Best Router For 100Mbps Internet (2022)

Having the best router for 100Mbps internet can make a world of difference in how you are connected online, and honestly, unless you subscribe to Gigabit speed internet or fiber optic internet, this guide is something you should read.

There are many factors that should be taken into consideration before you buy your router. Think about the number of devices connected to your network, the size of your home, the type of devices connected and the usage for each device.

So this is what we did.

We looked into dozens of routers, reviewed and researched them, and really tested them to find out which was the best wireless router for 100 Mbps internet.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Router For 100Mbps Internet

Apart from the factors we will discuss below, there are many external factors that should affect your router buying decisions.

Things such as the amount of WiFi noise from neighbours, the amount of obstacles in your home that your wireless signal will have to navigate through to reach your device, the number of devices that operate on the 2.4GHz band and more.

Real-Life Speed

Perhaps this is one of the top factors to consider. What is the actual speeds you receive from your ISP? What is the internet speed tier you subscribe to?

If you are only getting 15Mbps, you should look to other routers that can best be suited for the internet speeds you receive. Remember, real-life speed is different from advertised or theoretical speeds.

Dual-Band or Three-Band

The number of devices connected to the network can have a huge impact on the quality of your connection.

You should be aware of the number of devices that will be connected, as well as the number of devices that are connected to the 2.4GHz band and the 5GHz band.

The number of devices suited for the 5GHz band has increased dramatically over the years, and this will help determine if you need to go for a dual band, or a tri-band that can handle the needs of multiple 5GHz devices.

Processor and RAM

Not having enough RAM or a good processor on your best router for 100Mbps Internet could lead to bufferbloat.

With low RAM, your router will not be able to handle the data packets that constantly come streaming in, trying to reach its final destination.

This causes them to get lost, and they get retransmitted until they do reach their destination. This can cause a bottleneck as the constant data stream could cause a traffic jam.

MIMO Support

MIMO provides a faster connection to your devices. Your smartphones will most probably be 1x1, meaning they can receive and send data through one stream, while computers could be 2x2, allowing them to receive and send data faster.

MIMO is when multiple antennas are used, found at the both the sender and receiver, to send more than a signal data signal through the same radio frequency. Having MIMO will lead to faster transmissions of data signals.

5 Best Routers For 100Mbps Internet 2022

1. Netgear Nighthawk R8000 (X6) Router

Best Router For 100Mbps Internet (Editor's Choice)

The Nighthawk X6 is the next gen of wireless routers. Netgear has always been on the forefront of innovations, and none of their routers have disappointed us.

In fact, Netgear was the first manufacturer to come out with the tri-band router, a feature that is quickly becoming popular. Designed for IoT, it can handle the increased number of connected devices.

Design: 

Perhaps what the BlueGadgetTooth team loves about the X6 is the step away from the standard boxed black design with standard antennas. You know what we’re talking about.

Instead, the X6 almost resembles some sort of alien creature – not a spacecraft as we’ve described many routers before. Turn it upside down and you can almost expect it to scurry off. The rectangular design has retractable external antennas that can fold into the chassis to pack it up when not in use. The 6 antennas can swivel around to search for the best signal.

It has a 1GHz dual core processor and 256MB RAM, a USB 2.0 and 3.0 port located at the back and also a WAN and 4 LAN ports.

Although thought has gone into the design, and it has a sturdy build, it is by no means a small router. It is larger than previous nighthawks. Fortunately, just because it’s big doesn’t mean it runs hot. There are vents that cover the entire top side of the router and all behind the back panel as well.

Performance:

We do have to give Netgear due credit for their automated set up process. You simply follow straightforward instructions and use the Netgear Genie App and you’re more or less sorted.

We were curious about how the dual 5GHz bands were managed, so we checked out the browser UI to learn more. The default settings cause each band to get its own individual SSID, to make it easier for users to get it running.

We recommend leaving the Smart Connect feature enabled if you don’t want to tinker with existing settings, but if you want more control over your network, disabling the Smart Control will allow the router to take on heavier load.

We noticed the Network Map got an upgrade in the X6, which is good news for everyone. You can which devices are connected to your network, but it is a little slow to respond to actions.

We tested the NAS performance by connecting an eternal USB drive to the router’s USB 3.0 port. We transferred a 1.85GB file and the speed measured was at 13Mbps. This is much better than previous routers of the Nighthawk series.

