Advertisement

AC1900 Wireless Router Shootout: ASUS vs. D-Link vs. Linksys vs. Netgear

Note: This article from 4th March 2015 was re-published on 27th December 2015 and again on 9th July 2016 as it is one of our popular reads and the products compared are still relevant. If you've been thinking of upgrading your home network, this shootout will be most handy and is still applicable.

The Case for AC1900

If you have been following our networking section closely, you would know that AC3200 and AC2400 are the two latest classes of wireless routers. Although these two new classes of routers profess to offer greater performance, the way they work and their philosophies are very different. AC3200 is all about offering bandwidth to support a greater multitude of devices, whereas AC2400 is all about raw speed and the benefits that 802.11ac Wave 2 class hardware will bring. To get up to speed, we suggest reading our guide to Wireless 802.11ac networking where we've detailed the evolution and jargon of this class of wireless networking.

Despite the existence of these new routers, older AC1900 class routers are far from obsolete and are still great buys in our opinion. To begin taking advantage of AC2400 routers require compatibles clients, of which there are none in the market right now. And while AC3200 routers are great for households with many connected devices, these new routers are big and extremely pricey at this point of time. And its benefits might be not readily appreciated unless you have a household with many devices and heavy users.

Besides, AC1900 routers are certainly no slouches. A maximum data transfer rate of 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band is still the theoretical maximum supported by clients today, so you are not really missing out anything. Plus, remember that most mobile devices - smartphones, tablets and even most notebooks- typically only have 1x1 or 2x2 wireless chipsets, which means even they cannot maximize the potential of AC1900 routers. And with most of these routers already out in the market for some time, this means there price reductions and savings to be had, which makes them better value buys for most users. As a result, we are revisiting AC1900 routers by rounding up the best from the top names in networking.

ASUS RT-AC68U

The ASUS RT-AC68U is actually one of the older AC1900 class routers in this shootout. In fact, if you have been a keen reader of our site, you would probably remember that we reviewed it back in November of 2013. However, that test was conducted using our old testbed and testing methodology. And since the RT-AC68U router was one of the faster performing routers we have tested, we have decided to include it in this shootout to act as a reference. Besides, it is still one of the most popular selling routers in our local market.

The ASUS RT-AC68U was the fastest AC1900 we have tested, can it defend its crown against these new contenders?
The ASUS RT-AC68U was the fastest AC1900 we have tested, can it defend its crown against these new contenders?

To refresh readers' memory, the ASUS RT-AC68U is powered by a dual-core Broadcom BCM4708A SoC running at 800MHz and paired with 256MB of RAM and 128MB of flash memory. Radio duties are handled by the Broadcom BCM4360 chipset, which supports 3x3 streams and offers up to 1.3Gbps of throughput on its 5GHz band. And since it supports Broadcom’s proprietary TurboQAM technology, it can also offer up to 600Mbps of throughput on its 2.4GHz band, but only if paired with a compatible Broadcom client - otherwise data transfer rates on its 2.4GHz will remain at 450Mbps.

The RT-AC68U shares many of the design elements of other ASUS flagship routers. It is highly angular and has a front-facing panel that is decorated with a checkered-style motif. It looks fresh and futuristic even today, almost 1.5 years after its launch. The front-facing panel also features a row of LED indicators, which allows users to quickly check on the router to know if everything is working properly. There is also a button behind the router that lets users turn off these lights, should they be too distracting. A point to note is that unlike the model it replaces - the RT-AC66U - the RT-AC68U router features a built-in stand and so can only be positioned vertically. This, coupled with its massive antennas, means that users must ensure there is enough headroom to position the router.

All the Gigabit Ethernet LAN and WAN ports as well as USB ports are located behind the router. The WPS setup button is located by the side.
All the Gigabit Ethernet LAN and WAN ports as well as USB ports are located behind the router. The WPS setup button is located by the side.

Other things to note include the two buttons to the side of the router. One of them is for WPS setup, while the other instantly turns off the wireless network. Behind the router, users can find the usual assortment of Gigabit Ethernet ports and more. There are the usual four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and a single Gigabit Ethernet WAN port, and a single USB 3.0 port and another USB 2.0 port. The USB ports can be used to connect to printers for wireless printing or external storage devices for file sharing or for cloud storage via ASUS' AiCloud 2.0 feature.

