Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 review
Our Verdict
By adding access to a slew of new data-delivering channels in the 6GHz spectrum, the tri-ring Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 takes the pb as the first high-operation Wi-Fi 6e router. While information technology'due south best at close quarters and is one of the most expensive routers you can buy, the RAXE500 is worth every penny if you have the need for speed.
For
- Top speed with 6GHz band
- Customizability
- Security software
Confronting
- Expensive
- Throughput declines rapidly with altitude
- 90-day support policy
- No parental controls
Tom's Guide Verdict
By adding access to a slew of new data-delivering channels in the 6GHz spectrum, the tri-band Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 takes the lead as the starting time high-performance Wi-Fi 6e router. While it's all-time at close quarters and is one of the well-nigh expensive routers you lot can buy, the RAXE500 is worth every penny if you have the demand for speed.
Pros
- +
Elevation speed with 6GHz ring
- +
Customizability
- +
Security software
Cons
- -
Expensive
- -
Throughput declines rapidly with altitude
- -
90-day support policy
- -
No parental controls
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500: Specs
Wi-Fi Spec: AXE11000
Number of Antennas/Removable: 8/No
Ports: 1 WAN/four LAN gigabit per second, 2 USB 3
Processor/Memory/Storage: Quad-core i.8GHz/1GB/512MB
Wi-Fi scrap: Broadcom
Tiptop 802.11ac performance: 2.396Gbps (at 15 anxiety)
Range: 105 feet
Size: 12.0 ten 8.6 x 7.3 inches
Estimated Annual Electricity Cost: $13.lxx
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 innovates with the first Wi-Fi 6e router that moves data over the 2.iv-, 5- and 6GHz frequency bands, combining the precipitous looks of Netgear'south current routers with the latest and greatest Wi-Fi standard. With an AXE11000 rating, the tri-ring device more than lives up to the hype by delivering about 2.5Gbps of real-earth data. It's the sort of performance that earned it the 2021 Tom's Guide Laurels for all-time Wi-Fi router. On the downside, the RAXE500's bandwidth falls off sharply as y'all get farther from the router. However, it managed an impressive 105-foot range.
Our Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 review shows that the new Wi-Fi 6e router adds lots of configuration options to the category-leading short-range performance, while keeping devices and the network clean with Netgear's Armor security software. Unfortunately, Netgear makes extended protection and boosted security updates a subscription-based extra that could add together virtually $200 to the already spendy cost of the RAXE500. Still, if you lot crave the newest, fastest and coolest looking router around, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 fits the beak as ane of the all-time Wi-Fi routers yous can buy.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 review: Pricing and availability
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 can be found through several major electronics retailers, and is shortly one of only a handful of Wi-Fi 6e products available to buy. At $599, information technology'southward roughly triple what some high-performance Wi-Fi 6 routers go for and shut to $200 more than the similar-looking Wi-Fi 6-equipped Netgear Nighthawk RAX80.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 review: Pattern
Stealing a folio from the Nighthawk AX8 router, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 can exist idea of as its newer, and larger, blood brother. Information technology retains the A-Wing design that makes it look like something out of a Star Wars prequel – it's a far cry from conventional looking routers like the Linksys Max-Stream MR8300 – but at 12.0 x 8.6 x three.3 inches, it'south among the largest routers available. Each wing has four antennas inside and when they're opened, the RAXE500 is 4-inches taller.
The black winged RAXE500 router tin be subconscious away or proudly displayed and is equally close to sculpture every bit networking gear gets. Underneath, the RAXE500 has thick safe anxiety and two inserts for hanging information technology on a wall. It has vents up front and underneath equally well as a cooling fan; during our evaluation, the fan ran intermittently and the router never got above 112 degrees Fahrenheit.
Unlike traditional triband routers with a 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands, the RAXE500 is the first of a generation of Wi-Fi 6e systems that provide admission to the ii.4-, 5- and 6GHz data-delivering bands. Compared to Wi-Fi six systems, the RAXE500 opens a wide surface area of 6GHz spectrum, more than than doubles the available data channels available and offers an extra half dozen ultra-broad 160MHz channels. Information technology adds upward to nearly 5Gbps of extra data conveying chapters.
Built around Broadcom Wi-Fi 6e hardware, the RAXE500 includes a quad-core 1.8GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and 512MB of wink storage space for the router's firmware and settings. Capable of servicing 12 simultaneous information streams, the RAXE500 has beamforming to match the manual characteristics to the receiver, MU-MIMO for serving a big number of devices and 1024QAM for increasing the router'due south efficiency when multiple systems are enervating data. The RAXE500 can movement up to 1.2Gbps on the 2.4GHz band, four.8Gbps on the 5GHz band and an additional 4.8Gbps on the 6GHz band for a total of 10.8Gbps.