Speeds

When it comes to the performance of the wireless connection, we must make you aware that the X6 is not the fastest when it comes to wireless speeds. Instead, what makes the X6 the best wireless router for 100Mbps internet is the exceptional performance of the wireless network as a whole.

You will exceed 100Mbps download speeds for sure, with our test router clocking in 112Mbps – more than what we subscribed from our ISP. The range on the X6 is what will set it apart from other routers. The signal strength on the 5GHz band actually becomes marginally stronger, the further you move away from the router. The signal strength from close range to a distance of 30 feet was comparable.

The 2.4GHz band was not spectacular in performance, as it dropped in signal strength at a distance of 30 feet. This could be due to interference from other gadgets operating on the 2.4GHz.

The tri-band feature is impressive. Having 2 5GHz bands to connect to makes a huge difference in terms of performance.

2. Netgear Nighthawk R9000 (X10) Router

High Performance

This is the first 802.11ad router that BlueGadgetTooth has tested. This large router is perfect for larger homes and is brimming with networking features that can knock your networking socks off.

Design:

Getting started on this was an enjoyable experience from start to finish. A router that is built to really take on anything you have, it is a power house of networking features that can future proof your home for a very, very long time.

This is the only router the BlueGadgetTooth team has reviewed that has MU-MIMO technology, 160MHz wireless technology and is geared for 60GHz 802.11ad.

It is signature black, like Nighthawk routers and has 4 external adjustable antennas that can be turned to get the best signal possible. These contain blue LEDs that indicate when the wireless radios are active.

It has 2 USB 3.0 ports on the left of the router, while the router’s rear houses 6 Gigabit LAN ports, LED On/Off switch (we love this), a WAN port, power & reset buttons and an SPF + LAN port, a feature usually found only on enterprise routers. The R9000 lets you combine 2 LAN ports to increase file transfer speeds by using Ethernet Port Aggregation.

This quad-stream dual band rectangular ball of networking goodness comes with a 1.7GHz quad-core processor and it can reach theoretical speeds up to 800Mbps on the 2.4GHz band alone. Although it is theoretically possible to reach 4600Mbps, all devices need to support 802.11ad networking to reach that number and as of now, there aren’t many of those devices.

Performance: 

Just like other Netgear routers, the X10 is super easy to install. Connect it to your computer and your internet connection, access the Setup wizard on a browser and you’re guided through the entire network settings.

The throughput this router delivers is impressive, to say the least. At close range, the 5GHz will go beyond the 100Mbps limit your ISP delivers, and it will squeeze more speed to give you more than what you pay for. In fact, this is the highest performance router for 100Mbps internet, and is definitely an option to consider if you want to be prepared for the speeds that the future holds.

Same room tests as other routers reveals that the X10 just knocks them to the ground, and although the speed drops the further you go, at a distance of 30 feet the X10 still far outperformed many routers at their close range speed measurements.

The 2.4GHz performance is pretty good as well, reaching 100Mbps at close range, and dropping to 80Mbps at far distances.

If you have a device that supports 802.11ad, try it out. This doubles any speed you get with 802.11 ac, but it drops quickly the further you go away from your router. This is understandable as there is a limited range of wireless 802.11ad.

The R8000’s MU-MIMO capability is excellent. At close proximity, it is way faster than any other router of its class.

File transfer speeds were impressive. The reading score was 72Mbps and the writing score was 65Mbps.

3. Motorola MR2600 Wireless Router

Budget Friendly

This is a relatively new router that was released earlier in 2018, and is a high speed intelligent router that won’t set you back in terms of your bank balance like how many other routers in this guide may.

Getting quality without paying through your nose is a tough challenge, but the Motorola MR2600 delivers.

As Motorola is a company known for manufacturing quality products, the MR2600 is a router that you can expect to keep going, for a long time.

Design: 

The simple design and the curved top, combined with the four external adjustable antennas makes this look like a tesla coil. We’re almost expecting sparks to fly between the antennas, when extended out.

The MR2600 is visually appealing. It is clear to see it is not constructed of cheap plastic or that really shiny surface that just loves to collect your fingerprints.

While it does have a USB 3.0 port, it is located at the front of the router, which is interesting as it is a step away from most other routers that located the port at the back.

It has Beamforming technology and 2 MU-MIMO technology to boost your network’s speed. It also has a dual-core processor, an easy to use firewall, Smart QoS, Supports IPv4 and IPv6 as well as has a guest network.

