Best Wireless Router for Streaming 4K

If you are consuming 4K content on your go-to device or streaming directly from the Roku or other device, top-of-the-line internet connectivity is a must-have. However, every router isn’t the same, and therefore, it is necessary to identify only the powerful ones for a lag-free 4K streaming experience. Don’t forget, streaming 4K content is at least 4 times more taxing as compared to HD!

In the subsequent sections, we shall talk about three of the best wireless routers for streaming 4K, mentioning ports, cumulative speeds, and of course price points. If you are looking for the best overall wireless routers, then check out that page. The first product on our list is from Netgear that offers massive coverage and overall speed of up to 7200mpbs. Next in line is the 4K streaming router from Linksys, featuring 8 ports, and a cumulative speed of up to 5400mbps. The last product is again from Netgear and comes across a budget option for the streamers and content consumers.

Let’s dive in!

Our Top 3 Picks for Best Wireless Router for Streaming 4K

Netgear Nighthawk R9000

There isn’t any 4K streaming router in the market that can match up to the performances of the Nighthawk R9000. When it comes to the layout, this router is one of the sleekest in the market, bolstered further by four high-performance antennas.

The best thing about this router is its 4K streaming compatibility followed by VR readiness. Most importantly, it is the existing Tri-Band technology that qualifies Nighthawk R9000 as one of the best gadgets in the market. While the usual 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands are router commonplaces, it is the innovative 60GHz band that ensures high-end Smart Device connectivity.

There isn’t one but several reasons for adding this gadget to our list. While the quad-core processor is a significant addition, the availability of 6 gig Ethernet ports and the exceptional 10 gig SFP+ slot further add to the credibility. In addition to that, this 4K streaming router also boasts of certain productivity-enhancing features like Beamforming+ support, Dynamic QoS, smart parental controls, and Alexa-powered voice maneuvering technology.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Enhanced VR Readiness
• Tri-Band technology
• Capable of 45 simultaneous connections

Cons

• Restrictive pricing

Editors’ Rating – 5 out of 5

Check it out on Amazon

Linksys Max-Stream EA9500

If you are seeking the best wireless router for streaming 4K, it is appropriate to go with the Linksys Max-Stream EA9500, boasting of the AC5400 standards. Besides offering extensive coverage of up to 3000sqft, this appliance also allows you to connect at least 25 devices, at once. Moreover, the Tri-Band functionality is also a handy resource for the 4K streamers, allowing them to deploy the additional bandwidth and speeds that reach up to 5400mbps.

From a structural point of view, this appliance resembles a drone with 8 antennas adding to the routing capabilities of the same. When it comes to the internals, there is a dual-core processor at the helm. What stands out though is the built-in Max-Stream extender that ensures unmatched throughput and minimal signal drops.

However, it is the availability of 8 Gigabit ports that steals the show courtesy of the 10x faster, wired connections via every single slot. In addition to that, this powerful router also supports the MU-MIMO technology that is the primary concept behind simultaneous connections.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Ultra-fast dual-core chipset
• Tri-band support with speeds reaching up to 5.4gbps
• 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports

Cons

• Lacks the requisite levels of user-friendliness

Editors’ Rating – 4.5 out of 5

Check it out on Amazon

Netgear Nighthawk R7000

For budget-centric 4K streamers, the Nighthawk R7000 from Netgear is the best possible selection. While there aren’t many performance tradeoffs when it comes to making it more affordable as compared to some of the other products on our list, it comes with a slightly underpowered dual-core processor that isn’t as equipped as the one in the Nighthawk R9000.

However, the standout attributes include the extensive wireless coverage of up to 1800sqft followed by a cumulative speed that can go up to 1900mbps. Despite being a dual-band router, the processing throughput is at par with the tri-band contemporaries. This router is capable of connecting 30 devices at once while ensuring the best band allotment for the concerned gadgets, depending on the distance.

When it comes to the best set of features, this affordable router from Netgear comes equipped with four gig Ethernet ports for faster, wired connections. Apart from that, Netgear ensures a seamless app-based setup followed by the inclusion of parental control and the class-leading Armor support for keeping network-specific threats at bay.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent Beamforming+ capabilities
• ReadySHARE setup for data backup
• Exceptional security standards

Cons

• Might experience signal drops

Editors’ Rating – 4 out of 5

Check it out on Amazon

Conclusion

Each one of the three routers is equipped with class-leading wireless technologies that make room for faster and lag-free 4K streaming. However, the final selection depends on your budget and personal or professional preferences. For instance, if you are seeking the highest possible speeds, responsive UI, VR readiness, and a brand-centric validation, the Netgear Nighthawk R9000 is the one to consider.

Then again, if your secondary requirement is diversified wired connectivity, the Linksys Max-Stream is the best wireless router for streaming 4K. Lastly, for the budget users who aren’t exactly upbeat about tri-band technologies, the Nighthawk R7000 from Netgear is the perfect buying option.

If for some crazy reason these amazing options were not what you were looking for, then you should feel free to head on over to Amazon and continue your search there.