Image: Netgear

Top Product: TP-Link Archer AX21 Wi-Fi 6 Router | $100 | Amazon

Most of us aren’t going back to our offices anytime soon, so if you’re still dealing with spotty or sub-standard Wi-Fi connectivity at home, it’s time to make an upgrade. A older router might be limiting the range within your space or keeping you from making the most of your internet connection. It’s 2021. You deserve to have strong Wi-Fi throughout your home.

Routers these days aren’t all the same, either. Some are still singular units that plug into your modem, while others are mesh systems that use multiple smaller nodes to blanket your place with connectivity. Meanwhile, newer Wi-Fi 6 routers are better primed to juggle connections from all of the myriad devices found in our increasingly smarter homes. But you don’t have to splash out on something fancy to get a solid router.

Here’s a look at the best routers you can plug into your modem today.

Best Wi-Fi 6 Router for Most People: TP-Link Archer AX21

Image: Andrew Hayward

If you can spare the cash, then it’s worth buying a Wi-Fi 6 router. The new wireless standard significantly boosts the speed ceiling, but even more importantly, it can handle numerous connections from things like phones, laptops, game consoles, tablets, smart TVs, connected home devices, and whatever else requires a connection in your home.

Some Wi-Fi 6 routers are pricey, but the TP-Link Archer AX21 is a great entry-level Wi-Fi 6 option that hits a sweet spot in terms of features and price. It’s a dual-band router that supports Wi-Fi speeds up to 1.8Gbps in total, and uses four high-gain antennas and beamforming tech to to deliver more targeted connections to your devices.

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$100

Best Premium Wi-Fi 6 Router: Asus RT-AX86U

Image: Wes Davis/Gizmodo

Want an even more powerful Wi-Fi 6 router? Our friends at Gizmodo recommend the Asus RT-AX86U, which has plenty of customization options in the mix, although the interface isn’t the best of the best. It packs in four outgoing gigabit Ethernet ports, including one that’ll prioritize gaming traffic automatically, plus it has gigabit LAN, 2.5-gigabit LAN/WAN, and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for network attached storage (NAS) via hard drive.

It’s not as simple and straightforward as the TP-Link option above, but power users will dig the added versatility and options. Reviewer Wes Davis wrote:

“Whether you just want lag-free gaming or you need something that can handle a heavy overall load, this router does it with aplomb. We are rapidly approaching the day when recommendations like this one aren’t just about future-proofing, but you will find in the RT-AX86U a router more than capable of meeting the unexpected demands put upon all of us this year. If you’ve got a smaller home that needs a lot of power and would prefer to check out mesh networking at a later date, this is absolutely the router for you.”

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$250

Best Mesh Router: Google Nest Wi-Fi

Image: Google

I use Google’s Nest Wi-Fi in my own two-story house, and it’s such an effortless, easy-to-use mesh system that ensures that every corner of my home—and even the basement and backyard—have speedy wireless internet available. Nest Wi-Fi is powered by a main router unit that plugs into your modem and can cover roughly 2,200 square feet with Wi-Fi, and then you can expand further with smaller nodes that plug into wall outlets around your home.

To borrow a phrase from Google’s chief rival Apple, it just works. The nodes sync up easily and I haven’t encountered odd drops or hitches in my months of using it, plus the smartphone app provides network controls, diagnostics, and other details. On top of that, each node doubles as a Google Assistant smart speaker … in case that’s a thing you want. Nest Wi-Fi does not support Wi-Fi 6 and it’s pricey, but it’s such a vast upgrade over my past single-router setup. It could be the same for you.

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Best Budget Router: Linksys EA6350

Image: Andrew Hayward

Not looking to invest a bunch of cash in a new router right now? No worries: the Linksys EA6350 delivers strong speeds in a small footprint and is typically less than $75. If you’re using hardware that’s a few years old, it will almost certainly provide an upgrade, even if it doesn’t have Wi-Fi 6 capabilities and isn’t built for larger spaces.

The Linksys EA6350 is a dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi router that can deliver speeds up to 867Mbps via 5GHz and 300Mbps via 2.4GHz, both of which are much higher than the average internet connection coming into American homes. Intended for spaces up to 1,000 square feet, this one’s a good pick for an apartment or smaller home and can still deliver 4K video streaming and speedy downloads.

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$64

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Best Premium Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router: Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien Router

Image: Ubiquiti

Gizmodo reviewer Wes Davis summed it up best right out of the gate: “The Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien is an expensive black Wi-Fi 6 Internet tube that promises super-fast wifi and a unique, pleasant user experience that is as intuitive as these things can probably be.”

The distinctive cylindrical shape and on-device status display makes the Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien a very unique router to bring into your home, and it’s packed with the latest and greatest tech. It has Wi-Fi 6 support and broad coverage with up to 8×8 MU-MIMO.

On the other hand, it’s very pricey at $380 for the base unit and $320 each for add-on mesh units. Still, if you want a cutting-edge mesh system that stands out, this is definitely it.

