That’s all straightforward enough, but it’s the router’s versatile software and features that really provide good value for money. It even has two USB ports – one each for USB 2.0 and 3.0 – that will allow you to connect USB storage devices that you can then share on the network. There’s one Gigabit Ethernet port for connecting to your existing broadband modem or router, and four additional Ethernet ports that can be used to connect a laptop, games console, or other devices that work better with a lag-free wired connection. It doesn’t cut too many corners, though, despite the low price. That’s a relatively modest speed for WiFi 6, but should still be perfectly adequate for streaming music and video, and at just £115.00 it’s a good way of stepping up to WiFi 6 without spending too much money. The RT-AX56U is an affordable WiFi 6 router, offering dual-band WiFi on the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, with a top speed of 1800Mbps. You can set up a guest network, and there’s an option to create schedules to control your children’s access to the Internet, or to simply pause Internet access for a while when you need to get them round the dinner table. The app provides a decent set of basic features, providing a network map that shows all the devices connected to your network. There’s also a web browser interface provided for more advanced users who prefer to set things up for themselves.
You can simply scan a QR code provided with the router, and the app will set everything up for you. You shouldn’t have too much trouble getting started, though, as the D-Link WiFi app is very easy to use. We were pleased to see that the router comes with a two-year warranty, and there’s also an option to get it professionally installed for £67 if you’re not too keen on tackling it yourself. The router also includes five Gigabit Ethernet ports – which is pretty good at this price – with one being used to connect to your existing broadband modem or router, while the others provide wired connections for laptops, games consoles and other devices that need it. That’s not going to win any awards, but if – like me – you have home broadband that tops out at 100Mbps then the DIR-X1560 will provide all the speed you need for web browsing and streaming music and video. The DIR-X1560 is a dual-band router that transmits on the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, running WiFi 6 with a top speed of 1500Mbps.
It’s a bit basic, but if you shop around online you can probably pick up D-Link’s DIR-X1560 for just under £100, so it’s a good option if you want to upgrade to WiFi 6 without spending too much money. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a combination of affordable WiFi 5 routers, and more advanced WiFi 6 models that will meet the needs of all Mac users. There’s no doubt, though, that WiFi 6 is the new standard for the future, and prices are coming down all the time, so it’s certainly worth considering WiFi 6 if you’re thinking about a new router. You can also opt for a less expensive ‘dual-band’ router that transmits on the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands, or pay a little extra for a ‘tri-band’ router that adds an additional signal on the 5.0GHz band. If you’re on a budget and only need modest speeds from your home WiFi, then you can certainly save some money by sticking with an older WiFi 5 router. And, of course, you don’t need a WiFi 6 router if – like me – you’re still using older Macs and iOS devices that only have WiFi 5 (although WiFi 6 routers are still backwards-compatible with Macs and other devices that have WiFi 5). You really don’t need to spend £400 for a 10Gbps WiFi 6 router if your home broadband tops out at just 100Mbps. That includes your computers and mobile devices, of course, but also other types of smart devices, such as speakers, light bulbs and security cameras too. However, WiFi 6 is also designed for the future, and the Internet Of Things (IoT), and includes features such as OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access) that make routers much more efficient when transmitting data to lots of different devices at once.
It’s seriously fast, with a theoretical top speed of 10Gbps, which is more than twice that of WiFi 5. ‘mesh WiFi’ systems available that use WiFi 6 as well. And, for larger homes that need more than a single conventional router, there are also new So, with more and more devices now equipped with WiFi 6, it only makes sense to consider WiFi 6 when buying a new router. However, the latest Macs, iPhones and iPads are all now equipped with WiFi 6, as well as computers, smartphones and tablets from many other manufacturers too. WiFi 6 has actually been around for more than a year, but hardly anyone was using it until relatively recently, so a WiFi 6 router really wasn’t an essential purchase.