If you want to stream in 4k, you will need a good router with specific features. A high-speed router is necessary, for one, as well as other aspects, but how do you tell if the specs are good enough? Shopping for electronic products is always complicated, and trying to compare every specification can make your eyes glaze over. Maybe these 7 reviews of routers, as well as tips for shopping for a router, will help you find the best router for 4k streaming. So why you wait, lets go for getting the top one and enjoy 4k streaming.
What are the best routers for streaming?
What router do I need for 4k streaming? – Buyers guide
Speed: How fast is the data on the router you’re looking at? If it’s too slow, you won’t have much luck with your streaming. Data speed is usually measured in megabytes per second (Mbps) though if it is measured in gigabytes per second (Gbps) don’t forget that 1GB is equivalent to 1000MB.
One thing to look at with speed is the wireless standard. The most common standards are 802.11n and 802.11ac. The 802.11n is older and only delivers speeds up to 460Mbps. The 802.11ac is faster, giving speeds of 1.3Gbps. An even newer standard, 802.11ad, is three times faster than 802.11ac, but it’s not very common.
Bands: Routers come in single-band, dual-band, and tri-band. Each band is a radio frequency that is either 2.4GHz or 5GHz. A single-band router will only have either one of those.
A dual-band router typically has one of each. Tri-band routers are the most advanced and usually have two 5GHz bands and one 2.4GHz band. For 4k streaming, you want at least a dual-band router.
Processor: You probably think processors are for computers, but routers have them too. A better processor makes for a better router. The newer and better routers have a dual processor. This allows them to process data faster and makes the connection much smoother.
Quality of Service: Quality of Service, or QoS, is a feature found on some high-end routers. It lets you prioritize certain devices and apps in the bandwidth. It’s great for 4k streaming because you can prioritize, say, Netflix, or whatever streaming app you are using, giving you enough bandwidth to play the video without interruptions.
MU-MIMO: MU-MIMO stands for multi-user multiple input multiple output technology. It is a special feature found on a lot of routers that basically divvies up the bandwidth when multiple users are using different devices on the same network.
It helps the router to multitask and keeps internet speeds steady. If you have a household where a lot of people are using their individual devices at once, it is worth looking for a router with MU-MIMO.
Antennas and Ports: All routers have antennas and ports, but it’s how many of them there are that counts. For 4k streaming, you want lots of antennas. The more antennas on a router, the faster the speed of data.
As for ports, routers generally have Ethernet and USB ports. It is possible to use an entirely wireless setup, but Ethernet ports enable you to wire a streaming device directly to the router, giving you a nice, clear signal and freeing up more WiFi data for other devices.
You will also want at least a few Ethernet ports if you plan on using WiFi extenders. So when you’re choosing a router, make sure it has at least two ports, though it’s better to have at least four.
8 Best routers for 4k streaming reviewed
1.
MOTOROLA AC2600
If you want to have an intelligent link between your WiFi and internet devices, this is a product that has been designed to take charge. It ensures that there are high-speed data transfer and any communication that makes your work easier to access at all times. It uses a connection of AC2600 dual-band connection to all your smart devices and HDTVs.
Adjustable antennas: It has been designed with 4 antennas that will ensure that you have a 4×4 concurrent performance to handle both the 5 and the 2.4GHz connections. The 802.11ac wave technology can increase your network speeds
Made with a beamforming target and the ability: This is the ability to ensure that all the WiFi signals that are connected to it get the best signal. That’s is also what makes it able to provide you with fast speeds that you will need for faster work. It also boasts an extension of range usage
USB port and DLNA media supporting: This also gives you a chance of connecting to the device through the use of USB devices. Thanks to the USB 3.0 port that it has been made with. Fitted with the best parental controls that will help in managing the router in the best manner possible.
Better speeds: The MR2600 has been made with the best devices so that you can get the best faster speeds with a range that is also extended. It can protect any WiFi surrounding noise from the surrounding ones or those owned by neighbors.
Advantage
- Adjustable antennas for signal strength
- Aesthetic design that is impressive
- Allows network attachment of storage devices
- Designed with plenty of ventilation
- Uses USB ports
Disadvantage
- Priced highly
Summary: The best part is that it can ensure long-range connections even when you are far from the router. You won’t be suffering from distortions from time to time as you get to connect your devices. Best for your use.
2.
NETGEAR Nighthawk R9000
Take your 4k streaming to the next level with the Nighthawk X10 AD7200 by NETGEAR. It is the fastest home router available. If you are looking for top quality, this is the router for you.
The Nighthawk X10 AD7200 is one of the fastest routers for 4k streaming and VR gaming. Its 801.11ac Quad Stream Wave2 WiFi and 60 GHz 802.11ad WiFi, give it a wireless speed of up to 4600+1733+800 Mbps. This fast speed can only mean good things for your streaming.
