What are the best modem and routers compatible with Xfinity?
While the internet provider offers a router, it doesn’t mean you’re getting the best gear for a great connection. There are many devices out there that offer a better connection, and if you’re looking for something compatible with Xfinity, you’ll find plenty of wireless routers that work with Comcast Xfinity internet.
Before we check out the top six routers and modem combos, here are a few reasons why you should own your device and not rely on the one provided by the internet provider.
- Other routers have a better range and performance.
- The internet connection will be faster, which is what most of us want, especially when gaming or streaming.
- The device is your property, you don’t need to return it if you cancel the service from your internet provider.
Of course, there are a couple of cons when it comes to owning your own router/modem. One of them is that you’re investing money in a device, and then there’s also the lack of customer support for your router (although technical issues for wireless routers are very rare).
1. NETGEAR Nighthawk C7100V
- Speed: Up to 960 Mbps
- Bands: Dual-band (2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz)
- Ports: Four gigabit Ethernet ports
- Other features: Combo modem/router/voice modem
The NETGEAR Nighthawk C7100V is a great choice for those that look for an upgrade compared to the provided Xfinity modem. You’ll get faster speeds and some more phone features. Plus, it will take up less space since it has a compact and lightweight design.
2. TP-Link Archer CR1900
- Speed: Up to 642Mbps
- Bands: Dual Band (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
- Ports: Four 1000Mbps RJ45 LAN Ports, 1 Coax Port, 2 USB 2.0 Ports
- Other features: 6x Internal Antennas, All-in-one Cable Modem + Wi-Fi Router, Dedicated Modem Processor
Another slim device coming with high speeds and plenty of features, the TP-Link Archer CR1900 will stun you with an overall speed of 1Gbps. The Wi-Fi router makes sure the connection is steady.
Choose the TP-Link Archer CR1900 if you have a high-speed offer from Xfinity. Another plus from this modem/router combo is that it comes with 24/7 tech support and a 2-year warranty!
3. NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band AX12
- Speed: Up to 10.8 Gbps
- Bands: Tri-band (2.4 Ghz and two 5 Ghz)
- Ports: Five gigabit Ethernet ports
- Other features: MU-MIMO support, dynamic QoS, a powerful chip
You cannot beat the NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band AX12 when it comes to high wireless speeds. At 10.8 Gbps, your Xfinity internet connection will be powerful enough. One downside to the NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band AX12 is that it needs a modem, so you need to buy one or use the one from Xfinity in addition to the router.
4. ARRIS SURFboard SBG7600AC2
- Speed: Up to 600 Mbps
- Bands: Dual-band (2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz)
- Ports: Four gigabit Ethernet ports, one USB Port
- Other features: Wi-Fi beamforming, McAfee Secure Home Internet suite, user-friendly
The ARRIS SURFboard SBG7600AC2 is a modem/router combo that brings incredible speeds, fast downloading speed, and great streaming. It also offers an increased network capability and keeps you safe with the free McAfee Secure Home Internet suite.
5. Motorola MG7550
- Speed: Up to 686 Mbps
- Bands: Dual-band (2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz)
- Ports: Four gigabit Ethernet ports
- Other features: Wireless Power Boost, AnyBeam beamforming
The budget-friendly modem/router combo from Motorola is a great alternative to the Xfinity Gateway if you want to own your device. The Motorola MG7550 might not come with the features we’ve seen in the other modem/router combos in our list, but it has a very low price, which is definitely a plus.
6. xFi Wireless Gateway
- Speed: Up to 700 Mbps
- Bands: Dual-band (2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz)
- Ports: Four gigabit Ethernet ports
- Other features: Combo modem/router/voice modem
Last but not least, we figured it was best to include the standard modem/router from Xfinity since it’s a list with devices compatible with the Xfinity service.
It comes with all the features you want and you get the xFi Wireless Gateway when you sign up for a 300 Mbps internet plan. However, you’ll have to pay rent for it, every month! Nonetheless, if you want to switch from Xfinity to another provider, it’s better to rent the device and not buy a new one. One perk you get is the Xfinity customer support included in the offer since you rent the device from Xfinity.
How to Choose the Best Wireless Router
When you decide to buy a wireless router, you must always check for some essential feature:
Is it compatible with the internet provider?
When buying a modem/router combo, always check if they are compatible with the internet provider. Xfinity and other providers usually provide lists of compatible devices so you can use your own equipment.
Speed is always important
If Xfinity is your internet provider, then you should know that the better the router, the higher the speed. Note that the advertised speed on wireless routers is not always the actual speeds you’ll get since the Wi-Fi signal can be subject to interference. Nonetheless, most routers offer huge speeds, so you may not even notice anything slowing down.
The latest Wireless standards are better
There are three standards modern routers use: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), and Wi-Fi 6 (11ad and 11ax).
Low-end routers with speeds up to 450 Mbps use Wi-Fi 4, while new routers with speeds up to 1.3 Gbps use Wi-Fi 5. High-end (and expensive) routers use the newest standard that supports a speed up to 4.8 Gbps, but there are few devices and few internet connections that use the latest standard. This is why the best choice right now is to look for a Wi-Fi 5 router.
The range is always important
Depending on how big is your home, you’ll need to look either for routers with a higher range or router extenders so you have the same high signal all over the house.
Handy Features: QoS, MU-MIMO, Beamforming
If a router comes with the three features mentioned above, then you’re making a good purchase.
In short, QoS is a business-class feature that is also handy at home, helping you prioritize the traffic for certain tasks. MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output) helps the router better communicate with many devices at the same time. Beamforming will focus that wireless signal towards a specific device and not just send it everywhere. The result is a stronger signal, with a longer range.
Taking into consideration all our tips from above, it now seems a lot easier to decide on the best modem/router compatible with Xfinity.
