With 2017 on the way out, we’ve recently turned our attention to the most noteworthy games from the past year. And as the next year rolls around, gamers will have a new networking device from the likes of Razer to look forward to. Normally focused on keyboards and other peripherals, Razer will be applying its expertise to what it calls a gaming-grade Wi-Fi Router named Portal.

It’s no secret that gamers want to get the most out of their hardware, with both Sony and Microsoft releasing higher-end consoles to meet the needs of more dedicated players. But what’s the good in having a state-of-the-art gaming machine if your Wi-Fi can’t keep up. To tackle this issue, Razer has teamed up with the folks over at Ignition Design Labs to bring what it calls “gaming-grade Wi-Fi” to the market with its latest router.

The Portal router packs 9 802.11ac antennas into a shiny white shell that has a much less intimidating design than most other similarly featured devices. At the forefront of its functionality is its ability to produce lag-free gaming which is said to be achieved thanks to new 5GHz channels not found on typical Wi-Fi routers.

Portal is designed to handle 4 incoming and 4 outgoing of these high-speed connections at a time at up to 433Mbps each. This FastLane technology is said to directly prevent unreliable and slow Wi-Fi, even during peak usage hours.

In terms of ports, Razer’s new router comes equally well-equipped with 4 gigabit Ethernet inputs as well as 2 USB-A 2.0 ports for file sharing and connecting printers. As a much more interesting inclusion, Portal also features built-in Bluetooth 4.1 for connecting to smart home accessories as well as providing an easier setup with your smartphone.

To compete with other Wi-Fi routers, Portal also includes Mesh networking functionality. This allows the base unit to connect to other Portal routers in order to expand coverage. Each Portal router can fill around 3,000 sq. ft. with Wi-Fi, a step up from Eero’s mere 1,000 sq. ft.

Razer will be releasing its Portal Wi-Fi router sometime in the beginning of 2018, so gamers shouldn’t have to wait long to get their hands on it. It is currently available for preorder from Razer itself. Launching with a $149.99 retail price, this is by no means the most expensive router on the market. And if it meets its claims of offering reliable Wi-Fi for gaming, those looking to get an edge over their opponents may find Portal to be the perfect solution.

SAN FRANCISCO – Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, announced today a partnership with home networking partner Ignition Design Labs, creators of the award-winning Portal Wi-Fi router. The companies collaborated to optimize features and performance of the Portal router specifically for gaming. While evolving its ecosystem of hardware and software for gaming and entertainment, Razer identified device connectivity as a major area needing improvement. A sub-par router is often the cause of lag, screen tearing and buffering when enjoying live-streamed content,, three issues that commonly plague gamers. Mesh-capable Portal Wi-Fi routers help prevent these glitches. With key technologies, Portal successfully addresses the demands of high bandwidth gaming and streaming applications. “Razer continually transforms categories to redefine the meaning of ‘ultimate performance,’” says Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “Now we’re elevating Wi-Fi to meet that standard. It’s vital to creating the best gaming and entertainment experiences for our fans all over the world.” Terry Ngo, CEO of Ignition Design Labs, said the following: “As engineers, we’re passionate about technology and beautiful design. We’ve built high-performance Wi-Fi solutions for some of the most iconic names in consumer electronics. We’re thrilled now to be partnering with Razer to transform Wi-Fi networking into a competition-beating advantage for the world’s foremost gaming and entertainment ecosystem.”

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