Are you subscribed to 300 Mbps internet but aren’t getting the intended speeds, coverage, or customization features? It’s time to get a new router for your 300 Mbps connection. But you can’t pick and trust a random device, can you?
This is why I put 17 routers to the test with a 300 Mbps plan from Spectrum. I used them for several activities, including web browsing, online gaming, video streaming, and smart home management.
After five weeks of detailed evaluations, I have shortlisted and reviewed 6 routing units that passed all my speed, coverage, multi-device connectivity, and performance tests.
Note: You don’t need a Gigabit router for this speed unless you want future-proofing. I believe budget routers of up to $100 should suffice.
6 Best Routers for 300 Mbps in 2024
As a tech enthusiast dealing with networking hardware for years, I understand users’ pain points, feature requirements, and preferences. Based on that, I have included models that fit diverse needs.
1. Best Overall: Netgear R6700AX
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Band Frequency: Dual-Band
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,500 Sq Ft
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Number of Devices Supported: 20
- App Support: Yes
Starting off my list is a powerful Wi-Fi 6 router, Netgear R6700AX, that establishes a perfect balance between features, price, and performance. It gives out a reliable 1800 Mbps of total speed in a dual-band setup.
Besides, it takes a few steps ahead of its predecessor, R6700, in terms of wireless standard and connection handling capacity, so you’re guaranteed to get better performance.
Speeds & Performance
The R6700AX tags along with a throughput capacity of 1800 Mbps, which is split between its two operating bands as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1200 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps |
The router had consistently higher speeds. With Spectrum’s 300 Mbps connection, my Galaxy S23 Ultra could manage a download speed of 267 Mbps from 20 feet. At the same time, upload speeds clocked at around 28 Mbps.
When testing the speed across two walls (i.e., 40 feet), the Netgear router still manages a decent performance of 121 Mbps and 18 Mbps for downloads and uploads, respectively.
Its efficient performance guarantees lag-free gaming, smooth HD streaming, and seamless video conferencing.
Considering its throughput capacity, you can still pair a higher plan (up to 500 Mbps) and experience faster connections
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
As per the manufacturer, this three-antenna beast has a maximum stipulated range of 1,500 Sq Ft. In my test, the number fared at around 1,250 Sq Ft, which is decent enough to cover a small to medium apartment easily.
Moving on, technologies like MU-MIMO and beamforming are there to boost the experience further. It works for the cause of stabilizing the signals transmitted, and so despite connecting 17 devices at a go, streams didn’t lag or slow down.
Security Features
The R6700AX comes with a decent range of security features, the top ones being SPI & NAT firewall, guest access, access control, and auto-firmware update.
The firewall delivers an extra layer of protection from unwanted elements accessing your data and ensures it’s safely delivered to the intended location.
Besides, guest access allows adding any new device to the network on a temporary basis, and access control asks for authorization before accessing any data. It means not in any way your datasets are compromised.
Conclusion
Netgear R6700AX is the most reliable 300 Mbps router you can use today. It delivers great performance and value. Its excellent wireless capability with Wi-Fi 6 and good security features make it ideal for those seeking a reliable, future-proof, secure home networking solution.
For a closer look, read my dedicated review of the Netgear R6700AX.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 standard
- Reliable performance
- Decent wireless throughput
- Powerful Quad-Core SoC
- Handles 15+ devices
Cons
- No USB port
Alternative Suggestion:
If you’re interested in a modem/router combo, consider getting Netgear R6250. It supports 300 Mbps plans and has a similar range, device capacity, and price.
2. Best Runner-Up: D-Link DIR-1260
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Band Frequency: Dual-Band
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,000 Sq Ft
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Number of Devices Supported: 25
- App Support: Yes
If you found the previous recommendation a bit costly, then D-Link’s DIR-1260 is an affordable Wi-Fi 5 router that costs less than $60.
It entails four high-performance antennas to cover a vast area with powerful signals. The router is super-simple to set up and supports Google Assistant & Alexa.
Speeds & Performance
The DIR-1260 comes at a speed rating of AC1200, i.e., 1200 Mbps, and the speeds on its two bands max out at:
| 5 GHz: 867 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps |
I tested the speeds of DIR-1260 with the same connection at several spots in my 2,500 Sq Ft test lab. Point A was 20 feet away, while Point B was 40 feet away from the router.
On point A, the D-Link router delivered a decent performance, equating to the most 300 Mbps routers on the market.
