Gaming routers offer useful tools, but ordinary routers and Ethernet often do the job

The publication said gaming routers use familiar hardware and do the same job as any home router, moving traffic between devices and the internet. The gaming label is partly marketing, though the devices often include gaming-specific software and powerful components. New models are expected to support Wi-Fi 7, tri-band radios, fast Ethernet jacks and at least one USB port, but those specifications are not unique. Engadget noted that TP-Link's non-gaming Archer BE550, an entry-level Wi-Fi 7 router, offers tri-band Wi-Fi 7, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports and QoS device prioritization.

Software provides more distinction. Some routers, such as Netgear's Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR1000, include a dashboard showing connection performance and settings to prioritize certain games. Geo-Filter, for example, restricts connections to game servers in a certain geographical area to lower in-game latency. Engadget cautioned that branding does not equal better performance, and that specifications and features cannot fix a poor setup elsewhere.

To judge what a new router could improve, Engadget advised looking at current pressure points. Bad Wi-Fi connectivity can be addressed by a new router with further-reaching antennas or the 6GHz band, while moving an existing model could improve stability if walls or other interference are nearby. A router cannot reduce the physical distance to a remote game server, so it cannot fix latency caused by connecting to a distant server for a particular title.

Traffic management can help with a busy connection. Quality of service, or QoS, lets users give certain devices priority, and advanced QoS on gaming routers can identify game traffic automatically. Asus' Adaptive QoS, for instance, includes gaming presets. Smart queue management, or SQM, can keep a connection responsive under heavy load by sacrificing a little throughput and keeping excessive data queues in line.

Engadget cited RTINGS testing in which nine out of 11 routers gained improved network latency using QoS or SQM. All 11 had traffic management features, some without gaming branding. Still, most gamers do not face a congested network as their main bottleneck, and a router cannot make an internet connection faster or bring a remote game server closer.

For serious online play, Engadget said a wired Ethernet connection between the router and a PC or console will always be the best way to connect. Gaming routers can be useful, but buyers should understand which features they are paying for and whether a non-gaming router or a wired connection would serve them better.

Editor's Summary Gaming routers can provide advanced traffic management, gaming dashboards and strong hardware, but similar features appear on non-gaming models and the branding alone does not guarantee better performance. Engadget reports that wired Ethernet remains the best first upgrade for serious online play, while QoS and SQM can help only in some congested network conditions.