Photo: Michael Hession

If you have an older Wi-Fi router that drops connections constantly, needs frequent reboots, or forces you to wait mind-numbingly long load times, trust us: A new router is a worthwhile upgrade.

In our tests, we’ve found that our picks easily outperform most models more than a few years old. And if you’re currently renting a basic router from your internet service provider, upgrading to owning your own is likely to save you money in the long term.

After our latest round of testing, we have a brand-new lineup of recommendations—including one that’s not totally hideous.

Fast speeds, whether you’re working or playing→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

“My family can never agree on a movie. But we always agree on this board game.” This easy-to-learn strategy game has a short and sweet play time→

The $12 tool one of our kitchen experts will never give up It’s great for everything from smashing garlic to frosting cakes→

“This hair-removal device saved me from a year of painful bikini waxes” Zap. Zap. Zap→

Image: The New York Times

There are five things you need to plan for ahead of a natural disaster, according to senior editor Harry Sawyers: food and water, first aid, light, power and communication, and tools. This week on The Wirecutter Show, Harry shares his advice for compiling an emergency prep kit without getting overwhelmed—and some of the best, rigorously tested products in each of these categories. (His must-have tool? A surprisingly elegant handsaw.)

Listen now on: Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Plus: Read our ultimate guide to emergency preparedness here.

Photo: Michael Murtaugh

If you have a bigger house that a single router isn’t covering well, you probably need a mesh system. These systems work by spreading multiple access points around your house to improve the range and performance of your Wi-Fi.

After testing more than 125 (!) mesh-networking systems over the years, we’re confident that our top pick is the best option. We tested it all over a three-story house, and it outperformed systems costing two or three times as much.

When a mesh-networking system makes sense→

And if you’ve actually been a little too online lately: Test your attention span by sitting with this painting for 10 minutes.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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