Goals from Jordi Gomez, Martyn Waghorn, and Callum McManaman sent the Latics into cruise control and hit Reading sideways in the battle for the Championship play-off places.
Royals manager Nigel Adkins was left impressed with the performance of the Latics and speaking after the game he said: "Wigan are the best team we've played this season. They gave us more problems than anyone we've played.
"From my point of view, the level of our performance was nowhere near the level that we needed to be or expect.
"The three goals we conceded, we didn't stay with our runners, and we haven't dealt with situations as we should have.
"Wigan got the flow of the game in the first half, and they deservedly got control of the game. We came out in the second half determined to do better, but the third goal is a shocking goal to give away, which made it even more challenging."
The result saw Reading drop out of the top six but remain in touch, just one point behind Brighton who occupy the sixth placed spot.