Picking a Wi-Fi router is difficult because you can't judge a router by reading its box. Consumers can't assume every new router is better than an old one: A solid old router could give a better signal at a longer range than a cheap, brand-new router, for instance.

Splurging on a fancy new router isn’t the wisest solution, either. You may pay too much for something that is overkill for your needs; by the time you upgrade all your gadgets to be up to speed with your new router, you could buy something even better for cheaper.

To make picking a router easier, The Wirecutter tested dozens of the devices for hundreds of hours and chose a handful for different living situations and budgets.