The TP-Link RE315 consistently increased Wi-Fi connections and speed during our testing. It features an Ethernet connector for connecting connected devices and is simple to plug in and set up. Usually costing less than $45, it’s a smart, low-cost solution for sporadic Wi-Fi in a certain room of your house. With the RE315’s OneMesh function, which streamlines setup and Wi-Fi coverage, you may use a compatible TP-Link router, like our current router recommendation, the Archer AX3000 Pro.

How do Wi-Fi extenders work? 

A wireless extender enhances the quality of Wi-Fi connections within its range by connecting to your current Wi-Fi at a strong connection point and then rebroadcasting its own signals. An extender might be the solution you need if you already have a good router and all you want to do is enhance your Wi-Fi and get rid of a dead spot in one or two nearby rooms.

The “How a Wi-Fi Extender Works” illustration shows the layout of a house and the range of the router and extender.

The placement of Wi-Fi extenders is the catch. There is no way for an extender’s network quality to surpass that of its own wireless connection to the router. As a result, you should place the extender considerably closer to the router than you may initially believe. Illustration: Wirecutter

Despite the name, a Wi-Fi extender can’t grow your network much farther than its current maximum range. A good extender improves the radio coverage of your network within its current boundaries, thus improving your web-browsing experience. And it’s great for bouncing the signal around obstructions like refrigerators, reinforced walls, or foundations.

When to think about alternatives to an extension

Although extensions are a quick and inexpensive fix for a frequent issue, they are rarely the best option. Prior to purchasing a Wi-Fi extender, think about switching to mesh networking or a quicker, newer router if your current one is more than a few years old. If you already have a good Wi-Fi 6 router, place it as close to the middle of your house and as high up as you can. To lessen the number of devices vying for a wireless connection, plug PCs, streaming devices, game consoles, and everything else you can into the router (or, if you need extra ports, a network switch) via Ethernet.

A wifi extension might be useful if you’ve tried everything else and the problem persists. However, cost is crucial: At just over $120, good mesh Wi-Fi networks come with more capabilities, longer range, better roaming between access points, and better overall performance. One of our mesh selections would be a far better option because upgrading an outdated router and installing a Wi-Fi extension is expensive enough.

One last caution: Steer clear of extenders that do not support 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E) or 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5). Although older 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) extenders are less expensive, they drastically reduce the speed of all connected devices. Additionally, these models offer less than half the speed of the base router for devices that are connected to the extender via Wi-Fi. Our selections don’t include any 802.11n extenders.

Other Prime Wi-Fi extenders

If you require additional wired Ethernet connections, the Netgear EAX20, which resembles a router, includes four Gigabit Ethernet ports that may be used to connect smart TVs and game consoles. Since it typically costs about $130, purchasing a 4-port hub, a few Ethernet cables, and a RE315 might be less expensive. However, the EAX20 is smaller and more practical for several connections in the same space.

In the event that Wi-Fi 6E is absolutely necessary, the Asus RT-AXE7500 router’s TP-Link RE815XE can provide a robust Wi-Fi 6E signal to our test laptop in a room with no 6 GHz Wi-Fi 6E coverage. If the wire is run between the router and the extender, you may also use Ethernet to connect the RE815XE and extend Wi-Fi 6E in access point mode to a room on the opposite side of the house. However, we would only suggest this approach if you need to connect laptops or phones with Wi-Fi 6E, as the extender alone often costs $200. In the long run, it will probably be less expensive to replace your router with a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E mesh network from scratch.

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