I could get a download speed of 226 Mbps while the upload speed stayed at 24 Mbps. At point B, the router still manages to stay connected with usable download speeds of 102 Mbps and upload speeds of 14 Mbps.
Irrespective of the distance, the WiFi analyzer app shows a spread of strong signals everywhere around the lab. These are good enough for web browsing, video conferencing, UHD YouTube streaming, and even casual gaming.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Coverage-wise, the D-Link router supersedes my previous recommendation with a stipulated value of 2,000 Sq Ft.
And courtesy of its four high-amplifying antennas, it doesn’t disappoint at all. At a stretch, it could transmit signals to up to 1,700 Sq Ft, making it the best-suited router for small to medium apartments.
And similar to the Netgear router, it comes with MU-MIMO and beamforming tech; therefore, I saw an almost similar handling capacity in both. I connected up to 16 devices, including smartphones, security cameras, smart lights, and more.
Security Features
D-Link DIR-1260, however, lags behind R6700AX in terms of security features. It gets WPA3, the latest WiFi Protected Access (WPA) protocol version that encrypts the data shared over a network and protects it from outside threats.
It also has features like guest access and auto-firmware update but lacks firewall protection. Besides, the router has got a few decent parental control features like time scheduling and tracking the online time of the connected users.
Conclusion
If you are searching for an affordable 300 Mbps WiFi router with a decent signal range, then D-Link DIR-1260 is a router worth considering.
It might not be the fastest router available, but it delivers a great wall penetration and strong signal due to its high-amplifying antennas and high-power WiFi radio. It lags in terms of security features and hence ranked second.
Pros
- Great WiFi range
- Stable throughput
- Decent device handling
- WPA3 security protocol
- Affordable price
Cons
- Middling security features
3. Best with SIM Card Slot: Tenda 4G06
Do you live in a rural area without a proper cable or satellite internet provider? Getting a SIM card router makes the most sense. Tenda 4G06 is what I’d recommend for a 300 Mbps connection.
- Wireless Standard: 802.11a
- Band Frequency: Single-Band
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,500 Sq Ft
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN/LAN + 1 x Gig LAN + 1 x RJ11
- Number of Devices Supported: 32
- App Support: Yes
Tenda 4G06 is a 4G LTE router that, courtesy of its dual-antenna setup and powerful processor, is a great choice. It lets you share the internet on up to 32 devices, much higher than my top recommendations.
With this, eliminate the hassles of handling cable or satellite internet and just insert a 4G sim to experience a strong network connection. Furthermore, it also has a phone jack, allowing you to set up a standard telephone.
Speeds & Performance
Being a 4G+ LTE router, it only operates on a single 2.4 GHz band with a maximum speed cap of 300 Mbps.
To test out its performance, I paired it with AT&T’s mobile plan, let me tell you, it was surprisingly decent. At a short distance (at 20 feet), I manage to get download speeds of more than 138 Mbps, while upload speeds were recorded at around 15 Mbps.
On the long-distance test (40 feet), Tenda 4G06 still manages to reach a respectable 82 Mbps for downloads and 10 Mbps for uploads.
These are still good enough speeds and I could breeze through video streaming, conferencing, listening to music and other low-bandwidth tasks.
What’s worth mentioning here is the portability of the router. All you need is a power source, which you can use to access strong internet anywhere in the space.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
I installed this router in my 1,500 Sq Ft home office, and it worked well. Thanks to its dual-antenna setup, it covered every nook and crook of the workplace, and I could stream music videos while working on the web.
Added to it, its MU-MIMO tech, combined with a powerful 880 MHz and 28nm processor, can share the WiFi with up to 12 of my devices at once.
The Internet-based tasks, including streaming, video conferencing, web browsing, and others didn’t lag once.
Security Features
Tenda 4G06 doesn’t offer much in terms of security, which is why it’s ranked in the third position. It although has got some basic features like WPA2 network encryption, auto-firmware update, and VPN-passthrough.
Its best feature, however, is “data traffic monitoring”. With this, you basically can set a maximum monthly data limit for your connected devices.
Whenever the data limit is reached, the router automatically disconnects, thereby not letting your children spend too much time online.
Conclusion
With the 4G06, Tenda shows that it’s very possible to have a router that delivers a good performance despite not costing much by eliminating non-essential features like LED indicators and USB ports.