Thanks to a firmware update, the RT-AC68U now includes features such as AiProtection and Adaptive QoS - features previously found only on the RT-AC87U.
Thanks to a firmware update, the RT-AC68U now includes features such as AiProtection and Adaptive QoS - features previously found only on the RT-AC87U.

Setting up the router is done using the familiar ASUSWRT interface, which has been consistently improved and refined over the years. It’s one of the most straightforward, easy-to-use and comprehensive setup interfaces around, though not the prettiest. Furthermore, a recent firmware update has enabled new features such as Adaptive QoS and Ai Protection, which debuted on the newer AC2400 RT-AC87U router, on the RT-AC68U. It also has features such as real-time traffic monitoring, VPN support, parental controls, and cloud storage functionality via ASUS’ own AiCloud utility.

D-Link DIR-880L

Amongst all the routers here, the D-Link DIR-880L was the latest to the game and was only released in October last year - more than six months after the other routers. Like ASUS, D-Link’s roots are in Taiwan, but unlike ASUS, the company is focused solely on networking products. And while they may not be first to the market with the latest technology, they have a reputation amongst consumers for offering decently priced routers with good performance. Routers aside, D-Link is a leader in the field of IP cameras and has recently expanded it product portfolio to include smart home devices.

D-Link's DIR-880L router was the latest to arrive on the AC1900 scene. Will this give it an advantage? Note also its enormous antennas.
D-Link's DIR-880L router was the latest to arrive on the AC1900 scene. Will this give it an advantage? Note also its enormous antennas.

Internally, the D-Link DIR-880L router shares the same components as the ASUS RT-AC68U. This means it is also powered by a dual-core Broadcom BCM4708A SoC running at 800MHz, and has 256MB of RAM and 128MB of flash. 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio duties are taken care of by the Broadcom BCM4360. What all of this translates to is a maximum data transfer rate of 1.3Gbps on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band - the same for all AC1900 class routers.

If you have been following D-Link, you might realize that its new DIR-880L router eschews the cylindrical design of its predecessors and instead opts for a more conventional flat-piece design with external antennas. Like its rivals, the DIR-880L has three external antennas and they are the largest we have seen, resembling miniature oars. While the cylindrical design of older routers were more aesthetically pleasing and compact, this new design gives users more flexibility with placement. It can be placed horizontally on surfaces or it can be wall-mounted (the DIR-880L comes with wall-mounting accessories). However, strong double-sided tape is definitely required for wall-mounting since the router weighs quite a fair bit at 745g.

Behind the router are all the Gigabit Ethernet LAN and WAN ports and the USB 2.0 port. The USB 3.0 port and WPS setup button are positioned at the two sides of the router.
Behind the router are all the Gigabit Ethernet LAN and WAN ports and the USB 2.0 port. The USB 3.0 port and WPS setup button are positioned at the two sides of the router.

There is a row of LED status indicators on the front-facing top panel, but unlike the other routers here, there are no indicators for the LAN ports. There are no LED indicators on the Ethernet ports themselves either. Although not a deal-breaker, we think most users would definitely prefer to have status indicators for all the Ethernet ports for convenience should connectivity issues arise.

Speaking of Ethernet ports, the DIR-880L router has the standard single Gigabit Ethernet WAN port and four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. These are located on the back of the router, where there is also a USB 2.0 port. The USB 3.0 port is strangely located on the side to the left. To right is an unmarked button that is used for WPS setup.

D-Link's setup interface is clear, succinct and easy to use.
D-Link's setup interface is clear, succinct and easy to use.

Setting up the router was a pain-free process since D-Link’s setup user interface was easy to navigate and speedy too. Users can also downlink the mydlink Cloud app (free for iOS and Android devices) to remotely control and manage their routers. However, like its competitors, the implementation of such apps still leaves much to be desired since some features are missing from the app. D-Link also offers another app called SharePort that lets users access files on external storage devices connected to the router using their iOS or Android device.

Apps aside, the user interface has features that one would expect from a high-end router including real-time traffic monitoring, port forwarding, VPN support, and QoS. We especially like D-Link’s QoS implementation, which is similar to Linksys’ in that it lets users prioritize connections based on devices as opposed to application, service types or ports. This makes QoS much easier to setup and arguably more useful.

Linksys WRT1900AC

Linksys is one of the most storied and recognizable names in networking, but it has languished after it was acquired by Cisco in 2003. Fortunately, Belkin came to rescue and purchased Cisco’s Home Networking Business Unit, which included Linksys, in early 2013. And one of the first and arguably the most important product Linksys introduced after the acquisition was the WRT1900AC router. We previewed this router last year, but its worth going over its main features now.

