The case for Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) isn't really about speed. A good Wi-Fi 5 router can already saturate most home internet connections. The case for Wi-Fi 6 is about efficiency at scale — specifically, how the router handles a lot of devices simultaneously.
The technology that makes Wi-Fi 6 better for congested environments is OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access, which you will never need to say out loud). In Wi-Fi 5, the router serves one device at a time, rapidly switching between them. In Wi-Fi 6, it can serve multiple devices in the same transmission slot. In a house with 40+ connected devices — phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, thermostats, doorbells, lightbulbs — this matters.
Good Wi-Fi 6 routers in 2025: the TP-Link Archer AX55 ($80) is the budget pick that outperforms most ISP equipment; the ASUS RT-AX86U ($180) is the mid-range sweet spot; the UniFi Dream Router ($200) is the prosumer pick if you want full network visibility and don't mind a bit of setup. For a mesh system, Eero Pro 6E and TP-Link Deco XE75 are both excellent.
The upgrade process is about as hard as changing a lightbulb. Unplug the old router, plug in the new one, configure the SSID and password (use the same SSID and password as your old router and every device reconnects automatically), done. The whole process takes 15 minutes if you don't change the network name.
One thing to check: if your ISP provided a modem-router combo (a 'gateway'), you may need to enable bridge mode or DMZ on it before adding your own router. Your ISP's tech support line can walk you through this — it's a common request.