Netgear Nighthawk Mesh X4s Wall-plug Ex7500 Review Cnet

It doesn't thing what internet speeds you're paying for at home -- y'all're going to demanda good Wi-Fi network if you want to put those speeds to work in any room you want. Too often, a single router won't quite cut it on its own, leading to dead zones across its range where y'all can't connect.

This is where a Wi-Fi range extender tin can come in handy. Plug one in about the border of your router's wireless range and pair information technology with the network, and information technology'll beginning rebroadcasting the signal farther out into your home. All of today's acme models are less expensive than upgrading to a full-fledged mesh router with its own range-extending satellite devices, they're a sure-fire to set up, they'll work no matter what brand of router you're using, and in most cases, information technology's easy to give them the same SSID and password every bit your original router. That creates a single seamless connectedness that you lot won't need to think nearly too much.

You've got lots of options to choose from, and I've spent the past few years regularly testing them out to detect the best of the bunch. For the last two years, I've run those tests out of my own habitation. For 2022, I've moved things dorsum to the CNET Smart Home, a much larger 5,800-foursquare-human foot multistory firm in rural Kentucky. It'southward the biggest challenge I've thrown at these things yet -- and after weeks of tests, my data identified the range extenders that reigned supreme. Let'southward become correct to them.

TP-Link RE605X

Best overall

Chris Monroe/CNET

TP-Link makes some of the near popular picks in the range extender category, with a fairly wide variety of options to choose from at various price points. If you lot're ownership one in 2022, I think you should put the TP-Link RE605X correct at the top of your listing. At $100, it's far from the most affordable extender on the market (go on reading for the value picks), but with a highly capable AX1800 design, full support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 speeds and features, adjustable antennas, and a helpful, piece of cake-to-employ command app with stiff reviews on both Android and iOS, information technology's most as well-rounded as range extenders get. Plus, every bit I'm writing this in belatedly April, Target'due south got it on sale for $ten off.

The operation is peculiarly precipitous, too. In my tests at the CNET Smart Home, an RE605X in the basement was able to extend the router's betoken from upstairs just fine, giving my upload and download speeds a significant boost in every room I tested. Throughout the entire 5,800 square foot abode, amongst all the extenders I tested, the RE605X delivered the fastest average upload speeds to both Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 devices, the fastest average download speeds to Wi-Fi half-dozen devices, and the second fastest average download speeds to Wi-Fi 5 devices.

By default, the extender puts out its own separate network when you starting time pair it with your router, and that network will utilise the aforementioned countersign every bit your original network, and the aforementioned SSID with "-EXT" added to the cease. That's ameliorate than extenders that put out an unsecured network by default -- and if you use the app to delete that "-EXT" bit, it'll automatically sync up with your original network and piece of work invisibly to keep you ameliorate connected, which is ideal. All of that makes this extender an easy recommendation.

Linksys RE7310

A solid second choice

Chris Monroe/CNET

TP-Link took the acme spot in 2022, but the Linksys RE7310 was very close backside it, and would be almost equally as good on about dwelling networks. In the CNET Smart Home, where nosotros have a fiber internet program with uploads and downloads of upwardly to 150Mbps, the RE7310 returned average Wi-Fi 6 downloads throughout the entire multi-story business firm of 132Mbps. That's simply 4Mbps behind that meridian pick from TP-Link. As for the uploads, Linksys finished with an average whole-home speed to my Wi-Fi 6 test device of 124Mbps. That'due south only 2Mbps behind TP-Link.

The only thing keeping me from maxim that the two finished in a virtual tie is that the RE7310 was slightly less impressive with before-gen Wi-Fi 5 devices, specially with respect to upload speeds. Still, the performance was solid across the board, and stiff plenty for me to take video calls in the Smart Home's basement dead zones, something I would accept struggled with using only the unmarried router I ran my tests on. It's a bit bulky-looking, simply the RE7310 is the best Linksys range extender I've tested yet, and it's an especially peachy pick if you tin can catch information technology on sale.

As well, proceed an eye out for the Linksys RE7350, which features a virtually identical design and specs. Earlier this year, information technology was on sale for $20 less than the RE7310 at Best Buy, which is a pretty practiced bargain given the specs. I haven't tested that variant out just yet, just I'll update this post when I have, and I'll go along an eye out for another sale, too.

