Whether you are a gamer or enjoy streaming videos, you would certainly like a router that can tackle the task without slowing down.
For this, you need to get a multi-user multiple input, multiple-output (MU-MIMO) router. You will not want just any router however, you need the best MU-MIMO router you can get.
In order to know which router will work, you will need to look for routers with the right speeds, antennas, and even whether they have Beamforming technology on board.
First, let’s take a look at what MU-MIMO is and why you would want it for your home network.
How Does MU-MIMO Technology Work?
It is important to understand how MU-MIMO technology works in order to see the real benefit of it.
Multi-user multiple input, multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology allows a single router to receive and send data from more than one device at the same time.
It works by multiplying the capacity of the radio signals throughout the network. The antennas are then designed to process the information, increasing the router’s ability to multitask different devices demands.
With the single user routers, the devices each have to take turns using the bandwidth, which can cause a big slowdown as well as buffering and lags.
What Other Features To Consider When Buying A MU-MIMO Router?
Speed & Wireless Standards
The speed of your router can make all of the difference in performance with your home router. Speed is also controlled by the plan that you have with your ISP, so keep that in mind as well.
Beyond confirming speeds, you will need to make sure that your router is at least an ac standard. Ac standards have 1.3 Gbps of throughput to support the streaming demands of your network.
Antennas
You might not have considered that something as simple as antennas could be so important when buying a new router. All wireless routers have antennas, but some are on the outside of the router while others are internal.
External antennas are nice, because you can point them in the directions that you need the signal to travel. Make sure that all of your antennas are high-gain, regardless of whether they are internal or external.
Beamforming
Beamforming technology uses radio wave technology on the 802.11ac standard router. Beamforming reduces the amount of interference that your network receives while improving the reception that your router gets.
Beamforming can be pointed in specific directions to boost the signal toward devices that need it the most. Your new MU-MIMO router should come with Beamforming if you want to have the best and most reliable WiFi signal possible.
7 Best MU-MIMO Routers (2022)
Device | Speed | Ports | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Asus RT-AX3000 Editor's Choice | 3000 Mbps | 4 Ports | 100% | |
2. Netgear AX6000 High Performance | 6000 Mbps | 5 Ports | 99% | |
3. TP-Link Archer A9 Budget Friendly | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 95% | |
4. Asus RT-AC88U For Gaming | 3100 Mbps | 8 Ports | 97% | |
5. Gryphon AC3000 Extended Coverage | 3000 Mbps | 3 Ports | 98% | |
6. Tenda AC6 Router | 1200 Mbps | 4 Ports | 94% | |
7. Synology RT2600ac | 2600 Mbps | 4 Ports | 96% |
1. ASUS RT-AX3000 WiFi Router
Best MU-MIMO Router (Editor's Choice)
Having a router with MU-MIMO capabilities can really make the difference between having a router that works with your gaming and streaming and a router that causes you a lot of frustration. We have found that the best MU-MIMO router is the ASUS RT-AX3000.
Design
Let’s start out by checking out the design of the ASUS RT-AX3000. The design of the ASUS RT-AX3000 is a little on the unusual side. It does have the standard black casing, but it will take up a lot of space on whatever surface that you choose to rest it on.
There are four high-gain antennas as well. These will help extend the strength and reach of your router’s signal.
The vents of the router are on the sides, in a kind of triangular shape, giving them a futuristic appearance. Though it does make the router itself look a little odd, they will be effective in keeping your router cool.
Using this router, you will also find that you can get some amazing mobile app support. If you are having any trouble with the ASUS app, the customer service for ASUS is definitely helpful. The router does come with security features as well, including parental controls, and other features that will keep your network as safe as possible.
Performance
The performance for the ASUS RT-AX3000 is what you should really be focusing on. It has ultra-fast Wi-Fi, supporting 160MHz bandwidth and 1024-QAM. As a result, you can have a total network speed up to 3000 Mbps, as long as you can get that with your ISP.
The range of the router is about 1500 square feet, but it does operate using AiMesh technology. With AiMesh technology in place, you can use more than one router to extend the reach of your router to the best levels possible. This is especially nice if you have a large space that you are working to cover.
Of course, as we have suggested this as the best router for MU-MIMO, it supports MU-MIMO well. This means that more than one user can easily stream on the network without suffering from any kind of unnecessary slowdown. It also supports 4K streaming, so the video quality that you will get from this router is amazing.
2. Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 MU-MIMO Router
High Performance
If you're looking for a high performance MU-MIMO router, look no further than Netgear Nighthawk RAX80.
Design
The design of the RAX80 is awkward and clunky. It takes up a lot of space on a desk. The RAX80 comes with 5 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports to support your wired connectivity as well.
The RAX80 has smart parental controls, allowing you to manage not just the device, but also the internet access across the network. This is important if you have any children who log on, giving you an added amount of peace of mind of the safety of your network.
Performance
The RAX80 supports more than 30 connected devices simultaneously. This is made possible with the 8 simultaneous streams that come with it.
This router also comes equipped with Beamforming+ technology, giving this router a solid range that should be able to reach your whole network.
The speeds of the router can reach up to 6 Gbps, which is perfect for the 4K/8K Ultra-HD streaming that the router allows for. Interruptions are a thing of the past with the RAX80.
