Now, the ISPs are doing their job as better as anyone else is but more often than not, the issue does not lie with the ISPs. Have you ever wondered what if your router is the culprit? I remember being in this situation myself several times, and yes, the router was the culprit, and I had to sort it out. I picked up one of the best gaming routers for PS4, and all my problems were gone as far as lag was concerned. That gave me an idea to write about the top routers available in the market that work well with PS4 and don’t cause any hassle when setting up, either, and now I am here.
Best Gaming Router For PS4 – Comparison Chart
Best Gaming Router For PS4
Now before anything else, I have to establish the fact that PS4 or any other console, for that matter, does not use specialized network standards. Which is great because this means that you can just plug in any router, and it will work just fine. However, I do not want just a random router to begin with, and that is why this list exists.
#1- NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500
The first router is from Netgear, and it is their flagship router which brings some serious hardware power. Now, I do not need to introduce the company to you thanks to their ever so strong reputation in the market, so let’s get straight to the router.
Four 1 Gigabit ports for the great wired experience. 1.7 GHz dual-core processor for effective operations. Features such as QoS (Quality of Service) Network monitoring for a better experience. Secure gaming VPN server available.
The traffic management feature is one of the best. You are getting a very powerful Wi-Fi with great range. There are a lot of extras packed into this router.
Not a lot of apps available for this router on its store.
The NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 is something that looks just as good as the PS4 itself, or even better if I do say so myself. The router comes bearing a lot of gifts as it gives you access to its amazing traffic management features, which ensures that everything gets prioritized. Not just that, the Wi-Fi on this router is not only one of the most powerful, but also one of the best when it comes to range. Which is surprising because this is a 5GHz router, and they normally have lower range but faster speeds, but this router takes care of both. If you are someone who likes to have extra features, as you should, then this router is made just for you. Packed with more features than I can count, the XR500 is going to keep you occupied for some time once you start exploring the features that it brings to the table. As far as the things that I didn’t like, my only concern here is that the R-Apps store is lacking in many ways when you are talking about additional apps, but other than that, the router works perfectly fine and gets the job done.
#2- Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300
If you are surprised to see this router again, that is because this popular bad boy has been featured numerous times. I have given this router the honor to be included in one of my top ten lists, so it is only safe to say that it makes a return in this one for all the right reasons. I would not go ahead and call the NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500, it is not, by any means. It is a router that gets its job done most effectively, and not just that, it is good at doing what it is supposed to do. If you buy this and put it next to your PS4, or anywhere in the house, you will not have any regrets as far as the performance is concerned.
Dual 5 GHz and single 2.4 GHz interface. 1.8 GHz quad-core processor. VPN Fusion allows you to run VPN alongside ordinary internet. Game IPS provides multi-level videogame protection. Full support for AirMesh.
The throughput performance is pretty fast. You are getting a lot of gamer-friendly features. Access to eight LAN ports is great to have. You can use Alexa voice comments as well as IFTTT applets. The user interface looks great.
File transfer speeds are average at best.
The ASUS Gaming Router (GT-AC5300) or the ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 is one of the higher-end routers that Asus has to offer and well, it is on this list for a reason. Everything ranging from a very good overall performance to a heap of features that cater specifically to a gamer, this router covers all the bases you would want it to cover and does so with grace. My only issue is that the transfer speeds of this router, when used as a NAS, are on the average side but considering the use case, I doubt anyone would be bothered.
#3- TP-Link AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router
For the longest time, TP-Link has gone ahead and proved that you don’t need to spend all your savings to get your hands on a good router for either office or gaming, as the product lineup they have is full of amazing options even for those who want to get something affordable. There is no denying that Asus has put in some hours as far as this router is concerned as it delivers one of the finest performances that you can find in a gaming router. Whether you want to connect your PS4 or your computer with this router, you will be getting great performance through and through. I just wish the file transfer speeds were also as good, but at the time of writing, they are average at best.
