Netgear Nighthawk routers are among the best available, designed and built to deliver exceptional performance. They are more than capable of handling high-speed internet plans and dispersing that efficiently over wired and wireless connections, making them appealing to gamers, business owners, streamers, and enthusiasts.
However, they still vary in factors like range, Wi-Fi standard, and number of ports, to name a few. So, we selected a handful of Nighthawk routers based on these factors and, most importantly, their performance during our in-house testing. This real-world testing allows us to understand the capabilities of the routers and only recommend the best of the best. That said, let’s jump right into it, shall we?
- Best Netgear Nighthawk router overall
Netgear Nighthawk RS700S WiFi 7 (BE19000)
- Standard: WiFi 7
- Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
- Max Speed: 19Gbps
- LAN Ports: 1x 10Gbps, 4x 1Gbps
- Best portable Netgear Nighthawk router
Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro (MR6450)
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 5/6GHz
- Max Speed: 2.9Gbps
- LAN Ports: 1x 2.5Gbps
- Best runner-up Netgear Nighthawk router
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency Bands: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz
- Max Speed: 10.8 Gbps
- LAN Ports: 4 x 1 Gbps (+1 Multi-Gig 2.5/1Gbps)
How we picked
To find the best Nighthawk router, we used our expertise to select items based on key specs, such as speeds, coverage, wireless standards, security, and additional features. We’ve also delved into and weighted market sentiment and user views to ensure our selections align with users’ experiences with these products.
However, we don’t rely solely on specifications and reviews that anyone can read. We also aim to conduct in-house testing to check their signal strength, speed, and file transfer speed. If you’re interested in learning more about our process, check out our How We Test Routers guide for a more in-depth understanding.
Our top picks
- Standard: WiFi 7
- Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
- Max Speed: 19Gbps
- LAN Ports: 1x 10Gbps, 4x 1Gbps
- WAN: 10Gbps
- CPU: Quad-core 2.6GHz
- Memory: 512MB NAND Flash and 2GB RAM
- USB: 1x USB 3.0 Type-A
- Dimensions: 281.7 x 124.0 x 142mm (11.1 x 4.9 x 5.6in)
- Weight: 1.635kg (3.61lb)
- It has tri-band capabilities with a max speed of 19 Gbps
- Supports port aggregation for higher bandwidth
- Future-proof wireless and wired capabilities
- It comes with a hefty price tag
- “Next-gen” functionalities are overkill for casual users
- The Wi-Fi 7 standard isn’t widely supported yet
For our top pick, we’ve got the RS700S router from NETGEAR. In our Netgear Nighthawk RS700S review, we checked its signal strength and speed across several distances, and it performed exceptionally, giving it the crown for the best Nighthawk router.
For starters, it supports the Wi-Fi 7 standard, has a max speed of 19 Gbps, is powered by a 2.6 GHz quad-core CPU, and 2 GB RAM. What this means is that it has enough processing power to handle huge amounts of network traffic without running into congestion issues.
On top of that, it has tri-band capabilities, meaning you have the option to use 2.4, 5, or 6 GHz, depending on the level of performance you want. What that means is that each frequency has a different range and bandwidth. For example, the 2.5 GHz band has the most range but the lowest bandwidth, so you can use that for IoT devices if you have a smart home. However, for gaming, steaming, or working, you can use the 5 or 6 GHz band, which has a significantly higher bandwidth and is less prone to interference but doesn’t have the range of 2.4 GHz.
It also features a 10Gig WAN and LAN port with four 1 Gbps Ethernet ports. In terms of performance, this means you can experience super-fast speeds via wired or wireless connection that should streamline your gaming, working, and streaming experience.
According to NETGEAR, the RS700S covers 3,500 sq. ft. and can support up to 200 devices simultaneously. This means that you can fully leverage a multi-gigabit internet connection to cover your living space, IoT, and other devices within it.
That said, you also have the option of port aggregation. You can combine two of the four Ethernet ports to get a speed of 2 Gbps, which should be more than enough even for the most bandwidth-intensive tasks.
Even on its ports, it makes sure that you get the max out of it, with both a 10 Gig WAN and LAN port, you can make sure your router isn’t limiting the available speed at your house.
PC Guide
Regarding its security features, it supports WPA2 and WPA3 with 128-bit AES and 256-bit GCMP encryption. This level of security should protect your data well. However, if that doesn’t put you at rest, you also have the option to enable NETGEAR Armor, which protects your Wi-Fi and connected devices in real-time. That said, you will need to pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee to avail of this service.
