The Netgear Nighthawk RS600 sits in an interesting position within Netgear’s WiFi 7 router lineup, offering similar performance to the flagship RS700S but at £300 less. With dual 10GbE ports and impressive throughput capabilities, it presents compelling value for users seeking high-performance networking.
Key Specifications:
- WiFi 7 with up to 18 Gbps total throughput
- 6GHz: 4×4 BE up to 1376Mbps
- 5GHz: 4×4 BE up to 5762Mbps
- 2.4GHz: 2×2 BE up to 688Mbps
- Coverage: 3,300 sq. ft.
- 10GbE WAN port
- 10GbE LAN port + 3x 1GbE ports
- Quad-core 2.0 GHz processor
- 2GB RAM, 512MB Flash
- 8 internal antennas
- Up to 150 connected devices
6GHz Performance:
The RS600 achieved excellent results in close range:
- Samsung S24 Ultra: 2,650 Mbps
- Pixel 9 Pro XL: 2,266 Mbps
- Laptop: 2,075 Mbps
These speeds remained strong in the living room (next room):
- Pixel 9 Pro XL: 1,372 Mbps
- Laptop: 1,331 Mbps
- Samsung S24 Ultra: 1,243 Mbps
The performance naturally degraded at longer ranges but remained usable, contradicting common assumptions about 6GHz range limitations.
5GHz Performance:
The router showed similarly strong results on 5GHz:
- Samsung S24 Ultra: 2,432 Mbps
- Pixel 9 Pro XL: 2,322 Mbps
- Laptop: 1,846 Mbps
Living room performance remained robust:
- Pixel 9 Pro XL: 1,328 Mbps
- Samsung S24 Ultra: 1,200 Mbps
- Laptop: 1,197 Mbps2.4GHz Performance:
While not the primary focus for modern devices, 2.4GHz performance was adequate for IoT devices: - Laptop: 167 Mbps
- Samsung S24 Ultra: 162 Mbps
- Pixel 9 Pro XL: 120 Mbps
Comparative Analysis
When compared to the RS300 (£300), the RS600 (£500) justifies its higher price through significantly better performance, particularly in mid-range scenarios. The inclusion of 10GbE ports provides future-proofing and higher throughput potential, especially as MLO (Multi-Link Operation) becomes more widely supported.
While the RS700S (£800) showed marginally better performance in previous testing, the real-world difference may not justify the £300 premium for most users.
Market Position
At £500, the RS600 faces competition from:
- TP-Link Archer BE800 (£511): Similar specs with additional 2.5GbE ports
- ASUS TUF Gaming BE9700 (£260): Lower-spec alternative with single 10GbE
- ROG Rapture GT-BE98 (£700): Higher-end quad-band option
Key Features:
- Enhanced WiFi 7 Technology: 2.4x faster than WiFi 6
- Comprehensive Coverage: Up to 3,300 square feet
- Multi-Gigabit Connectivity: Dual 10GbE ports
- Security: Netgear Armor (30-day trial included)
Verdict
The Netgear Nighthawk RS600 strikes an excellent balance between performance and price in the WiFi 7 router market. While it doesn’t quite match the RS700S’s peak performance, it delivers exceptional value at £300 less. The dual 10GbE ports and strong WiFi performance make it a future-proof option for demanding users.
The only notable drawback is the continued use of 1GbE ports instead of 2.5GbE for additional LAN connections, which feels dated at this price point. However, this is a minor concern given the presence of a 10GbE LAN port.
For most users seeking high-performance WiFi 7 networking without stretching to flagship prices, the RS600 represents the sweet spot in Netgear’s current lineup. It offers sufficient performance for demanding applications like 4K/8K streaming, gaming, and AR/VR while maintaining reasonable value for money.
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