It comes with Plex Media Server, allowing you to integrate all your home media across devices. This router also has a 1.7GHz Quad Core Processor – the fastest processor available for a home router. It is sure to vastly improve the quality of your 4k streaming.
This router requires either Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10, Vista, XP, or 2000, or Mac OS, Unix, or Linux. For a browser, it needs Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, Firefox 2.0, Safari 1.4, Google Chrome 11.0, or higher. It is also compatible with Amazon Alexa.
Advantage
- It is the fastest router
- It has four places to plug in cables
- It doubles WiFi speeds to mobile devices
- It has four external antennas that maximize the range of WiFi signals
- It enables faster downloads and smoother streaming on all your devices
Disadvantage
- It costs a lot of money
- The technical support is bad
Summary: The Nighthawk X10 AD7200 is a very fast, high-end router. It is sure to take your 4k streaming to the next level and beyond.
3.
Mediabridge AC1200 Router
Are you looking for an inexpensive router that still delivers fast speed? The Medialink AC1200 is 10 times faster than other routers in the same price range and is perfect for a large home.
This router has beamforming as well as two high-powered antennas that work together to give you a better WiFi signal in a large home, focusing the signal directly to your device. The Medialink AC1200 has the largest WiFi range allowed by the FCC and can connect up to 20 WiFi devices.
The Medialink AC1200 can be used with a Mac, Windows, iOS, or Android operating system. It is easy to set up and comes with user-friendly instructions that were designed with non-techies in mind. Consider this router if setting up electronics makes you anxious.
This WiFi router has great coverage for larger homes. Its Dual Band technology helps you to avoid wireless interference. It also enables you to quickly access stored photos and music across devices. It can also function as a range extender when used in range extender mode with another router.
Advantage
- It is good for larger homes
- It is easy to set up
- It can be used as a range extender with an existing router as well as being able to be used as a router
- It is compatible with any modem
- It has excellent speed for the price
Disadvantage
- Sometimes it drops WiFi
- Reportedly it can be hard to deal with the customer service
Summary: The Medialink is a good choice if you are looking for a router on a budget, or a router for a large home. The fact that it can also be used as a WiFi extender makes it more versatile, and if it turns out not to be as good a router as your old one you can still use it as an extender.
4.
PHICOMM K3 AC3150 Router
Are you looking for a router with cutting-edge technology to give you a smart home experience? The Phicomm K3 router has a Scandinavian design and is precisely engineered with unprecedented knowledge. With this router, you can be very well connected at home.
This router has a high speed of up to 3167Mbps. It has a Broadcom Dual Core CPU Processor and 512 MB of RAM plus 128 MB of Flash. The high RAM allows more devices to connect simultaneously, and it also features a unique chipset that enhances the stability of WiFi performance and allows it to handle more devices. It also features 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 1 USB 3.0 port, giving you the option of directly connecting a device using a wired connection.
You can easily manage networks using the PHWiFi app, which is available for both Android and iOS. It allows you to provide secure WiFi access for guests, establish restricted access policies for connected devices, and manage the bandwidth of connected devices with IP based Bandwidth Control.
The Phicomm K3 also has a 3.5″ TFT LCD screen that shows WiFi connectivity and router status, and it can easily be operated with 3 touch keys. You can easily tell what’s going on with your WiFi using this feature. This router also has 8 high-gain antennas built in, giving you strong reliability and maximum signal coverage. The reliable connectivity is sure to give you a great 4k streaming experience.
Advantage
- It has a very fast speed
- It has lots of RAM
- It uses MU-MIMO technology
- It comes with an app to help you manage your networks
- It’s a great budget router
Disadvantage
- Some users have had issues with inconsistency
- The support isn’t very good
Summary: This router is high quality and comes at a good price. It is sure to vastly improve the quality of your 4k streaming.
5.
Linksys AC2600 Router
If you live in a household with multiple devices being used at the same time, this might be the router for you. Its 4×4 MU-MIMO technology delivers four data streams, enhancing your streaming experience.
The Linksys processes data at speeds of up to 2.53Gbps. It is powered by Qualcomm Internet Processor and has 2.4 and 5GHz bands. It has MU-MIMO technology that can handle heavy network traffic and high network activities at the same time, on multiple devices. With this router, you can say goodbye to lags and interruptions caused by other people in the household using bandwidth.
This router is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista 32/64, Windows 7 32/64, Windows 8 32/64, Windows 8.1 32/64, Mac OS X 10.5.8 Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6.1 Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks, and Windows 10 32/64. It is also compatible with Amazon Alexa.
The Linksys Max-Stream AC2600 delivers four data streams instead of the two or three found on most routers. It also has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 3.0 port, and an eSATA/USB 2.0 port, enabling it to offer high-speed transmission of data for both wired connections and storage devices. You can stream and play games at up to 4.6x the speed found on most routers.
