The best WiFi extenders: top 8 devices for extending your Wi-Fi

The best Wi-Fi extenders can make your life a whole lot simpler if you have multiple laptops, smartphones and tablets that require seamless Wi-Fi connections no matter where in your home or office you go. Even if you only have one device but have a large area to cover, these recommended Wi-Fi extenders will make sure the internet follows you wherever you may go in your home.

There’s just one problem. With many networks, you’ll have a modem and a single Wi-Fi router located near to it or built directly into it. Now, this does work for very small apartments or flats fairly well. However, if that router isn’t in a central location, or if you have walls and floors between your device and the router, you might not get exactly the best Wi-Fi experience.

But, that’s where Wi-Fi extenders come in, they connect to the original Wi-Fi network and then boost the signal, so you can read the news in the upstairs bathroom even if your router is down in the basement.

There's a huge market for great Wi-Fi extenders out there, so to help you find the perfect solution for your needs, we've compiled this list of the best Wi-Fi extenders for 2017.

Netgear is a household name in home and office networking, and they’ve put their expertise to good use here with the AC1200 WiFi Range Extender EX6150. The EX6150 model is a small device that you can plug right into a wall outlet.

This Wi-Fi extender has a quick and easy setup, with no need to use an installation CD. Just follow the simple instructions and, soon enough, you'll have fast and reliable Wi-Fi throughout your entire home or office.

D-Link's compact Wi-Fi Dual Band Range Extender (DAP-1520) is tiny and inconspicuous, which means that most people won't even notice it's there while it dutifully blasts Wi-Fi throughout your home.

The small and compact design does come with a catch, however, as it’s missing an Ethernet port for extending a wired connection. Unlike some Wi-Fi extenders, the antennae are internal, which makes for a neater looking device, but does mean range is slightly reduced.

TP-Link is a networking company that is ever so steadily becoming more and more popular in the West and, with devices like the TP-Link RE350 AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender, they make a pretty good case: it does the job well, it's affordable and the design isn't too shabby either.

It might not be the fastest Wi-Fi extender in this list, but it offers a great range, thanks to two external high-gain antennae and an LED on the front indicating how strong the signal quality is, giving you a handy guide to placing this device in the best place for exceptional results.

If you're seriously thinking about expanding your Wi-Fi network, then the Netgear AC1200 Desktop WiFi Range Extender (EX6200) is absolutely worth considering. Many other Wi-Fi extenders are compact devices that sit in an outlet, but the EX6200 looks more like a router or modem.

While the size might put some people off, it does allow it to offer a range of options - including five Ethernet ports for wired devices, which other Wi-Fi extenders are unable to offer. High-powered amplifiers ensure your Wi-Fi reaches all parts of the building, and a quad-core processor helps make the network faster and more stable.

The Linksys RE6500 AC1200 is yet another Wi-Fi extender that appears more like a router. The larger design allows Linksys to include four gigabit Ethernet ports, which means that you are able to extend your network to internet-connected devices that require a wired connection.

It even has an audio output jack which allows you to connect it to speakers or an audio receiver, allowing you to stream digital music from your computer to your sound system.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to extend your Wi-Fi network, and you don't mind making a few sacrifices, then the D-Link DAP-1320 Wireless N300 Range Extender might be what you’re looking for. This small device doesn't come with any Ethernet ports, and it doesn't offer dual bands or 802.11ac, currently the fastest form of Wi-Fi.

However, it is well-built and designed, and it's a fast, easy and cheap way of extending your Wi-Fi network if you’re not expecting too much network traffic.

Yep, another D-Link device. The D-Link Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Gigabit Range Extender DAP-1650 is a great mid-range Wi-Fi extender that brings some of the features of more expensive extenders, such as multiple Ethernet ports and USB, while also featuring a small and unobtrusive design.

Not only does it look good, but it's priced well. The only issue is that due to its compact size and internal antennae, its range isn't as large as it could be.

The Linksys Velop makes a sound argument for a wireless mesh network’s ease of setup. With the aim of replacing both your router and your now-antiquated range extender, the Velop arrives at a time when companies like Google and Netgear are doing the same thing. The main way Linksys hopes to differentiate its contender in the wireless mesh networking space is with a user-friendly setup that anyone with a smartphone can understand. With just a visit to the App Store or Google Play marketplace, you’ll have the Linksys Velop running in a matter of minutes.

Read the full review: Linksys Velop

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