Retire your hired and tired home router to benefit from the enhanced functionality of market-leading access points

Many households have a love-hate relationship with Wi-Fi. Until recently, problems with speed, coverage and network security, and capacity have made the quality of Wi-Fi networks extremely variable. However, the Wi-Fi Alliance, the industry body behind Wi-Fi has gone back to the drawing board and has come up with a range of improvements that have really enhanced Wi-Fi performance. 

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The best Wi-Fi 6E Access points take advantage of the latest advancements in Wi-Fi including 

  • Access to the 6GHz frequency band.The WPA3 updated security protocol.Improved encryption.Enhanced network name and password security.Simplified onboarding and recognition of network devices.

So if you want to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6E for your home or business network, the best Wi-Fi 6E access points deliver superb performance in a range of everyday use cases. We’ve trawled the market and reviewed dozens of the latest access points that provide Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. Here are our top picks: 

  • Best overall: Ubiquiti UniFi U6 Enterprise Access PointBest gaming option: ASUS ROG Rapture WiFi 6E Gaming Router (GT-AXE11000)Best home office choice: TP-Link AXE5400 Tri-Band WiFi 6E RouterBest for large homes: Ubiquiti UniFi U6 Enterprise Access Point Best smart home selection: NETGEAR Orbi Quad-Band WiFi 6E Mesh System (RBKE963)Best business pick: Linksys MR7500 MESH WIFI 6E

Best Overall Access Point: Ubiquiti UniFi U6 Enterprise Access Point

Quick specs

This is an extremely versatile access point for building scalable home and business networks with indoor and outdoor coverage. Ubiquiti’s access points deliver excellent coverage bandwidth and performance for both household and commercial applications. As part of the UniFi range of wireless networking equipment, you can benefit from additional coordinating products like range extenders and outdoor, weather-resistant versions of this competitively priced access point. 

  • WiFi 4/WiFi 5/WiFi 6/WiFi 6E (2.4/5/6 GHz bands)10.2 Gbps aggregate throughput rate(1) 2.5GbE RJ45 port (PoE In)Powered with PoE+ (PoE adapter optional)

Owners of the Ubiquiti UniFi U6 Enterprise Access Point appreciate the quick and simple app-based setup you can even complete on your phone. This makes it remarkably easy to build and scale the network as your needs change. Ubiquiti also provides regular firmware updates and outstanding support that safeguards the longevity of your purchase.

Best For Gaming: ASUS ROG Rapture WiFi 6E Gaming Router (GT-AXE11000)

Serious gamers need the exceptional bandwidth and capacity only a Wi-F- 6E access point can deliver. And the ASUS ROG Rapture WiFi 6E Gaming Router does not disappoint.

Wi-Fi 6E is ideal for gaming and with speeds of 11 Gbps+, you’ll always have the advantage in the most advanced gaming environments. The massive channels that Wi-Fi 6E delivers are perfect for supporting low-latency, interference-free gaming. This router prioritizes high-throughput applications with a dedicated 2.5G port for routing data. ASUS’ proprietary triple-level acceleration speeds up game traffic between your device and the game server for a more responsive experience for you and your competitors.

This access point also features the most advanced Wi-Fi security standard WPA3- Enterprise and the gaming-focused AiProtection Pro by Trend Micro™ that automatically generated novel security signatures and handshakes to protect you from cloud-based threats. Strong parental controls and site blocking also keep children safe online. 

If you’re still working from home, investing in networking hardware that provides you with the best connection speeds and performance will help you keep in touch with the outside world. A regular home router might not be up to ‌supporting heavy Zoom use alongside regular household use, so an upgraded access point is a shrewd investment. 

  • Tri-Band WiFi 6E Router - Up to 5400 Mbps WiFi for faster browsing, streaming, gaming and downloading, all at the same time(6 GHz: 2402 Mbps;5 GHz: 2402 Mbps;2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps)WiFi 6E Unleashed – The brand new 6 GHz band brings more bandwidth, faster speeds, and near-zero latency; Enables more responsive gaming and video chattingConnect More Devices—True Tri-Band and OFDMA technology increase capacity by 4 times to enable simultaneous transmission to more devicesMore RAM, Better Processing - Armed with a 1.7 GHz Quad-Core CPU and 512 MB High-Speed MemoryOneMesh Supported – Creates a OneMesh network by connecting to a TP-Link OneMesh Extender for seamless whole-home coverage.

