For larger homes, the optimal solution is Mesh Wi-Fi. For a regular apartment ranging from 30 to 90 square meters, it’s sufficient to invest in a good router. Let’s discuss the most reliable models with stable signals and a favorable price-quality ratio. In most cases, it doesn’t make sense to overspend if the goal is to create coverage in a small apartment with a limited number of devices connected.
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Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4C — Simple, Ultra-Budget-Friendly, for Small Apartments
The most budget-friendly model from Xiaomi for small studios and one-bedroom apartments. Mi Wi-Fi Router 4C features a minimalist lightweight design, simple and fast setup. The router with four antennas with a 5 dBi gain coefficient creates a stable coverage area of up to 35-37 square meters. The model operates in a single frequency band (2.4 GHz), lacks Wi-Fi 6 support, and offers only two LAN ports for wired connections. However, it guarantees to meet the needs of people who don’t require fancy features and modern technologies.
Wall mounting is not provided, but the model takes up little space even on a table.
The maximum supported speed is 300 Mbps. Typically, an average user has a tariff of 100-150 Mbps, so the Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4C will suffice. When directly connected, the router provides almost 100% of the nominal speed from the provider. With Wi-Fi connection, speed drops may occur. There’s no precise calculation formula, but roughly it looks like this:
- In the same room as the router, you’ll see 80-90% of the nominal speed on your smartphone (laptop, tablet).
- In the kitchen or bathroom — around 70%.
- In the stairwell near the front door — about 30-50%.
There’s no need to worry. If you’re not an online gamer or someone downloading terabytes of files from the internet, you won’t notice the difference between 100 Mbps and 60-70 Mbps. YouTube, social networks, Skype, and other standard programs and applications will work steadily and quickly without loss of quality. The main thing is not to overload the router with too many connected devices. Despite having four antennas, the model is designed to simultaneously transmit signals to three to five devices. You can connect more, but then speed drops will become noticeable and unpleasant.
You can set up the router through a browser or using the mobile app.
To access all features and options, install the Mi Wi-Fi app on your smartphone. In addition to basic settings, you can activate parental control, optimize signal quality, and enable firewall. All procedures from unpacking to starting to use take three to five minutes. Knowledge of the Chinese language is not required.
Here’s when Mi Wi-Fi Router 4C is the optimal choice:
- You have a studio or a small one-bedroom apartment (own or rented).
- The internet is used for social networks, browsing, videos, work (without online gaming via Wi-Fi and constant downloading of large files).
- You plan to connect no more than three to five devices to the router.
- Speed drops (figures in speedtest) do not cause psychological discomfort.
- Two LAN ports will be sufficient.
Xiaomi Router AC1200 — One of the Best Budget Routers for Apartments Up to 70m²
Xiaomi Router AC1200 is free from the conditional shortcomings of Mi Wi-Fi Router 4C. The router operates in two frequency bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), and up to eight devices can be easily connected to it. The four antennas penetrate load-bearing walls, covering all areas in a two-room or compact three-room apartment. At the same time, speed losses are minimal. For example, when connected to 5 GHz in a 65 m² apartment, in a location separated by two load-bearing walls from the router, you’ll get 90 Mbps with a 100 Mbps tariff.
AC1200 is as lightweight and slim as other budget models of Xiaomi routers.
The setup is as simple as with Mi Wi-Fi Router 4C. Go to the browser on the page with the address 192.168.31.1 or use the Mi Wi-Fi mobile app. The interface is in Russian. You can additionally configure the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, access and bandwidth restrictions, VPN, and even IPTV. Simple settings are for beginners, while advanced ones (including the option to flash third-party firmware) are for those who want to enjoy all the benefits.
The maximum speed on 5 GHz is 867 Mbps, and on 2.4 GHz, it’s 300 Mbps. These figures are sufficient for any tasks, including gaming on devices located anywhere in the apartment (provided you have a high-speed internet tariff). The model has only two LAN ports, but there are no performance issues: freezes and dropouts are extremely rare. If desired, the router can be wall-mounted.
Xiaomi Router AC1200 is a router for the whole family, capable of simultaneously supporting up to seven to eight devices on different bands without significant speed losses. Compactness, reliability, and ease of setup make this model a leader in its segment.