D-Link EaglePro AI

Best balance of operation and value

Chris Monroe/CNET

It was never the speed leader in my tests, but it was never too far behind -- and at $65, the D-Link EaglePro AI costs a lot less than the top picks listed hither. That's a good deal, especially on a Wi-Fi half dozen model that boasts a newly-designed control app on Android and iOS, plus adjustable antennas and a design that automatically syncs upwardly with your router to put out a single, unified network every bit shortly as you lot first set the thing up. I fifty-fifty capeesh the touch on of color with those pale blue accents, a nice break from boring white plastic.

Speed-wise, the EaglePro AI brought upwards the rear in my tests, simply it was withal able to return boilerplate download speeds of 114Mbps for Wi-Fi 6 devices and 112Mbps for Wi-Fi five devices across every room I tested it in, which is terrific for a multi-story home with a 150Mbps cobweb program. Uploads were lower, including a semi-concerning, single-digit average of just 8Mbps to Wi-Fi five devices in the habitation's most hard dead zone, but I tin forgive that given that the 5,800 square pes Smart Habitation is a lot bigger than this AX1500 extender was designed to encompass. If your home is any smaller than that, then the EaglePro AI should do just fine, and it'll salvage y'all some greenbacks, too. In fact, as of mid-April, D-Link'south got it on auction for an actress $x off.

Other extenders worth considering

TP-Link RE220

The best on a budget

Ry Crist/CNET

At $35, the TP-Link RE220 was the least expensive range extender during my beginning run of at-dwelling tests in 2020, but that didn't stop it from outperforming everything else I tested at every turn. This Wi-Fi extender is fast, it'due south reliable, information technology works with only about every Wi-Fi router out there, and it'south easy to use. And, as of writing this, it costs even less than I paid for it -- down to less than $25 on Amazon (just make sure to cheque the box that applies a coupon for an additional couple of bucks off).

Plug it in and press the WPS push to pair information technology with your home network, and it'll brainstorm broadcasting its own networks on the two.iv and 5GHz bands. Both offered steady Wi-Fi speed throughout my home, including average download speeds on the 5GHz band of at least 75Mbps in every room admission indicate I tested, along with stiff upload speeds. The RE220 never once dropped my connection, and its speeds were consequent across multiple days of tests during both daytime and evening hours.

It'south a little long in the molar at this indicate, and it won't wow you with Wi-Fi 6 speeds, just the strong ease of use and the steady, dependable level of performance it offers ways it's withal an absolute steal. It'due south not every bit fast every bit the top models I've tested in the years since, and I haven't had a chance to re-test information technology at the CNET Smart Dwelling just still -- but it'south notwithstanding a great choice if yous want to boost the indicate from the Wi-Fi router to a back room that sits beyond the router'southward reach, but you lot'd like to pay equally little every bit possible to get the chore done.

Read more than about improving your home's Wi-Fi.

Asus RP-AX56

Not bad performance (with a large caveat)

Chris Monroe/CNET

TP-Link and Linksys each put in strong performances during this latest round of tests, simply information technology was arguably Asus that led the way with the RP-AX56, a Wi-Fi six range extender that retails for $100. It finished in a virtual tie with TP-Link for the fastest boilerplate download speeds to my Wi-Fi 6 test laptop, and it led all range extenders when I re-ran my tests with a Wi-Fi 5 iPad Air ii. On top of that, the RP-AX56 delivered the fastest average download speeds to both Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 devices in the CNET Smart Home's basement guest bedroom, which was the almost persistent dead zone throughout my tests.

That said, the RP-AX56 requires a fleck of futzing. After I first paired it with the router, information technology put out its own, separate Wi-Fi network with a generic name and no countersign at all. That's something you'll want to change immediately, but on iOS the 1.5-star reviewed Asus extender app doesn't offering a quick option for irresolute the SSID and password. Instead, you'll need to enter the extender's IP accost into a browser bar and log in using its default admin credentials -- and by the way, those credentials were username: admin and password: admin. And then, yeah, you'll desire to change those, too.

Once y'all've done that, you can modify the SSID and password to match your router, at which point the extender volition work seamlessly within your existing network. Still, that's a pretty low level of default security for a plug-and-play device that almost people won't want to futz with at all, and that keeps me from recommending information technology outright. I'll keep an centre out for updates on this one -- if Asus makes some changes to the app and to the default settings, the RP-AX56 could leap correct up into the top picks.