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Best Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router: Amazon Eero 6

Image: Florence Ion/Gizmodo

If you’re set on buying future-ready Wi-Fi 6-compatible hardware and want a modest mesh system, Amazon’s new Eero 6 is right up your alley. It can’t handle gigabit speeds, but this dual-band system is reasonably priced, with Amazon claiming top speeds of about 500Mbps with the three-unit system (or 900Mbps with a single unit).

Gizmodo reviewer Florence Ion praised the helpful companion app, but lamented the lack of Ethernet ports on the extenders for plugging in gaming hardware and other devices:

“The Eero 6 is very much an entry-level product for those who haven’t yet adopted mesh networking. It’s also a good choice if you want something that supports new technologies rather than require an upgrade down the line. For full gigabit support, Amazon offers the Eero 6 Pro, which costs $100 more—more than $300 extra for the three-pack—and has the requisite tri-band that takes full advantage of the spec. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer extra Ethernet jacks, so this isn’t a system for sophisticated setups either.”

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$129

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$279

Best for Long Range: Netgear Orbi

Image: Andrew Hayward

Got a very large property that you want to fill with seamless Wi-Fi coverage? Netgear’s Orbi mesh system is a fine alternative to Google’s Nest Wi-Fi, and Gizmodo recommends it as one of the very best smart home gadgets around. As Andrew Liszewski writes:

If you can get over the fact the nodes look like a collection of glowing automatic air fresheners, Netgear’s Orbi RBK50 provides one of the best whole home wifi solutions, covering even larger homes with an expansive, reliable network that minimizes the number of times your devices need to hop between access points.

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$282

From amazon

600 purchased by readers

Best Budget Mesh Router: TP-Link Deco S4

Image: Andrew Hayward

TP-Link’s Deco S4 delivers the same kind of specs as the above Linksys router, with up to 867Mbps via 5GHz and 300Mbps through 2.4GHz, but does so with a multi-unit mesh design that spreads a signal across a much larger footprint. The two-pack can cover up to 3,800 square feet, while the three-pack is rated for up to 5,500 square feet.

The Deco S4 system can’t hit quite as high of theoretical speed peaks as Nest Wi-Fi and these units won’t blend into your space as easily either, but it’s hard to argue with the price: typically $110 for the two-pack and $135 for the three-pack. Amazon customers seem to agree on that point, too, giving the TP-Link Deco S4 a 4.6-star rating. TP-Link offers more powerful versions of the Deco system with varying designs, too, in case you’re looking for something more robust.

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$110

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$135

From amazon

5 purchased by readers

Best Gaming Router: Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR1000

Image: Netgear

For the truly serious gaming fan who demands the best of the best, the brand new Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR1000 is one perk-packed Wi-Fi 6 option. This beastly router is powered by a triple-core 1.5 GHz processor and Netgear’s DumaOS 3.0, which provides power user features such as optimizing and allocating bandwidth for certain uses (such as live streaming) and geo-fencing to help you pick the best gaming servers to connect to.

Netgear sent me a sample that I’ve been using for the last few weeks in place of my usual Nest Wi-Fi setup, and even with a single access point, it has delivered speedy wireless access throughout my home. More pressingly, of course, gaming performance has been excellent whether notching headshots in Fortnite or nabbing glorious aerial goals in Rocket League. At $350, however, only the super-hardcore with money to burn need bother.

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Best Gaming Router (Runner-Up): TP-Link Archer C5400X

Image: Jordan McMahon

Looking for another option for gaming? TP-Link’s Archer C5400X is an older router that doesn’t have the benefit of Wi-Fi 6 support, but Gizmodo staff reporter Joanna Nelius recommends it for gamers who want to maximize their speeds and maybe juggle Twitch streaming alongside their online gaming.

You’ll get an absolutely absurd number of gigabit LAN ports here with 8 to tap into, plus one 2.4Ghz (1000Mbps) and two 5Ghz (2167Mbps each) Wi-Fi networks to use. That’s more than enough capability for any home connection these days, and it’s cheaper than the Netgear router at $246 as of this writing.

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$246

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15 purchased by readers

Photo: Matthew Horwood (Getty Images)

Last year in particular, it felt like people weren’t very nice to each other. Those times have tried, and it’s hard to muster enough social grace to wave hello to the neighbor who has studded his lawn with political signs of a figure you despise. But it might be time to reassess the value of kindness anyway – because kindness is far more important and they are not the same.

I came over this tweet last week, and as someone who has lived on both sides of the country, it amused me:

But when I finished being amused (after mentally imagining a stereotypical, gruff guy from Philly who would scold you when you were out in the cold without a coat like an idiot, even if he gave you the coat of his own back), Jordan’s point stayed with me. You can be nice without being nice and you can be nice without being nice. Friendliness, as they point out, addresses the need, regardless of the tone.

