Best Netgear Routers Windows Central 2020

Netgear has long been a name associated with quality internet, and it indeed has an impressive lineup of Wi-Fi routers. If you find yourself stuck at home working or trying to binge a TV show, but spotty internet is holding you back, one of these should improve your situation. We've collected the best of the best from Netgear right here.

Great for Most Homes: Netgear Nighthawk R6700

Editor's choice

This AC1750 router has 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios to serve all your devices, and it has the performance to handle a standard household and family.

Upgrade Pick: Netgear Nighthawk R7000P

Staff pick

The R7000P offers AC2300 speeds across the two radios, ideal for large homes with plenty of users. It's equipped with LAN and USB ports, and beamforming helps with range.

Best Budget: Netgear R6080

This Wi-Fi 5 router offers theoretical speeds up to 300Mbps and 700Mbps on 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios, ideal for smaller spaces and few users with light work.

Best for Gaming: Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR500

This gaming router hits blistering AC2600 speeds across 2.4GHz, and 5GHz radios and tailored QoS ensures your gaming PC or console receives the best speed.

Best Mesh Network: Netgear Orbi RBK50

The Orbi can cover up to 5,000 square feet and offers combined tri-band speeds up to AC3000. Dedicated backhaul and LAN ports offer mesh flexibility.

Best Wi-Fi 6 Mesh: Netgear Nighthawk MK62

Want Wi-Fi 6 performance AND a mesh network? This pack includes router and satellite, good for 3,000 square feet, and wireless speeds more than 100Mbps.

Next-gen Wi-Fi 6: Netgear Nighthawk AX8

Thanks to Wi-Fi 6, this router offers four times the data capacity of 802.11ac tech. Connect all your devices and see consistent speed, no matter the task.

If we're making a suggestion

All of the above routers should make a good fit for someone out there, but if you're still wondering exactly where to start, we suggest going with either the Nighthawk R6700 or the Nighthawk R7000P.

These are both great routers for the average household, though the latter is likely going to be better for many users thanks to higher theoretical AC2300 speeds across 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios. As long as your house isn't packed with people all vying for streaming and gaming bandwidth, these routers should be sufficient and won't break the bank.

If you're interested in upgrading to Wi-Fi 6, something like Netgear's Nighthawk AX8 makes a lot of sense. It's expensive, but it'll set you up for the future as more and more devices move to the latest standard.

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