TP-Link RE505X

Solid performance for the price

Ry Crist/CNET

Last year'southward superlative selection, the RE505X is but a slightly less powerful version of the RE605X that costs a fleck less. I wasn't able to re-exam it at the CNET Smart Home nonetheless, but I'll update this post when I get the risk. For now, I retrieve operation-minded users volition be glad they spent upward for the better upload speeds of the RE605X or the Linksys RE7310, and value-minded users will probable be meliorate served with the less expensive D-Link EaglePro AI and TP-Link RE220 range extenders.

That leaves the RE505X as a bit of a heart-child at this point, only I'd pounce on information technology if the price dropped substantially below its current toll of $xc, every bit it was an extremely capable and consistent performer in my 2021 tests. And hey, wouldn't you know information technology, Amazon's currently selling information technology for $72, saving you lot $18.

Netgear Nighthawk X4S (EX7500)

Dandy ease-of-utilize, so-so performance, poor value

Chris Monroe/CNET

As soon as you plug the Netgear Nighthawk X4S range extender in and pair it with your router, it'll start working with your router to put out a unmarried, unified network, ane that automatically routes your device between the router and extender as needed. That'southward great, and the extender offers a well-featured app for quick controls, also.

The main trouble is that this model doesn't support Wi-Fi 6, only still typically costs more than $100. Information technology features a tri-band pattern that'south quite fancy by range extender standards, and the performance was amend than every other Wi-Fi 5 range extender I've tested. All the same, it couldn't quite proceed upwardly with the dual-band Wi-Fi 6 models I tested, and it costs more some of them, to boot. If you grab information technology on sale for less than $100, it might be worth a look, but in most cases, I retrieve Wi-Fi 6 is worth prioritizing at this point.

D-Link DAP-X1870

Expect for a auction

Ry Crist/CNET

Another strong model from my 2021 tests, the D-Link DAP-X1870 is an excellent performer that does a swell chore of creating a single, unified network as soon as you pair it with your router. That keeps things easy, just at a retail price of $120, it feels a bit besides expensive hither in 2022.

As of writing this, Amazon has information technology listed for $130, just I'd still have a hard fourth dimension recommending information technology at that price. I'll keep an center out for whatsoever good sales and update this mail as I spot them, and I'll give this post an update when I've had a chance to re-examination the DAP-X1870 at the CNET Smart Abode to run across how it stacks up against the newest models, likewise.

I spent weeks testing these range extenders at the CNET Smart Home.

tristan rinehart

How I tested them

Like a lot of people, I spent much of the past two years working from home, and that included my yearly roundup of range extender tests. Now, in 2022, I'm happy to say that nosotros're back testing gadgets at the CNET Smart Home, a five,800-square-foot multistory dwelling house in the outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky that we use as a living lab. It'southward a much improve environment for testing wireless devices at range than my semi-cramped, shotgun-style house -- and with more ground to cover, information technology'south a much bigger challenge for these extenders.

The CNET Smart Abode has a fiber internet connexion with matching upload and download speeds of upwardly to 150Mbps. That's a far cry from the gigabit connections more and more of us have access to (not to mention the new, blazing fast multi-gig cyberspace plans emerging in some parts of the state). Notwithstanding, information technology'due south in line with the average net speed in the US, which makes it a not bad place to test how domicile networking products will piece of work for the average consumer.

This is the command graph, showing you the average speeds in each room I tested with no range extenders in play at all. On its ain, a unmarried, entry-level Wi-Fi 6 router in the laundry room was able to deliver decent speeds on the principal floor of the dwelling (the kickoff four rooms in this chart), but speeds plummeted in the basement (the last four rooms), especially the upload speeds.

Ry Crist/CNET

For my purposes, I started by setting up a router in the Smart Home's laundry room where the modem sits. I went with the Netgear R6700AX, a perfectly decent model I reviewed final yr. It offered reliable performance simply limited range when I tested information technology -- and that'due south exactly what I wanted for these range extender tests.

I ran all of this year's range extender tests with a Netgear R6700AX router running the network. Information technology's a low-powered, upkeep priced Wi-Fi half dozen model that offered consistent performance when I first tested information technology out making it an ideal command router for these tests.

Ry Crist/CNET

Sure enough, the router was able to evangelize strong speeds on the abode's main flooring, simply equally before long as I headed down to the basement level, speeds started to autumn. That includes single-digit upload speeds in the bourbon room and the mud room. (Yes, the Smart Abode has a bourbon room that the previous owners used to historic period their ain barrels. We don't accept any barrels of our own, just it smells *amazing* in there. Kentucky, folks!)