Basically, the MR2600 has all the features you would expect in a router released in 2018,

Performance: 

The MR2600 is not only great value for money, but it is also a great option if you live in an apartment complex or have many neighbours surrounding your home. It delivers even when there is ample Wifi noise from your surroundings.

To start off with, the set up process was relatively quick and easy using the Basic Setup Tool. People who don’t have in-depth knowledge of routers will have no problem setting this router up on their own.

For its price tag, the Motorola MR2600 is surprisingly good. Network speeds increased significantly from the last budget router we were using. For a connection of 100Mbos, this reached download speeds of 88Mbps.

The signal strength on the 5GHz band was strong at close range, with the signal deteriorating a little at a distance of 30 feet. The 2.4GHz band showed 4 bars even at a distance of 50 feet, which we really liked.

4. Motorola MG7700 WiFi Modem Router

Best Modem Router Combo For 100 Mbps Internet

Another 2018 new release, Motorola modem router combo can save you time, money and a lot of hassle.

Modem router combos have always been recommended for those who have no clue about networking technology and can’t be bothered to shop around for a separate modem and router, while having to deal with setting both of them up, ensuring they are compatible with each other and your ISP.

Design: 

Design wise, it is simple, yet visually appealing. It looks like a pillar of silver and black, almost like a shining beacon to the lost people of the world. The LED lights indicate clear signals on the status of your router’s signal, prominent against the black surface.

The vertical design allows for better space usage, while ensuring that it runs at a cooler temperature.

Having both your modem and router in one device does cut back on wire clutter. The MG7700 has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports which is a huge plus if you want any device wired to your modem router combo.

In addition to that, it has the Full-Band Capture Digital Tuning feature to boost your internet speed.  Apart from the Beamforming technology, the MG7700 has a formidable firewall and great parental controls to ensure the security of your children’s’ online activities. You also have the option to create a guest network to keep your home network private and secure.

Performance: 

The set up process was a simple affair. All we had to do was plug it in, follow the instructions and within five minutes, we were done.

This is the new wave of technology, simplifying certain processes so that the need to depend on others is slowly being eliminated. It has a wireless power boost feature which helps in amplifying the Wifi signal.

The 2.4GHz signal is fairly steady – working its way through multiple walls and other obstacles that could interfere with the 2.4GHz frequency to deliver a solid signal, even in the far reaches of our testing space. The download speed on the 2.4GHz band reached 54Mbps at close range, decreasing with distance to 32Mbps at a distance of 75 feet.

The 5GHz band delivered better speeds, delivering 88Mbps at closer angle, falling to 63Mbps at a distance of 30 feet. However, the 5GHz signal couldn’t penetrate the walls successfully to deliver a super strong signal, losing strength in the far corners of the house.

Having separate SSIDs for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band gives more control on the number and type of devices you want connected to your network, which is great if you want to decide which device gets priority in your network.

One drawback is that you can only view wirelessly connected devices and devices on separate bands cannot be viewed together in one page, but instead are available on different pages.

5. Google Mesh WiFi System

Extended Coverage

We knew that when Google decided to enter the networking arena that it would change the way we view it. And we weren’t wrong.

The Google Wifi system is a mesh system that effectively distributes the signal to every corner of your house, ensuring that there are no dead spots. This is the best router for 100Mbps internet, by far and definitely the most visually appealing for sure.

Design: 

Leaving the conventional design of a traditional router far behind, the Google Wifi system uses a series of satellite modules to broadcast strong WiFi signals throughout any home.

This is ideal for any space that faces a lot of Wifi interference, or larger spaces that find traditional routers inadequate to deliver strong wireless signals all over the house.

It is designed well, and is designed to look good, eliminating the need to hide it in a corner or behind a shelf where it won’t be visible, like how we usually treat standard designed routers.

There are three Wifi points available in this, and each point can provide coverage to 1,500 sq ft. Looking at that, a three point system would effectively bathe a whole large house with ample coverage, ensuring there are no dead spots.

These modules are matte white in colour, and almost look like two hockey pucks pressed together, with LED lights softly illuminating the space between. They are small in size, so they don’t take up too much room on any table or space you place them on, and definitely are a lot more low profile than the routers mentioned in this guide.

The base has 2 gigabit LAN ports and one power port. The main port (connected to your modem) will use one port as a WAN port and the other as a LAN port, while the 2 ports on additional modules can act as LAN ports.

