We evaluated the 5 best routers for the 400 Mbps area in a previous post. But which is the best option for you?
It depends entirely on your requirements, and to answer that question, one must first understand the factors that define a perfect router.
This detailed purchasing guide, on the other hand, may assist you in determining your requirements and selecting the best router for you.
Factors That Define the Best 400 Mbps Wi-Fi Router
Below are the factors to consider while looking for the best 400 Mbps routers in 2022.
1. Router’s Speed
After your ISP bandwidth, your Wi-Fi speed is the most critical component for fast internet. Because no matter how fast your internet connection is, your internet will be slow if your router can’t manage it.
As a result, attempt to choose a router that has a faster speed than your bandwidth. A high-speed router may also be used to create a personal LAN or transfer files.
The good news is that all the routers we looked at can handle more than 400 Mbps.
2. Router Range
The range is the second most important consideration when picking the finest wireless router for 400 Mbps. Because the router’s range is less than your home, you won’t be able to access high-speed internet from every room.
It would be best if you first determined the range. Calculate the size of your home.
Then, depending on the size of your home, add another 500-1000 square feet. This is the range you’ll need to cover your whole house.
3. The Number of Wireless Bands
The amount of wireless bands on your router also has an impact on its overall performance. There are currently three bands available.
- 2.4 GHz Single Band
- 5 Ghz & 2.4 Ghz Dual Band
- Two 5GHz and one 2.4GHz tri-band
The 2.4 GHz band is ideal for long-range communication in this case. However, 5 GHz is perfect for speed.
You’ll need a dual-band router to obtain the most out of your 400 Mbps connection.
However, if you’re purchasing a mesh router, go for a tri-band router. Because of the additional 5 GHz band, the router and extenders will have a strong connection.
4. The number of satellites/antennas
The antennas on a router are sometimes misunderstood as a gimmick. However, these antennas are a functional element and one of the things to consider when looking for the best 400 Mbps Wi-Fi router.
They are instrumental because they send messages in all directions. As a result, look for a router with more than three antennae.
Furthermore, if you want coverage in a particular location, you may do it by simply tilting one or two antennas in that direction.
Furthermore, if you have a multi-story home and are looking for a mesh router, try to get one with the same number of satellites as the number of floors.
5. Number of Ports for Ethernet
A router with many Ethernet connections is required for a better internet experience. Because a wired link consistently outperforms a wireless one.
Furthermore, critical or non-portable items should be connected through a cable connection for optimum performance.
So, to figure out how many of your devices need a wired connection, multiply that number by 2-3 to account for future growth.
That is the precise amount of ports you will need.
6. Processor and memory
Your router needs a strong CPU and enough RAM to keep up with the increased bandwidth and provide a consistent connection to all devices.
Because each connected device consumes a part of your router’s CPU and RAM and competes for internet access with other devices.
If you have a lot of devices, consider a router with a powerful CPU and enough RAM.
7. Security Features
When selecting a router, built-in security features and parental control should also be considered.
Otherwise, VPN and antivirus services will cost a lot of money.
Furthermore, a router with built-in protection will keep fraudsters out of your home and office.
As a result, look for a router with security protections built-in.
8. Additional features
Additionally, to be sure you pick the best 400 Mbps Wi-Fi router, check to see if it has at least three of the following qualities, as this will aid you in getting the most out of your connection and a fantastic Wi-Fi experience.
- Wi-Fi 6
- OFDMA
- MU-MIMO
- Range Boosting
- Quality of service (QoS)
- Beamforming
Frequently Asked Questions about “Routers with 400 Mbps”
1. How Many Mbps Can My Router Handle?
It is dependent on the router model. Your router’s bandwidth may be seen on the packaging it came in, or you can look up the model on the internet and see its speed.
This is the maximum bandwidth that your router can handle. It can handle 1024 Mbps or more if it’s a gigabit router. Otherwise, the actual Mbps may be found on the website or in the bundle.
2. Can 400 Mbps Handle a Large Number of Devices?
It is dependent on how the family members use it.
As I previously said, 400 Mbps is fantastic for any form of business or enjoyment. However, the number of users significantly impacts your internet speed. Because when you connect a gadget to a router, it competes with other devices for bandwidth. When too many devices compete for the same bandwidth, each device’s internet performance suffers.
As a consequence, your internet can be sluggish.
For a household of four to five people, however, 200 Mbps is considered fast. As a result, 400 Mbps will be high-speed and easily accommodate 5+ people. Without the IoTs, 400 Mbps can easily accommodate 20+ devices assuming each user has at least three devices.
