If your connection is struggling, it's worth a look. QoS is short for Quality of Service, referring to traffic prioritization. Without it, routers treat email, Netflix, and smart home automations with the same urgency.
QoS detects incoming packet nature and selects what gets to go first, often prioritizing streaming media, voice and video calls, and online games like PUBG. This prioritization can be vital for latency-sensitive activities; even an extra 20 milliseconds could mean the difference between landing a shot or becoming a victim in competitive play. Some routers allow manual priority assignment, useful for video editors managing large client project downloads.
If QoS is absent, Smart Queue Management (SQM) offers an evolution, addressing "bufferbloat" through advanced scheduling and traffic shaping rather than simply shuffling items to the front. However, SQM demands significant processor horsepower, making it less common on standard routers. For connections under 500 Mbps with many demanding devices, enabling QoS can prevent routine functions like app and OS updates from starving critical traffic.
Outside of Eero mesh systems, high-performance gaming routers represent the best option for implementing these prioritization features effectively.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing