Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router review
Netgear introduced the Nighthawk AX12 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router in 2019. It is powered by Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8074 @ 2.2 GHz chipset, 1024 MB of RAM, and 512 MB of flash memory.
Want to know if the Netgear made a really good router? Keep following along!
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 AX12 Dual-Band WiFi 6, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The Nighthawk AX12 Dual-Band WiFi 6 is a popular router model from Netgear. Many users have given it positive reviews. You can connect supported USB devices to the router. Netgear incorporates energy-efficient features in their products, promoting sustainability and reducing power consumption.
Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Dual-Band WiFi 6 specifications
| Brand | Netgear |
|---|---|
| Name | Nighthawk AX12 Dual-Band WiFi 6 |
| Type | RAX120 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2019 |
Body
| Dimensions | 300 x 222.4 x 85.2 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.36 kg |
The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms. The weight of router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office setups.
System
| Chipset | Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8074 @ 2.2 GHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 1024 MB |
| Flash | 512 MB |
| OS | Netgear |
| Power supply | 19 V / 3.16 A |
The Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router has a Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8074 @ 2.2 GHz processor. You cannot expand the router's memory (1024 MB). When choosing a router, it is important to consider the RAM specifications. A larger flash memory allows for more space to store configuration backups. Netgear often releases firmware updates. They improve the router's features, security, and bugs. They also add new features. The 19 V / 3.16 A PSU provides power to the router. If it breaks, you can replace it with a new one.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps, 1 x 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | OpenVPN |
The router supports many networking standards. It ensures compatibility with different devices and systems. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP). It is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The latest firmware supports IPv6. It provides a system to identify and locate computers on networks. The router has Gigabit Ethernet ports. They allow for faster communication between devices on your local network.
A Gigabit WAN port is helpful. It is useful when your internet plan supports high speeds. This router also supports 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet on its WAN port. OpenVPN is popular for VPNs. This is because it is strong, flexible, and works on many devices.
Wireless
| Antennas | 8 x 3 dBi internal |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 6 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Class | AX6000 |
| Speed | 1148 + 4804 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 30 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPA3 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
This router has 8 x 3 dBi, internal antennas. Antennas are key parts of wireless routers. They send and receive radio signals to make wireless connections. Many IoT devices, smart home devices, and older Wi-Fi devices mainly use the 2.4 GHz band. The 5 GHz band is less crowded. This leads to less interference and a clearer wireless signal. The Nighthawk AX12 Dual-Band WiFi 6 router is 5 GHz capable. This router is a Wi-Fi 6 router. 802.11ax is the sixth-generation Wi-Fi standard, commonly referred to as Wi-Fi 6.
The top speed, 1148 + 4804 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 | 2 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. USB print servers let you connect a USB printer to your network. This makes it accessible to many devices. You can connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives or USB hard drives to your router.
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
- 2.5 Gbps WAN port
- supports OpenVPN
- works on 5 GHz band
- 802.11ax certified
- lightning-fast Wi-Fi connection
- WPA3 compatible
- WPS friendly
- USB 3 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- too weighty
Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Dual-Band WiFi 6 photos
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