The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S was formally introduced within the US again in March for pre-order with Q2 transport, making it the primary WiFi 7 router to ship. The UK launch was slower, which I assume was attributable to regulatory causes.
It’s now lastly available for purchase from each Netgear and Amazon for a princely sum of £800. Whereas this will look like a ridiculous quantity to spend on a router, that is the primary router that I’ve used that may sustain with multi-gig LAN speeds and can future-proof you for multi-gig Web connections, which have gotten more and more widespread.
You may even see the product referenced as Nighthawk RS700 somewhat than RS700S. They’re the identical product; the S means the router comes with one 12 months of Armor.
Specification
RS700S Wi-Fi 7 Options
1. 320MHz high-capacity channels & 4K QAM – Extremely-wide bandwidth providing 2.4x the pace to your linked units. WiFi 7 smartphones and laptops can get speeds as much as 5Gbps.
2. Multi-Hyperlink Operation – Makes use of a number of WiFi bands without delay to enhance community reliability, scale back latency, and guarantee knowledge charges are at most pace.
3. Decrease Latency – Dramatically upgrades gaming and interactive on-line experiences and opens the door for immersive next-gen AR and VR.
4. Extra Capability for Information-Intense Actions – Join as much as 200 units, reminiscent of safety cameras, good residence units, and audio system.
5. Multi-Gig Speeds with 10GbE Web Port – Use the ten Gig web port for cable and fibre plans as much as 10Gbps. Appropriate with any web service supplier.
6. Extra wired ports on each system – Plug in Ethernet wired units to enhance efficiency by way of a 10Gbps port and 4 1Gbps LAN ports.
Design
Netgear has ditched the F-117 Nighthawk stealth aircraft-inspired design for one thing a bit extra sensible. The Nighthawk RS700S has a tubular design that stands upright and, subsequently, takes up a smaller footprint wherever you place it.
Describing it as enticing could also be a little bit of a push, however it’s definitely not ugly, and it shouldn’t stand out fairly as a lot because the earlier designs.
On the entrance of the router, you have got LED icons to point the varied connectivity states, and on the rear, you have got all of your ports.
This consists of:
- 1 x 10GbE WAN (or LAN if utilized in AP mode)
- 1x 10GbE LAN
- 4x Gigabit LAN
- 1x USB-A
- DC Enter
- Reset
- Energy
You should utilize Web aggregation for the 10G WAN port and the gigabit LAN port 4. Then, you should use LAN aggregation on ports 1 and a pair of.
With the excessive value of this router, I might have preferred to see 2.5GbE ports for LAN ports, which is what TP-Hyperlink has achieved with their flagship fashions. Nevertheless, now you can decide up 2.5GbE switches for nicely underneath £100 now.
Energy Provide / Electrical energy Utilization
It is usually value noting that these WiFi 7 routers are beginning to have excessive energy necessities, with this router having a 19V 3.16A energy provide, which works out at 60W.
Monitoring this with the TP-Hyperlink Tapo P110M good plug, the idle energy utilization is 14.5W and when two telephones hook up with it and run pace assessments with my NAS, the ability utilization will increase to 16W. Including my work PC and transferring information for a protracted time period, the ability utilization nonetheless didn’t improve a lot past 16W.
That’s not considerably greater than a standard router and would work out at underneath £50 per 12 months primarily based on the present price of electrical energy (December 2023).
Set-Up / Nighthawk Cell App
The setup of this router is equivalent to all of the Nighthawk routers and is principally the identical as Orbi. You possibly can both use the Nighthawk app or use the net UI.
It’s a principally easy course of, although I did discover it time-consuming with the firmware replace and reboots.
Nevertheless, with the app, you possibly can principally scan the QR code on the bottom of the router and observe the step-by-step information, so it’s fairly user-friendly even if you’re not nice at tech.
Router UI / Options
Equally, the general router options are principally equivalent to different Nighthawk routers. The cellular app has very simplified entry to settings, with you needing to make use of a browser to handle the complete options.
The Internet UI has all the standard router options you’d anticipate. It is probably not as superior as some, however I believe it covers every part most customers need.
The wi-fi settings are the one factor value highlighting compared to different Nighthawk fashions (and most non-WiFI 7 routers).
I usually use routers with the bands separated, or ideally, I might have a separate 2.4GHz community after which mix 5GHz/6GHz.
I don’t suppose this router has MLO enabled but, however when it’s, you’ll want to use a single SSID with good join, as this could permit WiFi 7 units to connect with two bands without delay.
It is usually value noting that some Wi-Fi 6E shoppers could not discover the router when the router is in a non-PSC channel. So, it could be greatest to pick a PSC channel manually.
Netgear Armor
I gained’t cowl Netgear Armor on this submit as I’ve written about it a lot prior to now, and I’ll maybe write a separate overview devoted to that, so I don’t must hold rewriting about it.
