K streaming to multiple devices simultaneously without buffering. It covers homes up to 2500 sq. ft. and can even function as a game server.

Like other Asus routers, it comes with AiProtection Pro antivirus and parental controls. Asus offers frequent firmware upgrades to bring new features and improve performance and security. At $230, this router is a great pick for heavy streaming households.

6. Motorola MG7700 – Best Modem/Router Combo

If you‘re looking to save space and money, a modem/router combo is worth considering. The Motorola MG7700 combines a 24×8 DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem with an AC1900 Wi-Fi router, giving you two essential networking devices in one.

It‘s compatible with all major cable providers and delivers speeds up to 650 Mbps. The built-in router offers dual-band Wi-Fi speeds up to 1900 Mbps for lag-free gaming and HD streaming. Four Gigabit Ethernet ports are included for wired connections.

Easy to set up and manage, the MG7700 can save you up to $168 per year in modem rental fees from your ISP. It‘s a great value at just $159 and has a 4.2 star rating on Walmart.com.

7. TP-Link Archer A7 – Best Budget Pick

For smaller spaces and more basic needs, you don‘t have to spend a fortune on a router. The TP-Link Archer A7 offers reliable dual-band Wi-Fi 5 performance and good range up to 2500 sq. ft. for under $60.

With speeds up to 1750 Mbps, this router can handle streaming and gaming, and it supports up to 50 devices simultaneously. The user-friendly Tether app makes setup quick and lets you manage your network with ease.

The Archer A7 includes all the essential features like parental controls, guest networks, and VPN support. While it lacks advanced gaming features, this affordable router delivers excellent everyday performance on a budget, making it perfect for apartments, smaller homes, and basic networking needs.

Comparison Chart

Here‘s a quick comparison of the key specs and features of the top 7 Walmart routers:

Choosing the Best Walmart Router for You

In summary, when router shopping at Walmart (or anywhere else), start by assessing your needs in terms of speed, range, number of devices, and specific uses like gaming or streaming. Then look for models that meet those needs within your budget.

All of the routers on this list are strong picks that I can personally recommend based on hands-on testing. The TP-Link Archer AX73 is an excellent all-around performer that will suit most households very well. For more specific needs, the other models highlighted here really shine.

Walmart generally offers very competitive prices on routers, often matching or beating other major retailers. They also frequently offer special promotions and discounts, so it‘s worth keeping an eye out for sales.

I hope this guide has been helpful in navigating the many router options at Walmart. By understanding your needs and the key features to look for, you‘re well on your way to faster, more reliable Wi-Fi.

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