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Employees and clients entering and exiting a network will bring in a range of mobile devices, including tablets. Learn which routers provide the best support for these devices
Whether you’re working remotely or managing a team of hundreds within a large enterprise, numerous types of wireless devices are a certainty for businesses. Networks must support different equipment, ensuring that team members have seamless connections and can traverse the area without drops in service.
Finding the right router is one step in ensuring wireless network success. And you need a router that will successfully support a range of mobile devices, including tablets. This is especially as true as bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies are implemented in offices.
One study from Clutch showed that 86 percent of employees check their email from their personal devices, and 67 percent access shared company documents on this equipment. And around half of adults in the U.S. now own a tablet computer, according to Pew Research.
With all these connected devices to manage, what router features influence seamless connectivity?
Which Router is Right for Me?
Router Features
Here are a few tips when finding the right router that will support tablets and a range of other mobile devices:
- Choose a router that supports at least Wi-Fi protected access 2 (WPA2), which offers a high level of security and data protection.
- View dual- and triple-band routers that allow support for multiple networks.
- Some routers offer firewall management tools that help protect a network with added security.
- Consider going with a router that is paired with a smartphone app so that it can be managed from anywhere, or at least anywhere within the network area.
- The router should have at least one USB port so that a drive or printer can be connected.
Top Wi-Fi Routers
Now let’s take a look at some of the best routers to look into.
Best Routers for Tablets
1. NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S
The NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S can receive Wi-Fi speeds up to 2,600 Mbps and provides up to 2,500 square feet of coverage. It's recommended for up to 45 devices and includes ethernet ports if you need to plug in a device. This dual-band router provides USB ports and supports WPA2, and includes firewall protection.
2. Synology RT2600AC
The Synology RT2600AC is another dual-band router for Wi-Fi that can cover a 3,000 square-foot area and has USB ports and an S.D. card reader. It has a 1.7 Gigahertz dual-core processor and 4x4 802.11ac wave 2 radios with MU-MIMO, in addition to speeds up to 2.53 Gbps.
3. NETGEAR Nighthawk X10
Another Smart Wi-Fi router from NETGEAR is the X10, which provides up to 2,500 square feet of coverage and has speeds up to 7,200 Mbps. This router is one of the fastest in the industry for media streaming with MU-MIMO, so it works well when multiple tablets are trying to stream content.
4. Asus RT-AX88U
The ASUS RT-AX88U is a 4x4 dual-band router that supports 802.11ax, with Wi-Fi speeds up to 6,000 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 4,804 Mbps on 5GHz, which are good for congested areas of wireless devices. It also has eight LAN ports and adds significant security with AiProtection Pro.
5. Linksys EA6350
Finally, the Linksys EA6350 is a versatile dual-band Wi-Fi router that’s affordable and well-suited for smaller offices or home workspaces, as it can support 10 wireless devices, including tablets. Wi-Fi speeds can be up to 1.2 Gbps. It has four ethernet ports and can cover up to 1,000 square feet.
Choosing the right router to support tablets just takes some research. These five routers provide the essentials for wireless devices to stay connected to high-performing Wi-Fi.
It’s always wise to implement a system that will monitor your business’s wireless network continuously. 7SIGNAL’s Wireless Network Monitoring platform does just that, utilizing the Sapphire Eye® sensors. These monitoring solutions ensure that you can resolve network issues before your end-users even detect them.
Want learn more about Sapphire Eye? Click here to schedule a demo!
7SIGNAL® is a leader in Wi-Fi Performance Management. The 7SIGNAL platform is a cloud-based Wi-Fi performance management solution that continuously monitors the wireless network for performance issues – maximizing network uptime, device connectivity and network ROI. The platform was designed to support the Wi-Fi management needs of the world’s largest organizations, educational institutions, hospitals and government agencies. 7SIGNAL continuously monitors the connectivity of over 5 million global devices. Learn more at www.7signal.com.