This access point features tri-band Wi-Fi 6E technology, the most advanced available. The 3×3 multi-user MIMO antennas provide multi-gigahertz speed connectivity, making this an access point that you can rely on for advanced WFH networking applications like:

  • Telecommuting Running remote desktops and VPNsEssential Virtualization applications Cloud computing

The TP-Link AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 router also has the bandwidth to cover your home office use while supporting regular household usage. Its intelligent networking features like the Wi-Fi Dead-Zone Killer, and Smart Roaming keep coverage consistent around your property. 

Achieving consistent Wi-Fi coverage can be a challenge in large properties. A single router does not have the transmitting power to maintain consistent performance across multiple rooms or over several floors. This means that the Wi-Fi signal is often very weak in certain parts of the property, even if the Wi-Fi network speeds are high. 

Wi-Fi Mesh networking is the best solution for providing high-speed coverage all over your big house. Ubiquiti has designed the Ubiquiti UniFi U6 Enterprise Access Point  for just this application. With UniFi, you can install individual discrete, wall-mounted access points in each room or area of your property. The individual access points link to create a single network with excellent coverage wherever you are in the building as you’ll only be a few meters from an access point. 

We think that this premium Wi-Fi 6 access point is a great buy for guesthouses and vacation rentals too. 

Speed and coverage are essential for the connectivity required to run a smart home network. If you rely on smart home solutions like automated locks, lighting, and thermostats, the NETGEAR Orbi Quad-Band WiFi 6E Mesh System delivers lighting-fast speeds and bandwidth throughout your property that can support as many smart devices as you need. 

  • Lightning fast 10.8Gbps total WiFi speed, including a new 6GHz band with more speed and capacity for the latest high-performance WiFi 6E devicesExclusive Quad-Band technology features a dedicated WiFi band connecting Orbi router and satellites, ensuring Gigabit+ speeds throughout your homeCovers your whole home up to 9,000 sq. ft. and up to 200 devices at the same time with consistently fast WiFi to every device in every roomCompatible with internet service plans up to 10Gbps. Connects to your existing modem (cable, satellite, fiber, DSL) and replaces your WiFi router.Each router and satellite includes one 2.5G and three 1G Ethernet ports for fast wired connections to computers, game consoles and streaming players

But what sets this access point apart from competitors are its exemplary security features, which are essential for smart home applications. You can be confident that your Wi-Fi network is secure and hacker-proof with features like: 

  • Harmonized mesh network names and passwordsWPA2 and WPA 3 network security, the latest Wi-Fi security standards from the Wi-Fi AllianceAES encryption Email notifications if there is a security eventFirewall security

Depending on the size of your home, you can use a single Orbi access point or opt to connect multiple Orbis throughout your home in a mesh network. 

Best For Business: Linksys MR7500 MESH WIFI 6E

If you run an office or commercial environment, you’ll know that robust, high-speed connectivity is essential to keep staff productive. Linksys has designed the Linksys MR7500 MESH WIFI 6E to provide multi-gigabit wireless connectivity speeds in high-density environments such as offices, stores, and coffee shops. 

  • 6 GHz band found on Wi-Fi 6E routers offers interference-free signal and ultra-fast speedshas up to 4x the channels of older Wi-Fi router systemsCompatible with all Internet service providers and is 100% backward compatible with Wi-Fi 5 and older devicesCoverage up to 2,700 sq. ft., 55+ devices, and speeds up to 6.6 GbpsVelop Intelligent Mesh technology combined with Wi-Fi 6E is designed to deliver gigabit Wi-Fi speeds to every corner of home or business

This access point can be discretely wall or ceiling-mounted and provides omnidirectional broadband Wi-Fi connectivity over the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands. Multiple MR7500 MESH Wi-Fi 6E access points can create a mesh network with centralized cloud management and an intuitive, browser-based dashboard. Linksys also prioritizes security with enterprise-level WPA3 network security. 

How To Pick The Best Wi-Fi 6E Access Points: Key Considerations

A Wi-Fi 6E access point is your opportunity to take advantage of the most advanced type of Wi-Fi networking, first released in early 2021. This high-speed, high-bandwidth technology is the perfect partner for a fiber gigabit broadband internet connection. The right access point is key to enjoying enhanced performance for this wireless networking tech. Here are five key considerations for selecting the best Wi-Fi 6E access point for your needs:

  • Frequency bandsAntennasMesh networking Network SecurityPrice

Let’s review each one in more detail.