As a fast reminder, that is the built-in safety function, which is powered by Bitdefender, and also you get 1-year free service.
It has loads of wonderful options, together with a license for Bitdefender in your units, good residence vulnerability scans, an Intrusion Detection System, DDoS Detection and safety and rather more.
As a tight-fisted northerner, I usually criticise the excessive yearly value of £84.99/$99.99, however when you’ve got a household and wish simple-to-implement community safety, it is a worthwhile choice. I’d additionally strongly advise you to maintain a watch out for reductions, which will occasionally get 50% off, and I might be OK with paying £42.49 per 12 months.
Take a look at Set Up / Limitations / Multi-Gig WiFi
Sadly, my means to check this router as completely as I would really like was not doable. I’ve purchased two Intel BE200 WiFI 7 modules, however my desktop PC and Huawei MateBook 14 are each AMD-based and utilizing the Intel BE200; the PCs gained’t submit in any respect. This seems to be a well-documented downside with AMD; although some individuals have been in a position to boot into Home windows with AM5-based techniques, the WiFi doesn’t work. Including to my frustration, the Geekom Mini IT13 lacks a M.2 WiFi module as it’s soldered to the motherboard.
Nevertheless, I used to be in a position to check the WiFi 7 with two telephones, the Pixel 8 Professional and iQOO 12.
It’s value noting that despite the fact that the Pixel 8 Professional has WiFI 7, it solely connects at 2400mbps, which I assume is connecting utilizing 160MHz channel width somewhat than 320MHz. The iQOO 12 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 registers a transmit hyperlink pace of 4321Mbps.
Additionally, with WiFi 7 being so new, not all of the options seem like accessible but. There is no such thing as a AFC and MLO. Multi-Hyperlink Operation permits the consumer to connect with two bands without delay for elevated throughput/vary/reliability. Netgear state MLO is because of be launched in This autumn 2023
My default setup is with my LAN working at 2.5GbE and connecting to the TerraMaster F2-423, which is working Unraid and NVMe cache drives.
I used to be in a position to saturate the connection, so I switched to utilizing 10GbE utilizing 10GBASE-T SFP+ modules on the EnGenius ECS2512FP and the TerraMaster F4-422, this doesn’t have an NVMe cache, however I’ve a SATA SSD cache.
For inner WiFi speeds, I check utilizing iPerf and OpenSpeedTest. I additionally initially separated the bands off individually so I may check them individually, then retested with the bands coexisting in a single SSID with good join.
The Nighthawk RS700S is positioned in my workplace, and the lounge is straight downstairs with picket flooring. The entrance room is throughout a hallway by way of two brick partitions, and the kitchen is downstairs and one room over by way of brick partitions.
WiFi 7 Efficiency
The WiFi 7 efficiency lives as much as expectations with some key factors value highlighting:
With WiFi 6E, one of the best throughput I may get was round 1500Mbps and subsequently, with double the channel width, it might be protected to imagine 3000Mbps could be doable with WiFi 7.
In my preliminary assessments, the router and iQOO 12 can saturate my 2.5GbE bandwidth. That is necessary as a result of 2.5GbE has grow to be reasonably priced in years and is well achievable for many customers these days. CityFibre is at present rolling out a 2.5Gbps symmetrical product, and I anticipate to have this inside the subsequent 12 months.
Moreover, I used to be shocked to see the 160Mhz channel width speeds hit round 2000Mbps, that’s round 33% quicker than I used to be attaining with 160Mhz on WiFi 6/6E.
To verify a efficiency distinction, I examined with the Nubia Z50, which is proscribed to WiFi 6E, and this was solely about to hit 1477Mbps.
Switching to 10GbE on my swap and NAS, I achieved speeds of as much as 3530Mbps, which is a 130% improve in throughput in comparison with what I beforehand skilled with WiFi 6E. That works out at 440MB/s, which might be near the learn/write pace of no matter low-cost SSD I’ve in my NAS, so it’s doable I may squeeze out a bit extra pace.
6GHz & 320MHz Channel Width
Many individuals criticise the 6GHz channel for its poor vary, claiming it’s ineffective by way of partitions. Whereas not completely flawed, I don’t suppose it’s anyplace close to as unhealthy as they make out. The iQOO 12 was practical all through my residence, and the pace was wonderful for stairs, that are roughly 12 meters, and thru a picket flooring.
- Workplace
- Residing Room
- Entrance Room
- Pixel 8 Professional: Wouldn’t Join
- Kitchen
5GHz & 160MHz Channel Width
- Workplace
- Residing Room
- Entrance Room
- Kitchen
WiFi 6/6E Efficiency
6Ghz
- Workplace
- Nubia Z50: Wouldn’t Hook up with 6Ghz
- Residing Room
- Entrance Room
- Kitchen
5Ghz
- Workplace
- Residing Room
- Entrance Room
- Kitchen
WiFi 2.4GHz
- Workplace
- Residing Room
- Entrance Room
- Kitchen
Value and Different Choices
The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S has an RRP of £800.
