6 GHz is the common trade-off
The TP-Link Archer BE230 and NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100 and RS200 are dual-band products. They can use Wi‑Fi 7 techniques on 2.4 and 5 GHz, but they do not create a 6 GHz network. They can fit apartments and homes where older clients already get good 5 GHz coverage.
A tri-band option such as the Nighthawk RS300 adds 6 GHz. Prices change, so use the budget as a checkout filter instead of attaching a permanent price label to a model.
Keep the WAN port
Even affordable Wi‑Fi 7 routers often include 2.5GbE, but port assignments vary. Confirm that the router can accept the full speed of the current or next internet plan and still provide the wired connections the home needs.
A router with one multi-gig port may force the connection to a fast modem while every local wired device remains on gigabit Ethernet. That may be fine, but it should be a conscious trade-off.
Budget for the complete system
Include the modem, multi-gig switch, Ethernet adapters, and extra mesh nodes in the budget. Any of them can turn an inexpensive router into a larger project. Reuse existing equipment when it does not create a measurable bottleneck.
Security and parental-control subscriptions also change long-term cost. Compare what remains available without a subscription and whether the vendor has a clear firmware-update process.
The budget checklist
Use a low price as the last filter, after the non-negotiable features. A cheap router that omits the needed band or port is not a bargain.
- Confirm whether the model is dual-band or tri-band.
- Count 2.5GbE and faster ports individually.
- Check whether mesh expansion works across the vendor's current range.
- Compare the live checkout price and return policy before ordering.