Linksys & Microsoft have teamed up to bring Xbox One & PC gamers a prioritized online experience with the new WRT32XB. Just as it’s marketing suggests this new router puts console and PC gaming ahead of your remaining connected devices with a robust amount of features dedicated to them at all times including speed & latency boosts.

The Linksys WRT32XB is a 2018 dedicated gaming router, it is designed by Linksys and distributed by Belkin. It is available May 15, 2018.

Editor’s Note: A review product of the Linksys WRT32XB router was provided by Linksys & Belkin in support of this review. 

Gaming routers come and go and nearly anyone involved with computer hardware production has at least one brand or so to their name. Linksys, a member of the Belkin family is also a member of this list having released a handful of gaming themed routers in the past including the original WRT32X. Continuing the WRT lineup, Linksys has unveiled a brand new router aimed at your PC and Xbox One and from what I’ve tested thus far gaming concerns remain fairly consistent.

Unfortunately for one reason or another the in-house speed test for the WRT wouldn’t work for me, but from my own personal testing and use I could tell things on the download and upload end were far superior than with my past routers in regards to expected speeds.

THE GOOD: I’ve had the WRT32XB for nearly a week now and I’ve tested it with nearly everything under the sun; my iPhone, Playstation 4, Playstation 3, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, laptop, and an Android. With seven devices tested to make the best out of the gaming router I checked all the ins and outs the device offered. It should be noted that although this router is mainly aimed at the Xbox One family of consoles, it also takes PC gaming and general gaming as priority over any other device connected. Though you can edit which devices take priority over one another in the router’s settings. The Killer Network also helps the router keeping downloads or online gameplay smooth and steady while other non-gaming devices are present. As mentioned above, my speed is more or less are at 100% full speed unless the servers I’m using are purposely slowing my speeds down. Another thing I noticed is that the video streaming claims were exact as I’ve been having some trouble with past routers that consistently edit quality of video streaming, but the WRT32XB kept my quality at the recommended settings I wanted. This was always a consistent pain with YouTube, but the WRT has since fixed any issues like that.

The WRT32XB out of box.

If you’ve used the previous WRT32X then there really isn’t too much different here, but the fact that the B is optimized for Xbox One out of the box makes it especially attractive. Usually to get the best out of the Xbox One’s download speed you have to open certain ports in the console and do some network settings that’s a bit of a pain, but the WRT32XB completely eliminates the need for all of that and saves a ton of time keeping those who aren’t network savvy free to game online right away.

The WRT32XB dashboard.

THE BAD: The router is actually fairly bulky, I didn’t think so looking at pictures, but you’re going to need a fair bit of room for it. Pricing is about the average for gaming routers, if you can afford it then go for it. The out of box optimization for Xbox One alone, however makes it worth it.

A gaming router that keeps its promises.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: The WRT32XB is my first gaming router and it delivers with flying colors. Between PC gaming, console gaming, and video streaming the router makes the most out of it’s connections while bringing up the best of your gaming devices when taking priority. Otaku Dome gives the Linksys WRT32XB a 95 out of 100.