With my control speeds established, it was time to beginning adding in the range extenders and seeing which ones improved things the best. Pairing each i with the router but required me to plug it in nearby and press the WPS button on both devices -- afterwards that, I relocated them downstairs, to the basement rec room, which was the farthest point from the router that still had a decent signal and speeds. Whenever y'all're using a range extender, that'south typically the all-time place to put it: simply shy of the edge of your router's range, where it will still receive a strong plenty signal to put out a strong point of its ain. The all-time way to observe that spot? Grab your phone or laptop and run some speed tests.

In the end, I ran a total of at least 96 speed tests for each extender, two rounds of 24 tests to find its average speeds to a Wi-Fi v client device (an iPad Air 2 from 2015) and some other two rounds of 24 tests to bank check its speeds to a Wi-Fi half dozen client device (a 2021 Lenovo ThinkPad laptop). In each case, I started the beginning round of tests with a fresh connection in the laundry room, closest to the router, so started the 2nd round of tests with a fresh connexion in the mud room, farthest from the router. With each test, I logged the client device's download speed, its upload speed and the latency of the connection.

Solid results from the 2022 crop

Ready to come across how the range extenders did? Let'south take a look.

These graphs show y'all the average download speeds by room (left) and average upload speeds by room (right) for a Wi-Fi 6 laptop continued to each extender. All five models I tested were able to deliver noticeable improvements to the connection, but some did a ameliorate job than others.

Ry Crist/CNET

On the left, this first set of graphs shows y'all the average download speeds by room for each extender I tested. On the right, y'all're looking at the average upload speeds. All of these speeds are to my Wi-Fi 6 test device, a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop from 2021.

So what jumps out? Outset, all 5 of these extenders did a decent chore of boosting speeds in those last iv rooms, down in the basement. With all of them, I had a faster connexion throughout the house than I had when I continued through the router alone. The D-Link EaglePro AI struggled a bit with upload speeds in the basement, but however kept things to a higher place a minimum of 20Mbps or then.

That was with a Wi-Fi 6 device, though. How did the performance look with an older Wi-Fi five device from several years agone?

Again, this is boilerplate download speeds by room on the left, average upload speeds on the right -- this time, to an older Wi-Fi v device.

Ry Crist/CNET

Things go interesting here -- you can see a greater gulf between download and upload performance, equally well as some more than singled-out weak spots and expressionless zones throughout the house. Each of the five extenders struggled to keep uploads speedy in the upstairs dinette, for instance. With Wi-Fi 6, we barely saw any bug there at all, save for the Netgear Nighthawk X4S.

Meanwhile, in the basement, our top picks from TP-Link and Linksys (also as the loftier-performing Asus RP-AX56) were each able to keep download speeds higher up 100Mbps, which is peachy. Uploads were another story, as all of the extenders struggled. None of them failed to deliver a usable upload connexion outright, though the D-Link EaglePro AI came shut with single-digit upload speeds in the basement'southward uttermost reaches.

Another key takeaway from these tests is that Wi-Fi 6 delivers some of its most noticeable speed boosts on the upload side of things. If you're looking to brand lots of video calls, upload lots of large files to the web, or anything else requiring sturdy upload functioning, and so upgrading to Wi-Fi half-dozen hardware should be high on your listing of priorities (assuming you haven't already made the spring).

The bargain picks

In 2020, I tested four deal-priced range extenders to come across which i offered the most bang for the buck. It was the kickoff of the pandemic and people were scrambling to eternalize their home networks -- I wanted to be sure we could point them to a good, budget-friendly pick that would practise the best job as a signal booster offering an extra room's worth of coverage in a compression.

In the end, the TP-Link RE220 was the runaway winner. Currently bachelor for $25 or less, information technology remains a solid value pick.

I've separated these 4 models from the other half-dozen because the test setup was dissimilar in 2020 and information technology wouldn't be fair to brand straight comparisons to those results. Yous've already read most the best of that deal-priced bunch, the TP-Link RE220. Here are my takeaways from the other three I tested:

With ii adjustable external antennas, the D-Link DAP-1620 is pretty powerful for a upkeep-priced range extender, but it wasn't equally consistent equally our top option.

Ry Crist/CNET

D-Link DAP-1620: This was the just range extender that ever managed to hit triple digits during my 2020 tests, with an boilerplate speed of 104Mbps in my chamber during evening hours. Setup was but equally simple equally what I experienced with TP-Link, too. I was able to stream Hard disk drive video, browse the spider web and make video calls on the extender's network without any event.

