Confused about which router to buy? What about which wi-fi adapter for use with a router?
Have no fear; we’re here to help.
In this review, we’ll be covering the AC1900 vs AC1200 wireless routers. We’ll also be discussing two USB adapter antennas that are named after each of the routers.
Well, this is because there are minor differences among 802.11ac routers. We took a look at AC1900 vs AC1200 to find out the difference.
The number points to the combined “speed” available using the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands.
Top Wireless AC1900 Routers
Netgear R7000 looks like a smaller version of the company's R8000. Three finlike antennas attached to the back use beam-forming technology to optimize the signal. They can be aimed to grab the strongest signal or unscrewed and replaced with third-party options.
The R7000 can be wall-mounted or can sit on a shelf. Unfortunately, its in-wall AC adapter, at 3.5 x 2.8 x 1.1-inches, is awkwardly large and more than twice the size of the Trendnet TEW-812DRU's power plug.
The Netgear R7000 comes ready to roll with a network cable, AC adapter and startup booklet. There's no CD with the manual or software, so you'll need to download them yourself.
Just like the Netgear, the ASUS AC1900 is a very good router that has many features that are good for large home use as well as gaming among other things that include easy setup.
It comes with a dual-processor and 3 external antennas. Also, while the set up is easy, what is even easier is managing it thanks to the ASUS Router App which gives you control even if you are using a mobile device. Regarding its security, it has multi-stage protection for sensitive data through the AiProtection.
For wired connectivity, the ASUS AC1900 has 5 Ethernet ports and 4 LAN ports and it has 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac wireless compatibility.
The Tenda AC15 offers AC1900 at a much lower price point than the other two routers on the list.
Despite this, it still manages to offer high-end features such as USB 3.0, a dual core processor, and Beamforming.
There is no VPN, and the fact that it only has one USB port and three Ethernet ports means connectivity is slightly less than on the other two AC1900 routers on the list. However, other than this it has pretty much everything you would expect.
While this may not be the best router on the list, for the price it is hard to beat as a way to get AC1900 into your home on a budget.
Top Wireless AC1200 Routers
There is one simple way of connecting to a new network device that works 9 out of 10 times, and it worked like a charm on the Linksys WRT1200AC. Just open your normal Windows File Explorer and navigate to your network.
If service discovery is turned on, then the device will show up and all you have to do is right click it and select ‘View device web page’. It will load the web interface in your browser and you can get started.
Parental Controls are a great tool to have at your disposal if you have growing kids in the house. There are sites you simply don’t want your kids exposed to, you might want to limit them to specific sites altogether, or just stay in control when they can access the net at all. Not a problem.
The built-in speed test will allow you to easily check your internet connection. I could however not find a place to switch the target server and as such I didn’t get the best results here. I’m on a 60/60Mbit fiber optical line.
It is definitely a good value for the money router, and for the results that get from it you will probably be satisfied. Thanks to its Gigabit Ethernet ports you can easily connect your devices, and the speed that the router shows has been upgraded up to 1200 Mbps.
Also the router make possible to be managed and setup remotely using the TP- Link Tether app which is great when you are away from home.
The 4k streaming performance is more than enough and buffering is reduced substantially.
Our team has concluded that in this range of prices the Archer C1200 is one of the best products that you can find.It won second place on the list that best wifi routers under $100.
Another fact that we like is that the company has 24/7 technical support, and in case that the machine have any issues , they give a 2 years warranty.
The Netgear AC1200 R6220 is one of the more budget-friendly routers that are available in the market today.
If you are looking for a router that primarily comes with the bare necessities to deliver reliable internet performance, the Netgear AC1200 should undoubtedly be in your shortlist.
During our initial trial run for the Netgear AC1200 R6220, it managed to achieve above-average performance on all board.
It may not be able to provide stable Wi-Fi coverage on larger homes with multiple rooms, even if it is placed in an optimum spot in the house.
Also, keep in mind that the R6220 forgoes most of the advanced 'bells and whistles' that some of the newer router models provide.