The design and concept of the new Linksys WRT1900AC router is clearly inspired by legendary WRT54G router.
The design and concept of the new Linksys WRT1900AC router is clearly inspired by legendary WRT54G router.

If the name and looks of this router seems familiar to you it is because this new WRT1900AC pays homage to the legendary WRT54G router from 11 years ago. Amazingly, the WRT54G router is still available for sale. And according to Linksys, over 50 million units of the WRT54G has been shipped, which easily makes it one of the best selling routers of all time.

Inside, the WRT1900AC router is powered by 1.2GHz dual-core Marvell Armada MV78230 SoC. 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio duties are handled by the Marvell 88W8864 chipset, one of the few 4x4 chipsets in the market. It still supports only 3 spatial streams though, so the maximum data transfer rate is still 1.3Gbps on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. The extra transceiver and receiver in the chipset is used mostly for redundancy and to ensure better reliability in transmitting and receiving data.

Additionally, the fast Marvell SoC in the WRT1900AC is complemented by 256MB of RAM and 128MB of flash memory, which is de rigeur for high-end routers these days. The 128GB of flash will come in handy for more tech-savvy users who want to load open source firmware on the router. And as mentioned in our earlier preview article, Linksys has already shared an SDK as well as two pre-built firmware images for other enthusiasts to modify.

Like the ASUS RT-AC68U, all the Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB ports are located neatly behind the router. The USB 2.0 port also doubles up as an eSATA port.
Like the ASUS RT-AC68U, all the Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB ports are located neatly behind the router. The USB 2.0 port also doubles up as an eSATA port.

The design of the WRT1900AC is clearly inspired by the WRT54G and so features the same blue and black color scheme, horizontal placement layout, and LED indicators on the front-facing panel. If you are into retro design, the WRT1900AC router will appeal to you. However, it is very large and heavy, measuring over 24cm in width and weighing nearly a full kilogram. Wall mounting is technically possible, but it would certainly require heavy-duty double-sided tape.

Behind the router is the usual assortment of ports: a single Gigabit Ethernet WAN port and four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, USB 3.0 port and a USB/eSATA combo port. There’s also a small button for WPS setups. Unlike some of its rivals, there are no buttons that allow users to instantly turn off Wi-Fi or the front LED indicators.

The setup interface of the WRT1900AC router is the same as the recently reviewed EA9200 router, which is to say that it is snappy and easy to use.
The setup interface of the WRT1900AC router is the same as the recently reviewed EA9200 router, which is to say that it is snappy and easy to use.

Since the WRT1900AC router is classed as one of Linksys’ Smart Wi-Fi router, setting up was a breeze thanks to Linksys’ easy-to-use Smart Wi-Fi user interface. Thanks to its use of easy to understand graphics, we would argue that this is one of the most user-friendly interfaces around. It has all the features one would expect from a high-end router including real-time traffic monitoring, parental control, cloud storage, QoS and more.

Netgear Nighthawk R7000

Only the fastest routers from Netgear are bestowed with the “Nighthawk” name. And as we found out previously, the Netgear’s latest Nighthawk X4 router was an absolute beast of a router while it came to pure downlink performance. And so we are taking a look at what preceded the Nighthawk X4, the AC1900 Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi router, otherwise known more simply as the Nighthawk R7000.

The Netgear Nighthawk R7000's trapezoidal design makes it looks futuristic, which is fitting for a router of its class.
The Netgear Nighthawk R7000's trapezoidal design makes it looks futuristic, which is fitting for a router of its class.

The hardware that the Nighthawk R7000 has closely mirrors that of the ASUS RT-AC68U and the D-Link DIR-880L. Powering the Nighthawk R7000 is the dual-core Broadcom B4709A SoC that runs at 1GHz. If you recall, the RT-AC68U and DIR-880L both use Broadcom B4708A SoCs that run at a slower 800MHz. The router also gets the usual 256MB of RAM and 128GB of flash memory. The chipset handling both 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios is the Broadcom BCM4360 - the same as the RT-AC68U and DIR-880L. This means maximum data transfer rates of 1.3Gbps on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz bands.