Remember to read our post on the best router for 50 devices.
Furthermore, your smart home candidates/IoTs do not use a lot of bandwidth. As a result, you are free to utilize as many IoT devices as you wish.
In addition, I’ve previously spoken about approximately 16 devices that can stream UHD material without buffering at 400 Mbps.
So, with 400 Mbps, you can efficiently utilize 20+ devices. Your family members may stream 4K, play UHD online games, attend meetings, or do any other bandwidth-hungry work without experiencing sluggish internet.
Let’s get started with an in-depth look at the five best routers for 400 Mbps.
3. Does Having 2 Routers Increase Internet Speed?
No, installing a second router will not speed up your internet connection because you’ll receive the speed that your ISP offers.
That is something that no router can change. A second router, on the other hand, may improve device connectivity as well as the overall performance of your internet connection.
4. Is 400 Mbps Fast Enough For Gaming?
Yes, 400 Mbps is insanely fast for games of any kind.
It is a common misperception that online gaming needs more bandwidth. However, this isn’t accurate.
Online PC games, like streaming, do not transport large amounts of data or display high-quality images or videos over the internet. It solely uses the internet to deliver console or player control data. The images are rendered on your PC’s or device’s discrete graphics card.
However, gaming requires both download and upload speeds. Because you transmit a lot of data while you’re gaming. Furthermore, latency is critical in gaming. That’s why, while playing an online game, you’ll see numerous server locations, and selecting the one nearest to you is best. But how fast do you need to play smoothly?
For pleasant gaming on a PC, 5 Mbps+ download speed and 3 Mbps+ upload speed with 50-100 ms latency are sufficient.
However, cloud-based gaming, such as PlayStation or Xbox, needs more bandwidth than traditional PC games. The data is supplied to you through the internet since the rendering is done on a cloud server.
Consequently, you’ll need 25-35 Mbps download and upload speeds and 50 ms latency to play cloud-based 4k games properly. Smooth gameplay is defined as a combination of fast pace and low latency.
As a result, you can play 4K games on many devices and stream on numerous devices concurrently with a 400 Mbps connection.
5. Does Router Speed Matter?
Yes, router speed is essential to some degree. Because a quicker router will be able to manage more internet traffic, a faster router may also help you set up a better working LAN and enhance file transfer speeds between your devices.
On the other hand, most current routers are close to ten times quicker than your ISP connection speed. As a result, there’s no need to be concerned about speed.
6. Is A Router of 400 Mbps Good for Working From Home?
Yes, working from home with a download speed of 400 Mbps is ideal.
Internet speed is critical for productivity, particularly during this epidemic. Because the majority of us work from home. But if you’re working from home, how much bandwidth do you require?
It depends on the number of family members, the number of gadgets, and the job you do. The majority of the jobs, however, need Zoom or Skype sessions. The bandwidth required for online meetings is
- 600kbps (up/down) for high-quality video
- 720p 1.2Mbps (up/down) for HD video
- 3.8Mbps/3.0Mbps (up/down) for 1080p HD video
So, with a 400 Mbps internet connection, you could theoretically attend 100 HD video conversations through Zoom or Skype simultaneously.
That demonstrates how useful 400 Mbps is for working from home.
So, with a 400 Mbps connection, you can attend HD meetings, your children may enroll in online courses, and other family members can simultaneously stream 4K films or play high-quality online games.
7. Is 400 Mbps good enough For Live streaming?
Yes, a connection speed of 400 Mbps is more than enough for streaming.
Streaming requires more bandwidth. Because the material you stream is delivered from a server across the internet to your device.
As a result, it needs both low latency and increased speed. But how much bandwidth is required for streaming?
In reality, it all relies on the quality of the stuff you’re seeing.
Furthermore, at 400 Mbps, you may stream simultaneously on many devices without experiencing any buffering. More specifically, you can stream 4k on 16 devices at 400 Mbps!
Conclusion
This sums it up for our complete guide on the 5 best routers for 400 Mbps in 2022, with the above segment showing you what is important to select the best 400 Mbps Wi-Fi router.
And if you are still finding it hard to make a choice, consider this:
If you want a budget-friendly router with all the capabilities you need for a 400 Mbps connection, we recommend the Linksys AC3000 Smart Mesh Wi-Fi Router.
We only plead that you buy routers from a reputable retailer such as Amazon. Otherwise, there’s a chance that you’ll end up with counterfeit goods.
Also, make sure your ISP delivers the 400 Mbps connection they offer. Only then will you be able to make use of the routers’ full capability.
Lastly, be sure to keep an eye out for more fantastic purchasing guides like this one.