Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 router review
Netgear introduced the Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 router in 2019. It is powered by Broadcom BCM4908 @ 1.8 GHz chipset, 1024 MB of RAM, and 512 MB of flash memory.
Want to know if the Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 is a game-changer? Read on!
Table of Contents
- Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 specifications
- Body, dimensions, weight
- System, chipset, RAM, flash, power supply
- Network, protocols, WAN and LAN ports
- Wireless, antennas, speed, security
- Connectivity
- Administration, user interface, login information
- Links
- Verdict, Pros and Cons
- Photos
- Comparisons
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. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6, please let us know.
The Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for faster wireless speeds. Netgear has received awards and recognition for its excellent networking products.
Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 specifications
| Brand | Netgear |
|---|---|
| Name | Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 |
| Type | RAX200 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2019 |
Body
| Dimensions | 298 x 221.2 x 78 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.45 kg |
If you live in a small apartment, the size of the router is crucial to deciding whether it will fit. If you plan to mount your router on a wall or ceiling, the weight can affect the mounting process.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM4908 @ 1.8 GHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 1024 MB |
| Flash | 512 MB |
| OS | Netgear |
| Power supply | 19 V / 3.16 A |
The Broadcom BCM4908 @ 1.8 GHz CPU affects the router's performance, working with RAM and firmware. The 1024 MB of RAM helps the router manage many tasks concurrently
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 Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 router is compatible with IPv6. IPv6 offers many enhancements and improvements over IPv4. Gigabit Ethernet ports support data transfer rates of up to 1 gigabit per second. A Gigabit WAN port is useful when your internet plan supports high speeds. This router also supports 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet on its WAN port. OpenVPN is available for many operating systems. These include Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
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 | AX11000 |
| Speed | 1148 + 4804 + 4804 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 30 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPA3 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
Many IoT devices, smart home devices, and older Wi-Fi devices mainly use the 2.4 GHz band. To optimize your Wi-Fi experience, it's often recommended to use a combination of both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 AX router typically offers improved range and coverage. 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. The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a safe wireless network with the push of a button or a simple PIN entry.
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. A USB print server lets you connect a printer to your network. Then, computers can print to it without a direct connection. The Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 router lets you schedule backups. You can back up to the connected USB storage device.
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.
Links
| Official site | https://www.netgear.com/ |
|---|
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. 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 Tri-Band WiFi 6 photos
Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Tri-Band WiFi 6 comparisons
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Updated: May 25, 2024
