If you’re in search of a WI-FI 6 router for the Xbox Series X then you’ve come to the right place.
A top-tier gaming router is necessary for larger households, especially those with several next-generation consoles (or devices) spread across multiple floors.
That’s when built-in Quality of Service (QoS) and Mesh network features really start to shine.
In this post, we will cover the best next-gen routers, capable of unleashing an Xbox X’s maximum online performance.
What is the best router for the Xbox Series X?
9. ASUS RT-AX56U WiFi 6 Router
Frequency Band: Dual-Band
Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
Max. Data Transfer: 1.2 Gbps
The ASUS RT-AX56U is an entry-level, dual-band router that offers fantastic speed and reliability. It uses the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard and provides 80 MHz of bandwidth. On top of that, it supports 1024 QAM capabilities, enabling network speeds of 1800 Mb per second.
Compared to other router options on the market today, the RT-AX56U isn’t quite as flashy. Instead, it has an understated appearance that’s more universal for “home use”. On top are two adjustable antennas. These can satisfy a respectable 1800 ft.² range without any disconnections or dropouts.
To increase capacity and efficiency, the RT-AX56U supports both MU-MIMO and OFDMA technologies. Together, they work to break up Bandwidth (before pushing it out). As a result, you can expect efficient communication with multiple devices simultaneously.
Unfortunately, due to being an entry-level router, the RT-AX56U is lacking many premium features. It does however include a few QoS selections, AI mesh capabilities, and free lifetime AI Protection from Trend Micro. That’s all the necessary controls to cover the basics listed right there.
Finally, setting up the RT-AX55 is as simple as plugging the router in, downloading the app, and then adjusting your settings. For most people, it should take no longer than 20 minutes. Overall, if you’re searching for a budget Xbox Series X router (or a node to extend your network), this is a top choice.
8. Amazon EERO Pro (2-pack)
Frequency Band: Tri-Band
Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
Max. Data Transfer: 2.4 Gbps
The eero Pro 6 two-pack is one of the fastest router sets Amazon has ever produced. Designed to take advantage of a proprietary mesh network, it creates a Wi-Fi 6 bubble that offers up to gigabit speeds. Using this tri-band router system, up to 75+ devices can connect at once!
The designers behind these Amazon routers came up with something simple, clean, and elegant. They almost look like hockey pucks, with a discreet design that hides their true power. Although there are no exposed antennas, these routers still offer high-speed coverage over 3500 square feet.
While the eero Pro 6 does support basic WMM QoS, those capabilities are pretty bare bones. Therefore, Xbox Series X gamers who really want to unlock the best performance from this router will probably want to go with an Ethernet connection. Each hub has two LAN ports on the back so that is entirely possible.
Finally, the coolest thing about these hubs is that they can connect with one another, as well as other Amazon-enabled smart devices. You’ll be able to use Alexa to control your lights, your locks, and everything else in your smart home system when you have them connected to these routers.
7. ASUS ROG STRIX GS-AX3000
Frequency Band: Dual-Band
Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
Max. Data Transfer: 3 Gbps
Gamers seeking a competitive edge will love the Republic of Gaming (ROG) Strix. This gaming router takes advantage of the latest Wi-Fi 6 standards to offer blazing fast speeds and stability. We’re talking about connections as fast as 3000 Mbps with no lag, latency, or unwanted disruptions.
This four-antenna router creates a 3500 square-foot Wi-Fi bubble that can accommodate up to 75+ devices at a time. Each of the antennas can aim independently to guarantee every inch of your space gets signal. Unfortunately, these are non-removable but you can swivel them around half a sphere.
Prioritizing gaming traffic is easy with the ROG Strix. For starters, the built-in Gear Accelerator maximizes traffic across all priority devices so devices won’t ever be fighting for bandwidth. Game Boost prioritizes traffic and drops latency across the board. Finally, the One-Touch Booster can create separate channels for mobiles devices.
