10 Best Routers To Boost Your NZ Broadband Plan

Oct 12, 2021
Broadband
By Staff writer

Find the best router to make the most of your current broadband plan. Upgrade to a more modern router that can deliver a huge amount of bandwidth without dropping in quality. If you have one that’s more than 3 years old, getting a new one may actually benefit you in the long run.

Luckily, there are plenty of routers from the most trusted brands in New Zealand. Each one of them specialises in important aspects of your connections, including speed, security features, price, and more. It’s important to narrow down your needs, so you're sure to pick the right router for your home or business.

If you’re having difficulty finding the best routers available in New Zealand, here’s your guide.

What should you consider when buying a router?

Different routers specialise in different things. Here are important factors you may want to consider:

Speed

Your router should be able to handle and maximise the speeds coming from your broadband plan. It should deliver the maximum upload and download speeds that your internet provider offers. It’s measured in Mbps (megabits per second) or Gbps (gigabits per second), depending on your broadband plan.

Ethernet ports

Especially for households or businesses that have multiple desktop computers, it’s always recommended to connect using an ethernet cable. This ensures a speedier internet connection, perfect for heavy and simultaneous use. You should pick a router with at least one ethernet port but the more ports there are, the better.

Security features

Keep your connection away from prying eyes and get a secured router. As hackers and phishers are becoming more determined to steal your data, it’s important to get a router with built-in security features such as parental controls, built-in firewalls, content blocking, and more. It’s also important to get encrypted security for wireless, preferably at least WPA2.

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Wi-Fi generation

Like any other technology, Wi-Fi keeps on improving for better transmission, wireless speeds, connection, and stability. The latest generation, Wi-Fi 6, is capable of drawing less power on connected devices while keeping the connection stable. It’s also able to deliver at least 10Gbps of maximum data speeds wirelessly.

Price

The price remains one of the most important considerations for most Kiwis. Purchasing a high-tech router with all the latest tech and features can easily set you back at least a hundred dollars. For bundle packs of 3-5 routers, this can easily cost you at least $500, but you get the benefit of getting stable connections in long ranges.

The best routers available in NZ

Note that this is in no particular order. Some of these routers may not be suitable in your household or business, or with your current broadband plan. Check the best options with your provider and make sure to do your research too.

Speed

Ethernet ports

Wi-Fi

Security features

Price

Google Nest Wifi AC220 Mesh Wifi System

Up to 2.2Gbps

2x Gigabit Ethernet ports

Wi-Fi 5

WPA3 encryption

$269-299 (1 pack)



TP-Link Deco M5 AC1300 Whole Home Mesh WiFi System

Up to 867 Gbps - Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac (5GHz)

2x Gigabit ports

Wi-Fi 5

WPA-Personal

WPA2-Personal

$143.99-$172.27 (1 Pack); $12/month rental on a 24-month term with MyRepublic

ASUS RT-AX3000 Gigabit Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router

Up to 2.40Gbps - Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax (5GHz)

4x RJ45 Gigabits BaseT for LAN

Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6

WPS support, WPA/WPA2/WPA3-Personal, WPA/WPA2-Enterprise

$499.00-$526.25 (1 Pack); $20/month rent to own on a 24-month term with MyRepublic

ASUS RT-AX89X Wi-Fi 6 AX6000 Gigabit Gaming Router

Up to 4.80Gbps - Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax (5GHz)

1x RJ45 10Gbps BaseT for WAN/LAN, 8x RJ45 1Gbps BaseT for LAN

Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6

WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPA-Enterprise , WPA2-Enterprise , WPS support

$948.99-$987.72 (1 Pack); $35/month rent to own on a 24-month term with MyRepublic

NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000 AC1900 WiFi Router

Up to 1.9Gbps

4x Gigabit Ethernet ports for LAN

AC1900 Wi-Fi (600 + 1300 Mbps) 802.11ac Dual Band Gigabit

Standards-based WiFi Security (128-bit AES encryption with PSK)

$338.99-429.99

D-Link AC750 Dual-Band DSL-2878 Modem Router

Up to 433Mbps at 5GHz

4x Gigabit Ethernet ports for LAN

AC750 Wi-Fi (300+433Mbps)



WPA/WPA2 encryption

$98.99-$109.95

TP-Link Archer VR1600V Wireless Dual Band Modem Router

Up to 1.3Gbps at 5GHz

4x 10/100/1000Mbps RJ 45 LAN Ports

IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5GHz, IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz

WPS, WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA-PSK2

$5/month open rental

D-Link AC2600 DSL-3900 Viper Modem Router

Up to 1.73Gbps at 5GHz

4x Gigabit Ethernet Ports for LAN

AC2600 Wi-Fi (800 + 1753 Mbps)

WPA/WPA2 encryption

$394.99-491.01

Netgear Nighthawk AX4 4-Stream AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router

Up to 2.4Gbps at 5GHz

4x 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet ports for LAN

AX3000 WiFi 802.11ax Dual Band

Standards-based WiFi Security (128-bit AES encryption with PSK)

$299.00-$449.00

TP-Link AX6000 Next-Gen Wi-Fi Router

Up to 4.80Gbps - Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ax (5GHz)

8x Gigabit LAN Ports

Wi-Fi 6



WPA, WPA2, WPA3

$498.00-$634.00

Get a fast broadband plan

Ultimately, getting a fibre broadband plan in NZ is the best way to have a fast and stable internet connection. After all, a router just helps maximise the speeds. If you keep getting slow or intermittent connections, you may want to switch plans now.

Stuff Fibre Boost Plan

Slingshot Unlimited Gigantic

MyRepublic Fibre Pro

NOW Ultra

Price

$94.95/mth ($47.48/mth on the first 6 months)

$99.95/mth (3 months of free broadband)

$89/mth ($100 credit for new customers)

$84.95/mth (Promotional price for  the first 12 months)

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Speed

950/400Mbps

900/400Mbps

950/500Mbps

900/400Mbps

Contract

12 months

12 months

12 months

12 months

Installation

Free

Free

Free

Free

Termination

$99

$250

$240

$199

Compare the best broadband plans in NZ

The best router should be paired with the best broadband deal. Make it a habit to check the best Broadband deals in your area using glimp!

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Shane Egan (Popup) , 2023-07-10

Excellent service. Responsive and easy to deal with. Got me an awesome deal on Broadband. Well worth calling to see what they can do. 👍

Jamie Martin , 2023-06-18

Really great service, helped us save about 30% on power plus a free $100 sign up bonus. Very fast and efficient.

Kat W , 2023-06-20

Very helpful and informative. Lovely chatting with them on the phone, helped me find a power supplier, pretty simple and straight forward

Dee Painter , 2023-08-08

So easy to use, very helpful and got a great deal with my power and gas