Network speeds were inconsistent though -- and much slower in daytime hours, with a bigger dropoff than I saw with TP-Link. The device besides dropped my connection at one signal during my speed tests. On meridian of that, the app was too finicky for my tastes, refusing to let me log in and tweak settings with the supplied device countersign. It ultimately forced me to reset the device.

The Netgear EX3700 wasn't powerful enough for the price.

Ry Crist/CNET

Netgear EX3700: It's a dated-looking device and it wasn't a strong performer in my tests. The 2.4GHz band was able to sustain workable speeds between 30 and 40Mbps throughout nearly of my home, which was strong enough to stream video with minimal buffering, or to hold a quick video call with a slight delay. But the 5GHz ring was surprisingly weak, often dropping into single digits with only a single wall separating my PC or connected device from the range extender.

I wasn't a fan of the web interface, equally it seemed more than interested in getting me to register for the warranty (and opt into marketing emails) than in actually offering me any sort of command over the connection. WPS push button-based setup lets you skip all of that, which is helpful, and some outlets at present have information technology listed for equally little equally $20, but even so, this is one you tin safely skip.

The Linksys RE6350 left a lot to be desired.

Ry Crist/CNET

Linksys RE6350: My speeds were consistent with the RE6350 -- they just weren't fast.

By default, the device automatically steers yous between the 2.iv and 5GHz bands, simply with download speeds ranging from 10 to 35Mbps throughout all of my tests over multiple days, it might every bit well only default to the slower 2.4GHz ring. The device supports automated firmware upgrades, which is great, but you can't use the Linksys Wi-Fi app to tweak settings -- instead, you'll have to log in via the web portal.

On top of all that, the RE6350 seemed to be the least stable of all the extenders I tested in 2020, with more than than one dropped connection during my tests. Yet priced at about $fifty from virtually retailers, at that place's only too many negatives and not enough value for me to recommend it.

Almost plug-in range extenders only offer basic features at best, but the TP-Link Tether app includes a point strength tester and a High-Speed Style in the app.

Screenshots past Ry Crist/CNET

Other things to consider

Aside from my speed tests, I fabricated sure to stream video on each extender'due south network, and I fabricated several video calls while connected through each one. I also spent fourth dimension playing with each extender's settings. You shouldn't look much, but most will at least brand it like shooting fish in a barrel to change the extension network's proper name or countersign. Some include app controls with extra features, too.

My top pick, the TP-Link RE605X, makes information technology piece of cake to tweak settings via TP-Link's Tether app on an Android or iOS device. Once again, the features make for slim pickings, but you can check signal strength or turn on Loftier-Speed Mode, which dedicates the 2.4GHz band for traffic from the router to the range extender, leaving the 5GHz gratuitous for your normal Wi-Fi network traffic. That manner actually wasn't as fast every bit sharing the 5GHz band like normal when I tested it out, because those incoming 2.4GHz speeds are limited, just it all the same might be a useful option in some situations.

Information technology'south also worth noting that setting a range extender up is about as painless equally it gets. Most support Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS, which is a universal protocol that wireless networking devices can use to connect with each other. Just plug the range extender in, wait for it to boot up, press the extender's WPS button and and so printing the WPS button on your router within two minutes. Voila, continued.

Information technology'due south also worth making sure that your range extender includes at least i Ethernet port (almost all of them do). If yous can directly connect your wired device (like a smart TV), then you'll relish speeds that are as fast as possible.

A mesh router with its own, dedicated range extenders will do an fifty-fifty ameliorate job of spreading a speedy Wi-Fi point throughout your home -- and you can go 1 for less than you might call up. For instance, this three-piece setup from Netgear Orbi is far from the nearly powerful you lot can buy, but it'south currently available for merely $100.

Netgear

Should I simply become a mesh router?

1 last note: If you're living in a larger abode or if you lot need speeds that are reliably faster than 100Mbps at range, so it's probably worth it to go alee and upgrade to a mesh router with its ain range-extending satellite devices. Yous've got more than options than ever these days, and simply about all of them would likely outperform a stand-alone router paired with a plug-in range extender like the ones tested here.

For instance, I had a iii-piece TP-Link Deco M5 mesh router on hand during my 2020 tests, so I set it upwardly and ran some speed tests aslope the four range extenders I initially tested. My average speeds stayed well above 100Mbps throughout my entire firm, even in the back. Everything was consolidated to a single, unified network past default and the mesh automatically routed my connectedness through an extender whenever information technology made sense. Unproblematic!