3. TP-Link Archer A9 Smart WiFi Router
Budget Friendly
The perfect router that you can get on a budget is the TP-Link Archer A9.
Design
The design of the Archer A9 is flat, sitting horizontally, with a black casing and three high-gain antennas coming out the back of it. It comes with 1 WAN and 4 LAN Gigabit Ethernet ports that will help deliver wired speeds to the devices that need the added security.
The Archer A9 comes with a few great features, such as its own VPN server, which can help with your network’s privacy.
It also has a guest WiFi option as well as Alexa voice control, which can help you connect your devices even when you are not right next to it. You can also set time limited and usage restrictions across the network.
Performance
The Archer A9 has three simultaneous data streams in addition to the MU-MIMO technology, which is really needed if you have more than one devices online at the same time, trying to stream.
Otherwise, it could cause significant lags, making it impossible to have a reliable and steady stream to any device.
4. Asus RT-AC88U MU-MIMO Router
For Gaming
Ideal router for gamers is the Asus RT-AC88U. This is a powerful MU-MIMO router that will not disappoint.
Design
The design of the router is large and it does take up a lot of room. It has four high gain antennas that can be directed away from the router to where you need signal.
This router has Asus Protection powered by Trend Micro to ensure that your online experience is safe and secure. The system combines automatic vulnerability detection, malicious site blocking, as well as the much-needed parental controls.
Performance
The router can cover up to 5000 square feet as well, making it ideal for larger homes that need coverage. It is not made to be expanded. With the 8 Gigabit ports, however, you do have a lot of connectivity options with your router.
The powerful 1.4 GHz dual-core processor allows for faster data transfers and upload speeds up to 1.8 Gaps.
The router has high speed bands, with the 5 GHz band reaching speeds up to 2100 Mbps and the 2.4 GHz band gets up to 1000 Mbps for a total of 3100 Mbps.
5. Gryphon AC3000 Mesh WiFi Router
Extended Coverage
The best router with MU-MIMO for extended coverage is the Gryphon AC3000. This is a newer router and is a little different than you might expect.
Design
The Gryphon router has six high-powered internal antennas that should be able to reach anywhere within your network. They are hidden so the router looks nice.
This router uses an easy smartphone app that filters content, sets screen allowed time, and even allows you to set times of day that it will be available to get onto. It might not block specific access, but it still does the job well.
Performance
The coverage of the Gryphon can reach 3,000 square feet, but this also works like a mesh system. That means that you can add extra points to further increase the size of your coverage if you needed to. The more Gryphons you have, the larger your network’s coverage is.
The throughput for the Gryphon router is up to 3Gbps, utilizing its simultaneous tri-band radios. It also uses antenna Beamforming, which improves the overall coverage.
6. Tenda AC6 Wireless MU-MIMO Router
This is a home router that has a lot of features to offer, even if you are unfamiliar wit the brand.
Design
The design of the Tenda AC6 is what you usually see for a router. It sits flat on your shelf and has four antennas that can be moved in the direction that needs the best signal. The antennas are a little too long to go unnoticed, so you will have to make sure there is nothing above the router that could obstruct the signal.
You can manage your network from anywhere using the Tenda WiFi app. It has a lot of helpful tools included, like a timeout feature and other parental controls. It does have industry level password encryption as well to keep outsiders out of your network.
Performance
The performance of the Tenda AC6 is great. It can handle speeds up to 300 Mbps, which is probably more than what you get from your ISP. The antennas that we mentioned in the design section support both MU-MIMO technology as well as Beamforming.
The router also can handle up to 20 devices and reach up to 2,000 square feet, so it should easily cover most houses. All in all, it should get the job done.
7. Synology RT2600ac WiFi Router
One of the best routers that you can get with MU-MIMO technology is the Synology RT2600ac. This is a less-known brand of routers, but that does not mean it is lacking in any features.
Design
Let’s start with the design of the Synology RT2600ac. It is standard for a router since it rests horizontally with a black casing. It comes four high-gain antennas that can be moved to the direct that needs the strongest signal possible. While horizontal routers usually run the risk of overheating, this router sits at an angle to ensure that there is adequate ventilation.
Furthermore, the router comes with one USB 2.0 port as well as five Ethernet ports to give you connectivity for the devices that really need it. The operating system uses the Synology Router Manager for setup, but it can be confusing.
Performance
The RT2600rc comes with a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor, which will give you excellent overall performance capabilities. The reach of the router goes to 3000 square feet, covering the majority of home networks without an issue.
What makes this router truly great is its security features. It is regularly updated with the latest security protocols, keeping the latest malware out of your network. There is also intrusion protection, denial-of-service protection, and reliable firewall management. Finally, the router has a VPN server to give you the level of encryption that you need.
Final Words
The best MU-MIMO router is the Asus RT-AX3000. This router comes with all of the best features that you need to have your network running smoothly.
Not only does it have the MU-MIMO technology on board, but it also has three high-gain antennas.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 can handle your performance needs if that is what you were looking for. Some networks need higher performance capabilities, so this router would work for that.
Regardless, make sure that the router that you do choose comes with MU-MIMO technology, just as you would expect it to. Then, you can think about the fine details before you commit.
Hey, it’s James here. I’m the founder and editor here at RiverstoneNet.com. I’m a network engineer during the day and a blogger at night. Let me know if I can help you with choosing a new modem/router or troubleshooting your Internet connection.