June 11, 2024 Six Reasons a Wi-Fi Router Upgrade Makes Sense (2024)

A reliable and fast Wi-Fi connection is essential in today’s digital age. The average U.S. household has 22 connected devices, according to Deloitte. With more and more devices connected to our home networks, the demand for faster and more stable Wi-Fi speeds has never been higher. Consider upgrading to a newer Wi-Fi router if you’re experiencing slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connections. Also, if you have multiple devices that are newer than your router, you may want to upgrade. Below, review a few benefits you can experience with a router upgrade.

Compatibility with New Devices

Newer routers are more likely to be compatible with the latest devices, such as smartphones, laptops, and smart home devices, which may require the latest Wi-Fi standards to work correctly. Upgrading to a newer Wi-Fi router allows you to take advantage of the latest Wi-Fi standards and ensure your devices can connect to your network at the fastest possible speeds.

Faster Speeds

One of the primary benefits of upgrading to a newer Wi-Fi router is faster speeds. Newer routers support the latest wireless standards, such as Wi-Fi 6, which offer faster speeds and better performance than older routers. Wi-Fi 6 routers can support more simultaneous connections, have faster data transfer rates, and provide better coverage than older Wi-Fi standards. If you have a lot of devices connected to your home network or frequently stream high-definition video or play online games, upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router can provide a significant speed boost.

Better Range

Newer routers often feature advanced antennas and beamforming technology, which can extend the range of your Wi-Fi signal and reduce dead zones. With better coverage, you can use your Wi-Fi connection in more areas of your home and experience fewer dropped connections.

June 11, 2024 Six Reasons a Wi-Fi Router Upgrade Makes Sense (1)

Improved Reliability

A new router can provide more reliable and stable connections, with less buffering and fewer dropped connections. This is because newer routers often feature improved hardware and software, such as faster processors and more memory, which can help reduce network congestion and improve performance. Additionally, newer routers often have more advanced Quality of Service (QoS) settings, which can prioritize certain types of traffic, such as video streaming or online gaming, to provide a better user experience.

Increased Security

Upgrading to a newer Wi-Fi routercan also improve your network’s security. Newer routers often feature improved security features, such as WPA3 encryption, which can better protect your network and devices from cyber threats. WPA3 encryption is the latest Wi-Fi security standard, which provides enhanced protection against hacking and unauthorized access to your network.

Enhanced Features

When it comes to managing your home network, newer routers can deliver the ultimate Wi-Fi experience. With advanced features such as content controls, guest networks, and quality of service (QoS) settings, you can take control of your network and maximize its performance. With content controls, you can limit access to certain websites or applications, while guest networks provide visitors with a restricted connection to your network. To ensure that essential applications like video conferencing and online gaming run optimally, QoS settings can prioritize certain types of traffic. All of these features can help you get the most out of your home network.

Consider upgrading to a newer Wi-Fi router if you’re experiencing slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connections. Upgrading to a newer Wi-Fi router can significantly boost your home network’s performance, speed, range, reliability, and security. With the increased demand for faster and more stable Wi-Fi connections, upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router can help future-proof your home network and ensure it can handle the growing number of devices and data-intensive applications.

June 11, 2024 Six Reasons a Wi-Fi Router Upgrade Makes Sense (2024)

FAQs

Is it worth upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router? ›

As mentioned in this article, WiFi 6 offers faster maximum theoretical speeds, with data rates of up to 9.6 Gbps, 25% faster than WiFi 5. At the same time, WiFi 6 operates with up to 75% less latency than WiFi 5. This is massively beneficial and is probably why many users upgrade their setup to WiFi 6.

Is Wi-Fi 6 still good in 2024? ›

While it's been dethroned by Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6 routers are still the best options for most people.

Is upgrading a router worth it? ›

Newer routers offer better speed, range and stability. They are equipped to handle more devices simultaneously and often support the latest Wi-Fi standards, which provide faster data transfer rates and improved efficiency, especially in environments with many connected devices.

How often do you need to upgrade your WiFi router? ›

Experts recommend replacing your router at least every five years—and every two to three years for those of you who use several high-bandwidth devices and smart home devices. But your Wi-Fi router is an investment, and you're probably hesitant to replace it unless you know that you have to.

Will a Wi-Fi 6 router make my internet faster? ›

Wi-Fi 6 offers faster speed than Wi-Fi 5, both for a single device and much more when multiple devices are connected to one router.

What are the disadvantages of a Wi-Fi 6 router? ›

The main downsides of Wi-Fi 6 are compatibility and cost. If your iPhone is older than the iPhone 11, it can't use Wi-Fi 6. But there are other ways to make your phone's internet run as fast as possible. An older laptop won't be able to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6 either.

Does Wi-Fi 6 penetrate walls better? ›

If the device you're using, the Wi-Fi 6, has a bigger distance from the router, Wi-Fi 6 will find it difficult to penetrate the walls better. Hence, you should minimize the distance between the device and the router to ensure faster signals.

Will getting a better router make my internet faster? ›

A new router can't increase your internet connection speed—your 300Mbps plan stays the same. But a new router can make your Wi-Fi network run faster, especially if you're upgrading from an outdated or faulty one.

How do you tell if you need a new router? ›

Signs your crusty old Wi-Fi router desperately needs an upgrade
  1. Router age. ...
  2. Type of Internet Connection and Speed. ...
  3. Poor Performance. ...
  4. Connection issue. ...
  5. It's what's on the inside that counts. ...
  6. Control the internet. ...
  7. (Cyber) safety first. ...
  8. Overheating.

How to tell if a router is going bad? ›

5 signs you need a new router
  1. Slow internet connection. Your router should be able to deliver the internet speeds you're paying for. ...
  2. Router age. Internet router technology is constantly improving with advances that provide faster Wi-Fi and better security. ...
  3. Router is running hot. ...
  4. Unreliable connectivity. ...
  5. Rented equipment.
Sep 29, 2023

What is a good router to buy? ›

  • NETGEAR - Nighthawk AX5400 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router - Black. ...
  • TP-Link - Archer AX20 AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router - Black. ...
  • TP-Link - Archer AXE7800 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router - Black. ...
  • ASUS - AX3000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router with Life time internet Security - Black.

How do you tell if your modem is bad? ›

Reduced Speeds and Reduced Connection Quality

If you feel that your internet speeds have decreased or you are seeing issues with increased buffering and lagging or breaking in the connection, it could be time for a new modem. You can easily test your internet speed with online tools like Speedtest.net.

Should I change my router to Wi-Fi 6? ›

If your router's hooked up to multiple laptops, phones, tablets, and smart TVs, you'll definitely benefit from a Wi-Fi 6 connection. Extra Security. Wi-Fi 6's WPA3 security protocol has more advanced data encryption than WPA2, which is one of many ways to prevent router hacking.

Does Wi-Fi 6 router make a difference? ›

WiFi 6 increases the number of streams to a new high of 12 across the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, whereas WiFi 5 has a limit of 8 in a dual band configuration. This increase of streams provides higher connection speed, and your client devices have more paths to communicate with your WiFi router.

Will a Wi-Fi 6 router work with older devices? ›

WiFi 6 routers are 100% backwards compatible with WiFi 5 and older WiFi devices.

Does Wi-Fi 6 router have better coverage? ›

A: While WiFi 6 routers typically offer better coverage compared to older routers, there may still be areas in your home where the signal strength is weaker or where the WiFi 6 router's range doesn't reach.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 6173

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.