These are the best routers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac owners

As gateways to the web, routers are essential to a home's network, and these are the best ones for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users.

Buyers can find nearly any router and have it work fine for their home. But Apple users should consider certain factors beyond numbers for network speed and coverage, such as their smart home connectivity.

Plenty of routers found on the market today work with Apple's smart home standard called HomeKit, but only some of them support specialized features known as HomeKit Secure. These make a big difference for smart home accessories.

HomeKit Secure Router

These routers can protect a network by controlling the level of communication between smart home devices and the web.

• Restrict to Home: The most secure setting that only allows accessories to interact with HomeKit through Apple devices. Accessories can't connect to the internet or other devices on the network. The router may block access to third-party services such as firmware updates.
• Automatic: The default setting lets accessories talk with HomeKit and connections recommended by the manufacturer.
• No Restriction: The least secure setting lets accessories on the network talk to any other network device or internet-based service.

A HomeKit-compatible router must meet a few requirements to control network devices in this manner. For example, in addition to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the latest software upgrades, a "hub" must also be on the network.

A hub helps devices on a network directly communicate with each other. Apple devices that can act as a hub include HomePod, Apple TV, or iPad can act as a hub.

During the WWDC 2022 keynote, Apple said that iPadOS 16 will affect iPads used as a hub. Those iPads that are already a hub will continue to work, but iPadOS 16 won't allow new iPads to be added as a hub.

The second HomeKit feature that a compatible router can facilitate involves security cameras, and this requires iCloud+ subscription to function.

HomeKit Secure Video

HomeKit Secure Video

allows footage from compatible security cameras to be stored in iCloud. They are secured with end-to-end encryption and don't count towards the cloud storage limit.

• iCloud+ 50GB tier: Add one camera.
• iCloud+ 200GB tier: Add up to five cameras.
• iCloud+ 2TB tier: Add unlimited cameras.

The home hub will analyze video footage to see if pets, people, or cars appear on camera so users can receive alerts on their device. In addition, users can view the last ten days of video activity inside the Home app.

Types of home networks

After HomeKit, a buyer should determine if they need a traditional or "mesh" router, referring to how these devices handle a Wi-Fi signal.

Routers emit wireless signals shaped like a "torus," or donut, that can be blocked or reflected by objects around the home, such as appliances and walls. In a mesh network, one device acts as the primary router with additional nodes that wirelessly connect to it.

Mesh routers still give out this signal shape, but with every device emitting a signal, they overlap to create a robust network that can overcome obstacles.

Not everyone needs a mesh network, especially with the latest networking advances of Wi-Fi 6. Standard routers and mesh routers can work with HomeKit, so the main factor between the two choices is price, and mesh routers are typically more expensive.

Best for HomeKit Secure: Linksys Velop AX4200 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System

Linksys says this router can handle over 40 devices at speeds up to 4.2 Gbps. It works with all internet service providers and is backward-compatible with Wi-Fi 5 and older devices. In addition, the router's app has features such as parental controls, guest access, and device prioritization.

The Velop AX4200 has three LAN Gigabit Ethernet ports, one Gigabit WAN port, and a Type A USB 3.0 port to connect accessories. It's available on Apple.com starting at $249.95.

Best for ecosystem compatibility: Amazon eero Pro 6 tri-band mesh Wi-Fi 6 router

Amazon's eero Pro 6 is the company's fastest mesh networking system. It offers gigabit Wi-Fi 6 speeds, supports over 75 connected devices, and covers up to 2,000 square feet.

It is a hub for Zigbee smart home devices and works with the Thread connectivity standard. Amazon added support for HomeKit in 2021 for the eero Pro 6.

The eero app includes optional, paid subscriptions called eero Secure and eero Secure+. These provide security services such as online threat protection, content filters, and ad-blocking.

The eero Pro system is $229 for a single router but is frequently on sale. It provides two Gigabit Ethernet ports and one USB-C power port.

Best coverage: Linksys Velop AC2200 System

This HomeKit router supports up to 6,000 square feet of home coverage and over 60 connected devices. In addition, the company's Intelligent Mesh technology offers a fast, reliable range.

In addition, Velop nodes create one Wi-Fi network that eliminates multiple usernames and passwords. As a result, only one name and one password are needed for login.

It offers six Gigabit Ethernet ports and is available to purchase for for $299.

Best for multiple devices: Netgear Nighthawk AX12 WiFi 6 Router

Netgear's Nighthawk offers speeds up to 6 Gbps, and the company mentions explicitly how ideal this is for 4K UHD video streaming.

Supporting multiple Apple devices is what the Nighthawk does best, using "Multi-user multiple input, multiple outputs" (MU-MIMO). As a result, it transfers data to many devices at once without compromising on speed.

A feature called Netgear Armor provides security for devices on the network. In addition, the Nighthawk app on the App Store delivers remote management so that users can connect to their home network even when away from home.

It has four one-Gigabit Ethernet ports and one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, along with two Type A USB 3.0 ports. The Nighthawk AX12 is available for $449.99 at Netgear and can sometimes be found on sale.

Best for wired connectivity: TP-Link AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 Router

This Wi-Fi 6 router offers ultimate connectivity with one 2.5 Gbps WAN port, eight Gigabit LAN ports, and two USB 3.0 ports in Type A and Type C. Additionally, eight high-gain antennas provide a level of coverage that is similar to mesh networking.

Customers receive a layer of security with TP-Link HomeCare, featuring antivirus and parental controls.

Using the company's AX Wi-Fi Target Wake Time technology, the router can save power to schedule data transmission times intelligently. It's available for $299.99 and can sometimes be found on sale.