Better even so, a three-piece version of that organization with a router and ii extenders currently costs $150 -- and it's just one of several decent mesh setups you can get for nether $200. For instance, the 2019 version of Eero'southward mesh system now costs $169 for a 3-pack. Meanwhile, the AC1200 version of Netgear Orbi is my elevation value pick in the mesh category, with a 3-pack that's bachelor for just $99 at Walmart. None of those systems support Wi-Fi 6, heed you, simply all the same, options similar those are why I don't recommend spending much more $100 on a range extender.

If you're willing to spend more than $200 on a mesh router, you lot'll start seeing options that supportthe newest, fastest Wi-Fi six speeds, too as tri-band models with an additional 5GHz band that you can dedicate to traffic between the router and the extenders. If you can afford it, my recommendation is to invest in a arrangement that does both, as tri-band design paired with Wi-Fi 6 makes for ane of the most powerful combos yous can go far a mesh router .

We're also seeing a new crop of mesh routers that back up Wi-Fi 6E, which adds in exclusive access to the newly opened, ultrawide 6GHz band. I've got plenty of information on systems like those in my full mesh router rundown, and then be sure to give that a look, too.

That said, if all yous demand is for your current router to maintain a steady betoken i or ii rooms further into your home, then a simple range extender will probably do just fine -- peculiarly if you purchase the right one. For my money, the TP-Link RE605X, the Linksys RE7310, the D-Link Eagle Pro AI and the TP-Link RE220 are the best places to start.

Range extender FAQs

Got questions? Await me up on Twitter (@rycrist) or transport a message straight to my inbox by clicking the little envelope icon on my CNET contour page. In the concurrently, I'll post answers to any commonly asked questions below.

How effective are range extenders?

Plug-in range extenders like these tin can assist boost your speeds when y'all're connecting far from the router, merely they can only do so much. The bodily speed boost will depend on a multitude of different factors, including the layout of your home, the type of router yous're using, the type of device you're trying to connect with and your net plan'southward speeds.

If your habitation's internet connection offers peak speeds of 100Mbps or higher, so a decent, well-placed range extender should be able to boost your download speeds in a expressionless zone or when you're in range by at least 50Mbps, if not 100Mbps. That's plenty to browse the web or stream video online. Upload boosts are typically a lilliputian lower, but should yet be enough to ensure that you can make a video phone call or upload a file to the cloud.

Is a range extender good for Wi-Fi? Does it boring it downwards?

Nearly range extenders will put out their ain separate network -- commonly the name of your original network with "_EXT" added to the end, or something like that. Having a separate network similar that under the same roof every bit your main network could potentially cause a small corporeality of interference, merely I oasis't seen whatever noticeable slowdowns on my main network during any of these tests. And, in most cases, you tin can rename the extender's network and password to match your main network, at which betoken you'll have a single, seamless network that automatically passes your connection back and forth as y'all motion throughout your dwelling house.

That said, keep an eye out for client devices (phones, laptops and so on) that automatically connect to whichever network offers the best signal at the time. If you lot've used a device like that on both your main network and the extender's network, and so information technology's possible that your device volition jump from one to the other without you realizing information technology. For instance, if your laptop is on your master network and yous move a bit closer to the extender than the router, then your laptop might lose its connectedness and leap over to the range extender's network for the stronger signal strength, fifty-fifty though the speeds on that extender network might be slower.

How do I know if I need a range extender?

Plug-in range extenders are a expert fit when you need to boost the signal in a single dead zone. If you have more one dead zone in your home where the speeds plummet, then yous might be improve off just upgrading to a good mesh router (we've got plenty of recommendations at that place, too).

The all-time fashion to figure out how many dead zones you're dealing with is to grab your phone or a laptop and run some speed tests in each room where you lot need to use the internet. Get-go with a fresh connection to your network in the aforementioned room as the router, so pull up a expert speed-testing site (I like the Ookla speed test, just there are several good ones you tin can use). Run at least three speed tests in the room, jot the download and upload results down for each one, so move to the side by side room and repeat.

In one case yous have average speeds for each room, look for spots where your speeds fall below 30% of whatever Internet access provider speeds you're paying for each calendar month. Those are the rooms that could use a boost -- if it's just i (or two that are close together), then a unmarried range extender might be all you need. If in that location are more than ane, then maybe mesh is the way to go.

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Source: https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/best-wifi-extender/