You cannot connect devices via USB as these modules lack USB ports.

The Google Wifi system has 802.11ac and 802.11s circuitry and is powered with a quad-core processor and 512 MB of RAM. Apart from supporting Beamforming technology, it has Network Assist feature to help find the channel with the least traffic, the fastest band or the closes Wifi point for your device.

Performance:

Built to be user friendly, you can get this system installed through the Google app, available for both Android and iOS devices.

This app will let you know the number of connected devices on your network, and gives you all the information you need about the connected device in terms of data usage statistics, IP and MAC addresses and more. The App will also advise you on the best locations to place the additional modules for best coverage.

With the Google Wifi system, you can’t differentiate between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band when testing the throughput due to the automatic band steering feature. The main point always gave us better results in close range, as well as at a distance of 30 feet, reaching the max of our subscribed speeds.

The Wifi points delivered excellent speeds as well, but not as strong as the main Wifi point.

This is a great mesh system that is easy to maintain and is simplified enough for the average user who is not looking to gain more control over individual bands as how you would with other traditional routers.

However, you do have QoS and port forwarding features as well as great family friendly features such as the Family Wifi feature who want more control over the internet usage of their children.

The one Touch Priority feature is great when you want certain devices to get priority quickly, without having to delve into advanced settings and tinkering around in the management console.

Is 100 Mbps Internet Fast Enough For Streaming And Gaming?

If you are wondering whether 100 Mbps Internet is fast enough for streaming and gaming, the truth is that it depends on a few factors.

If you are single user on your 100 Mbps internet and are only using one device at a time, 100 Mbps should be adequate for streaming and gaming as well as the standard internet browsing and checking your email.

It gets tricky when you have more than one device streaming or more than one user streaming HD quality videos at the same time.

In that case, the 100 Mbps speed will likely have more trouble handling the increase in download traffic from more sources, causing lags and buffering.

What's The Average Download And Upload Speed Of The 100 Mbps Internet?

Even if your internet plan says that you can get 100 Mbps, the question is: what speed are you actually getting?

When you have 100 Mbps, you are really getting about 56 Mbps of download speeds. Upload speeds are about 25% of the download speeds, but that depends a lot on your provider.

The reason for this is that while it is capable of 100 Mbps, once the internet is broken up by frequencies and latency is taken into consideration, the speeds will slow down, making the actual download and upload speeds that you get much slower.

What's The Difference Between 100 Mbps On Optic Fiber And 100 Mbps On Cable Internet?

While it looks like 100 Mbps fiber optic internet and 100 Mbps cable internet should be the same speed, the truth is that it is not exactly the case.

Cable internet works by splitting the frequencies so that the packets are sent and received in a jumbled order. So the cable modem is more prone to buffer while it sorts out where everything is supposed to be, causing a delay of 25ms or so.

Since fiber does not have the split in frequencies, it does not have that kind of delay, making 100 Mbps in fiber faster than 100 Mbps in cable.

Wireless vs Wired Connection For Your 100Mbps Internet

Wireless has a huge advantage over wired in many ways, but wired still rules supreme when it comes to sheer stability in connectivity, low packet loss and faster speeds. Let’s take a closer look at wireless vs wired.

Wireless Internet Connection

Wireless signals face a lot more interference and the signal can degrade due to neighbouring Wifi noise, obstacles, the layout of your house and more.

Advantages of Wireless:

Disadvantages of Wireless:

Wired Internet Connection

Being wired will always be better in terms of performance when compared to wireless.

Advantage of Wired

Disadvantages of Wired

Final Words

Finding the best router for 100Mbps internet is not easy, but when you know what you are looking for from your internet, it becomes easier to find the right option for you and that is the Netgear R8000.

You need to be aware of the size of your home so you can gauge the coverage your router will need to provide, while knowing the number of devices that will be connected to it. Family is also a factor that comes into consideration as you would one a router that has ample parental control.

If you are on the lookout for a router that absolutely delivers and is unparalleled in terms of performance, we highly recommend the Nighthawk X10 R9000. Its superior features will far outstrip any other router in any class.

However, it’s not easy looking for the best wireless router for 100Mbps without shelling out big bucks. If you are unwilling to spend a lot, but don’t want to compromise on the features or performance, you should check out our budget friendly Motorola MR2600 featured in this guide.

Overall, there are many factors that go into choosing the right wireless router for you. We understand that no two internet users are alike. But we hope we have made your selection process a little easier.