Netgear has launched its inaugural Wi-Fi 7 router, the Nighthawk RS700S, which aims to provide consumers with a future-proof device that can handle emerging multi-gigabit Internet speeds. Priced at £800, it’s certainly a premium router, but the exceptional wireless performance and advanced features help validate the lofty price tag.
Overview of Key Specifications
As Netgear’s flagship consumer router, the Nighthawk RS700S is packed with enticing features:
- Supports 320MHz channels and 4K QAM for ultra-fast wireless speeds up to 5Gbps
- Uses Multi-Link Operation (MLO) to combine multiple bands for improved reliability and reduced latency
- Dramatically reduces latency for competitive gaming and next-gen VR/AR apps
- Allows connections for up to 200 devices simultaneously
- 10GbE WAN port for multi-gig fibre Internet plans up to 10Gbps
- 1x 10GbE LAN port + 4x Gigabit LAN ports for wired connections
It’s a tri-band 4×4 MU-MIMO router with one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands, including the new 6GHz band added with Wi-Fi 6E.
Design – Compact and Modern
Gone is the familiar stealth fighter-style design of past Nighthawk routers. The RS700S has a clean, vertical orientation to minimise its footprint. The styling is relatively plain yet modern, with LEDs on the front to indicate connectivity status and all the ports on the rear.
Set-Up Process
Getting the router operational is straightforward using either the Nighthawk app or web interface. Firmware updates and reboots do lengthen the process slightly. Overall, the app provides clear step-by-step guidance to get you up and running quickly.
Web Interface & Features
The web interface allows full access to the abundant features and settings. It covers the typical router functionality most people need, though advanced users may desire more customisation options.
Of note, you’ll want to use a single SSID with Smart Connect enabled to take advantage of the upcoming Multi-Link Operation, allowing Wi-Fi 7 devices to connect across multiple bands simultaneously.
Wi-Fi 7 Performance
Since this is one of the very first Wi-Fi 7 consumer routers available, I was eager to test the real-world performance. However, compatibility issues prevented me from using my AMD-based PCs. Fortunately, I was able to conduct testing with two Wi-Fi 7 phones – the Pixel 8 Pro and iQOO 12.
My network runs on 2.5GbE, connecting to a NAS. Impressively, the router easily saturated this bandwidth. Switching to 10GbE, speeds topped out around 3.5Gbps, approximately 2.3x faster than my previous Wi-Fi 6E router.
Even on the 5GHz band, which has the same technical specs as Wi-Fi 6E, speeds were roughly 30% faster, hitting about 2Gbps.
The 6GHz band delivered exceptional performance as well, despite its reputation for poor obstacle penetration. I achieved strong speeds in multiple rooms through walls and floors thanks to the powerful antennas.
However, some advanced features like Multi-Link Operation aren’t fully implemented yet on this first-gen Wi-Fi 7 router. Additional performance gains are expected once the technology matures.
Pros
- Blazing fast Wi-Fi 7 speeds up to 5Gbps
- Can saturate modern multi-gig Internet speeds
- Great 6GHz speeds even through walls
- Loads of advanced networking features
Cons
- Very expensive at £800 RRP
- Lacks 2.5GbE LAN ports
- No support for Multi-Link Operation yet
- Compatibility issues with AMD PCs
Conclusion
The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S delivers exceptional Wi-Fi 7 performance that should satisfy consumers for years to come. It can easily handle emerging multi-gigabit fibre Internet speeds, while providing enough wireless bandwidth to connect a plethora of devices simultaneously.
There are some expected early adoption quirks with this first-generation Wi-Fi 7 router, like spotty AMD compatibility and incomplete standards implementation. However, if your home network is ready for a future-proof upgrade, the RS700S packs an unbeatable combination of next-gen wireless technology and robust networking capabilities. Just be prepared to pay a premium for this cutting edge router.
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