Its versatility and simple installation make it preferable for anyone without cable or satellite internet. However, its operation on a single band and limited security features have pushed it down to the third.
Pros
- Good enough speeds
- Decent WiFi range
- Super easy to setup
- Has a telephone port
- Great value for money
Cons
- Runs on a single band
4. Best Budget Option: TP-Link TL-WR841N
- Wireless Standard: 802.11bgn
- Band Frequency: Single-Band
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,200 Sq Ft
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Number of Devices Supported: 15
- App Support: Yes
If you’re looking for a 300 Mb router that just hits the sweet spot between affordability and performance, then TP-Link TL-WR841N is a worthy pick.
Despite its single-band support, its antennas are powerful enough to encase your mid-sized home, and you can have a decent experience over your connected devices.
Speeds & Performance
Similar to my previous recommendation, it operates over a single 2.4GHz band and shares a maximum speed of 300 Mbps.
Now coming to its performance, it was surprisingly good with the Spectrum 300 plan. Starting point was a wall away from the router, i.e., 15 feet, and the respective download and upload speeds were recorded at 179 Mbps and 21 Mbps.
I tried measuring the speeds at 40 feet, but the signals were inaccessible. So I kept my device at 30 feet to manage the download and upload speeds of 98 Mbps and 13 Mbps, respectively.
It seems lower than what I got from the top 300 Mbps wireless routers, but it still was plenty for basic internet activities like browsing, streaming, video conferencing, etc.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
The TP-Link TL-WR841N’s range is at par with its theoretical value standing at 1,200 Sq Ft. In ideal conditions with minimal interferences and obstructions, it can reach up to 900 Sq Ft, i.e., the size of a small two-bedroom apartment.
My friend’s house is around 1,100 Sq Ft, and he mentioned signal losses in the nooks. I used the WiFi analyzer app to determine the strength of signals across the space. And for the most part, it was great, which means your video streams won’t lag or fall down.
Compared to my previous recommendations, it falls behind in terms of device handling capacity, as theoretical numbers stand at 15.
In my tests, the actual numbers were around 12, although less, which should be enough for many residential network setups.
Security Features
This is where TP-Link TL-WR841N takes a bit of the lead over Tenda 4G06, as it has an SPI firewall that keeps the datasets flowing through the tunnel safe from external threats.
Besides, it entails WPA2 enterprise protection alongside IP & MAC binding and an access control feature. So, it eliminates the risk of losing data in the middle and lets you browse in peace.
Other than that, there is a URL filtering feature with which you can restrict access to any harmful or explicit websites. This especially applies to kids who often spend a lot of time browsing social media or other online sites.
A time control feature also lets you regulate the total time a device can stay online.
Conclusion
TP-Link TL-WR841N is one of your companions that just gets the job done. Its throughput capacity is ideal for most of your residential internet activities, even streaming.
Besides, its range is good enough for any mid-sized home. But what stands out is some of its security tools and parental control features.
Although it might lag behind most of my recommendations, considering the plan and price in hand, it is ought to be the best budget option.
Pros
- Decent speeds
- Great network security tools
- Excellent parental controls
- Decent range
- Cheaper price
Cons
- Single band operation
- Sub-par device handling capacity
5. Best for Long Range: ASUS RT-ACRH18
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Band Frequency: Dual-Band
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0
- Number of Devices Supported: 25
- App Support: Yes
If you wish to spend a few extra dollars and get an upgrade to TP-Link TL-WR841N in terms of range, speed, and port setup, then ASUS RT-ACRH18 is your best bet.
This dual-band Wi-Fi 5 router with its two powerful antennas boasts a WiFi range of 3,000 Sq Ft, paired with Ai Beamforming tech, and its powerful processor contributes to its performance.
Speeds & Performance
The dual-band setup of ASUS RT-ACRH18 comes at a speed cap of 1750 Mbps, split between its two bands as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 450 Mbps |
As a dual-band router, it offered decent performance. With the same Spectrum plan, my iPhone 13 manages a download speed of 204 Mbps at a 20 feet distance, while the upload speed was valued at 20 Mbps.
Increasing the distance to 40 feet, the router’s speed was lowered to 91 Mbps and 12 Mbps for downloads and uploads, respectively. The speeds made way for multiple streams on YouTube and running smart home gadgets at the same time.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
In the same environment, RT-ACRH18 offered a long-range, up to 2,600 Sq Ft in my testing. Technologies like Aibeamforming and MU-MIMO add an extra layer of frosting to the cake.