As for design, the Nighthawk R7000 looks like a mirror image of the recently reviewed Nighthawk X4, but with three external antennas instead of four. Both feature highly angular facades, vents by the side, and even have the exact same dimensions. The only difference is the placement of the ports. The front-facing panel also features a row of LED status indicators that lets users know immediately if something has gone wrong. To the right of the indicators are also two very discreet buttons for WPS setup and to turn the Wi-Fi network off. Aesthetically, it looks pleasant and fitting for a high-end router. Plus, its design also allows users to either place it horizontally on surfaces or mount it on walls - good double-sided tape is a must as it weighs about 750g.

The Gigabit Ethernet LAN and WAN ports as well as the USB 2.0 port are all located at the rear of the router. The USB 3.0 port is located at the front (as can be seen in the earlier photo).
The Gigabit Ethernet LAN and WAN ports as well as the USB 2.0 port are all located at the rear of the router. The USB 3.0 port is located at the front (as can be seen in the earlier photo).

Most of the ports are located on the rear of router. Turning the router behind, users will find four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and a single Gigabit Ethernet WAN port - standard fare for most routers these days. There’s also a USB 2.0 port for users to connect to printers or external storage devices for sharing over the network. The Nighthawk R7000 also has a USB 3.0 port, but that is located up front just below the row of LED status indicators. While this makes the port more accessible, it also breaks up the router’s good looks if one were to connect something like an external storage device to it. Furthermore, we cannot think of a scenario where one would need to constantly connect and disconnect devices from the router.

Netgear's setup interface is arguably the less refined of the lot, but it remains straightforward to navigate and use. Besides, the router comes preconfigured, so most users can simply plug and play.
Netgear's setup interface is arguably the less refined of the lot, but it remains straightforward to navigate and use. Besides, the router comes preconfigured, so most users can simply plug and play.

Netgear routers usually come preconfigured, with a sticker on the router indicating the SSID and password. So if you are not a fussy user, the Nighthawk R7000 router is just about as plug and play as it can get. However, if those who do want to tweak around, Netgear’s Genie setup interface is mostly straightforward to use and easy enough to navigate even if you don’t consider yourself to be tech-savvy. For advanced users, the Nighthawk R7000 has all the usual features including VPN support, advanced wireless settings, traffic monitoring, parental controls and QoS.

On top of this, there’s also a Genie app for iOS and Android devices. The Genie app lets users remotely control and manage the router, but it is missing some features. For example, using the app we could only edit settings of the 2.4GHz band and not the 5GHz band. That does not mean that the app is entirely useless. It can be used as a quick way to check your network map and see what devices are connected to the router and it can also be used to monitor your traffic.

Test Setup

Our routine test setup includes a desktop PC, the reviewed router, and a laptop to simulate a wireless home network. The desktop system takes on the role of a host machine, while the router acts as a gateway. And lastly, an external Wireless 802.11ac adapter attached to the notebook is used to fulfill the role of a wireless remote client. The router is locked down in 802.11ac for the 5GHz band to prevent the use of varying 802.11 standards. Typically, a channel bandwidth of 80MHz is used for the 5GHz AC band, if the option is available.

We'll be using Netgear's A6200 802.11ac USB adapter for our throughput tests to reduce the number of variables involved. The Netgear A6200 USB adapter supports up to two spatial streams for a maximum data transfer rate of 866Mbps - the maximum for USB adapters currently. Hence, if your system has a more advanced wireless chipset that supports three spatial streams, you can expect even higher speeds.

Here is a graphical representation of our network test setup.

A graphical representation of our test setup.
A graphical representation of our test setup.

To evaluate, we will be using a mix of synthetic benchmarks and real-world testing. The synthetic benchmark we are using is called LAN Speed Test. As for real-world testing, we will be measuring the routers’ speeds in transferring a 1GB zip file. We will do multiple tests at difference distances to simulate use around a typical home. For the 5GHz band, we also measured how performance is affected if two clients are connected and uploading and downloading data at the same time. Here are the test distances we used and what they represent.

  • 2m - Right beside the router.

  • 5m - In the adjacent room.

  • 13m - In the room opposite.

  • 17m - To simulate extreme distances.

An important thing to note is that we will be steadily phasing out 2.4GHz testing from our benchmarks. For one, 802.11ac is now being widely supported by most if not all mobile devices. If your device supports 802.11ac, it makes absolutely no sense to connect to the router via the slower and more congested 2.4GHz band. Speaking of congestion, our test environment currently has no less than 19 different 2.4GHz networks being broadcasted. The amount of noise and interference makes it very difficult for us to properly evaluate 2.4GHz performance.