Works with Alexa and supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac and older standards. Maximum throughput of 1,750 Mbps. 3 external antennas for longer range. Integrated USB port for media server capabilities. TP-Link tether app for easy management.
The router comes with a very affordable price tag. You have access to a really fast throughput performance. The router itself is easy to install. There is a lot of management setting.
The user interface is average at best. You only get USB 2.0 ports.
This is where the TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router comes into place as it is one of the more affordable gaming routers available in the market, but that does not mean that it is not good enough for gaming. The affordable price tag is the selling point here but looks past that, and you get really good throughout the performance, which exceeded my expectations. The router itself is super easy to install and manage, and speaking of management, you are getting access to a heap of management settings that will make it all the better for those who are looking for a good experience in general. With an affordable price tag, there are a few sacrifices that have been made. For starters, the clunky user interface and average transfer speeds are just a few things that make this router less than perfect. But those shouldn’t come in the way of how good this router is going to work in all applications.
#4- TP-Link Archer C5400 Gaming Router
The good thing about TP-Link as a company is that they always have something in their repertoire that can help those who are looking for higher-end options that can help them get the performance they want. Sure, you are expected to pay the premium, but at least you are going to get the performance to match. Even with some corners cut, the TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router is a router to get if you are on a budget side of things. It works perfectly fine without any issues coming in the way, and the fact that you are getting a great performance out of it is just a cherry on top. The router is certainly one of the more affordable options in the market, but it has one of the best performance overall, as well. Which means that you are not sacrificing a lot.
Runs on a 64-bit quad-core CPU. 8 Gigabit LAN ports, and 1 Gigabit WAN port with link aggregation option. Tri-band router with a single 2.4 GHz band and dual 5 GHz band. MU-MIMO and AirTime Fairness support. TP-Link HomeCare and QoS support.
The file transfer speeds are average at best. The gamer-oriented features are not all there.
This is where the TP-Link AC5400 Gaming Router comes into place, a router that looks like it was conceived on Cybertron, this beast of a router offers one of the fastest and fiercest throughput performances, and you get access to a heap of LAN ports as well. I do have a few gripes with this router, mainly the fact that despite being a gaming router, you are not getting a lot of gamer-oriented features. Additionally, the transfer speeds are average at best, which can be a cause of concern for some gamers. But nothing that is going to break the deal.
#5- NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S (R8000P)
If you are looking to go all out on your budget and buy a router that looks like something Batman has in his Batcave, you are looking at the right option as the next option I have is exactly what is going to do that for you. However, looks are not the only thing this router is known about. If you are in search for a router that has all the goodness and has the looks to match as well, the AC-5400 by TP-Link is the router for you as it delivers exceptionally well-balanced performance that is super-fast and does not even have any lag or jitters. The link aggregation feature is my favorite, but that’s not all, as you are getting top-tier performance from this, lots of security features, and even parental control should you want to use that feature. With so much to give, I only wish there were more features in this router that were targeted to gamers.
Tri-band router has a single 2.4 GHz and dual 5GHz bands. Comes with four 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Support for Beamforming, MU-MIMO, Smart Connect, and more. Smart parental controls for more security. Supports WPA2 wireless protocols among other security features.
The tri-band configuration is great to have. The performance is great on short to medium distances at 5 GHz. You get a lot of customization options. The wired LAN aggregation option is great to have.
The parental control feature requires a third-party account.
Aside from looking gorgeous, the NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S is going to deliver exceptional performance, and it proves that by coming in a tri-band configuration. The performance is excellent at short to medium distances when using 5 GHz band, and you have a lot of customization options too. Not just that, if you want to create a LAN aggregation to double your internet speed, the option for that is also available. Which only goes to show that Netgear is not messing around as far as delivering performance is concerned. Sadly, with so much potential, the router does have some limitations. For starters, if you want to use the parental control feature, you will have to use a 3rd party account for that, which honestly defeats the purpose for a lot of people.
