Boost Your WiFi Now: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing WiFi 7 Routers!

Is your WiFi network underperforming? Thinking about switching to 5G to get coverage in the bathroom? Unsure about which devices to purchase? Don’t panic, and follow some basic advice to achieve a proper network setup, whether at the office or at home.

The video above reveals some empirical tests and best practices, supported by throughput measurements, to avoid rookie mistakes. In this article, we will also detail our favorite WiFi 7 routers and devices, regardless of your budget! Let’s get started…

Why is WiFi So Complicated?

It’s 2025, and it feels like WiFi has become a real headache for many, especially now that everything from our fridges to our mixers, garage doors, and security cameras are connected.

Despite years of development and the technology’s relative maturity, WiFi—and networking in general—remains a complicated field with often incomprehensible terms like IP address, Mesh network, extenders, or WiFi 7, which seems to have become an excuse to charge you five times more for devices!

In short, in this article, I’ll try not to get too technical but instead offer some basic recommendations for achieving respectable WiFi and finally stop struggling with network issues. Feel free to ask us questions in the comments or add to this document, as the topic is broad and complex, and it’s impossible to cover everything in one article.

Tip #1: Say Goodbye to ISP-Provided WiFi!

The first mistake is often due to laziness (but I understand) – sticking with the WiFi provided by ISPs as part of their service, which 99% of customers settle for.

You know that a jack-of-all-trades product (like a washer/dryer combo) rarely performs well in specific tasks, and that’s exactly what happens here. ISP boxes need to connect to fiber, manage TV boxes, recordings, internal networks, access… In reality, they’re like mini-PCs, but they aren’t dedicated WiFi devices.

Without going into too much detail, the placement of antennas, location (we’ll get back to this), or even the device’s power are usually not suited for good network coverage. The so-called extenders (which theoretically extend the network) often don’t change much; their throughput is always limited (theoretical 200 to 500Mbps with FreePlugs, rarely more than 50/100Mbps in reality, about a tenth of your connection!) and they often create the illusion that network coverage is sufficient.

Moreover, some ISPs offer restricted devices: no 6GHz channel, 320MHz, or MLO, three features of WiFi 7 that can significantly boost speeds. For instance, Orange doesn’t offer 6GHz on its latest Livebox, while Free has only just activated MLO and 320MHz… but it’s still not working very well.

Tip #2: Proper Placement of Devices

One major issue with using ISP boxes often concerns their placement within the premises: the fiber or ADSL input is usually near an exterior wall, which reduces speed at the other end of the dwelling.

With a dedicated device, positioning it centrally in a small apartment/office is much easier. Each wall significantly weakens the signal, so it’s crucial to minimize the number of walls between the device and the various rooms to be connected. With very central placement, it’s even possible to cover an entire house of 150 to 250 m2 with a single router, like the Netgear RS700S in our test.

If you have an outdoor area or a long house, you’ll need to multiply the number of devices, especially with a Mesh network, as we’ll see below. Again, electronics don’t like water, and it’s often easier to place your devices near your terrace or garden rather than adding them outside.

Tip #3: Should You Upgrade to WiFi 7?

In 2025, WiFi 7 has become the standard, though Apple still doesn’t offer it on its Macs—quite a surprise at that price… Only the iPhone 16/16 Pro feature this latest generation of WiFi, but very restrictedly, as seen in our test.

Yet, WiFi 7 brings a plethora of useful new features, such as:

So yes, you can stick with WiFi 6E or even WiFi 6 (these products are being cleared out and are often cheaper), but in 3 or 4 years, this equipment will severely limit your smartphones, tablets, and other computers… In terms of networking, it’s better to be ahead, as you don’t change your devices every three years. Remember that games, streaming, and the proliferation of connected devices always demand more from WiFi.

Tip #4: What If the Best WiFi Was… Wired?

Wired WiFi? Are you out of your mind? Yet, good old Ethernet cables haven’t had their last word!

Indeed, it’s not always considered, but if your computer is stationary, why not connect it to an Ethernet port? If it’s not too far from a device, it’s entirely feasible and much more reliable than WiFi. The good old cable suffers very little interference and offers a much more stable throughput than WiFi. Note that some satellites even offer 2.5G Ethernet ports, which saves you from having to run cables all over the house. This might often be slower than connecting directly to the main device or box, but it’s always better than unstable WiFi.

Additionally, even if you have a laptop, it’s entirely possible to connect the machine to Ethernet using USB C hubs (up to 1Gbps for Ethernet generally) or Thunderbolt, which can provide 2.5G or even 10G (like with this OWC model), equaling the throughput of a modern box. There’s even a Thunderbolt to 10G adapter available for under $130.

Tip #5: What is WiFi Mesh?

WiFi Mesh (or ‘maillé’ in French) emerged about 6-7 years ago and revolutionized how devices operate.

The concept was primarily to simplify and optimize connection in setups with multiple access points. To put it simply, with WiFi Mesh, you can install a primary device (the router) and add as many satellites as you wish. These will automatically integrate, sharing the same network name (SSID) while optimizing bandwidth.

In the case of a Mesh network, each device acts as a relay, allowing you to place access points as needed: in a line, star-shaped, or a clever mix of both. You can also connect them via Ethernet cables or simply use a dedicated WiFi channel (Backhaul) that handles data transfer between devices. But in any case, you don’t have to do anything, as the operation is 100% automated.

Today, most manufacturers use WiFi Mesh, including Netgear Orbi, Amazon Eero, TP-Link, and Ubiquiti…

Which Devices to Choose?

WiFi device prices have skyrocketed in recent years, and the arrival of WiFi 7 hasn’t helped matters. To enjoy full throughput, you always need more electronics, ports of 2.5 or even 10G, active cooling… each device becomes a mini PC, with prices to match.

Here are some recommendations based on your budget and space.