For analysis, we are also including results of the recently tested ASUS RT-AC87U and Linksys EA9200, two of the fastest routers that we have tested. As we have mentioned, 802.11ac Wave 2 routers like the ASUS RT-AC87U require compatible clients to enjoy its 1.7Gbps data transfer rate on the 5GHz band. Since such clients do not exist, it will be interesting to see how it will match up against AC1900 class routers.

5GHz Performance

Performance from all four routers on the 5GHz band was generally very good and competitive. For uplink speeds, the Linksys WRT1900AC was the clear leader from 2m to 13m, while the rest of the routers were about neck and neck with each other. At the farthest range of 17m, the D-Link DIR-880L, Linksys WRT1900AC and Netgear Nighthawk R7000 all suffered pretty significant drops in performance of over 35%, whereas performance of the ASUS RT-AC68U only dipped around 25%, which was comparable to the newer ASUS RT-AC87U and Linksys EA9200 routers.

As for downlink performance, the Netgear Nighthawk R7000 was the best performer, especially from 2m to 13m. On the other hand, the ASUS RT-AC68U was the most consistent router. At 17m, it managed 156.53Mbps, which translates to a performance degradation of just over 11%. Despite its large antennas, the D-Link DIR-880L router saw the biggest drop in performance at the 17m range of almost 30%. Interestingly, the ASUS RT-AC87U and Linksys EA9200 were no quicker than the four AC1900 routers, nor were their performance at extreme ranges any better for downlink performance.

Coming to file transfers, the Nighthawk R7000 router came in tops again as it managed the highest speeds across 2m, 5m and 13m ranges. However, performance dipped quite severely as we approached 17m. The D-Link DIR-880L was also pretty fast from 2m to 13m, but its performance also faded significantly when we came to the 17m test range. Again, the ASUS RT-AC68U proved to the most consistent performer, managing a very high 181.82Mbps even at 17m. The Linksys WRT1900AC comes in second place after ASUS where consistent performance is concerned.

Without MU-MIMO, routers can only transmit data to one device at any single time. As a result, if two devices are downloading data at the same time, performance can drop quite considerably. With the exception of the Linksys EA9200, which is an AC3200 router with dual 5GHz bands, most of the other routers managed roughly the same performance in this test. The D-Link DIR-880L was the top performer with 70.18Mbps, while the Netgear Nighthawk R7000 was the slowest with 64Mbps.

Fierce Competition

As we stated in the beginning of our review, AC1900 routers are still relevant today even if there are newer AC2400 and AC3200 routers in the market today. AC2400 routers require compatible clients to maximize their performance potential, and with no such clients in the market currently, the performance they offer right now is actually no different from AC1900 routers. This was clearly shown by our test results, the AC2400 ASUS RT-AC87U was no quicker than the four AC1900 routers that we have gathered here. On the other hand, AC3200 routers are best suited for households with many devices, and if this is not your usage scenario, having dual 5GHz networks can be overkill.

From a performance standpoint, all four routers were pretty well-matched. They are certainly very fast, but upon deeper analysis, we have some key findings to share. Beginning with the ASUS RT-AC68U, while it may not be the fastest, it offers the best performance at extreme ranges. At 17m, its uplink, downlink and file transfer speeds were the best. Moving on, the D-Link DIR-880L was very decent throughout and we could only fault its uplink speeds and performance at 17m. The Linksys WRT1900AC performed strongly in all tests, offered fast uplink and downlink speeds and showed little signs of weakness. If we had to nitpick, its performance at 17m was a little shaky - uplink performance at 17m saw a drop of 37% as compared to 13m. Finally, the Netgear Nighthawk R7000 was an absolute monster when it came to downlink and file transfer performance, but its uplink performance was a little underwhelming.

The ASUS RT-AC68U stands out for its incredible performance at extreme range. However, it is not our winner.
The ASUS RT-AC68U stands out for its incredible performance at extreme range. However, it is not our winner.

The Linksys WRT1900AC and ASUS RT-AC68U are our top two picks for the best performing routers. The WRT1900AC because of its sheer speed and all-round strong performance across all tests, and the RT-AC68U because of its steady and strong performance across ranges. And between the two, the Linksys was the slightly better performer because of its very strong uplink speeds. That’s not to say that the D-Link and Netgear routers were inferior, but they were not as consistent, which is critical for home networking applications.