#6- TP-Link Archer A9 (AC1900)
The last router on the list is again from TP-Link, but this time I am looking at something more affordable, and if you are looking for performance, this is the one to go for as it delivers pretty good performance for the price you are paying. Simply put, the NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S is the router to go for if you are not concerned about some minor inconveniences because once you overlook that, you are getting a router that is known for delivering fantastic performance through and through. True, it warrants a price, as well but for the price, you are getting a router that delivers top of the line performance in every single scenario that you could imagine. Not just that, the router looks excellent, and while looks are subjective, you are also getting a lot of features. The Nighthawk X6S is a router that is very hard to ignore if you are looking at it, because of how good it is.
Can’t run a lot of devices smoothly.
The TP-Link AC1900 or the Archer A9 is one of the more affordable offerings in the market but despite having a lower price tag than the rest of the brethren, it still manages to deliver exceptional performance for the price you are paying. You are getting your hands on an affordable router, has support for MU-MIMO technology, and you are also getting features such as AirTime Fairness, and Smart Connect, which have become a staple for great routers now. The one thing that I did not like about this router is that it is not capable of running a lot of devices at the same time without running into minor congestion.
Best Gaming Router For PS4 – Everything You Need To Know!
Now that we have looked at every great router available for your PS4, the next step is to help you buy the right router. I understand that buying a router is a difficult process for a lot of people. To an extent that you can have dedicated articles just on how to buy the right router. I have to be honest here, the TP-Link AC-1900 (Archer A9) is one of the finest routers available in the market for the price you are paying. You are getting a great router for a price that is normally not available otherwise. The router ended up surprising me with its performance as well. The router has exceptionally well-balanced performance overall, and it does not matter if you are gaming, streaming, or just using it for your office, it will deliver on all fronts. I just wish the router was capable of running a lot of devices at the same time, but the capacity is limited here. I want to make things easier for everyone, and this is the buying guide that should help you score the best possible router.
High Range In bandwidth
Whenever you are buying a good router for gaming or other uses, the one thing that you must always look after is bandwidth. I know it might not sound like the most important thing but buying a router that does not offer you good bandwidth is essentially sabotage. Do look for what bandwidth is supported before you make a buying decision so that you do not find yourself in an awkward situation.
Quality of Service (QoS): Does It Matter?
Another thing that you should be looking for in a good router is that it has full support for QoS (Quality of Service) now a lot of the times, people ask us if QoS matters or not, and in reality, it does because QoS is a feature that lets you prioritize traffic. The thing that QoS does is that it knows where the traffic is supposed to go. So, if you have put a game on your priority list, the traffic will be routed there before anything else, and that will allow you to have a more seamless experience. I know it might sound like an important feature for everyone, but it works well, and you should never ignore or overlook this feature.
Latest Ethernet
Normally, this should not be that big of a problem because almost all the routers that are available in the market support at least 1 Gigabit Ethernet, which is what has become the standard. But still, if you run into any budget options or dated routers, make sure that you check for the latest ethernet. Because having an older standard is going to compromise the speed by a lot, and I would advise you against it. It is better to spend more and get proper speed rather than saving money and not getting the result you want.
Should You Buy A Tri Or A Dual Band?
Whenever you are searching for a good router, the most common standard you are going to run into is going to be a dual-band router. Which is pretty common, to say the least. However, there are some tri-band routers available that you can get. Now the thing with tri-band routers is that it has one band for 2.4 GHz network and two bands for 5 GHz networks. If you feel that you have such a requirement, go ahead with buying that router as it will not let you down and will deliver exceptional performance at the same time.
2.4GHz Or 5GHz Gaming Router For PS4?