Its connections are in the back, and the RAXE500 has a Multi-Gig data input port that tin can piece of work with the latest broadband modems to evangelize up to 2.5Gbps. If the Multi-Gig port is not being used, it tin can act as an extra downstream 1Gbps Ethernet connexion; at that place are iv other dedicated downstream 1Gbps networking ports bachelor for a total of five wired networking ports. It should exist enough for well-nigh just is less than the eight wired LAN ports that the TP-Link Archer AX6000 provides. The RAXE500's beginning ii wired Ethernet ports tin be aggregated for top speed.
In addition to buttons for using the router's Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) and turning off the system's Wi-Fi transmissions, rendering the RAXE500 as the equivalent of a wired router, there'southward a pair of USB connections for mounting difficult drives on the network. At that place's a power connection every bit well as an on/off button and a recessed reset push that reverts the RAXE500's settings to the way information technology left the manufactory.
Happily, the RAXE500 has a switch for turning off the dozen LEDs that low-cal upward when the router is operating, although this can also be done in the router's software. At that place are activity lights for power, Internet and its three data bands also as its wired Ethernet ports and the two USB connections.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 review: Functioning
With its ability to move data back and forth in the 2.four-, 5- and 6GHz bands, the Nighthawk RAXE500 blew other routers abroad. Using Ixia's ixChariot's network simulation software and a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra – ane of the rare devices that tin take advantage of Wi-Fi 6e's potential – I created a decorated network with 10 simulated users. After setting the router upward xv-feet from the S21 phone and using the RAXE500's SmartConnect, channel 36 (for 5GHz) and channel 33 (for 6GHz), the RAXE500 delivered a peak throughput of 1.153Gbps for the 6Ghz band and another 1.242Gbps for the 2.4- and 5GHz bands. That's a total of 2.396Gbps at fifteen feet.
That'south a 42 percent jump over the Netgear Nighthawk AX8's already-impressive 1.389Gbps. Other Wi-Fi half dozen routers were similarly left in the digital dust, with the Asus AC-RT86U'southward managed 929.7Mbps, the TP-Link Archer AX6000 moving 884.4Mbps and the Linksys MR9600 delivering 822.0Mbps. That's a nearly iii-fold comeback with the router and client shut to each other.
On the downside, as was the case with the AX8, the RAXE500's throughput falls off quickly with altitude, making it the router to utilise close up. With fifty feet betwixt the RAXE500 and the Galaxy S21 telephone, the total throughput dropped to 215.8Mbps, well off the pace set past the TP-Link Archer AX6000 (396.4Mbps) or the Linksys MR9600 (363.3Mbps). At this altitude, the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 was mid-pack at 277.1Mbps.
At 75-feet, the RAXE500 moved 148.6Mbps versus the AX8'southward 142.3Mbps. The winner at this distance was the Asus Ac-RT86U's 250.1Mbps with forty percent more delivered bandwidth. Our testing uses a terminal altitude of xc-feet, and the RAXE500 managed to movement 18.9Mbps, enough for some HD video and some web browsing. The Netgear AX8's bandwidth was a similar 20.8Mbps while the TP-Link Archer AX6000 and Linksys MR9600 were offline at this distance. The RAXE500 had a range of 105-feet.
The RAXE500 was i of the all-time at distributing Wi-Fi throughout an older house with thick walls and floors. In my 100 year old abode with the Galaxy S21 phone twenty feet and a wall away from the router, it still managed to grab one.137Gbps of bandwidth from the RAXE500. That's the best nosotros've seen and about v percent more than data menstruation than the ane.078Gbps the AX8 was capable of. By dissimilarity, the TP-Link Archer AX6000 and Asus RT86U moved virtually 40 per centum less information at 738.0Mbps and 698.5Mbps.
It was but as practiced at sending a stiff signal through a ceiling to a bedroom a floor above the router'south location. It delivered 851.0Mbps, while the TP-Link Archer AX6000 able to move 671.4Mbps and the Netgear AX8 pushed 629.5Mbps.
A reliable router over a week of daily use moving files, online gaming, shuffling through email and watching 4K videos, information technology passed our saturation test. While a Macbook Air played YouTube videos and a Milky way S21 phone played online music, a Dell XPS 15 streamed an Internet radio feed and an HP Elitebook moved files onto and off a networked RAID server. None of the audio or video balked or had artifacts.