And so the signals stay stable during my 48 hours stress test with switching connections between multiple clients. Neither of the devices experiences any lags or latencies during the time.
The number of connected devices at a time can get as high as 20, including laptops and computers that hog most of the bandwidth.
Security Features
Compared to other Asus routers, you won’t have access to their free advanced security, but there certainly are a few great ones to keep your network secured.
Starting with, you get a free VPN server for remote and safe browsing, alongside a WPA2 standard for data encryption. Besides, the auto-update feature keeps the security software always updated to the latest version.
Asus RT-ACRH18 also has a few parental controls like network pausing and scheduling to check your child’s internet activities.
Conclusion
Asus RT-ACRH18 offers some cool top-notch features for a $50 router, including a long-range, decent throughput capacity and AiBeaforming feature for stable connections.
Pros
- Excellent range
- Decent speeds
- AiBeamforming for stable connections
- Decent security features
Cons
- Premium
6. Cheap Yet Good: Linksys E5400
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Band Frequency: Dual-Band
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,500 Sq Ft
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Number of Devices Supported: 10
- App Support: Yes
The final and cheapest option on my list is Linksys E5400, which turns out as a good WiFi router for 300 Mbps to replace the ISP-rented gateway.
The features like dual-band Wi-Fi 5, 1200 Mbps of throughput capacity, and port setup well qualify it to the list. And I tested it alongside its predecessor, and courtesy of its upgrades features, the performance was much better.
Speeds & Performance
The E5400 comes with AC1200 speed, which is shared between the two frequency bands it works on. Speed values on two frequency bands are as follows:
| 5 GHz: 867 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps |
As mentioned earlier, it might not be the fastest router I have tested, but a max download speed of 190 Mbps and an upload speed of 19 Mbps from 20 feet definitely steps ahead of many routers in this range.
From 40 feet, it reached 81 Mbps and 10 Mbps speeds for download and upload activities, respectively.
Irrespective of the plan, the available speeds let you can stream any movie in HD quality. But in the outskirts, there were obvious lags and network slowdowns.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
From the range perspective, the E5400 came out to be quite average, with its WiFi signals reaching just about 1,100 Sq Ft. Such a range is still adequate for any small or mid-sized home. And you’d definitely need an extender if you need an added range.
The networking device further entails an MU-MIMO tech that stabilizes the signals transmitted to the devices. But the number of devices you can connect max out at 7, which is less than most of my router recommendations.
Security Features
Moving on, the router is also decent from a security standpoint. Being protected by features like guest access, VPN passthrough, and WPA2 protocol, you can browse anything online without worrying about compromising security.
Besides, it has got staple parental controls like WiFi pausing and scheduling for better control over your kids’ internet activities.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a cheap replacement for your 300 Mbps ISP router, the E5400 is a good choice. It maintains stable signals across multiple devices, enabling seamless collaboration with your team without any network hindrances. Nevertheless, its security and coverage performance is insufficient, leading to a lower rating.
Pros
- Dual-Band frequencies
- MU-MIMO enabled
- Easy to install and use
- Stable throughput
Cons
- Subpar security features
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most routers on the market today can handle a 300 Mbps connection. If you need a suitable router for your subscribed plan, you must ensure its bands has a total throughput capacity of 300 Mbps or higher. Plus, it should have coverage and device-handling capacity suited to your needs.
At least a 300 Mbps wireless router can handle up to 15 devices, which should be enough for most household network setups.
If you plan to upgrade your internet plan in the future, then yes. But if you want to stick with the plan for the next few years, there’s no point investing in such high-priced routers.
For most households of three-four people, a 300 Mbps downloading speed is enough for online gaming, streaming, and other activities.
Verdict
With that ends my list of routers that work best with 300 Mbps Internet. I hope the above list helps you make an informed decision to get your money’s worth. If you still are scratching your head, here are my top picks:
- If you want the best wireless router for your high-speed 300 Mbps plan, Netgear R6330 is the go-to pick. Despite being a premium router, its all-roundedness makes it a viable choice.
- If you don’t want to spend that much but don’t want to lose on features, go for D-Link DIR-1260.
- Lastly, if you need the cheapest yet reliable option, TP-Link TL-WR841N is the best budget pick available.
Saying that, I’d wrap up this guide. I hope you found my review-based guide informative and fun to read. I will see you in another such article. Till then, goodbye and take care!
