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Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500

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Speed
Range
Features
Security
Ease of use
Compatibility
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20 Verified Hands-On Reviews

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Expert reviews [20]

82
Total expert reviews: 20
  • with a score: 9
  • without a score: 11
Highest score by approvedmodems.org
100
Average score based on 20 reviews
82
Lowest score by Tom's Hardware
50

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
50
Fast but Flawed
Our tests show serious network congestion issues
The Netgear RAXE500 is a Wi-Fi 6E router that looks impressive on paper with its high-speed specs and sleek design. However, in testing, it struggled with network congestion and lacked basic features for a high-end router, making it difficult to recommend at its high price point.
+ pros
  • Easy to set up with no antennas to attach.
  • Impressive speed specs with support for Wi-Fi 6E and lesser-known latest wireless technologies.
  • Includes Bitdefender Security and VPN for users who pay for security.
- cons
  • Struggles on a congested network and could benefit from robust Quality of Service (QoS).
  • Charges extra for ongoing security support despite claims that it is "built in" to the router.
  • Missing some features that are considered fairly basic in a high-end router, like QoS for better traffic control and included security without an additional yearly fee.
90
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a high-performance Wi-Fi 6e router with a unique A-Wing design and a range of 105 feet. It has a quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 512MB of flash storage space, and comes with Netgear's Armor security software.
+ pros
  • Reliable router that passed saturation test with flying colors.
  • Easy setup process through connected browser or app.
  • Customizable options for router settings.
  • Good at distributing Wi-Fi throughout older houses with thick walls and floors.
- cons
  • Expensive compared to other high-performance Wi-Fi 6 routers.
  • Throughput falls off quickly with distance, making it best for use close up.
  • Netgear Armor security software requires subscription for extended protection and additional security updates.
  • Lacks parental controls.
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ReviewFinder: authentic product reviews summarized by a powerful AI engine.

Expert consensus

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-performance router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 and 6E standards, offering top speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps, and is ideal for users who require high-speed internet for activities such as streaming and gaming.

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-performance router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 and 6E standards, offering top speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps. It is ideal for users who require high-speed internet for activities such as streaming and gaming. The router can cover up to 3,500 sq.

ft. and connect up to 60 devices simultaneously, making it suitable for medium or large homes with multiple devices and obstacles. The RAXE500 offers several notable features, including a dedicated 6GHz WiFi band, a powerful processor, Ethernet ports, and advanced security features such as WPA3 security protocol, built-in firewall features, and Netgear Armor for network-wide malware detection and vulnerability scanning.

The router is user-friendly and offers a high level of customization and control over network settings, making it a good choice for both basic and advanced users. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is highly compatible with all existing and new WiFi devices, including the latest WiFi 6E devices, and supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Voice Control for easy integration with smart home devices.

Speed

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-speed router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 and 6E standards, making it ideal for high-speed internet needs such as streaming and gaming.

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-speed router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 and 6E standards, offering top speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps. It performs exceptionally well in real-world scenarios such as streaming 4K video and online gaming, with the ability to move nearly 2.

5Gbps of real-world data at close range. The router is equipped with beamforming, MU-MIMO, and Dynamic QoS settings, making it ideal for serving multiple devices simultaneously and prioritizing internet traffic. The RAXE500 can cover large homes of up to 3,500 Sq Ft, but its bandwidth may fall off sharply as you get farther from the router.

Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a powerful router that is ideal for high-speed internet needs, such as streaming and gaming.

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Range

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Router offers solid range performance and can connect up to 60 devices simultaneously, making it ideal for medium or large homes with multiple devices and obstacles.

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Router offers solid range performance, covering up to 3,500 square feet with the ability to connect up to 60 devices simultaneously. It can penetrate walls and obstacles, making it ideal for older houses with lots of nooks and crannies. However, its bandwidth falls off sharply as you get farther from the router, so it may struggle to maintain top speeds in larger homes with multiple walls and obstacles.

The RAXE500's total throughput suffers from a rapid decrease with distance, making it the router to use close to your device. It features 6 GHz band and 8 high-performance internal antennas that send strong WiFi signals to longer distances, and Wi-Fi 6E technology that pushes the wireless performance to the limit.

Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a great choice for medium or large homes with multiple devices and obstacles.

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Features

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-end router with Wi-Fi 6E, tri-band wireless speed, and advanced features for gaming and streaming, but with limited parental controls and QoS support currently unavailable.

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-end router that offers several notable features. It supports Wi-Fi 6E, has tri-band wireless speed, and can cover up to 3,500 sq. ft. while supporting up to 60 devices.

The router has a dedicated 6GHz WiFi band, a powerful processor, and Ethernet ports. It also comes with Netgear Armor and Netgear Smart Parental Controls for enhanced security and parental control. However, the parental controls are limited, and the QoS support is not currently available but will be added in an upcoming firmware update.

The router supports a VPN service, but the specifics of the VPN options are not mentioned. Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is ideal for users who need a high-performance router with advanced features for gaming, streaming, and other bandwidth-intensive activities.

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Security

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router offers a range of security features, including WPA3 support, built-in firewall features, and Netgear Armor, but extended protection requires a subscription-based extra.

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router offers a range of security features to protect against cyber threats, including support for the latest WPA3 security protocol, built-in firewall features such as DoS and VPN, and the Netgear Armor feature for network-wide malware detection and vulnerability scanning.