We also like that the GS-AX3000s essential features are a breeze to set up. Port forwarding is a simple three-step process, and running a VPN is effortless using ROG Fusion. Furthermore, on the back of the hub is a dedicated Ethernet Game Port that prioritizes traffic as soon as you plug it in.
Overall, those after a great “all-rounder” gaming router at a reasonable price should consider the GS-AX3000 for their Xbox Series X.
6. ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8 2PK)
Frequency Band: Tri-Band
Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
Max. Data Transfer: 4.8 Gbps
The XT8 consists of a pair of Asus AX6600 routers. Mesh capabilities allow this system to eliminate dead zones, guaranteeing stable and fast performance across the whole network. With this kit, gamers won’t have to worry about their connection dropping in the furthest corners of their homes.
By transmitting a local topology network over multiple nodes, the XT8 abolishes the need for any extra antennas. Nevertheless, it still provides strong and stable coverage for up to 5500 square feet. Combine that with the max 4.8 Gbps data transfer and there’s a lot to like about this product.
In terms of performance, the ZenWiFi AX functions great with no dead spots and decent signal mostly everywhere. As for speeds, these are sure to exceed your expectations. After setting it up on a local area network, we hit highs of 900 Mbps on an Ethernet test and around 700 Mbps on Wi-Fi.
To hit these speeds across multiple devices, the XT8 has support for OFDMA, ZenWifi AX, and MU MIMO technologies. Next-generation QOS systems are also neatly implemented. That’s the best way to prioritize different types of network traffic (e.g. work from home, gaming, file operations, etc).
Lastly, all I/Os are on the back of the hub. These include a DC-in, LAN ports (1-3), a WAN port, plus a USB-C. As for the setup, this should take no more than 15 minutes. All you have to do is install the ASUS app on your phone, connect over Bluetooth, and configure the basic stuff then you’re done.
Overall, if you’re searching for an Xbox Series X mesh router setup, in particular, this is the one to go for.
5. NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream AX5400 (RAX50)
Frequency Band: Dual-Band
Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
Max. Data Transfer: 5.4 Gbps
This dual-band machine from Netgear is as speedy as they come. It takes full advantage of Wi-Fi 6 protocols to bring you a 5.4 Gbps wireless connection (or 10.8 Gbps over both bands). Gamers running their Xbox Series X consoles side by side can experience real performance using this router.
With the Nighthawk, Netgear has decided to go for the “alien fighter jet” kind of design. Aesthetically, it looks sleek, angular, and very modern. Four individual antennas pop up from the router body as well. Together, they produce strong Wi-Fi coverage of up to 2500 ft.²
From a pure performance standpoint, a couple of things separate the Nighthawk from the rest of the pack. The first is a 1.8 GHz triple-core CPU that keeps this riser running fast even under heavy loads. Furthermore, dynamic quality of service settings allow users to optimize traffic to their consoles.
Optimizing gaming traffic and configuring this router is seamless with the smartphone app. The instructions are clear and well written for a walkthrough that takes just minutes. After the initial setup and login, there are also plenty of advanced granular options available through the web interface.
4. ASUS AX5400 (RT-AX82U) Gaming Router
Frequency Band: Dual-Band
Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
Max. Data Transfer: 5.4 Gbps
The RT-AX82U is built with gamers in mind. It takes full advantage of Wi-Fi 6 wireless protocols, providing speeds of up to 5.4 Gbps across the 802.11 ax spectrum. Additionally, it offers 160 MHz dual-band channels to guarantee zero interference when running multiple devices.
The design team at Asus has always had a reputation for aggressive styling, particularly when it comes to their router designs. This setup is no exception. It looks fast and deadly, with four individual antennas mounted on top, providing Wi-Fi coverage of more than 2000 ft.².
