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. We've collected the best of the best from Netgear right here.

Great for most homes: Netgear Nighthawk R7000P

Editor's choice

The R7000P offers AC2300 speeds across the two bands, ideal for average homes. It's equipped with LAN and USB ports, and beamforming helps with range.

$160 at Amazon

Best budget: Netgear R6230

This affordable router delivers dual-band AC1200 performance (300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 900 Mbps on 5 GHz) suitable for smaller households.

$75 at Amazon

Best for gaming: Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR500

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

$300 at Amazon

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.

$294 at Amazon

802.11ad Wi-Fi technology: Netgear Nighthawk X10 R9000

This router offers 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 60 GHz bands thanks to 802.11ad tech, making it ideal for many streaming devices. 10 Ethernet ports are included.

$400 at Amazon

Next-gen Wi-Fi: 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.

$297 at Amazon

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 the Nighthawk R7000P.

It brings the range (about 2,000 square feet) and performance necessary to suit the average household, with extra features like band steering and beamforming to help reach the far reaches. On the back are four Ethernet ports to connect wired devices, and two USB-A ports allow for connecting external storage or printers. Theoretical AC2300 speeds are split between the two bands, with the 2.4GHz radio topping out at 600Mbps and the 5GHz radio hitting up to 1,625Mbps.

As long as your house isn't packed with people all vying for streaming and gaming bandwidth, this should be a suitable router that doesn't cost nearly as much as most of the other top options.

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