Advantage
- It comes with smart WiFi software that enables you to have greater control over your network
- It has mounting holes, so you can mount it on the wall or ceiling if you want
- It is the most advanced router made by Linksys
- It features MU-MIMO technology
- It has fast speed
Disadvantage
- There are reports of it dropping the signal or having to be restarted too frequently
- The customer support is bad
Summary: This router has excellent speed and good bang for the buck. If you are considering a router upgrade, it is a worthy choice.
6.
TP-Link AC1900 Router
Are you looking for a fast gaming routers for PS4 or streaming that comes at an affordable price? The TP-Link AC1900 offers fast, reliable WiFi and is great for homes with multiple devices being used simultaneously.
This router delivers speeds up to 600+1300 Mbps, or 1.9GBPS, allowing you to stream 4k seamlessly and game without lags. It has a powerful 1GHz dual-core processor that can easily handle multiple devices. It has 1 USB 3.0 and 1 2.0 port that enables you to easily share files and media across the network.
This TP-Link router is compatible with Microsoft Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and below, Mac OS, NetWare, UNIX, and Linux. It requires 1 nonstandard battery.
The TP-Link AC1900 features beamforming technology, using its high-powered dual-band antennas to locate devices instead of just beaming the signal everywhere at once. This makes for stronger WiFi connections on your mobile devices, even when you carry them from room to room. Because of the dual 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, more devices can connect to your home network at once.
Advantage
- It is very good for streaming 4k
- Beamforming technology makes for a better signal
- You can easily use it to share files and other data across your home network
- It costs less than other routers of the same quality
- It has a good WiFi range
Disadvantage
- The warranty support is reportedly not customer friendly
- Some people have found it to not work well
Summary: This is a quality router at a good price. It will greatly improve your 4k streaming, gaming, and other internet use.
7.
Symantec B06Y22RY96 Router
Are you looking for a router that comes with built-in security? Do you have children and want to put limits on their internet access? The Norton Core router comes with 1 year of Norton Core Security Plus for free, screening for viruses and malware and giving you the option of setting parental controls. It is also a lot more visually appealing than other routers.
The Norton Core has a 1.7GHz dual-core processor and MU-MIMO technology that will allow you to stream in 4k faster. It comes with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of Flash as well as 2 USB 3.0 ports, 3 LAN ports and 1 WAN port for 4 Gigabit Ethernet. With a 2600 Mbps data transfer rate, this router is sure to improve your 4k streaming.
The purchase of the Norton Core router comes with a 1-year subscription to Norton Core Security Plus. This includes parental controls allowing you to set time limits on each device, monitor screen time for each person, and set content filters. It also offers protection against viruses, malware, hackers, and cybercriminals, on all your devices.
The Norton Core is lighter than other routers, weighing only 1.31 lbs. It also has an attractive geodesic appearance. After the first year, the Norton Core Security Plus software will have to be renewed unless you want to use it as a router without the security features.
Advantage
- It comes with security features
- Parental controls make it a great choice for families with children
- The app makes it convenient to use the features
- Norton has good technical support
- The router looks really cool
Disadvantage
- The security features slow down the internet speed considerably, making it a less desirable choice for 4k streaming.
- You have to pay an annual subscription fee for the security services every year
Summary: If security matters to you the Norton Core might be a good choice for a router. You will have to consider the trade-off between security and speed.
8.
Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600 Router
Are you looking for faster WiFi speeds and the best streaming and gaming experience? If you demand fast and reliable connectivity, this might be the perfect router. With stream boost optimization to deliver the best streaming experience as well as easy setup, the Armor Z2 has a lot of benefits.
This router has 2600Mbps speed and a wireless standard of 802.11ac. The 4×4 MU-MIMO technology can deliver an even faster wireless signal to your device of choice, making it excellent for streaming and gaming. It has beam-forming antennas that grant enhanced wireless coverage and stability. The fast speed and stable connection will take your 4k streaming to the next level.
This Zyxel router also has a unique airflow design which allows cool air to circulate through the chassis. It expels hot air faster without allowing it to recirculate back into the router. This cools down the components, giving you faster and more reliable operation. With the thermally enhanced design, you won’t have to worry about your router overheating.
The Armor Z2 can stream 4k video content in excellent quality. It has a powerful 1.7GHz dual-core processor and Streamboost technology that really boosts your gaming or streaming experience. The beamforming technology allows a fast signal to go straight to your device, transferring files more quickly and enabling you to stream video without stutters. This is a quality router for 4k streaming.
Advantage
- It has MU-MIMO technology
- It has beamforming technology
- The airflow design helps keep things cool and running smoothly
- It has a good speed and wireless standard
- It is a great router for the price
Disadvantage
- It doesn’t have a phone line input
- A few people have had a lot of dropped connections
Summary: The Armor Z2 seems to be a really high-quality router at a decent price. It will greatly improve the quality of your streaming and gaming.
The Final Words (Summary)
It can be really complicated to choose a router, but choosing a good one will reward you with fast internet speed and an excellent streaming experience. With these product examples and tips on what to look for in a router, you will be well on your way to finding the best router for 4k streaming.
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