When we tested for its range and speed during our in-house testing, it connected with 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies at the 60ft mark, which is on the edge of its claimed 3,500 sq. ft. range. As for the download and upload speeds for both frequencies, here are the results:
For 2.4 GHz, the download and upload ranged from 103, 78.4, and 5.6 Mbps to 62, 50, and 22 Mbps, respectively. The 5 GHz had better results, ranging from 273, 269, and 117 Mbps to 239, 227, and 131 Mbps, respectively.
Overall, given its performance, this is one of the NETGEAR routers currently available. That said, it does come at a premium price point, which might deter many people from buying it. However, with the support for Wi-Fi 7, it should be a worthwhile investment.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the RS700S is being praised for its exceptional performance, reliability, and speed. One user stated: “I’ve been using nighthawk routers and modems for years and this thing has great range and plenty of room for all your devices. Easy to set up, and maintain. If you can afford it; this is what you’re looking for.”
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 5/6GHz
- Max Speed: 2.9Gbps
- LAN Ports: 1x 2.5Gbps
- WAN: Same as LAN
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 5G
- USB: 1x Type-C
- Dimensions: 21.5 x 105 x 105mm (0.85 x 4.14 x 4.14in)
- Weight: 256g (0.56lbs) w/ battery
- Battery: Removable 5,040mAh Li-ion
- Screen: 7.1cm (2.8″) touch
- It is very easy to set up
- It supports Wi-Fi 6E
- It has 2.5 gigabit LAN and WAN ports
- The battery life isn’t great for prolonged use
- Not all Wi-Fi bands are simultaneously available
- It comes with a hefty price tag
A portable router has many benefits, and for the best portable Nighthawk router, we recommend the M6 Pro router. It is a handy travel router with impressive hotspot capabilities. In our M6 Pro (MR6450) review it showed decent performance for a portable router, but it can also be used inside a living or working space.
For starters, this router is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 5G, supports the Wi-Fi 6E standard, has tri-band capabilities, a max speed of 2.9 Gbps, and a 2.5 Gbps LAN and WAN port each.
What these specifications mean is that it houses impressive hardware in such a small space and should be able to handle various demanding workloads. According to NETGEAR, this mobile hotspot router can support up to 32 devices simultaneously, which speaks toward its networking performance.
A neat feature of this router is that you can remove the battery, plug it into a wall socket, and use it as a stationary router. The 2.5 Gbps LAN and WAN ports should also allow you to fully utilize lightning-fast internet speeds, free from disruption and congestion issues.
The Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro (MR6450) is an incredible piece of hardware; the great tech it is able to fit inside makes it one of the, if not the best, mobile routers out there.
PC Guide
We tested this router for its range and speed, and the results were more than satisfactory. The 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies had similar signal strength for mobile and ethernet connections, but the 2.4 GHz band had slightly better results.
That said, the results were significantly different when it came to actual mobile and ethernet speeds. The download and upload speeds for mobile connections with 2.4 GHz were 11 to 8 Mbps and 13.5 to 8 Mbps, respectively. For 2.4 GHz Ethernet, the results were 33.7 to 9.1 Mbps and 43.8 to 5.3 Mbps, respectively.
Conversely, the 5 GHz mobile connection had 149.5 to 52.1 Mbps download and 17.5 to 14.1 Mbps upload. As for Ethernet results, it managed download speeds of 262 to 60.2 Mbps and upload speeds of 270 to 58.1 Mbps. So, if you feel like the wireless speed isn’t cutting it, you can have a wired connection for a seamless gaming, streaming, and working experience.
Overall, this is an excellent piece of equipment that you can take with you on the go to create an instant hotpot with an unlocked SIM or connect it with an Ethernet port for a more traditional experience.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, it has a sleek design, great performance and brings a lot of versatility to the table. One reviewer said: “The NETGEAR Nighthawk M6 Pro is an impeccable marriage of design, function, and performance.”
