Though a router is provided by AT&T to rent, Is it necessary to rent the router provided, Or should I purchase another router?
This is a question most of the U-Verse customers or to-be customers ask themselves?
Purchasing your own router has many advantages. Not only saves you from the expensive rent that AT&T charges for renting their router, but you also get a more powerful router that is fast and has more security features. Whereas company provided router is expected to be most compatible with the setting for optimum performance.
Keep reading to find out the alternate routers best for AT&T U-Verse.
AT&T U-Verse is an internet, phone, and internet-based TV service launched in 2006. After the release of its DirecTV satellite service, AT&T stopped offering this service to new customers and U-Verse was only available to the existing customers.
Via U-Verse AT&T provides live TV, entertainment apps, streaming, and video-on-demand features to its customers.
List of the best routers for AT&T U-verse
Here is the list of routers best recommended for AT&T U-verse
- Netgear R7000
- Linksys EA9300
- Motorola MR2600
- TP-Link Archer A7
- Netgear XR700
- Gryphon AC3000
- Netgear Nighthawk X10 R9000
- TP-Link Deco S4
- Asus RT-AX3000
- TP-Link AX50
Netgear R7000 Router
Designed for heavy internet users, Netgear’s R7000 or AC1900 has high-power amplifiers and antennas to extend your WiFi range. If you want to avoid connection drops and enjoy lag-free gaming, this router is for you.
This router is easy to set up with the Nighthawk app and it comes with many advanced features including high speed, NAT and SPI protection, and many more. In addition to that, features like dynamic QoS and Beamforming+ make your WiFi experience super-fast, safe, and reliable.
You can also control your wifi network with simple voice commands as Netgear allows seamless integration with Alexa and with Netgear Armor, your children are safe from cyber threats, phishing, and online fraud.
Key Features
| Processor | 1GHz Dual-core |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz Dual-Band |
| Number of Antennas | 3 |
| MU-MIMO Support | None |
| Wireless Security | WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA2-PSK, AES |
| Firewall Support | NAT, SPI |
| USB Sharing | Yes |
| Ethernet Ports | 5 Gigabit Ethernet Ports |
| USB Ports | 2 USB 3.0 ports |
| QoS Support | Dynamic QoS |
| Advanced Beamforming | Yes |
| Auto Firmware Update | Yes |
Pros
- Well-designed router.
- High-performance and detachable antennas.
- Automatic Bandwidth selection with Smart Connect.
- Continuous streaming with speed up to 1.9 Gbps.
Cons
- Bulky Size.
- Large AC adapter.
Linksys EA9300 Router
One of the best routers in the market, Linksys EA300 boasts speeds of up to 750 Mbps when placed closer to the router. The triband router has a sleek design with a solid build exterior. It also has a user-friendly app that makes the installation easy.
If you have a house that is filled with people most of the time, you can control the router with your voice. Also, say goodbye to connection drops and restarting the router as this router is powered by a 1.8 Ghz Quad-Core processor which will make sure you are getting full speed for browsing.
The router comes with the Max-stream extender which is designed to amplify the wifi signal to unreachable places in your home. And with the auto firmware upgrade feature, you don’t have to worry about updating your firmware which means you can fully focus on gaming.
No matter how many devices are connected to your network, with dynamic QoS, equal bandwidth allocation is never a problem for Linksys EA9300.
Talking about its price, the router is fairly priced since it comes with so many features.
Key Features
| Processor | 1.8 Ghz Quad-Core |
| Frequency Band | Tri-Band (5 GHz + 5GHz + 2.4 GHz) |
| Number of Antennas | 6 Adjustable Antennas |
| MU-MIMO Support | Yes |
| Wireless Security | WPA/WPA2, 128 bit AES link encryption |
| Firewall Support | IPv4 SPI Firewall Protection |
| USB Sharing | Yes |
| Ethernet Ports | 1 Gigabit WAN, 4 Gigabit LAN ports |
| USB Ports | 2 USB 3.0 ports |
| QoS Support | Yes |
| Advanced Beamforming | Yes |
| Auto Firmware Update | Yes |
Pros
- Tri-band technology allows fast speed for multiple devices.