This is one question that pops up a lot whenever you are searching for a good router, and honestly, the answer is going to remain the same. I will let you know what the difference is between both these bands, so you will have an easier time understanding this. 2.4 GHz band has a longer range, but the transfer speeds are low, whereas the 5 GHz band has shorter range but faster transfer speeds. For PS4, if your router is close to your console, then preferring the 5 GHz is better overall as it will deliver a better overall performance in every aspect. However, if the router is at a distance, then running in 2.4 GHz band is a better option for the best possible performance without any slow speeds. More Reading:How To Sync A PS4 Controller – In 60 SecondsHow To Connect PS4 To Laptop ScreenPS4 Won’t Turn On (10 Solutions)
RAM Speed And Processor Speed
I know this is something that a lot of people are not going to pay attention to but whenever you are in the market looking for a good router, pay attention to the RAM and the processor speed it offers. I know both sounds like unnecessary additions, but they do make a lot of difference. A router with faster RAM and a good processor will have a lot better time managing every single feature and making sure that your network is uninterrupted in every possible way. Any router that has a combination of both of these things should allow you for the easiest experience.
Wireless Standards
Wireless standards are also something that you will have to deal with when you are buying a good router. Whether you are looking to get one that is going to be used for home networking, office, or gaming, having the latest wireless standards is a must. I am going to make it simple for you. If your router supports IEEE 802.11ac, you are good to go as that is the most commonly used wireless standard, which is also known as Wi-Fi 5. However, if you are looking to up your game and be future proof at the same time, then go for IEEE 802.11ax, which is the more modern Wi-Fi 6 standard. Needless to say, it can be confusing but just keep the above lines in mind when looking for a good router, and you would be all good.
Best Router Settings For Gaming On PS4
Now the good thing about buying a router for a PS4 or any other gaming platform there can be is the fact that setting up a router is not always needed. In most cases, it is a simple plug-and-play situation, which only means that if you are looking for a seamless experience, this is where it is at. However, it is not the case with every single router that you get everything configured right out of the box, which can be a bit of a let-down, to be honest. Especially if this is your time first time getting your hands on a good router. Thankfully, I have worked towards finding a few settings that are great for any router that is going to be ultimately used with a PS4. I am listing these down for you.
Start by enabling UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) Make sure that you are using a static IP. Enable Port Forwarding or DMZ. If you are connected wirelessly, make sure that you are on a 5 GHz band.
Once all these settings are up and running on your router, simply make sure that you have restarted your router, and once it connects again, you should be seeing better performance. Additionally, if possible, try and connect your PS4 using a wired connection for even better performance. These settings have been the staple for anyone who is looking for a good overall experience when you are talking about gaming, and this should work just fine, and that too, without any problems that could come in the way of the performance. If your internet connection is plagued with jitters, you might not have the same experience that you would want, and therefore, it is better that you are looking at other options that are inherently better. However, with this list, I have covered every base that needs to be covered. If you want a good router, this is where you have to look at as you will get exceptional performance through and through, and you won’t be running into any issues, either.
Question 1: How do I optimize my router for ps4?
The good news is that optimizing your router is not going to be a difficult process, at all. The simplest thing that you have to do is just follow the settings that I have mentioned above, and both your router and PS4 will be well optimized.
Question 2: What WIFI is best for gaming?
If you are looking to use Wi-Fi for gaming and you have to have a wireless connection, make sure that your router is set at the 5 GHz band and not just that, you also have your router placed close by for the best possible strength.
Question 3: Do routers make a difference for gaming on PS4?
If online gaming is what you plan on doing on your PS4, then yes. However, a good router can also provide with faster download speeds.
Question 4: How do I make my ps4 connection better?
For starters, if you want to have a good PS4 connection, you can start by placing the router close to the console, using 5 GHz band, and ensuring that QoS is enabled as well for the best possible experience.
Question 5: What is a bad connection speed for ps4?
There is no such thing as a set standard for what bad connection speed is but anything less than what your connection is going to be bad. But not just for your PS4, everything else included in your network configuration.
