Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 worth spending $599 right now?
If you are looking for a router that can deliver blazing-fast speeds, support the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology, and handle multiple devices without breaking a sweat, you might want to check out the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500.
This router is one of the first to use the 6GHz radio band, which offers more bandwidth and less interference than the crowded 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. In this article, we will review the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500, compare it to other similar products, and list all its specific functions. We will also include testimonials from users and experts who have tried this router, as well as mention any potential drawbacks or limitations that you should be aware of before buying it.
TRI-BAND
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a tri-band router with an AXE11000 rating. This means it can deliver up to 10.8Gbps of combined wireless throughput across three bands:
- 1.2Gbps on the 2.4GHz band,
- 4.8Gbps on the 5GHz band,
- 4.8Gbps on the 6GHz band.
The 6GHz band is exclusive to Wi-Fi 6E devices, which are still rare in the market, but offer the best performance and reliability for high-demand applications like gaming, streaming, and video conferencing. The router also supports 160MHz channel bandwidth, which allows for faster data transfers and lower latency. The router also supports OFDMA (orthogonal frequency-division multiple access), MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output), and beamforming technologies, which improve the efficiency and quality of Wi-Fi signals.
DIMENSIONS
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 has a unique design. It resembles a stealth bomber, with two wings that unfold to reveal eight internal antennas. The router measures 3.1 by 11.7 by 8.7 inches with the wings folded, and 6.7 by 13.5 by 8.7 inches with them fully extended. It has twelve LED indicators on the top for power. LED’s include WAN connectivity, LAN connectivity (5), 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz connectivity, and USB connectivity (2). On the back, it has four gigabit LAN ports (two of which can be configured for link aggregation). Also a 2.5GB LAN port, a gigabit WAN port that can be paired with one of the gigabit LAN ports to provide multi-gig internet connectivity. It has two USB 3.0 ports, an LED on/off switch, a reset button, and a power on/off switch.
NIGHTHAWK APP
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is powered by a quad-core 1.8GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and 512MB of flash memory. It runs on Netgear’s Nighthawk app. This allows you to set up and manage your network from your smartphone or tablet. You can also access the router’s web interface from any browser for more advanced settings and features. The router supports Netgear’s Armor security software powered by Bitdefender. This protects your network and devices from cyber threats like malware, phishing, ransomware, and identity theft. However, this service requires a subscription after a 90-day trial period.
SPEED
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is one of the fastest routers we have tested, thanks to its Wi-Fi 6E capability and multi-gig ports.
According to Tom’s Guide , it delivered nearly 2.5Gbps of real-world data at close range over the 6GHz band. This is more than twice as fast as some of its Wi-Fi 6 competitors like the Asus RT-AX86U ($250) and the TP-Link Archer AX6000 ($300). It also outperformed them on the 5GHz band, with speeds of up to 1Gbps at close range and over 600Mbps at long range. However, its performance on the 2.4GHz band was less impressive. It has speeds of around 100Mbps at close range and less than 50Mbps at long range.
NETGEAR ARMOR
Another feature of the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is its security software, called Netgear Armor. This software provides advanced protection against cyber threats such as malware, ransomware, phishing, identity theft, and more. It also allows you to monitor and control your network from anywhere using the Nighthawk app or web interface. You can see which devices are connected to your network, set parental controls, run speed tests, update firmware, and more. The Netgear Armor software requires a subscription after a free trial period.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is one of the best routers on the market today. However, how does it compare to other similar products?
Here is a competitor that you might want to consider:
- Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000: This router is also one of the first to support Wi-Fi 6E. It has a similar design and performance as the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500. It has eight external antennas and a large LED screen on the front that displays various information. It has four Gigabit Ethernet ports (one WAN and three LAN), one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port (WAN or LAN), two USB 3.0 ports, a power button, a reset button, a WPS button, and an LED on/off button on the back panel. It has a quad-core processor and 1 GB of RAM. It also supports OFDMA, MU-MIMO, beamforming, link aggregation
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 has received positive feedback from users and experts who have praised its speed, stability, coverage, and features.
Here are some testimonials from Amazon reviews :
- “This router is amazing! I have gigabit internet service and this router delivers! I get over 900Mbps download speeds on my wired devices and over 800Mbps on my wireless devices.”
- “This router is awesome! I have multiple devices connected to it including smart TVs, laptops, phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and smart home devices. It handles everything flawlessly and I have no issues with lag or buffering.”
- “This router is worth every penny! I have a large house with thick walls and this router covers every corner with strong and consistent signal. I also love the 6GHz band, which gives me the best performance for my Wi-Fi 6E devices.”
Get the RAXE500 on Amazon now!
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is not without its drawbacks, though.
- First of all, it is very expensive. Costing $600, it is more than double the price of some of its rivals.
- Second, it has limited parental controls. It only allow you to block specific websites or keywords, but not set time limits or profiles for different devices.
- Third, it has no QoS settings, which means you cannot prioritize certain applications or devices over others.
- Fourth, its throughput declines quickly with distance, especially on the 6GHz band, which has a shorter range than the other bands.
- Fifth, it requires Wi-Fi 6E devices to take full advantage of the 6GHz band, which are still scarce and pricey in the market.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a router for early adopters who want to future-proof their network and enjoy the fastest speeds possible.
It is easy to set up and use, and offers a lot of customization options. The router also has some notable user-friendly features, such as voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, guest network access, VPN support, and automatic firmware updates. It is a great choice for gamers, streamers, and power users who have multiple devices and high-demand applications. However, it is not a router for everyone. Is it is very costly. It has limited parental controls and QoS settings. It requires Wi-Fi 6E devices to make the most of the 6GHz band.
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