Which NETGEAR Router Should I Buy?

Which Router Should I Buy?

No matter where you live or what you do, one thing is certain. You need good WiFi! Nobody wants to endure the frustration of buffering or dropped internet when trying to stream, game, or get some work done. The WiFi standard and our product offerings are always expanding so visit often for the latest news and options.

NEW: Nighthawk family now has multiple WiFi 7 Routers to choose from. See our Nighthawk WiFi 7 Routers Buyer’s Guide!

NETGEAR: The Leader in WiFi Router Technology

A strong and reliable router is an essential component of the best WiFi systems. NETGEAR has been developing and engineering the highest quality routers for over two decades, providing innovative and future-focused solutions that deliver superior WiFi speeds and performance. It’s what we do and who we are, pioneering the WiFi industry and paving the way toward

WiFi that can power all the devices in your home. Whether you want to stream the latest Netflix series, experience multiplayer cloud gaming, or secure your residence with smart home security cameras, NETGEAR routers can make it happen!
That said, if you are buying your first router, or are looking to upgrade your existing network, how do you know which router is right for your needs?

We are here to help you figure it out right now! To understand more about how WiFi works and the new WiFi naming system, check out our blog about the history and future of WiFi here.)

Which is the Best WiFi Router for me?

The first thing to consider is whether you’d like to purchase a WiFi 5 (802.11ac) router or invest in a new generation WiFi 6 or WiFi 7 router.

Most people currently use WiFi 5 & WiFi 6 routers, which can work great, especially since many laptops, computers, smartphones, and smart home applications are still WiFi 5 devices.

However, if you are looking for a brand new router, it’s worth considering WiFi 7 (802.11be) and upgrading your home network to help resolve capacity, range and bandwidth issues. An increasing number of new devices, such as the Apple iPhones, are being designed and manufactured for compatibility with WiFi 7, with support for earlier WiFi 6 and WiFi 5 systems.

WiFi 7 Routers & Mesh Systems

Welcome to the WiFi 7 revolution, where multi-gigabit speeds for your entire home are a reality. Leading the charge are NETGEAR’s newest routers: the recently launched Nighthawk RS700S WiFi 7 Router, boasting blazing-fast speeds up to 19 Gbps, and the hot-off the production line RS300 WiFi 7 Router, a formidable contender delivering up to 9.4 Gbps. Both are equipped with the most advanced WiFi technology available, ensuring a seamless and powerful wireless experience throughout your home.

Alternatively, check out Orbi 970 Series Whole-Home WiFi 7 Mesh Router systems. Orbi 970 unleashes speeds up to 27Gbps for unparalleled performance and coverage for the home, even large and expansive home layouts. This WiFi mesh system can be upgraded with additional add-on Orbi Satellites to suit your specific needs and boost WiFi coverage even further.

Finally – for a WiFi 7 Mesh system that packs a punch without breaking budgets, consider the new Orbi 770 Series systems.

What is WiFI 7?

WiFi 6 Routers

NETGEAR has historically been a leader and innovator in WiFi 5 routers. We were also the first company to release an entire WiFi 6 system lineup of routers, putting us ahead of the curve. For modern smart homes with dozens of devices that rely on strong and stable WiFi, a NETGEAR WiFi 6 router can comfortably meet wireless connection and bandwidth needs, without needing additional adapters or WiFi range extenders.

Older home network routers and legacy devices struggle to keep up with the demands for HD Netflix streaming, superfast gaming consoles, and the
addition of smart home Internet of Things (IoT) applications. WiFi 6 is designed to solve congestion problems in the modern American home.

WiFi 6 can handle multiple devices and competing requirements without buffering, lag, or high latency. WiFi 6 delivers a more seamless performance than WiFi 5, enabling it to handle multiple devices without slowing down internet speeds. NETGEAR WiFi 6 routers are also backward compatible with all your existing WiFi devices.

We currently have several impressive WiFi 6 routers available. If you are interested in future-proofing your network, check out our WiFi 6 router options online here, including NETGEAR’s first WiFi 6E Router with the 6Ghz WiFi band, or the Nighthawk AX12 WiFi 6 router, which was a CES Innovation Awards Honorée.

WiFi 5 Routers

NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi 5 routers are some of the most popular routers in the world and are a great choice, however WiFi 5 Technology is now quickly becoming obsolete, especially with the backward compatibility capabilities built into the WiFi 6 and 7.

WiFi 5 (802.11AC) routers are still quite capable, although they are an earlier WiFi generation. The Nighthawk Dual-Band WiFi Router (R7000P), for example, is a best-in-class router that includes NETGEAR Armor advanced cyber threat protection for all internet-connected devices in your home. This powerful router also includes Bitdefender security with anti-virus & anti-theft applications to secure your computers and mobile devices on the go.

Our Nighthawk X10 is another award-winning router, with a powerful 1.7GHz quad-core processor and Plex media server, making it a strong and fast router for media streaming and other data-intensive activities. This popular router is so good that PC Mag gave it their Editor’s Choice Award.
View the complete range of Nighthawk routers here and find the right one for your home.