- Easy Installation.
- USB sharing.
- Fast data transfer.
- Airtime Fairness allows equal band distribution for all devices.
Cons
- Expensive compared to other products in the range.
- Lacks DoS protection.
Motorola MR2600 Router
Motorola MR2600 is a well-designed router that is made up of high-quality plastic. This router is ideal for users who live in areas with heavy wifi interference. The dual-band router also has excellent coverage and provides equal strengths across both the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz bands.
Although the router is a bit inexpensive than its competitors, don’t let its price fool you as it comes with QoS support four adjustable antennas.
With MU-MIMO and beamforming, you should be able to enjoy consistent internet speed and good range.
Key Features
| Processor | 1GHz Dual-core |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz Dual-Band |
| Number of Antennas | 4 adjustable antennas |
| MU-MIMO Support | Yes |
| Wireless Security | WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK |
| Firewall Support | User-friendly Firewall |
| USB Sharing | Yes |
| Ethernet Ports | 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports |
| USB Ports | 1 USB 3.0 port |
| QoS Support | Smart QoS |
| Advanced Beamforming | No |
| Auto Firmware Update | No |
Pros
- Extended Wifi coverage.
- Seamless video streaming even at higher resolutions.
- Easy setup.
- USB sharing with one USB 3.0 port at the front.
Cons
- Limited configuration settings.
- No auto firmware update.
- Frequent connection drops.
TP-Link Archer A7 Router
If you are not a heavy user but still want a router that is fast and has good coverage, TP-link Archer A7 is the one for you. This dual-band wifi boasts 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz bandwidths that are great for web browsing and gaming as well.
It comes with a USB 2.0 port that allows quick USB sharing and the range extender will eliminate weak signal areas. The router boasts 3 high-performance antennas and a high-powered amplifier that works together to provide a stable connection for all the connected devices.
This router comes with advanced security features such as Guest Network, Access Control, Parentals Controls, VPN Server, and WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK encryptions.
One of its unique features is the Built-in Media Server which allows you to play music from any device on your network.
Key Features
| Processor | Qualcomm CPU |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz Dual-Band |
| Number of Antennas | 3 external antennas |
| MU-MIMO Support | None |
| Wireless Security | WPA, WPA2, WPA/WPA2-Enterprise |
| Firewall Support | SPI Firewall |
| USB Sharing | Yes |
| Ethernet Ports | 5 Gigabit Ethernet Ports |
| USB Ports | 1 USB 3.0 port |
| QoS Support | Yes |
| Advanced Beamforming | None |
| Auto Firmware Update | No |
Pros
- Affordable Price.
- Doesn’t need frequent rebooting.
- Great Customer Support.
Cons
- Overheating issues.
- Qos cannot be turned off.
Netgear XR700 Router
If you are looking for a router designed for gaming, Netgear XR700 is the router to purchase. It comes with state-of-the-art router software that is one of the best in the market.
The Geo-Filter feature allows you to experience lag-free gaming by connecting you to the closest servers. With the dynamic QoS feature, you don’t have to worry about bandwidth allocation to other devices.
One thing to keep in mind while purchasing this router is, it is not a compact design. As this is a high-performance router, it has a fairly bigger size when compared to other routers in this category, so, make sure you place this in a well-ventilated area.
This router proudly boasts speed up to 7.2 Gbps, which is huge.
Key Features
| Processor | 1.7GHz Quad-core |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz Dual-Band |
| Number of Antennas | 4 enhanced active antennas |
| MU-MIMO Support | Yes |
| Wireless Security | 128-bit AES encryption with PSK |
| Firewall Support | SPI and NAT |
| USB Sharing | Yes |
| Ethernet Ports | 6 Gigabit Ethernet Ports |
| USB Ports | 2 USB 3.0 ports |
| QoS Support | Best-in-Class Quality of Service(QoS) |
| Advanced Beamforming | Beamforming+ |
| Auto Firmware Update | Yes |
Pros
- Easy to set up.
