You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that the latest generation of best Wi-Fi extenders are fairly affordable and are capable of rebroadcasting speeds of up to 6Gbps. Several users within the network can simultaneously stream 4K/8K-quality media or play multiplayer games with no lag or buffering – even if it’s from an upstairs corner bedroom that used to suffer from connectivity issues.
While the best Wi-Fi extender can dramatically cut down on weak signal issues, it relies on the quality of your router. The extender only rebroadcasts what’s available. If you’re in search of faster speeds, purchasing the latest extender with Wi-Fi 6 won’t work unless the router is delivering that speed. Luckily, most extenders are universally compatible and you can always upgrade your router to improve your home network’s performance.
The following Wi-Fi extenders for home or office were chosen based on ease of setup, features, universal compatibility, price and performance. To lengthen their usage life, some of the best Wi-Fi extender devices that made the cut are future-ready, with Wi-Fi 6 for faster speeds, which is the next generation of wireless connectivity.
The EAX80 is optimized for all Wi-Fi 6 routers, providing the fastest form of wireless internet you can buy at this time. The dual-band technology can give you up to 6Gbps performance, which is ideal even for the heaviest-duty 4K/8K Ultra-HD streaming and multi-player gaming. As far as our picks for extenders go, the EAX80 is capable of delivering the fastest speeds. However, it needs to be said that if high speeds are important to you, upgrading your router may also be necessary. An extender will not improve your network’s speed – it can only work with what the router outputs.
Set up is easy – Netgear claims it takes five minutes or less. Best of all, this Wi-Fi extender creates a mesh network. Mesh networks are an upgraded form of extenders that create one Wi-Fi network for your home or office instead of several smaller ones. This means that you can move around without getting disconnected, as would be the case with non-mesh extenders. You won’t even have to set up a new network – the Netgear EAX80 works with your current SSID name through its Seamless Smart Roaming function.
Set up is also simple. The extender works with nearly all routers, making it a modular solution when you need to extend range while traveling. Simply plug the device in at a wall outlet. Press the WPS setup button on your router and the button on the extender for about one second. You should see the RE230’s light change to a solid light that indicates the connection is a success. Perhaps the biggest challenge here is having a second party push on the RE230’s button at the same time if it’s located out of reach from the router, which it most probably will be.
Once it’s paired, the RE230 will broadcast over its networks in 2.4 and 5GHz bands. The TP-Link RE230 doesn’t have Wi-Fi 6 compatibility (or the speeds that come with it), but for less than $30, you have a low-profile, easy-to-use Wi-Fi extender that gets the job done reliably. In fact, it’s so affordable you could add a couple of extras throughout your home or office to ensure a strong signal from some of the most Wi-Fi-challenged areas.
Setting up your RE7000 is easy. Push the connect button and let it sync to the router. Take advantage of the RE7000’s Spot Finder feature using your laptop or smart device, which helps you find the best place to plug the extender in, take care of dead spots and optimize performance overall.
You can also count on seamless roaming with one caveat – it does not integrate with every router. To enjoy smooth Wi-Fi connections without the drop between networks when moving around, you would need to purchase a Linksys MAX-STREAM router. Otherwise, you may get disconnected once you’re out of the coverage area. It’s more of an inconvenience than a dealbreaker. If you’re disconnected for being out of range, find the strongest available Linksys extender network in the zone or reconnect to the router. You may only have to do it once – most devices nowadays can remember networks and connect automatically once you’re within range.
Powerline adaptors send signals through existing electrical wiring instead of the air. Netgear’s is fast – it offers Gigabit speeds to ensure that multiple devices, gaming and 4K HD streaming all happen lag-free. It’s built with an electrical outlet on the front of the plug-in device, so you don’t sacrifice the limited power outlets in a room. And it’s noise filtered, so it does not affect connectivity speeds.
The only drawback is the wired nature of this solution. You may finally get connectivity in areas that seemed impossible before, but you would need to connect the device that needs a signal through one of the two high-speed Ethernet ports. Fortunately, most smart TVs, games consoles and computers have an ethernet port. However, you may not be able to connect your smart devices or newer-generation Macbook.
D-Link’s Wi-Fi Mesh Range Extender expands your network as soon as you plug it into an outlet and pair it with your router. For a seamless experience that allows you to move within the range without disconnecting, you’ll need to use a D-Link router. Considering how popular they are, you may already have one, although you may want to upgrade to some of D-Link’s latest, which include 6G Wi-Fi connectivity, such as the EXO Smart Mesh Wi-Fi Router.
The small extender’s dual-band technology is compatible with older wireless devices that operate on 2.4GHz. For newer devices, 5G delivers the fastest speeds. The DIR-LIX1870’s Wi-Fi speeds are as much as 300Mbps in the 2.4GHz band and 1,733Mbps on 5GHz). In addition, you can plug your wired device into the Gigabit Ethernet port. Plus, the extender is compatible with voice control, so you can conveniently use Alexa, and Google Assistant commands to manage it.
Installation is quick. Plug it in somewhere near a dead zone or area with dismal connectivity and adjust the antennas to improve signal strength. You will know when you hit the right spot based on the signal strength light. The range extender is compatible with all routers, Wi-Fi-enabled devices and access points including the latest-generation AX devices. In addition, you can set up a seamless home system by adding a OneMesh-compatible router. When you do, you can roam without worrying about disruptions to your signal.
Wireless mesh networking can be complicated since the router and extenders need to play well together to deliver connectivity wherever you may be seamless. Linksys simplifies the process by providing a free iOS or Android app that can help you set up the Velop mesh network in just a few minutes. Connect the router, plug in the extenders in an area with poor connectivity and link the devices or nodes through the app.
Once it’s all set up, you can move around without manually connecting to the extender’s network for the zone. The process happens automatically behind the scenes, so you can focus on surfing or streaming without worrying about dropping off a network and searching for a new one.
Keep in mind that while most extenders work with most routers, your connection could drop in and out as you move through range zones. To avoid the inconvenience of a temporary disconnection, choose an extender with smart seamless roaming from the same brand as your router.
Mesh Wi-Fi connects multiple devices into one seamless network. Instead of having several networks comprised of the router and each extender, you have one. As you move about, your devices will connect to whatever “node” is available seamlessly and without disruptions.
