WWiFiXpert

Reviewed September 2026

Best Wi-Fi for gaming

The short answer

Gaming cares about steadiness, not headline speed. A wired console beats any Wi-Fi; where that is impossible, stability wins.

For this one job we'd pick the NETGEAR Orbi. Its overall WiFiXpert Index score is 79/100 — which is not the same thing as being top of the overall table, and doesn't change it.

Ranked for this job

Same published scores as the main index, weighted towards what matters here.

#SystemSuited to thisOverall Index
1NETGEAR Orbi76/10079/100
2eero mesh75/10079/100
3Ubiquiti UniFi74/10074/100
4TP-Link Deco70/10073/100
5BT Smart Hub 267/10065/100
6Sky Broadband Hub66/10064/100
7Virgin Media Hub 566/10063/100
8EE Smart Hub Plus66/10064/100

Why each one landed where it did

NETGEAR Orbi

  • Wi-Fi performance: 9/10 — Holds speed further from the base than the others we've measured.
  • Reliability: 8/10 — Steady, with occasional satellite drop-outs when placed too far out.
  • Gaming consoles compatibility: Works with configuration (from the WiFiXpert Compatibility Index).

Gaming consoles: Works with configuration

Full score breakdown

eero mesh

  • Wi-Fi performance: 8/10 — Speeds close to the plan in the same room; sensible drop-off further away.
  • Reliability: 9/10 — One of the lowest rates of 'keeps dropping' cases we see.
  • Gaming consoles compatibility: Works with configuration (from the WiFiXpert Compatibility Index).

Gaming consoles: Works with configuration

Full score breakdown

Ubiquiti UniFi

  • Wi-Fi performance: 9/10 — Excellent when access points are placed and cabled properly.
  • Reliability: 9/10 — Very stable once configured; unstable when half-configured.
  • Gaming consoles compatibility: Works with configuration (from the WiFiXpert Compatibility Index).

Gaming consoles: Works with configuration

Full score breakdown

TP-Link Deco

  • Wi-Fi performance: 8/10 — Strong for the money on the current models we've used.
  • Reliability: 7/10 — Mostly steady; a chunk of our cases trace back to the IoT network setting.
  • Gaming consoles compatibility: Works with configuration (from the WiFiXpert Compatibility Index).

Gaming consoles: Works with configuration

Full score breakdown

What we're assuming

  • Strict NAT problems are a settings issue rather than a hardware one — see our guides.
  • Try the free fixes first — moving the router, or moving one box — before buying anything. Common problems and free fixes.

Scored using WiFiXpert Hardware Index Methodology v1.0 — how we score.

Other situations

Ask the Wi-Fi DoctorPlan my home Wi-Fi