This makes the R6220 router feel a bit dated, but it does go above and beyond with the performance that it can deliver, so it manages to balance out its shortcomings quite well.
AC1200 vs AC1900 : Final Verdict
This question also largely depends on you. You may want the fastest speeds, but unless the devices and gadgets in your home have the capability to handle the fast speeds, it will be largely pointless sin investing in the best available in the market.
The AC1200 router has been tried and tested multiple times over the years and this is a reliable type that will be sure to serve you faithfully to the end. However, as technology grows in leaps and bounds, it may be a smart move on your part to invest in the best for now, so that you are always up-to-date, even years down the line.
It may be cheaper to opt for the AC1200 vs AC1900 router, but if money is no object and fast wifi speeds is what you want, then the AC1900 may be the router for you. After all, the AC1900 router is touted to be the best 802.11ac router currently available, one that offers cutting edge speeds and one which is priced pretty competitively..
How Is The Maximum Wireless Bandwidth Measured in Manufacturer's Labs?
You may notice the different numbers affixed to routers – such as AC1200 vs AC1900 but these are not the maximum real speeds your router can achieve. Instead, they are the cumulative speeds all bands on the router combined can achieve.
The lab tests don’t involve real life scenarios. Most customers don’t use state of the art technology and PCs, or have the latest wireless network card. However, companies use the most high end gadgets with the best processors, wireless network card and RAM possible so that the highest speeds can be achieved within that lab testing environment.
These labs also don’t have thick walls which could interfere with the signal, with the least amount of devices possible connected to the network. The distance between the tested devices and router will be in extremely close range, with many security features disabled on the firmware settings to ensure the fastest speeds with minimal interference.
Have no fear; we’re here to help.
In this review, we’ll be covering the AC1900 vs AC1200 wireless routers. We’ll also be discussing two USB adapter antennas that are named after each of the routers.
AC1200 vs AC1900 Router Comparison
You would be forgiven if you feel confused about why some 802.11ac routers advertise different max speeds to others.Well, this is because there are minor differences among 802.11ac routers. We took a look at AC1900 vs AC1200 to find out the difference.
AC1200 vs AC1900 Router Differences
The prefix AC stands for the fact that they are both wireless AC standards. So far so good.The number points to the combined “speed” available using the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands.
Top Wireless AC1900 Routers
1. NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router (R7000)
Netgear R7000 looks like a smaller version of the company's R8000. Three finlike antennas attached to the back use beam-forming technology to optimize the signal. They can be aimed to grab the strongest signal or unscrewed and replaced with third-party options.
The R7000 can be wall-mounted or can sit on a shelf. Unfortunately, its in-wall AC adapter, at 3.5 x 2.8 x 1.1-inches, is awkwardly large and more than twice the size of the Trendnet TEW-812DRU's power plug.
The Netgear R7000 comes ready to roll with a network cable, AC adapter and startup booklet. There's no CD with the manual or software, so you'll need to download them yourself.
2. Asus AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router
Just like the Netgear, the ASUS AC1900 is a very good router that has many features that are good for large home use as well as gaming among other things that include easy setup.
It comes with a dual-processor and 3 external antennas. Also, while the set up is easy, what is even easier is managing it thanks to the ASUS Router App which gives you control even if you are using a mobile device. Regarding its security, it has multi-stage protection for sensitive data through the AiProtection.
For wired connectivity, the ASUS AC1900 has 5 Ethernet ports and 4 LAN ports and it has 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac wireless compatibility.
3. Tenda AC15 AC1900 Wireless Wi-Fi Gigabit Smart Router
The Tenda AC15 offers AC1900 at a much lower price point than the other two routers on the list.
Despite this, it still manages to offer high-end features such as USB 3.0, a dual core processor, and Beamforming.
There is no VPN, and the fact that it only has one USB port and three Ethernet ports means connectivity is slightly less than on the other two AC1900 routers on the list. However, other than this it has pretty much everything you would expect.