Frequency bands and channels 

Wi-Fi 6E differs from the 2019 release of Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) because it can use the 6 GHz frequency band for high-speed, high-throughput data exchange. This is a very new thing as the FCC only allowed unlicensed use of this frequency band in 2020. 

Wi-Fi 6E access points now have up to four distinct frequency bands to use:

  • The 2.4 GHz frequency band ranges between 2.401 GHz and 2.473 GHz. In the US the 2.4 GHz frequency band has 11 20 MHz-wide channels but in other regions 14 channels are available. The 5GHz frequency band spans 5.170 GHz to 5.835 GHz and is often divided into upper and lower frequency bands. It has up to 25 20 MHz-wide non-overlapping channels for data exchange. The 6 GHz frequency band, also known as the Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) band, spans 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz. This frequency band is the largest and can provide up to 59 20 MHz-wide channels.

If a manufacturer markets the 5 GHz frequency band as a single frequency band the Wi-Fi 6E access point will be called a tri-band access point. If the access point divides the 5 GHz frequency band into upper and lower bands, the access point is a quad-band access point.

Antennas

Wi-Fi 6E access points rely on the latest antenna technology to achieve super-fast connectivity. The key antenna technology for Wi-Fi 6E is Multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) which improves the performance of the Wi-Fi signal by sending and receiving it via multiple antennas. A legitimate 6E access should have at least 4 antennas to achieve its connectivity (2×2 MIMO). 

Mesh networking 

Mesh networking technology involves the creation of a network that comprises multiple, interconnected access points, known as nodes. This is the ideal solution for providing great Wi-Fi coverage through large buildings or over multiple floors. Each node receives and transmits data within a localized area. Data moves in and out of the mesh network via a controller with a wired backhaul to the internet.

Network security 

Wi-Fi 6E benefits from the most up-to-date Wi-Fi security standard WPA3. This newly released security standard provides industry-leading encryption, authentication, and device onboarding technologies, with robust protection against common forms of network attack. 

Price

What To Know Before Buying The Best Wi-Fi 6E Access Points

Wi-Fi 6 E has some great features, but it may not be the most appropriate wireless networking technology for every use case. Here are three things you need to know before you buy that Wi-Fi 6E access point:

1. Only Wi-Fi 6E-certified devices can use the 6 GHz frequency band

This is extremely important because if you buy a Wi-Fi 6E router and no devices can use the 6 GHz frequency band, you are essentially paying extra for Wi-Fi 6 networking. Only certified devices can take advantage of the massive amount of bandwidth available at 6 GHz, so if you are buying a new smart TV, phone, or laptop, ensure that it is Wi-Fi 6E compatible.

2. Wi-Fi 6 also delivers significant improvements to network performance

If you’re keen to use Wi-Fi 6E because of the improvements in performance, you may benefit from using Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6 is essentially Wi-Fi 6E without the 6 GHz frequency band. The Wi-Fi Alliance has added a variety of enhancements to Wi-Fi 6 that have improved its speed, capacity, and resilience against interference. You can confidently use Wi-Fi 6 for demanding applications like videoconferencing, gaming, and IoT.

3. Wi-Fi 6E coverage is limited at 6 GHz

Adding the 6 GHz frequency band is a game-changer because it massively increases the number of channels you have available to use. However, it’s important to note that the 6 GHz signal is a lot weaker than the 2.4 and 5 GHz signals, and walls and other obstructions will absorb the 6 GHz signal. This means that the 6 GHz signal has less coverage than the other frequencies, often limited to a single room. Intelligent access points play to the strength of the different frequency bands and divert traffic to each one to make the network fast and efficient. 

Using The Best Wi-Fi 6E Access Points: What it’s Like? 

Wi-Fi 6E is engineered to deliver an efficient and intuitive user experience. The 802.11ax protocol address common problems like interference, congestion, and difficulties in onboarding new or unusual devices on a network. Users of Wi-Fi 6E can benefit from multi-gigabyte connectivity, but the overall speed of the network will be determined by the internet connection to the property. If a Wi-Fi 6E access point is connected to 100 Mbps DSL internet, the DSL speed determines the speed of the entire network!

Final thoughts 

Wi-Fi 6E represents the future of Wi-Fi and the speed and capacity of these networks realize the true capabilities of this popular wireless networking technology. As you can see, leading manufacturers have been quick to respond to Wi-Fi 6E with a varied range of access points that Easily satisfy common use cases. However, end-user devices are still lagging behind Wi-Fi 6E, and with so few devices compatible with the 6 GHz frequency band, a 6E access point may take time to deliver a return on investment.