The router also supports WPA2/WPA3 wireless security protocols to encrypt data traffic and prevent unauthorized access. However, extended protection and additional security updates require a subscription-based extra that could add nearly $200 to the already expensive price of the RAXE500. The security settings and options on the RAXE500 may be overwhelming for novice users, but offer a high level of customization and control for more advanced users.

Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a good choice for those who prioritize strong security features and are willing to invest in a subscription-based extra for extended protection.

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Ease of use

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is easy to set up and manage with the Nighthawk mobile app and web console, offering a high level of customization and control over network settings for both basic and advanced users.

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is generally considered easy to set up and manage, according to multiple expert reviews. The router can be set up quickly using the Nighthawk mobile app, which provides basic setup instructions and a Wi-Fi Analytics module to measure signal strength and scan for other networks in range.

The app also allows users to see who is connected to the network, check wireless signal strength, and turn the guest network on and off. However, the app is limited in terms of advanced settings, which can be accessed through the web console. The web interface offers a wide variety of configuration choices, including port forwarding, link aggregation, static routing, NTP settings, and USB sharing settings.

The RAXE500 can be set up and managed with the traditional WebGUI, which offers even more options than the mobile app. Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is user-friendly and offers a high level of customization and control over network settings, making it a good choice for both basic and advanced users.

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Compatibility

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is highly compatible with all existing and new WiFi devices, supports the latest Wi-Fi standards and technologies, and features OFDMA and Smart Connect for efficient network management, making it a great option for users with multiple WiFi devices and smart home devices.

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is highly compatible with all existing and new WiFi devices, including the latest WiFi 6E devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. It is also backward compatible with all WiFi devices on 2. 4GHz and 5GHz bands. There are no known compatibility issues with specific devices or brands, and it supports all major internet service providers.

The router supports the latest Wi-Fi standards and technologies, including Wi-Fi 6 and MU-MIMO, and features OFDMA and Smart Connect for efficient network management. Setting up the router is quick and simple using the Netgear Nighthawk mobile app or a connected browser, and the app provides instructions and illustrations for easy configuration with various devices, including smartphones and laptops.

The router also supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Voice Control for easy integration with smart home devices. However, the Smart Connect feature has some issues, according to Gizmodo. Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a highly compatible and efficient option for users with multiple WiFi devices and smart home devices.

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Position in ranking

We maintain a monthly ranking that sums up expert recommendations for all routers.

Rank Change Price Router
Laptop Mag
Tom's Guide
Wirecutter
How To Geek
T3
PCMag
Digital Trends
TechRadar
Business Insider
Lifewire
1
- $230
Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8
The Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 router is a high-performance Wi-Fi 6 mesh system with excellent speed and range, advanced features such as parental controls and QoS settings, and easy setup and management through a mobile app.
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4
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1
-
-
2
- $418
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-performance router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 and 6E standards, offering top speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps, and is ideal for users who require high-speed internet for activities such as streaming and gaming.
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8
-
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8
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-
-
3
-
3
- $83
TP-Link Archer AX50
The TP-Link Archer AX50 router is a highly recommended Wi-Fi 6 router that offers fast and reliable speeds, supports over 40 connected devices, and has advanced features such as parental controls and antivirus protection.
3
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-
-
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-
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2
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4
- $38
Google Nest WiFi
The Google Nest WiFi router is a reliable and efficient solution for families of four who frequently use multiple devices simultaneously and want fast and reliable internet speeds, with parental controls, QoS capabilities, and easy setup and management using the Google Home app.
2
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-
-
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-
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5
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Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 ranks #2 out of 11 in this month's ranking:
The best Wi-Fi 6E router
4 Oct 2024 (1 month ago)
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The best Wi-Fi router if you have a big budget
29 Feb 2024 (9 months ago)
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Best Wi-Fi 6E
18 Apr 2022 (2 years ago)
Read article

Highest recommended routers this month

ReviewFinder ranks based on a combination of customer reviews, expert reviews / mentions and popularity. Expert recommendations carry the highest weight in the ranking. We do not rank based on price, our commission or brand. routers below are at the top of our ranking this November.

Scroll to see all options. Click on the router for more details.
Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 (this item) TP-Link Archer AX50 Google Nest WiFi
Reviews
In comparison:
Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 rank #1 out of 207.
Go to rankings
7.1
Good
Reviews
In comparison:
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 rank #2 out of 207. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
8.3
Great
Reviews
In comparison:
TP-Link Archer AX50 rank #3 out of 207.
Go to rankings
7.8
Good
Reviews
In comparison:
Google Nest WiFi rank #4 out of 207. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
8.4
Great
The Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 router is a high-performance Wi-Fi 6 mesh system with excellent speed and range, advanced features such as parental controls and QoS settings, and easy setup and management through a mobile app. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-performance router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 and 6E standards, offering top speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps, and is ideal for users who require high-speed internet for activities such as streaming and gaming. The TP-Link Archer AX50 router is a highly recommended Wi-Fi 6 router that offers fast and reliable speeds, supports over 40 connected devices, and has advanced features such as parental controls and antivirus protection. The Google Nest WiFi router is a reliable and efficient solution for families of four who frequently use multiple devices simultaneously and want fast and reliable internet speeds, with parental controls, QoS capabilities, and easy setup and management using the Google Home app.
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