Besides this, the RT-AX82U takes advantage of traditional QOS features. The app has phenomenal parental controls that allow for splitting of channels, guest WI-FI, and various modes to prioritize your streaming needs. What’s great is that there’s also a hardwired gaming port. Therefore, diving into QoS settings isn’t necessary if you only want to prioritize one gaming device.
Lastly, like most Asus hardware, you’ll be glad to know that AI mesh and Asus AI Protection Pro both feature on this hub. AI mesh beings the creation of mesh networks with a touch of a button. Moreover, Protection Pro offers cyber security to stop threats before they get to individual devices.
Overall, gamers after a solid, mid-priced option will be very happy with the RT-AX82U.
3. TP-Link AX6600 (Archer GX90)
Frequency Band: Tri-Band
Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
Max. Data Transfer: 4.8 Gbps
The Archer GX90 is a tri-band system built to leverage the power and performance capabilities of the latest 802.11ax protocol. After flipping this router into “game mode”, it will not only let you enjoy maximum speeds of up to 4804 Mbps on your Xbox Series X but other devices as well.
We especially like the GX90s game accelerator feature. As soon as you jump on your Xbox X, it will detect that this is the most important traffic going across the network and redirect resources that way. This results in higher speeds and better stability for more immersion during your gameplay.
As for the design, this router is really aggressive. It sort of looks like some kind of futuristic machine, with eight individual antennas capable of beamforming an 1800 sq. feet range across your home. Medium size houses won’t ever have to worry about lack of range with this Wi-Fi router set up.
A 1.5 GHz quad-core processor “under the hood” guarantees you’ll be able to push the performance of this hardware way beyond the previous options. Configuring the interface is straightforward, too. All you have to do is log in to the admin backend or load up the software to get up and running.
Anybody seeking a fast and far-reaching, tri-band router should try out this hardware for their Xbox Series X.
2. NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro AX5400 (XR1000)
Frequency Band: Dual-Band
Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
Max. Data Transfer: 5.4 Gbps
The Nighthawk Pro XR1000 has a stealthy aesthetic with a kind of 80s Sega color scheme. Compared to the original, it’s a little bit sharper, angular, and more alien in its overall look. At the end of the day, though, this is still a Wi-Fi 6 router, capable of delivering lightning fast speeds.
Manufactured for the latest generation of gaming consoles (and PC gaming, too), Netgear has hit a home run with this unit. Featuring four high-power external antennas, you’ll be blown away by the vast Wi-Fi coverage that can span everywhere throughout larger homes.
The signal strength is so strong that we found our devices could connect anywhere in a two-story, 4200 square feet home and all the way out to the yard. This included the ability to penetrate through three walls while still receiving a solid 4/5 bars connection on the 5 GHz channel.
Thanks to the onboard QoS features, bandwidth allocation is also impressive. In the settings, you can allocate packets to different devices (and types of traffic), including gaming traffic from your Xbox. This gives your console priority access to available bandwidth for the most stable connection.
Cybersecurity is another important feature, especially for those living in inner cities. Fortunately, with the XR1000, you’re going to see some of the best antivirus, anti-malware, and encryption protocols on consumer hardware right here. All of this is customizable to meet your needs as well.
Overall, thanks to its incredible WIFI range and lightning-fast speeds, the Nighthawk Pro is one of the best dual-band Xbox Series X gaming routers on the market today.
1. ASUS ROG Rapture (GT-AXE11000)
Frequency Band: Tri-Band
Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
Max. Data Transfer: 11 Gbps
The ASUS ROG GT-AXE11000 is a premium, tri-band router built for serious gamers. It makes history as the world’s first Wi-Fi 6E router, capable of supporting the newly opened 6 GHz band. Moreover, similar to her brother – the GT-AX11000, it’s VPN-ready and can reach ridiculous 11 Gbps speeds.
With the latest 6 GHz band, the AXE11000 has access to 59, 20 MHz channels. As a result, you won’t ever have to worry about sharing neighbors’ access points. Furthermore, unlike the 5 GHz band, there’s no need for dynamic frequency selection either, which prevents interference from radars.