Just a few WiFi 7 mesh techniques and routers have been launched, however the rollout for the UK has been slower, I assume attributable to regulation points.
The TP-Hyperlink Archer BE800 is the closest competitor that’s accessible within the UK, and it’s priced at £650. This can be a tri-band router with 4×4 MU/SU-MIMO for all bands with 1x 10GbE port for WAN/LAN, one other for LAN, and 4 2.5GbE ports.
The brand new Amazon Eero Max 7 is priced at £600. It’s a mesh-capable router, however you should purchase it as a single router or as much as a three-pack (£1700). It’s a tri-band 2×2/4×4/4×4 MU/SU-MIMO router and has two 10GbE ports.
The Linksys Velop Professional 7 needs to be accessible any time quickly and is an entry-mid stage WiFI 7 mesh system which you could purchase as a single router priced at £400. This can be a tri-band router with 2×2+2×2+2×2 MU‑MIMO, then gigabit LAN ports, and a 2.5GbE WAN port.
General
With this being my first WiFi 7 router overview, I’m evaluating the efficiency of WiFi 7 normally and the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S.
WiFi 7 is clearly in its infancy; there are compatibility points with getting it to work on AMD techniques, some units just like the Pixel 8 Professional don’t make the most of the 320MHz channel width, and superior options like MLO don’t appear to be in use but.
Nevertheless, even with these points, the WiFi 7 efficiency is excellent. WiFi 6/6E was good, however they by no means actually felt like a next-generation WiFi customary. I most likely would have felt in a different way if the 6GHz band rolled out when WiFi 6 did.
From my testing, WiFi 7 achieved 33% larger throughput than WiFi 6E utilizing 160Mhz channels and saturated my 2.5GbE LAN connection when utilizing 360Mhz. For many customers, this implies WiFi can now obtain the identical throughput as your LAN, and with the rollout of two.5Gbps Web, it will probably sustain with these new multi-gig Web speeds.
On a 10GbE connection, I achieved a throughput of round 3.5Gbps, or round 2.3 occasions what I beforehand achieved with WiFi 6E. There’s room for even larger speeds with MLO, and if I used to be testing utilizing a quicker NVMe drive.
As for the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S, it’s a excellent router; I believe the design is much less divisive than the older plane-inspired design, and it has wonderful specs and efficiency.
At £800, I’d say it’s priced a bit excessive, on paper, the TP-Hyperlink Archer BE800 is a greater spec however cheaper price. Although, I haven’t used that router but, so I can’t touch upon its efficiency in actual life.
Other than the excessive value, the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S will get a straightforward advice from me. Although, except you might be determined for a router improve, I’d maybe wait till WiFi 7 is a bit more mature with higher consumer assist.
This Netgear Nighthawk RS700S review was initially posted on mightygadget.com (when you see it elsewhere).
Netgear Nighthawk RS700S Wi-Fi 7 Router Evaluation
Abstract
The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S is my first WiFi 7 router overview so I can’t actually touch upon how good it’s in comparison with the competitors.
Nevertheless, the WiFi efficiency is excellent. It will possibly simply saturate a 2.5GbE LAN/Web reference to the 6GHz band and likewise provides elevated throughput on the 5GHz band. As extra options get enabled with WiFi 7, it ought to be capable to get near saturating a 5GbE hyperlink when utilizing MLO.
Vary can be wonderful, and I used to be in a position to obtain a usable throughput all through my 4-bed semi.
With the rollout of two.5Gbps FTTP within the UK, a router like this might be important if you wish to obtain these speeds in your WiFi-equipped units, and it ought to sustain along with your networking wants for a few years (which helps justify the worth).
- WiFi Efficiency – 99%
- Options – 86%
- Value – 70%
Professionals
- Excellent WiFi performacne
- 10GbE for WAN/LAN
Cons
- Priced a bit excessive vs different choices
- WiFi 7 remains to be very a lot in its infancy
I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the artistic thoughts behind Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Obsessed with all issues expertise, my experience spans from computer systems and networking, to cellular, wearables, and good residence units.
As a health fanatic who loves working and biking, I even have a eager curiosity in fitness-related expertise, and I take each alternative to cowl this area of interest on my weblog. My various pursuits permit me to carry a novel perspective to tech running a blog, merging way of life, health, and the most recent tech traits.
In my educational pursuits, I earned a BSc in Info Techniques Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior examine additionally included Cisco CCNA accreditation, additional demonstrating my dedication to understanding and staying forward of the expertise curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has persistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of many high expertise blogs within the UK. With my dedication to expertise and drive to share my insights, I intention to proceed offering my readers with partaking and informative content material.
Final replace on 2023-12-28 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API