While this may not be the best router on the list, for the price it is hard to beat as a way to get AC1900 into your home on a budget.
Top Wireless AC1200 Routers
1. Linksys WRT AC1200 Dual-Band and Wi-Fi Wireless Router
There is one simple way of connecting to a new network device that works 9 out of 10 times, and it worked like a charm on the Linksys WRT1200AC. Just open your normal Windows File Explorer and navigate to your network.
If service discovery is turned on, then the device will show up and all you have to do is right click it and select ‘View device web page’. It will load the web interface in your browser and you can get started.
Parental Controls are a great tool to have at your disposal if you have growing kids in the house. There are sites you simply don’t want your kids exposed to, you might want to limit them to specific sites altogether, or just stay in control when they can access the net at all. Not a problem.
The built-in speed test will allow you to easily check your internet connection. I could however not find a place to switch the target server and as such I didn’t get the best results here. I’m on a 60/60Mbit fiber optical line.
2. TP-Link Archer AC1200 Smart WiFi Router
It is definitely a good value for the money router, and for the results that get from it you will probably be satisfied. Thanks to its Gigabit Ethernet ports you can easily connect your devices, and the speed that the router shows has been upgraded up to 1200 Mbps.
Also the router make possible to be managed and setup remotely using the TP- Link Tether app which is great when you are away from home.
The 4k streaming performance is more than enough and buffering is reduced substantially.
Our team has concluded that in this range of prices the Archer C1200 is one of the best products that you can find.It won second place on the list that best wifi routers under $100.
Another fact that we like is that the company has 24/7 technical support, and in case that the machine have any issues , they give a 2 years warranty.
3. NETGEAR AC1200 Smart Wi-Fi Router
The Netgear AC1200 R6220 is one of the more budget-friendly routers that are available in the market today.
If you are looking for a router that primarily comes with the bare necessities to deliver reliable internet performance, the Netgear AC1200 should undoubtedly be in your shortlist.
During our initial trial run for the Netgear AC1200 R6220, it managed to achieve above-average performance on all board.
It may not be able to provide stable Wi-Fi coverage on larger homes with multiple rooms, even if it is placed in an optimum spot in the house.
Also, keep in mind that the R6220 forgoes most of the advanced 'bells and whistles' that some of the newer router models provide.
This makes the R6220 router feel a bit dated, but it does go above and beyond with the performance that it can deliver, so it manages to balance out its shortcomings quite well.
AC1200 vs AC1900 : Final Verdict
This question also largely depends on you. You may want the fastest speeds, but unless the devices and gadgets in your home have the capability to handle the fast speeds, it will be largely pointless sin investing in the best available in the market.
The AC1200 router has been tried and tested multiple times over the years and this is a reliable type that will be sure to serve you faithfully to the end. However, as technology grows in leaps and bounds, it may be a smart move on your part to invest in the best for now, so that you are always up-to-date, even years down the line.
It may be cheaper to opt for the AC1200 vs AC1900 router, but if money is no object and fast wifi speeds is what you want, then the AC1900 may be the router for you. After all, the AC1900 router is touted to be the best 802.11ac router currently available, one that offers cutting edge speeds and one which is priced pretty competitively..
How Is The Maximum Wireless Bandwidth Measured in Manufacturer's Labs?
You may notice the different numbers affixed to routers – such as AC1200 vs AC1900 but these are not the maximum real speeds your router can achieve. Instead, they are the cumulative speeds all bands on the router combined can achieve.
The lab tests don’t involve real life scenarios. Most customers don’t use state of the art technology and PCs, or have the latest wireless network card. However, companies use the most high end gadgets with the best processors, wireless network card and RAM possible so that the highest speeds can be achieved within that lab testing environment.
These labs also don’t have thick walls which could interfere with the signal, with the least amount of devices possible connected to the network. The distance between the tested devices and router will be in extremely close range, with many security features disabled on the firmware settings to ensure the fastest speeds with minimal interference.
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