So, you want to know the difference between the Nighthawk AC1900 and X6 AC3200. We will start by saying that the X6 is one of our favorite routers on the market. It is an upgraded version of the Nighthawk AC1900 R7000, which was released in 2013.
With this information in mind, is it still worth purchasing the Nighthawk AC1900, or should you invest into the Nighthawk AC3200 instead? This guide compares the two routers, looks at their main features, and gives our opinion on which router is the best for specific situations.
Nighthawk AC1900 Vs AC3200
So, which router should you choose? If you want the quick answer, we recommend choosing the Nighthawk X6 AC3200 (here on Amazon). It comes with all AC1900 features, but is more powerful and allows for faster speeds.
AC3200 routers are able to give wireless internet speeds of up to 3.2Gbps. They have three radio bands, which are two 5GHz bands and one 2.4GHz band. The 5GHz bands offer 1.5Gbps speeds, while the 2.4GHz band offers 600Mbps speeds.
The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 comes with three bands for your external devices to connect to. The router even comes with Smart Connect, which is a smart feature that connects your devices to the band with the last congestion at that specific moment in time. As we go into below, the router comes with the Netgear GENIE app, which allows you to manage the network easily and effectively.
Features
Both of these routers have a wide array of features that are sure to impress. Below is a list of the key features that you will want to take note of when comparing the AC1900 Vs AC3200.
1GHz dual core CPU – There’s no difference here, as both routers come with a powerful 1GHz CPU. This standard of CPU is needed to process the concurrent sessions and Gigabit data flows. With that said; the X6 takes thing up a notch with its three offload processors, which takes some of pressure off the network.
Wireless AC speeds – Both routers offer fast wireless speeds, but the AC3200 offers the fastest speeds. In fact, it is the fasted you can get! The AC3200 uses Tri-Band Technology to offer the best throughput under high traffic situations.
ReadyShare – Another cool feature worth mentioning is the ReadyShare function. It allows you to share media files and print. All you need to do is plug the USB directly into the router, where you can share media or wirelessly print documents.
Beamforming+ – Both of these routers come with Bermforming+ technology that allows you to direct the Wi-Fi beamwidth towards the wireless client. This is an absolute necessary feature for modern day routers to have.
USB 3.0 & 2.0 ports – All good routers need a USB 3.0 port. You see, 2.0 ports are great, but they limit the amount of throughput. USB 3.0 ports allow for a lot higher throughput and higher wireless AC speeds.
Netgear GENIE – The Nighthawk routers come with the Netgear GENIE app, which is the best way to manage the network. It even allows you to easily stream video and music over a range of devices. The app can be downloaded to Androids, PCs, and Apple devices. You can use the intuitive menu to manage your network in an easy way. In fact, you will be able to print straight from your phone.
Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Extras
This router has extra features that are sure to impress. The most notable feature is the tri-band wireless radio band technology. Dual-band routers have one 2.4GHz and one 5GHz radio band, but the X6 features an extra 5GHz band.
This 5GHz band is to be used with Wireless AC. If you were not already aware, Wireless AC should always be the first choice as it allows for the fastest speeds. With two 5GHz bands, the router is able to offer a balanced throughput. In fact, each radio band allows for data rates of 1.3Gbps. With two powerful radio bands, the wireless client can efficiently connect to the one that has the least traffic at the time.
2.4GHz band routers are more popular, but this is because 5GHz band routers have only just come onto the market. 5GHz band routers are much faster, they also don’t suffer from traffic congestion, unlike the 2.4GHz versions. In fact, 2.4GHz radio bands are vulnerable to interference from household appliances.
Verdict
If you have the budget for it, we would recommend going for the Nighthawk X6. To be honest, we wouldn’t be surprised if you already have the router in your basket. The Nighthawk X6 AC3200 has powerful processors and tri-band radios, which sets it about from other routers on the market, including the AC1900 (here on Amazon).
Not everyone with have the budget for the X6. If this is you, then the AC3200 is an excellent alternative. 1GHz CPU, Beamforming, ReadyShare, and multiple ports.