With WiFi now a necessity in homes around the world, there are now hundreds of companies that offer WiFi solutions. One of the biggest companies to emerge is Netgear, which offer a range of routers for a number of different situations.
In fact, the highly-respected company released the fasted AC WiFi router in the world (2013), which is known as the Nighthawk R7000. Since then, the company now offers a huge selection of routers to meet every need. There is the x4s (R7800), x6 (R7800), x8 (R8500) and the x10 (R9000).
With so many to choose from, which Netgear router is the best? Some of these routers are faster than the original, but are they as good? This article is designed to answer all of your burning questions. We will be comparing the Nighthawk x4s vs x6 vs x8 vs x10. Without further ado, let’s get started!
R7000 Vs Nighthawk X4S Vs X6 Vs X8 Vs X10
Although there are many similarities between the R7000, x4s (R7800), x6 (R7800), x8 (R8500) and the x10 (R9000) routers, there are plenty of differences too, such as:
Processor:
- The R7000 has a 1GHz dual-core processor
- The x4 has a 1.7GHz dual-core processor
- The x6 has a 1GHz dual-core processor
- The x8 has 1.4GHz dual-core processor
- The x10 has a 1.7GHx quad-core processor
Speed:
- The R7000 has speeds of up to 1900mbps (1.9Gbps)
- The x4 has speeds of up to 2.53Gbps
- The x6 has speeds of up to 3.2Gbps
- The x8 has speeds of up to 5.3Gbps
- The x10 has speeds of 7.2Gbps
MU-MIMO capability:
All of the routers have MU-MIMO capability, apart from the R7000
Antennas:
- The R7000 has 3 external antennas
- The x4 has 4 external antennas
- The x6 has 6 external antennas
- The x8 has 4 active antennas and 4 internal antennas
- The x10 has 4 active antennas
R7000 Vs Nighthawk X4S Vs Nighthawk X6 Vs Nighthawk X8 Vs Nighthawk X10: Overview
Netgear has a number of routers in their range, with most known for their high performance. However, some of these routers are much better than the others. We will now review the five most popular Netgear routers by diving into their features and specification:
The Netgear Nighthawk R7000 is the original and oldest router in this review. It is able to provide 1900mbps WiFi speeds, while the 1GHz dual-core processor allows for a smooth performance. Customers will also appreciate the 3 external antennas, the amplifiers, and ultimate reliability. Those who value high definition streaming and gaming will appreciate the gigabit wiring.
The R7000 is known to be easy to install and easy to use. It is easy to control via the push buttons, and you can even use the Netgear Genie App to remotely control your home network. Safety conscious individuals will appreciate the guest network access, parental controls, and FTP support. Although there are many positives with this router, some users complain that is can sometimes lose connection to their wireless printer.
The x4s is a fast router with reliable connectivity. In fact, it boasts WiFi speeds of up to 2.53Gbps! The 1.7GHz dual-core processor allows for a powerful performance, while the dynamic QoS allows for a smooth gaming experience.
Users will also love the160MHz router has quad-stream-technology, which can give WiFi to multiple devices without losing speed. Gigabit Ethernet ports give a great wired performance. But it doesn’t end there; you also get double bandwidth for mobile functionality and superb range that will reach every room in your home. Other features include Beamforming+ technology and 4 external antennas.
If your home has multiple WiFi devices, you will appreciate the x6’s Tri-band WiFi. The router is capable of super-fast 3.2Gbps speeds thanks to a 1GHz dual-core processor. Furthermore, the router comes with a total of 6 antennas for improved range.
The X6 also comes fully equipped with beamforming+ technology, which allows for stronger connections to mobile devices. The USB 3.0 port allows for easy and fast access to storage. This router gives a nice combination between performance and price. It is not the fastest in this review, but it is also not the most expensive.
The x8 router is able to offer WiFi speeds of up to 5.3Gbps. This is thanks to the powerful 1.4GHz dual-core processor that offers almost the best speed on the market. It has multi-band WiFi that is capable of delivering WiFi to multiple devices. In fact, the quad-stream outputs 4 data streams per WiFi band.
Those who appreciate long range WiFi will love that the x8 comes is fitted with 4 internal antennas for maximum range. Thanks to MU-MIMO, you can enjoy simultaneous streaming on more than one device. In fact, MU-MIMO, allows for speed four times faster than standard WiFi. Another cool feature is that the x8 allows you to connect to loads of weird devices via the 6 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports.
Here we have the fastest router in this guide. The x10 gives 802.11ac/ad WiFi for one of the fastest routers you will find. This speed will easily handle 4K streaming, fast downloads, and seamless gaming.
The x10 also has a super-powerful 1.7GHx quad-core processor that comes with quad-stream architecture for unbeatable wireless WiFi speeds (7.2Gbps).
As Netgear continue to test the limits of technology, there is currently 4 patent-pending external antennas, which are designed to further amplify WiFi signal. We love that the router can be easily connected to the Plex Media Server, which is the best way to enjoy movies, music, TV, and photos without the need for your computer.
Verdict
So, those are the top routers from Netgear. From our findings, the best Netgear router is the x10, with the highest WiFi speeds, most efficient processor, along with a range of other cool features. The R7000 is the lowest on our list, but it still has decent WiFi speeds. We hope that you have enjoyed this guide. Please do share it with your family and friends.