- Multiple I/O ports.
- Overall great performance.
- 2 USB ports allow more storage and sharing.
Cons
- Bit expensive.
- MU-MIMO is not that great.
Gryphon AC3000 Router
Gryphon AC3000 is a one-of-a-kind router. What’s cool about this router is, it can be expanded into a mesh system for a greater range. This is the only router on this list with this feature.
The compact tower design of this router allows it to stay cooler for a longer period increasing the efficiency of this router. The inter antennas are powerful and will provide a faster speed while gaming and browsing.
In addition to these features, it comes with advanced security features such as 24/7 protection. With DoS prevention, your family is safe from malware and viruses from the internet.
Key Features
| Processor | 1GHz Dual-core |
| Frequency Band | Quad-Core Arm Cortex A7 processor |
| Number of Antennas | 6 |
| MU-MIMO Support | 4×4 MU-MIMO |
| Wireless Security | WPA3 Compatible |
| Firewall Support | NAT, SPI |
| USB Sharing | No |
| Ethernet Ports | 4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports |
| USB Ports | None |
| QoS Support | Yes |
| Advanced Beamforming | Antenna Beamforming |
| Auto Firmware Update | Yes |
Pros
- Built-in anti-malware protection.
- App has a user-friendly UI.
- Parental Controls are great.
- Good coverage, even in homes with many walls.
- Seamless Ring integration.
Cons
- Very expensive.
Netgear Nighthawk X10 R9000 Router
This router performs well when handling many devices. Netgear Nighthawk X10 R9000 is a router packed with many features such as ethernet port aggregation via 802.3ac (LACP), Dynamic QoS, and many more.
The price is a little expensive. So, if you will not utilize this router to its fullest potential, it is best to opt for other routers that come with fewer features and are a little less pricey.
The X10 R9000 is easy to set up. For equal band distribution, it is ideal to put this router in the center of the house, however, if you place it anywhere else, it can be paired with Mesh X 6 S for extra coverage.
The dual-band router is equipped with MU-MIMO and delivers fast speed via 5 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands.
Other amazing features include data transfer at 7200 Mbps, a powerful 1.7 quad-core processor, and 6 ethernet ports to connect more devices.
Nonetheless, with this router, you will be able to stream on multiple devices simultaneously with blazing speeds and fewer connection drops.
Key Features
| Processor | 1.7GHz quad-core |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz Dual-Band |
| Number of Antennas | 4 |
| MU-MIMO Support | Yes |
| Wireless Security | WPA, WPA2 |
| Firewall Support | Basic firewall |
| USB Sharing | No |
| Ethernet Ports | 6 Gigabit Ethernet Ports |
| USB Ports | None |
| QoS Support | Yes |
| Advanced Beamforming | Yes |
| Auto Firmware Update | Yes |
Pros
- Antennas work great.
- 6 Ethernet ports.
- Dynamic QoS.
- Well-built and high-performance router.
Cons
- Frequent Connection drops.
- Fewer firmware updates.
TP-Link Deco S4 Router
If you are looking for a router with Mesh Technology, this is the one. TP-Link Deco S4 comes with Deco Mesh Technology which means one or more mesh units work together to expand the range of your network and it eliminates dead wifi zones as well.
With decos in different parts of your house, your device will automatically switch between the decos for faster speed and give you a lag-free experience while browsing the internet or playing games. If 3 decos are not enough for your home, you can add more to extend coverage.
This easy-to-setup router comes with the Deco app and it provides an uninterrupted connection for up to 75 devices.
