Which clear modem is best

It might sound smart to buy the best modem available, but the interplay between the technology, your location, and the ISP means your chances of wasting money on a device that might not work in the future are higher with modems than with other types of electronics.

We surmise new modems will feature a 2. As stated above, this is more of a future-proofing move, as most ISP plans top out at 1-gigabit internet. We'll evaluate them as they become readily available. Mark Bergen, Google Fiber is pulling back on its broadband rollout as pressure grows to cut costs , Recode, August 25, Daniel Frankel, Cox revises gigabit rollout plan, now targeting to go footprintwide: report , FierceVideo, July 12, Joel Santo Domingo is a senior staff writer covering networking and storage at Wirecutter.

Previously he tested and reviewed more than a thousand PCs and tech devices for PCMag and other sites over 17 years. Our pick. Budget pick. Upgrade pick. But you should call Suddenlink to verify compatibility before purchasing. Everything we recommend. What to look forward to Sources. Why you should trust us. Who this is for.

Most current Spectrum plans do not have a separate fee. Fees current as of March 24, When to replace your old modem. How we picked. Compatibility: ISP compatibility is the main factor in choosing a cable modem.

Channels: Channel bonding refers to the number of downstream for downloading and upstream for uploading channels your modem can access. The right cable modem is the one with the right number of channels for your service tier. The average internet speed in the US is around Mbps , and the fastest cable tier most major ISPs offer is between and 1, Mbps aka gigabit. Our top picks will work for any plan up to Mbps. Warranty: Most modems come with a one- or two-year limited warranty that covers any catastrophic failure.

A warranty is useful, because a company will typically replace a modem if it stops working due to defects. Heat: Read the owner reviews for almost any modem, and someone will mention that the modem gets hot. Lag and latency are a thing of the past here too. It pairs well with most routers, as well as ISPs, and features advanced security which is especially helpful against DDoS attacks.

Netgear has been in the game for almost 25 years now, and has a solid reputation as being reliable and easy to use. The bandwidth and channel spacing are updated here too, and it streams 4K video smoothly. Most conveniently though, the TP-Link AC is a cable modem and router in one, and is still plenty fast for typical internet usage like streaming or gaming in 4K. Newswire Powered by. Close the menu. Rolling Stone. Log In.

To help keep your account secure, please log-in again. The Motorola MB is the best modem for cable internet speeds of 1, Mbps or faster. This standard supports up to 1, Mbps, but your download speed will depend on the number of download channels the modem can support.

It supports download speeds up to 10 Gbps. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon. Author - Peter Holslin. Peter Holslin has more than a decade of experience working as a writer and freelance journalist. At HighSpeedInternet. Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight.

She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span. View on Amazon Read review. Our top pick: Which gigabit modem is best? The 5 best modems for gigabit internet. Best modems for gigabit internet. What should you look for in a modem for gigabit internet? Motorola MB—Best overall.

Best overall. View on Amazon. Four gigabit Ethernet ports Excellent Broadcom chipset. Bulky design Limited compatibility with providers. Best value. No more Puma 6 chipset Multiple color options. Fewer Ethernet ports Limited compatibility with cable providers. Built-in Wi-Fi router Secure network to prevent hacking. Expensive Incompatible with some cable providers. Best look. Slick, unobtrusive appearance Easy setup Lots of Ethernet ports.

Costs more for average features. Best app controls.