Every bit it was moving bytes back and along, the RAXE500 used a peak of 15.4 watts, which drops to 5.4 watts when the router is idle but still turned on. It took about 10 seconds to wake it upward with a data asking from a connected client. If the router is used for eight hours and day and it's idle the rest, the system should cost about $13.70 a year, assuming you lot pay the national boilerplate of xiii cents per kilowatt hr of electricity. That'due south a third more than the Netgear Nighthawk AX8's $10.fifty and twice the $6.80 that the Linksys MR9600 costs to utilize.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 review: Setup
Like many competitors, the Nighthawk RAXE500 provides the selection of using a connected browser to gear up it up or logging onto Netgear's Nighthawk app. In that location are versions for Android and iOS. Both approaches provide illustrations and instructions for setting it upward. Using the app and a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra telephone, the outset step is to get the Nighthawk app, install it and accept its license.
I had to permit the app to see my phone'southward location to go things going. Then, I created a Netgear account, which required an email verification.
Afterwards I plugged the router in and restarted my broadband modem, I followed the illustrated instructions by picking the blazon of networking gear I had. Then, I snapped a picture of the router's QR lawmaking.
After the router restarted and displayed a slide testify of the Armor security software's attributes, I confirmed that the router was continued to the Internet. Next, I inverse the system'southward names and passwords for the combined ii.4- and 5GHz LAN and ane for the 6GHz transmissions. I finished off by answering two verification questions.
Equally it finished upwards, the router gave me the option of printing all the settings, simply in case. Finally, the RAXE500 asked if I wanted to apply 2 factor hallmark for making changes to the router's settings. It connected on the kickoff try with an iPad. The fix procedure took all of 16 minutes to turn the RAXE500 into an operating tri-band network.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 review: Configuration
The RAXE500 has a multitude of options for customizing the router. This can be done via the app but there are many more than options available by using the connected browser approach. All it takes is typing "netgearlogin.com" into the browser's address and entering the router's administrative password, and a broad variety of configuration choices are available.
The router'south Domicile page shows lots of operating data, including the electric current firmware version forth the top. In improver to Net condition, the Wi-Fi name and password, it shows how many devices are continued. There'south data on the status of the Armor security software and the Guest Network also as if whatever drives are connected. Click on any for details, like whether Multi-Gig inputs are enabled for the Internet department.
At any time, the interface let me run the setup process over or prepare upwardly port forwarding. The RAXE500 allows subtle changes, similar altering the RTS Threshold, irresolute the Fragmentation Length or picking between the long or brusque Preamble.
At any time, it's easy to run a speed test of the Internet connection as well as check on the connection's details. In addition to running every bit a router, the RAXE500 can be set up every bit a wired access betoken. Different gear from Asus and Linksys, it can't be converted to a mesh routing organisation.
As is the case with many of Netgear's products, the RAXE500 comes with the visitor'due south Armor security software but does without the Disney Circle or any parental controls. The company plans to add together its ain parental command app in the near future. Based on Bitdefender'southward Total Security software, Armor has apps for all pop programs, from Windows and Mac to Android and iOS; the lineup lacks a Linux option, though. It does a good job of defending the network and its devices simply but includes updates for a month. After that it costs $70 per year. By contrast, Asus includes lifetime updates for its AIProtection Pro defenses.
Similar other Netgear products, the company includes a year of warranty protection but only 90 days of service and support. That's a pittance compared to the two years that Asus provides for its high-functioning routers. Upgrading to a two year warranty with back up costs $120.
Happily, the Netgear free online support is open to all and contains lots of self-serve help. In addition to troubleshooting help and aid setting the router up, the site has firmware, an installation guide and videos on tap.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500: Verdict
Welcome to the Wi-Fi 6e era. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is the commencement of an expected onslaught of tri-band Wi-fi 6e routers that push Wi-Fi performance to the limit. It'southward been worth the wait considering the RAXE500 blows the competition out of the h2o with the ability to move virtually 2.5Gbps at close range. It not simply speeds by Wi-Fi 6 routers just is the fastest router on the planet and sets a new standard for high-operation Wi-Fi. More than to the bespeak, it is the ideal router for the real world because in addition to security software, the RAXE500 punches a strong indicate through walls and floors to assistance fill up an older business firm with lots of nooks and crannies.
Rather than being stuck with using either a connected browser or an app, Netgear lets y'all choose which mode you lot want to install and configure the RAXE500. It offers 1 of the most complete assortments of customization options – From RTS Threshold to which Wi-Fi channels it uses – so that the RAXE500 can exist prepare up the fashion you want information technology to.
It costs twice as much as lower-performing routers, like the TP-Link Archer AX6000 or the Linskys Max Stream MR9600, but the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is worth information technology because it delivers more than data. In other words, the RAXE500 non merely brings Wi-Fi upwardly to engagement but raises the performance bar for others to try to meet. Sure, it's expensive, but if you want to be the first on your block to tap into the performance potential of Wi-Fi 6e, this is your kind of router.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/netgear-nighthawk-raxe500
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