Nighthawk Pro Gaming

Other than WiFi 5 vs. WiFi 6, something else you’ll want to consider is whether you have an avid gamer in the home. If you do, you will definitely love having a gaming router. Trust us, it’s not a gimmick. Our Nighthawk Pro Gaming routers use the Duma operating system software that is designed to provide you control over your gaming experience, with a fully customizable dashboard to isolate and rectify any issues in your home network without impacting your gameplay.

We have a lineup of excellent Pro Gaming routers, all at different price-points, and all with the same Duma operating system (which CNET called “gaming control on steroids”) which makes our gaming routers so unique. Our NPG routers have won many accolades and awards, like this Tom’s Guide Editor’s Choice Award.

If you or a family member love to game, be sure to check out all of our Nighthawk Pro Gaming routers online here.

Mesh WiFi Systems

If you live in a larger home, or if your home’s layout or building materials have not been conducive to strong WiFi, you may want to consider upgrading to a Mesh WiFi System. Our Orbi WiFi Systems have been extremely popular worldwide.

Mobile Hotspot Routers

Fast, reliable WiFi anywhere you go. It is now possible with Nightahwk. Ensure you have the best WiFi at all times with 5G-powered WiFi can go anywhere you do: Instantly connect the entire job site, host a livestream, or join a Zoom call from anywhere. Get more speed and connectivity than a mobile phone hotspot and stop draining your battery. You deserve secure, flawless, portable WiFi that makes it easier to accomplish it all. Shop M6 and M6 Pro 5G Mobile Hotspot Routers by Nighthawk.

What is a Mesh WiFi system?

A Mesh WiFi system is basically when you have a WiFi router and one or more satellites (also known as extenders or nodes) that communicate with one another to extend your WiFi coverage throughout your home. A traditional non-mesh extender normally has a different SSID and password, and so the coverage isn’t as seamless as it is with a Mesh system, which pre-paired and has just one network name. Also, with traditional extenders and most of the competitive mesh systems, as your coverage increases, your speed tends to decrease, often by up to 50%. However, with NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi systems , because they are tri-band, there is one dedicated connection strictly used between the router and its satellites to communicate, and therefore, there is no slow-down. You are effectively assured that you get the same internet speed on the Orbi satellite in the center of your home as you get on the router.

Depending on how much coverage you need (ie: how big your home is), we have several different kits, like our original flagship Orbi RBK50 , which covers up to 5000 square feet with just one router & satellite, and you can check them all out here. We continue to innovate with Orbi systems and are now offering the extremely powerful Orbi WiFi 6E RBKE963 .

We also have the Orbi Voice, which is an Orbi router with an Alexa-enabled smart speaker satellite, engineered in partnership with Harman Kardon. It extends your WiFi coverage, and is a smart speaker. It’s no wonder that it won one of TIME Magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2018” award.

Need coverage outdoors, or to a far-off shed, security camera, workspace, pool, or garage? With the Orbi Outdoor satellite, you get a weather-resistant satellite to extend that coverage to all areas of your property.

Orbi WiFi 6 Tri-band Mesh Systems

Recent introduction is the Orbi WiFi 6 mesh system – the ultimate whole home wireless network, designed for multi-gigabit speeds everywhere. The Orbi WiFi 6 System- RBK852 sets a new benchmark with the highest capacity and enhanced performance, with 12 streams of WiFi 6 on every Orbi router & satellite to provide you with the best in performance and coverage for your home.

NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls

In addition to choosing a router, you may also need to consider parental controls and cybersecurity. Many NETGEAR routers also include the option of using NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls, so that you can set automated time limits and introduce safety measures for your kids. Read all about NETGEAR smart parental controls here.

NETGEAR Armor Cybersecurity

Most of our NETGEAR routers also include the option of subscribing to NETGEAR Armor, our advanced cybersecurity solution. It’s more than just an anti-virus, Armor secures all the devices on your network, like your laptop and smartphone, as well as all of your smart devices, like your smart TV, your internet connected thermostat, your security cameras, and more. You can read more about Armor Cybersecurity here.

So… Why shouldn’t I just use the router provided by my Internet Service Provider?

When your internet service provider gives you a router, chances are, you are renting it, often at a cost of about $10-$15 every single month. And, bear in mind, they typically won’t be giving you new equipment or a high-performance router. More likely, you are receiving an older model that has been previously used, a router that has certainly seen better days.

With WiFi driving all the technology and devices in your home, it is become a basic utility, and its performance and coverage is key. Don’t believe it? Trying turning off your WiFi for a few minutes in your home….

With NETGEAR you have the most comprehensive and cutting edge technology available.  Don’t settle for poor WiFi, this is a one-time investment that will continue to deliver excellent consumer experiences across all your devices and screens in your home day after day.

Do yourself and your family a favor and eliminate those rental fees, and invest in your own WiFi router for the best WiFi performance in your home. You won’t regret it!