Netgear Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router review
Netgear introduced the Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router in 2019. It is powered by Intel Lantiq GRX350A3 @ 800 MHz chipset, 512 MB of RAM, and 256 MB of flash memory.
Excited to find out if this Netgear router is worth it? Read on!
Table of Contents
Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. The specs below rely on official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Netgear Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 is a powerful router. It is full of features and made for advanced networking. This router has USB connectors. They add features and expand your network's capabilities. Netgear provides affordable networking solutions. They are accessible to many users.
Netgear Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 specifications
| Brand | Netgear |
|---|---|
| Name | Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 |
| Type | RAX40 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2019 |
Body
| Dimensions | 340 x 206 x 57 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 600 g |
If you plan to move or travel a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. It needs to be small to be easy to carry. If you plan to mount your router on a wall or ceiling, the weight can affect the mounting process. It also affects the type of mounting hardware needed.
System
| Chipset | Intel Lantiq GRX350A3 @ 800 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Flash | 256 MB |
| OS | Netgear |
| Power supply | 12 V / 2.5 A |
The Intel Lantiq GRX350A3 @ 800 MHz CPU provides processing power. It handles tasks and services within the Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router. The 512 MB of RAM enables the router to handle multiple tasks and processes concurrently. Flash memory retains its data even when the router is off. This allows the router to keep its firmware and settings across reboots. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model. However, it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface. The Netgear packages the Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router with 12 V / 2.5 A PSU.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | OpenVPN |
Like many modern routers, the Netgear Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 supports many features and tech. They improve your network's connectivity and security. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The router also supports IPv6. This allows you to use the latest Internet Protocol. Gigabit Ethernet ports support data transfer rates of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps).
A Gigabit WAN port is helpful. It is useful when your internet plan supports high speeds. OpenVPN is available for many operating systems. These include Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 3 dBi RP-SMA |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 6 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Class | AX3000 |
| Speed | 600 + 2400 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 25 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPA3 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. Many IoT devices, smart home devices, and older Wi-Fi devices mainly use the 2.4 GHz band. The 5GHz band provides faster data transfer speeds compared to the 2.4GHz band. This AX Wi-Fi router provides much faster data transfer rates. It is faster than older Wi-Fi standards. The top speed, 600 + 2400 Mbps, is the highest data rate the router can reach. It's the theoretical limit in perfect conditions.
WEP was the first Wi-Fi security protocol. But it is now seen as weak and easy to hack. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. The WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) is the latest Wi-Fi security protocol. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) provides an easy method. It connects devices to a Wi-Fi network.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 3.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 3 ports provide a fast interface for external storage with data transfer rates of up to 4.8 Gbps. By connecting a USB printer to the Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router, you can make it accessible to all devices on your network. This router has a USB file server. It lets you connect external storage devices to your network. For example, you can connect USB flash drives or hard drives.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | password |
Changing the password often is a good security practice. It protects your network and devices from unauthorized access. Changing the default password improves your router's security. It reduces the risk of unauthorized individuals controlling your network.
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this Netgear one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. We'll talk about what it does well and also where it could use some improvements. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- generous memory
- plentiful flash
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- supports OpenVPN
- works on 5 GHz band
- 802.11ax certified
- WPA3 compatible
- WPS friendly
- USB 3 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- none
Netgear Nighthawk AX4 Dual-Band WiFi 6 photos
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