These Wi-Fi extenders boost your wireless range

Sometimes no matter where you decide to set up your router, you'll have a difficult time trying to get internet access in every part of your home. This can potentially be a big problem right now, as when you're stuck in quarantine, reliable access to the internet from every part of your house is critical to working from home, as well as for staying updated on the latest news regarding COVID-19. Thankfully, this problem can be rectified with Wi-Fi extenders. These devices act as signal boosters by amplifying the signal from your router, projecting internet access to blind spots of your property. Among the many different Wi-Fi extenders out there, our favorite choice is the NETGEAR EX8000. Between its excellent coverage range, a large number of ethernet ports, high device capacity, and impressive supported speed, you won't find a better overall Wi-Fi extender on the market.

Best Overall: NETGEAR EX8000

When it comes to the best overall Wi-Fi extender, nothing tops the NETGEAR EX8000 in our minds. It's capable of providing up to 2,500 square feet of extended Wi-Fi access, which, paired with your router's default range, will be enough to cover any home size. Also, it supports networks that have up to 3,000 MB/s speed, and it also can support up to 50 devices connected at once, which is incredible and makes it a strong option for small office spaces too. Lastly, the EX8000 features four ethernet ports on it for excellent compatibility with wired devices.

Pros:

• Excellent range
• Fantastic speed
• Awesome device capacity
• Four ethernet ports

Cons:

• Pricey

Best Overall

NETGEAR EX8000

• $200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy

The best of the best

The top-notch, reliable range and performance of the NETGEAR EX8000 makes it our top pick, even if it is a little expensive.

Best Wi-Fi 6: NETGEAR Nighthawk EAX80

If you have a router that supports the fastest Wi-Fi there is, Wi-Fi 6, you're going to want to get an extender that can work with it. Not many extenders do yet considering Wi-Fi 6 is only just now starting to become widespread, but the NETGEAR Nighthawk EAX80 is the best option amongst the extenders that do support it. It's identical to the NETGEAR EX8000 in terms of range and number of ethernet ports but can only support about 30 devices at once instead of 50. However, that's still plenty, and the trade-off is that the extender works with the latest Wi-Fi standard. It's pretty expensive as a result of this, but for people who care a lot about the internet, it will be worth it.

Pros:

• Excellent range
• Supports Wi-Fi 6 speed
• Good device capacity
• Four ethernet ports

Cons:

• Most expensive

Best Wi-Fi 6

NETGEAR Nighthawk EAX80

• $250 from Amazon

Support for industry-leading routers

This extender is our favorite pick for one that supports Wi-Fi 6, as it offers nearly the same quality as our top choice.

Best Mid-Range: TP-Link AC1750

If you want something that's middle of the road and balances quality with pricing, the TP-Link AC1750 is the best choice. It covers a range of 2,000 square feet and supports speeds of up to 1,750 MB/s, making it considerably less impressive in terms of performance than other options on the list. That said, this performance is still excellent, and considering the extender also comes with the ability to support 32 simultaneous devices and an ethernet port, it's hard to argue with the value it brings to the table. If you want to stay budget-conscious but still want an extender on which you can rely heavily, the TP-Link AC1750 is an excellent pick.

Pros:

• Good range
• Good speed
• Great device capacity
• Even more affordable

Cons:

• Fewer ethernet ports
• Lower supported speed compared to top options
• Lower supported range compared to top options

Best Mid-Range

TP-Link AC1750

• $80 from Amazon $80 at Best Buy

Balanced offering

The TP-Link AC1750 strikes a great balance between price and quality, making it our favorite mid-range option.

Best Budget: TP-Link AC1200

If you need to save as much money as you can but still want a decent Wi-Fi extender, look no further than the TP-Link AC1200. With 1,500 square feet of coverage, a supported speed of 1,200 MB/s, a device capacity of 25, and no ethernet, it's far below the other options on the list when it comes to performance quality. However, it's still going to provide you with reliable internet access, and it's significantly less costly than the other extenders we've recommended. Therefore, it's a fantastic budget choice.

Pros:

• Decent range
• Decent speed
• Good device capacity
• Most affordable

Cons:

• No ethernet ports
• Lower supported speed compared to other options
• Lower supported range compared to other options

Best Value

TP-Link AC1200

• $50 from Amazon

Don't break the bank

This extender offers decent performance for a low price, making it an ideal budget option for folks who can't spend a lot on a Wi-Fi extender.

Bottom line

If your router isn't getting internet access to a place you need it, a Wi-Fi extender will help cover that blind spot and give you the access you need. In a time where people depend on the internet more than ever before, Wi-Fi extenders can be an absolute life-saver.

There are many different Wi-Fi extenders to choose from, and each of them has unique strengths and weaknesses. When it comes to picking the best overall extender, though, we think the NETGEAR EX8000 sweeps the competition. Its top-tier range, performance, and overall quality make it an incredible extender, and if you choose it, all of your Wi-Fi woes will be a thing of the past.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's relatively new to the writing scene, but he counters that lack of experience with a rock-solid work ethic and a desire to improve at every opportunity. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.