Key Features
| Processor | Qualcomm CPU |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz Dual-Band |
| Number of Antennas | 2 internal antennas |
| MU-MIMO Support | Yes |
| Wireless Security | WPA, WPA2 |
| Firewall Support | SPI Firewall |
| USB Sharing | No |
| Ethernet Ports | 2 Gigabit Ethernet Ports |
| USB Ports | None |
| QoS Support | Yes |
| Advanced Beamforming | Yes |
| Auto Firmware Update | Yes |
Pros
- Great Coverage.
- Easy Installation.
- Invisible antennas.
Cons
- Fewer security features.
- Doesn’t support WPA AES and WP3 encryption.
Asus RT-AX3000 Router
This dual-band router comes with four high-gain antennas to adjust signal accordingly and it also has four 1-Gigabit LAN Ethernet ports, that allows you to link as many devices as you want to ensure a stable connection.
For USB sharing, it has a 3.1 port which is great if you want to share files to connected devices. The router can reach speeds of up to 3000 Mbps which is more than enough for a Uverse user.
The router comes with cutting-edge technologies in the router industry. Hassle-free Alexa integration, Aimesh system for expanding coverage, mobile-app support, and many more.
Key Features
| Processor | 1.5Ghz triple-core |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz Dual-Band |
| Number of Antennas | 4 non-removable |
| MU-MIMO Support | Yes |
| Wireless Security | WPA, WPA2 |
| Firewall Support | Basic firewall |
| USB Sharing | Yes |
| Ethernet Ports | 5 Gigabit Ethernet Ports |
| USB Ports | 1 USB 3.1 port |
| QoS Support | Adaptive QoS |
| Advanced Beamforming | Yes |
| Auto Firmware Update | Yes, ASUSWRT firmware |
Pros
- OpenVPN server.
- Triple-core CPU.
- Decent design
- Smaller size.
Cons
- Short coverage.
- Frequent connection drops.
- Firmware issues.
TP-Link AX50 Router
The TP-Link Archer AX50 is an improved version of the Archer AX3000 and both have similar features. However, it tops the Archer AX3000 in both performance and speed.
The router is fairly inexpensive and perfect for small to medium-sized houses. Although, it is moderately priced, don’t let the price fool you as it comes with the latest Wifi 6 technology and features that you generally see on expensive routers.
With TP-Link’s Home Care software, the router blocks malicious content, and the advanced QoS feature allows you to surf the internet with blazing speed.
Key Features
| Processor | 800 MHz Dual-core |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz Dual-Band |
| Number of Antennas | 4 |
| MU-MIMO Support | No |
| Wireless Security | WPA, WPA2 |
| Firewall Support | NAT |
| USB Sharing | Yes |
| Ethernet Ports | 5 Gigabit Ethernet Ports |
| USB Ports | 1 USB 3.0 port |
| QoS Support | Yes |
| Advanced Beamforming | Yes |
| Auto Firmware Update | Yes |
Pros
- Doesn’t need frequent rebooting.
- Pretty inexpensive.
- Affordable pricing.
Cons
- Bad customer support.
- Firmware issues.
Some things to consider while purchasing a router
Bandwidth
When choosing a router, one of the important things to consider is bands. While dual-band is the standard in most routers, brands are manufacturing tri-band routers as it provides higher speed.
On a dual-band router, the data gets sent along the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, however, on a tri-band router, you get an extra 5 GHz band for faster transmission.
Processor and RAM
Your router must have at least 128MB of RAM and a multi-core processor. If your network has more connected devices, your router needs more processing power as lots of data is transferred to and from the internet.
Another important thing to consider is the processor in your router. Quad-core processors are the best but dual-core processors will also do the job. You don’t want to buy a single-core processor as it doesn’t perform well when multiple devices are connected to the network.
USB Port
At least one USB port is necessary in your router for USB sharing. With a port, you can just plug a hard drive or any other storage device and share the content of that device to connected devices.
Range and Speed
The range of your Router matters. Some routers utilize Mesh technology to expand the range of your main router. You can take some steps to expand the range such as positioning the router away from electrical devices and using heat map software to find dead spots.
