When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
During this pandemic period which has seen people the world over working from home and self-quarantining, having quality internet with a reliable Wi-Fi router is more than vital.
A wireless router acts as a bridge between the internet and your devices such as laptops and smartphones. Wireless Routers have certainly come a long way!
A good wireless router is one that does not cause you to break your bank but provides great coverage while at high speed. With the ever fast-developing Wi-Fi technologies, more and more devices require a good connection to perform to their optimum.
However, choosing a wireless router that meets your needs can be a challenging process that calls for an understanding of all the technical specifications. In this article, we will review some of the best wireless routers under $300 available on the market today!
Review of Best Wireless Routers Under $300
1. Motorola MR1700 AC1700 WiFI Router
With technology changing rapidly with each passing month, finding the ideal Wi-Fi router can be an uphill task. This is more so the case if you need an upgrade, but your budget is limited.
If a product that doesn’t support Beamforming and MU-MIMO is not a deal-breaker, there are good reasons to invest in the Motorola MR1700 AC1700 WiFI Router.
Here’s the deal; this may not be the biggest or toughest router on the block, but it certainly has enticing features that give it some serious bragging points.
For instance, it offers an in-built extended range and can function on both 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz concurrently. The best part is that this router can pick up maximum speeds of an impressive 1700Mbps.
This is roughly 867Mbps on a 2.4Ghz band and 867Mbps on a 5Ghz band.
Moreover, the product features 6 adjustable antennas that all work to ensure excellent wireless-AC flexibility and performance.
While the product may seem like a dwarf compared to high-end routers in the market, it still gets thumbs up for its great range and performance at the price range.
Pros
- Easy and fast to install
- Excellent Wi-Fi range
- Works seamlessly when connected to multiple devices
- Ideal for use as a bridge mode
- Motorola offers outstanding customer support
- Enticing price range
Cons
- Supports neither MU-MIMO nor beamforming technologies
2. NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router, R6700 – AC1750
If you need a router that’s tough enough to support excellent speeds for gaming and live streaming, consider investing in the NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router, R6700 – AC1750.
Just about everything about this product ticks, including its ability to support up to 1750Mbps speeds and even support multiple connections simultaneously without lagging.
One of the best features is the 1GHz, Dual Core processor.
This feature gives the router the power to provide excellently wired and wireless performance for 4 LAN connections and 12 Wi-Fi gadgets.
We also liked the 3 antennas that work with the high-power amplifiers to deliver an impressive Wi-Fi range.
At the price, some of the advanced features of this product are a bonus. Apart from getting a 3.0 USB port for transporting and sharing stored media, users also benefit from free backup software that protects their settings, including Parental Control restrictions.
From where I stand, this seems like a pretty decent deal even for a refurbished router under the $100 mark.
Pros
- Supports high-speed internet (up to1750Mbps)
- Perfect for streaming and gaming
- Features a Dual-Core processor for better overall performance
- Excellent Wi-Fi range
- No lags when supporting multiple connections
- Allows Parental Control
Cons
- A new router may cost a little over $100
3. ASUS RT-ACRH13 AC1300 Dual Band WiFi Router
Another excellent budget option is the ASUS RT-ACRH13 AC1300 Dual Band WiFi Router.
Like the Motorola MR1700 AC1700 WiFI Router, this product does not support beamforming. Fortunately, it supports MU-MIMO technology and is one of the most cost-effective choices on our list.
For a product that performs so well and even offers two operation modes — access point mode and wireless router mode, I doubt you can find a better deal in the market.
The speeds this router can support are not necessarily a turn-off, depending on how you use your internet.
It can support up to 1300Mbps, 867Mbps on the 2.4Ghz band, and about 400mbps on the 5Ghz band. Other great features that enhance the router’s performance include the 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, WAN port, and the 3.0 USB port located at the device’s front.
Pros
- Quite impressive range and performance
- Supports MU-MIMO technology
- Easy setup with the web-based interface
- Practical for home use
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- It doesn’t support beamforming
4. TP-Link Wifi 6 AX1500 Smart WiFi Router
If good aesthetics matter to you, then the TP-Link Wifi 6 AX1500 Smart WiFi Router will not disappoint. However, this product has made it on our list for more than just its good looks.
One of its stellar features is that it operates on Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which is the latest wireless standard. This means it performs remarkably for having the ability to support both OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies.
Don’t get me wrong, simply because this router operates on Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) doesn’t mean that it’s incompatible with other Wi-Fi devices.
On the contrary, it offers better flexibility than its competition because it also supports 802.11 standards.
The powerful 1.5GHz tri-core processor makes this possible and provides 16MB Flash and 256MB RAM to prevent unwarranted lags.
This router doesn’t leave you with much of a wish list in terms of its overall performance.
It offers a great range, supports multiple connections, and even allows Smart Parental Control. Users also appreciate the super-fast and easy setup via the TP-Link tether app.
Pros
- Features the latest wireless technology (Wi-Fi 6)
- Impeccable speeds and efficiency
- Supports both OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies
- Archer AX10 boosts coverage range and signal strength
- Fast and easy setup
Cons
- Limited range of firmware updates
5. TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A9)
For reasons that have nothing to do with the performance of the TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A9), it has dropped in cost to under $100.
This gives you the perfect opportunity to benefit from a well-made and smart dual-band router without breaking the bank.
Powered by a 1Ghz powerful dual-core processor and features like 3 external antennas, this product offers an incredible range, excellent coverage, and impeccable overall performance.
Moreover, the Archer A9 allows convenient media sharing through features like the 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, WAN port, 3.0 USB port, and 2.0 USB port.
The best feature, however, is that the router supports speeds of an incredible 1900Mbps.
Whether you want to play HD games or stream 4K, you don’t have to worry about internet stability or lost connections.
This is a powerful router from a trusted brand. It has just the right features that you will possibly look for in the best home router. We still don’t understand how TP-Link manages to offer such advanced technologies and features at the price range.
Pros
- Supports speeds of up to 1900Mbps
- Dual-band router allows connecting multiple devices simultaneously
- Supports Beamforming for a better Wi-Fi connection
- Easy set up with the Tp-Link Tether app
- Excellent for HD gaming and 4K streaming
Cons
- No pre-drilled holes for mounting
- The status lights may be too bright for your liking
Summary
A good router is your home network’s foundation. It is the one that controls your overall range and speed of wireless and wired internet connections.
You have probably experienced some poor Wi-Fi connections at some point. However, knowing which features to look out for will help you in choosing the best routers under $300 that help fit your specific circumstances!
Other Popular Articles:
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
