Netgear has long been a name associated with quality internet, and it indeed has an impressive lineup of Wi-Fi routers. They're often featured in some of our other, more general best-of roundups, but how do they all compare to each other? We've collected the best of the best from Netgear right here — from budget hardware up to pricey high-performance routers — to help you find something you can use to improve your network.
For average homes: Netgear Nighthawk R6700
Theoretical AC1750 speeds — 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1,300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band — seems to be a sweet spot for most average households, which is exactly what the R6700 delivers. It's relatively cheap, has four LAN ports for connecting wired devices, and a USB-A 3.1 port on the front makes it easy to hook up external storage for local sharing.
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. You still get four LAN ports on the back for wired devices, two external antennas with beamforming help boost range, and setup and management is easy thanks to the Nighthawk app.
Range and speed: Netgear Nighthawk R7000P
The R7000P offers theoretical AC2300 speeds across the two bands (600 Mbps and 1,625 Mbps), and you won't have to worry about which radio you're connected to thanks to bandsteering. It's equipped with MU-MIMO, it has four LAN ports and two USB ports, and beamforming helps it reach all corners of your home.
Best for gaming: Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR500
This is a pricey router, but gamers looking for ideal wireless performance can take advantage. It hits theoretical AC2600 speeds across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, Quality of Service (QoS) ensures your gaming PC or console receives the best speed, and there are four LAN ports on the back. An extensive dashboard gives you full control over performance and security.
An all-around performer: Netgear Nighthawk X6 R8000
This tri-band router is able to hit theoretical AC3200 speeds — 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1,300 Mbps on each 5 GHz bands — which makes it perfect for crowded households or small offices with plenty of devices. Six antennas offer excellent range, four LAN ports let you connect wired devices, and a USB-A 3.0 port allows for media or printer sharing.
802.11ad Wi-Fi technology: Netgear Nighthawk X10 R9000
The most expensive router in this list is your best bet for future-proofing, as it offers 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 60 GHz bands thanks to 802.11ad technology. That means theoretical wireless speeds up to 4,600 Mbps for compatible devices, plus there are six LAN ports and one 10 Gigabit SFP+ port on the back for your wired devices. If you have a large home and want ultimate performance, consider the X10.
If we're making some suggestions
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 for excellent range and performance for the average home, as well as extra features like bandsteering and beamforming. The Nighthawk R6700 likewise makes a great choice for most people but at a cheaper price (and with less range, speed, and features), and gamers will definitely want to consider the Nighthawk Pro XR500.
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