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Obviously, using both kindness and kindness in tandem is ideal. After all, you could hand in your coat without being rude. But when the current state of affairs has worn us down and requires us to rebuild a skill at a time, start with kindness.

Think of kindness as the act that accompanies (or replaces) your words. It silently helps a struggling mother of three to load her groceries into her trunk instead of smiling and saying, “You’re doing a great job, mom” as you pass by. It brings a pot of soup to your sick friend instead of sighing compassionately and saying that you hope they’ll get better soon. They’re nice when you shovel your neighbor’s car out from under a pile of snow, stop to help a stranger change a tire, or take a break to give directions to an obviously lost person – even if you’re not the type to care cares saying “bless you” when someone else sneezes.

You may not want to exchange courtesies with the neighbor who eventually took down the ridiculous political banner. but if the wind is blowing their trash cans down the street it would be nice to pull them back.

Image: Dylan Buell (Getty Images)

It’s almost February, which means the biggest spectacle in football is just around the corner. However, Super Bowl LV is played during a pandemic and is vastly different from the 54 Super Bowl games that have been played before. The good news is you don’t need a cable subscription to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers battle the Buffalo Bills on February 7th.

If you’ve got cable, the Super Bowl will air on CBS this year, starting on Sunday, February 7th at 6:15 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. For those of us who cut the cord a long time ago and would rather stream live events, this is where you can watch the 2021 Super Bowl and all the formalities associated with it like media day.

Stream for free on CBS

The CBS family of apps has rights to the Super Bowl this year, but luckily, you can stream the game for free using the regular CBS app on your connected device. CBS All-Access will also display the game, but requires a subscription. If you’d like to see the game in Spanish, ESPN Deportes will broadcast it on TV as well as in its app for free. There is also the option to watch the game on Hulu Live or FuboTV. Both offer free trials for seven days, but cost a monthly fee thereafter.

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The NFL will also be streaming the game through their own app, but may not be a necessary download if you’re not already a rabid football fan.

Virtual Media Day

Given the reality of COVID-19, much of the usual hype and pageantry will be missing from the Super Bowl. Usually the media day takes place on the Monday before the game – which means that if we lived under normal circumstances, the media gag today would fall on players and coaches.

ESPN reports that there will be some sort of virtual media day, but it will be far more subdued than usual and most likely resemble a standard press conference. The teams will not fly in until the Friday before the game. In a typical situation, they are usually in town a week before the festivities, holding court at a team hotel.

There will still be entertainment

It’s not the Super Bowl without headline entertainment, and the Weeknd is this year’s halftime artist. It’s going to be strange as the NFL will no doubt try to create the standard stadium rock vibe worthy of a superstar, albeit with a social distancing in mind.

The Weeknd – real name Abel Tesfaye – will play at halftime, while country singer Eric Church and R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan will play the national anthem before the game. The singer HER will also sing “America The Beautiful” before the game.

The show will continue across the country and beyond despite the dire circumstances. Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is also 43 years old and is making his tenth Super Bowl appearance. This is something that announcers will be excited about no matter what service you are streaming.

Photo: Claire LowerHappy hour with 3 ingredientsHappy hour with 3 ingredientsThe weekly beverage column with super simple but delicious libations.

I love trying new cocktails and nothing bothers me so much than having almost all of the ingredients I need to make one. Unfortunately, this is exactly the situation I found myself in this week when my friend Dan sent me a recipe for this Yellow parrot, an extremely alcoholic (and not very inexpensive) libation with three ingredients.

I have a pretty full bar cart but none of the bottles required for this drink were on it. However, I had alcohol that was similar, if not exactly the same, to what was required. Instead of absinthe I had Pastis from the Pernod brand;; instead of yellow chartreuse, I had green; Instead of apricot liqueur, I had peach.

The yellow parrot is a pretty straightforward cocktail where you just stir the same portions of everything over cracked ice for a minute, then strain it over more ice, and garnish with lemon zest (which I was out of, of course). My way was clear: to make an almost yellow parrot with the not quite right ingredients that I had in front of me. I decided to call it a “cloudy parrot” because if you dilute it, Pernod becomes cloudy.

After mixing pastis with green chartreuse and peach liqueur for a full minute, I was rewarded with an aromatic, juicy drink, the taste of which is reminiscent of European sweets – sweet and vegetable and liquorice. I always thought “this is a little too cute” but I couldn’t stop drinking it either, which means that now I’m a little tipsy and it’s not even noon.

To make your own Murky Parrot you will need:

• 1 ounce pastis
• 1 ounce green chartreuse
• 1 ounce peach liquor

Pour everything into a mixing glass filled with broken ice and stir for a minute. Strain into an ice-filled lowball and squeeze the oil from a strip of orange or lemon peel over the top of the drink before rubbing it around the rim of the glass. (Don’t skip the side dish here. That bite of citrus oil is needed to counteract the sweeter properties of the drink.)

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