Netgear Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 router review
Netgear introduced the Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 router in 2017. It is powered by Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8065 @ 1.7 GHz chipset, 256 MB of RAM, and 128 MB of flash memory.
Keen to discover if this Netgear router lives up to the hype? Keep reading to find out!
Table of Contents
- Netgear Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 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 X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5, please let us know.
The Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 is a popular router model from Netgear, and many users have given it positive reviews. Netgear is a well-respected manufacturer in the networking industry.
Netgear Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 specifications
| Brand | Netgear |
|---|---|
| Name | Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 |
| Type | R7850 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2017 |
Body
| Dimensions | 295.5 x 226.8 x 54.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
If you plan to move a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. Otherwise, the size isn't too crucial. The weight of the router is not typically a critical factor for most setups.
System
| Chipset | Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8065 @ 1.7 GHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 256 MB |
| Flash | 128 MB |
| OS | Netgear |
| Power supply | 12 V / 3.5 A |
The Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8065 @ 1.7 GHz CPU provides processing power. You cannot expand the router's memory (256 MB). When selecting a router, it's essential to think about the RAM specifications.
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 |
The router also supports IPv6. This allows you to use the latest Internet Protocol. The router has Gigabit Ethernet ports. They allow for faster communication between devices on your local network. A Gigabit WAN port is useful when your internet plan supports high speeds. OpenVPN is popular for VPNs. This is because it's strong, flexible, and works on many devices.
Wireless
| Antennas | 6 x 2 dBi fixed |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 6 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Class | AC3000 |
| Speed | 450 + 1300 + 1300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 28 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
The 2.4GHz band refers to the part of the radio spectrum between 2.400 and 2.4835 gigahertz. The 5 GHz band provides faster data transfer speeds compared to the 2.4 GHz band. This AC Wi-Fi router supports multiple spatial streams, typically up to 4 streams. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. 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 | 1 x USB 2.0 1 x USB 3.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). 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 X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 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.
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
- adequate flash
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- supports OpenVPN
- works on 5 GHz band
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- USB 3 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- too weighty
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- incompatible with WPA3
Netgear Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 photos
Netgear Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi 5 comparisons
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Updated: June 6, 2024