However, performance was not the only consideration as features and ease of use are just as important. On this front, all routers scored well for ease of use thanks to their straightforward and well designed setup interfaces. Even so, the Linksys’ Smart Wi-Fi interface of the WRT1900AC was the best and most intuitive. It might not have some of the advanced settings found in its competitors, but we think that what it offers should suffice for most users. And if you should find the stock interface or firmware lacking, remember that the WRT1900AC supports open source firmware from communities such as OpenWRT, so tech-savvy users can tweak the router to their heart’s content.

That said, we also have to commend ASUS, D-Link and Netgear for their efforts. ASUS, in particular, has done well to bring over features found on the new RT-AC87U - such as Adaptive QoS and AiProtection - to the RT-AC68U. Plus, they are one of the few brands to incorporate cloud storage functionality via their AiCloud feature. The same can be said for D-Link as well as they have made many improvements to their routers features and functionality over the years. Though not necessarily the easiest to use, their latest routers, such as the DIR-880L, now allow for remote control and management, easy integration with its line of IP cameras and also includes cloud storage functionality. The Nighthawk R7000’s user interface is arguably the least attractive and a little sluggish, but it works well enough, and while it may not offer cloud storage functionality, the Genie app allows for remote management and ReadyShare makes it easy for users to share and backup content over the same network. Here's a summary of the key features of the routers.

Router

ASUS AC-RT68

D-Link DIR-880L

Linksys WRT1900AC

Netgear Nighthawk R7000

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes (Dynamic)

Yes (Device-based)

Yes (Device-based)

Yes (Dynamic)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Finally, we come to pricing and is it any surprise that all four routers are priced quite closely? The most affordable routers are the ASUS RT-AC68U and D-Link DIR-880, which are available for S$329. The Netgear Nighthawk R7000 is slightly more costly at S$339, while the Linksys WRT1900AC leads the pack at S$365. This means that only S$36 separate the most affordable and most costly router, which is not a big amount, considering what these routers offer in terms of performance and how much these high-end routers already cost.

The Linksys WRT1900AC offered the best overall performance and features, and fully justifies its high price tag.
The Linksys WRT1900AC offered the best overall performance and features, and fully justifies its high price tag.

However, putting everything together, the winner here has to be awarded to the Linksys WRT1900AC. Its offered strong, consistent performance in all our tests and only really faltered at our farthest test range of 17m, which, to be entirely honest, is a pretty long distance away from the router. Not to forget, it had exemplary uplink performance compared to other routers in this shootout. Performance aside, we must applaud Linksys for making the router easy to use and setup. The Smart Wi-Fi interface is arguably the most polished in the market right now. The ability to tweak and customize the router with open source firmware also opens up a lot of possibilities for the WRT1900AC. For example, there’s a third-party firmware that incorporates ad-blocking functionality, so ads are blocked at the hardware level. All in all, we feel that the premium that it commands over its competitors is well and fully justified. Here's a table showing how it stacks up against the competition:

ASUS RT-AC68U

D-Link DIR-880L

Linksys WRT1900AC

Netgear Nighthawk R7000

8

8.5

8.5

8.5

8.5
(adjusted down from 9 in the original review)

8.5

9

8

8.5
(adjusted down from 9 in the original review)

8

9

8.5

8.5

8

8.5

7.5

8.5

8

9

8

S$329

S$329

S$365

S$339

The ASUS RT-AC68U is an impressive router and has to be praised for its very good performance across all ranges. If you need a router that will provide a wide coverage, the RT-AC68U is probably your best bet. Plus, it comes with a host of useful features such as AiProtection, a built-in anti-spyware and anti-malware utility that active scans incoming packets of data, and cloud storage functionality via AiCloud 2.0.

The D-Link DIR-880L is a great router and would have scored higher if not for the level of competition that it has to face. Performance is certainly very decent, but not as good as its rivals; and D-Link’s user interface was surprisingly refined and easy to use too, and it has good features such as SharePort and integration with D-Link's own line of IP cameras.

The Netgear Nighthawk R7000 provides astounding downlink speeds, but its uplink speeds were a little lackluster. And while its Genie setup interface was fairly easy to use, it does not have the same level of refinement as the Linksys WRT1900AC nor the ASUS RT-AC68U. Furthermore, it does not have cloud storage functionality, a feature that is becoming increasingly common on high-end routers.

The Linksys WRT1900AC router.

Click here for detailed results break-down

The ASUS RT-AC68U router.

Click here for detailed results break-down.

The D-Link DIR-880L router.

Click here for detailed results break-down.

The Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router.

Click here for detailed results break-down.