To reduce power loss and maximize coverage, the device harnesses eight well-isolated antennas. Four of these are for the 6 GHz range, and there’s a pair of antennas each for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. Together, they deliver bandwidth with even greater service strength and quality.
Apart from this, you’ll be glad to know that the unit comes with a host of other gamer-centric features. Triple level game acceleration lets you prioritize your gaming (or Ethernet) traffic so its data is always ahead of the queue, and the network interface provides easy point-and-click control.
Finally, thanks to Asus’s AiMesh, the GT-AXE11000 can also become the main hub of a house-wide network. That’s perfect for homes that span over a wide footprint or have multiple layers of floors. The AiMesh is a little tricky to set up, but once this is done correctly, it works exactly how you want.
To sum up, if you’re searching for the complete package, this overkill router tops the list for large households or gaming arenas with multiple Xbox Series X consoles.
Is a WiFi 6 Router Worth it for Xbox Series X?
While Wi-Fi 6 is an improvement over Wi-Fi 5, the speeds that it can theoretically provide are a godsend for gamers, assuming they can even take advantage of it. If you own an Xbox Series X, you would think that this would be an incredible benefit for your console.
However, the Xbox Series X is not built to take advantage of the Wi-Fi 6. In fact, it only supports Wi-Fi 5 technology on the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz bands – just like previous generations. Despite that, a Wi-Fi 6 investment is still worth it with the Xbox Series X.
Even though the Xbox Series X and S don’t support Wi-Fi 6, you’ll still be able to use it on the WI-FI 5 bands that most WI-FI 6 routers have as well. You can then take advantage of the WI-FI 6 bands for other purposes in your household. Another benefit is future proofing, too.
Furthermore, if you use a wired connection with a Wi-Fi 6 router, it will atill allow your Series X to max out the gigabit port. Besides, most ISPs aren’t even set up to deliver the kind of speeds that a Wi-Fi 6 router can handle, so you wouldn’t get much of an advantage in that regard.
How to choose the best router for the Xbox Series X
Dual-Band or Tri-Band
Tri-band is going to be largely irrelevant for gaming on your Series X unless you have a bunch of people in your house that are all putting heavy loads on the internet at the same time.
A Tri-band is typically something that you see in the office when a company needs something that can support so many users on the internet.
Wireless Protocol
If you’re not using a wired Ethernet connection with your Xbox Series X, then you’re only worried about 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands anyway. Thanks to the backward technology in Wi-Fi 6 routers, more established radio frequencies can work just as well.
Range
Wi-Fi is notoriously easy to interfere with and Wi-Fi 6 aims to alleviate some of those problems. By harnessing multiple channels above the standard bands, your Xbox Series X can benefit from the best available channels at all times.
Obviously, look for a router with a longer range on our list, too. A longer range means a stronger signal, which results in faster speeds. If you’re a long way away from your router, a 2.4GHz is the way to go. Up close and personal? Go with a wired connection or 5.0GHz.
Speeds
According to Microsoft, all it takes is 5Mbps to get optimal results with your Series X. Be that as it may, if you want to take full advantage of your internet speed, either go for a Wi-Fi 6 router or one with a gigabit port on the back.
Besides, a wired connection is nearly flawless and avoids all of the potential interference you may find in your house.
Features
Since the Series X wasn’t built for Wi-Fi 6, your Wi-Fi 6 router doesn’t all the latest features. Just be in the lookout for beamforming technology, multiple antennas, channel hopping, and better coverage.
Setup/ Connectivity
For the best possible results, you want a wired connection with a Wi-Fi 6 router. However, if you can’t set up directly next to your router, you should visit your router’s page to see which band is going to be the most supportive of your location.
Multiple ports and connectivity on the back of the router can also be another deciding factor.
We hope you found a Xbox Series X router on this list.
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