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency Bands: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz
- Max Speed: 10.8 Gbps
- LAN Ports: 4 x 1 Gbps (+1 Multi-Gig 2.5/1Gbps)
- WAN: 1 x 1Gbps (+Multi Gig w/LAN/+1 Multi-Gig 2.5/1Gbps)
- CPU: 1.8 GHz quad-core
- Memory: 512MB Flash and 1GB RAM
- USB: 2 x USB 3.0
- Dimensions: 345 x 221.2 x 169.5 mm
- Weight: 3.2 lb (1.45 kg)
- Excellent speeds courtesy of Wi-Fi 6E
- It has gigabit and multi-gigabit ports to support high-speed internet plans
- The intuitive interface makes it easy to customize settings and set up the router
- It costs almost $600
The RAXE500 is capable of incredibly fast wireless speeds and is a strong contender for one of the best WiFi 6E routers. On top of that, during our testing for the RAXE500 review, it had good performance and decent signal strength.
The Nighthawk RAXE500 has a 1.8GHz quad-core processor, which should deliver great performance even under load. This is a tri-band router, meaning it supports a single 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands. You can dedicate one band to IoT devices while keeping the other for personal use, which should effectively eliminate congestion and disruption issues.
The RAXE500 is also excellent when it comes to range, as it offers a coverage of up to 3,500 sqft. This makes it a great choice for a large home or office. On top of that, it can connect with up to 60 devices at the same time. As it features powerful specs, it should connect to multiple devices without compromising on the quality of the internet.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a great router when looking for a WiFi 6E-capable option. Offering great speeds and control, along with an easy setup make it a top choice for anyone after a fast home network.
PC Guide
For connectivity, the router has four Gigabit ports and one 2.5 Multi-Gigabit port. There are also two USB 3.0 ports in case you want to connect your printer or external storage device with the router to share files over the network. So, if you want a direct wired connection for gaming or streaming, this router shouldn’t hold you back.
Regarding the performance of this router, at 2.4 GHz, it had a download speed of 72.7 to 19.6 Mbps and an upload speed of 56.8 to 14.5 Mbps. On the other hand, at 5 GHz, download speeds ranged from 266 to 158 Mbps, with uploads ranging from 281 to 136 Mbps. So, you should be able to comfortably work or game on both frequencies.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 has a user-friendly interface, and the setup is fairly straightforward. You can set up the RAXE500 through your mobile device by using the Nighthawk app. Furthermore, advanced network settings can be tweaked further on the web interface.
The RAXE500 does not offer parental control. However, it does feature a robust security system: Netgear Armor. This system automatically blocks suspicious connections, scans devices for vulnerabilities, and provides excellent malware protection. Overall, we think that it is one of the best Nighthawk routers you can get today.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this router is a “game-changer”; it is easy to set up and has amazing features like QoS. One reviewer said: “Performance-wise, the RAXE500 is nothing short of remarkable. The tri-band feature ensures that all my devices get the bandwidth they need without any lag or buffering. Streaming 4K videos and online gaming have never been smoother.”
How to select a Netgear Nighthawk router
There are a handful of factors that need to be considered when choosing a Nighthawk router. There are plenty of options available, but instead of spending top dollar on the fanciest, here are some considerations that should help you make an informed decision.
Budget
The first thing you must consider is how much you can spend on a router. This will help you filter your options and present you with a list that offers a good balance between performance, features, and price.
While the appeal of high-end routers is understandable as they come with free software trials, better range, and higher bandwidth, their price is equivalent to that. So, it’s always better to stick to the budget available and make the best possible purchase.
Wi-Fi standard
Another factor that you need to pay attention to is the router’s Wi-Fi standard. Recently, Wi-Fi 7 was introduced, and it has a higher bandwidth than Wi-Fi 6 and 6E combined. However, that doesn’t mean you need to get your hands on it for the best performance; you also need to check whether your devices are compatible with it.
That said, Wi-Fi 6 and 6E routers are nothing to scoff at and should serve you well whether you’re working, gaming, or streaming. If you’re interested in exploring some options, we recommend you check out our best WiFi 6 router guide for the top picks.
Range
One of the most crucial factors of any router is its range. There is no point in getting a router if you won’t get Wi-Fi signals in your bed or at your work desk. So, check for its range before making a purchase. Depending on your house or apartment, we recommend getting a 3,500 sq. ft. coverage router for a small to medium living space. If you have more than three or four rooms, a router with 5,500 sq. ft. coverage would suit you better.
Is the Netgear Nighthawk worth it?
If you’re looking for top performance and don’t mind shelling out the money, we’d say it’s worth it. The latest models come with WiFi 7 and are either dual, tri, or quad-band. Netgear also makes mesh systems, which are ideal for large homes and offices.
