NetGear Nighthawk RS700 WiFi 7 Tri-Band Router Review

How Much Does it Cost?

The NetGear Nighthawk RS700 WiFi 7 Tri-Band Router isn’t cheap, OK, it’s not even just expensive, it’s ruinously expensive! It costs a wallet-busting £899, so I can appreciate if you’ve just closed the tab in horror. That being said, bear with me here, it’s far from their most expensive solution, with the Orbi mesh system often costing much more. However, keep in mind this is flagship hardware, with next-generation WiFi technology, it’s at the bleeding edge of home networking, and in that regard, you get what you pay for.

If you’re rocking a couple of phones, a games console and a single desktop computer in your small to medium-sized home, then something much more affordable will do the job just fine. However, it’s the capability of delivering massive speeds and up to 200 devices on a single router that make the Nighthawk RS700 so expensive, as it’s built for the enthusiast tech family and modern smart home environment.

Further down the range is the Wifi 6 model that supports 6.6 Gbps for just £229.11, then there’s the WiFi 7 version with 12 Gbps for just £399.99, while this flagship model is 19 Gbps capable at £899.99.

Conclusion

So who is this router for? Well, most likely for someone like myself. I have 8000/8000Mbps internet at home with YouFibre, my PC runs on 10GbE LAN, I have a NAS on 1 GbE, I have a home server on 2.5GbE, my partner has her WiFi 6 laptop, and the kids both have gaming PCs upstairs on WiFi 6. On top of that, we have four phones in the house, two tablets, and a plethora of smart devices, such as four Alexa’s, and about 30-ish Philips Hue lights. We only have a small home, so I can imagine if we had a big house, the number of smart devices could easily double just on lighting alone, then add our security cameras, alarm systems, etc, and already you’re at a point where the “I got this router for free with my internet company” people would be having serious networking struggles.

Future Proofing

If you’re building a flagship gaming or work PC in 2024/2025 then it’s more likely now that the top-end motherboards will come with WiFi 7 support too. True, those motherboards are not cheap, but again neither is the router, and you’re simply paying an early adoption tax for the latest hardware. However, if you want multi-gig WiFi and extremely fast LAN, then this is how you’re going to get it. No doubt the next generation of phones will leverage these technologies more consistently too, giving you a level of future-proofing in your network.

Software Features

The Nighthawk app and web interface provide a user-friendly experience for both novice and advanced users. While basic setup is a breeze, the RS700 offers granular control over network settings, including robust parental controls, guest network configuration, and Quality of Service (QoS) prioritisation. Which is everything you would expect from a quality router really. Furthermore, there’s a year of NETGEAR Armor, which gives you an added layer of security, though a subscription is required after the initial trial.

Connectivity

The RS700 truly shines in its connectivity options. The inclusion of a 10GbE port and a 2.5GbE port ensures you can maximize the potential of high-speed internet plans. The multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports provide ample connectivity for wired devices, while the tri-band WiFi 7 delivers exceptional wireless performance over a vast area. However, there’s no mesh support, which is surprising, but this is meant to be an all-in-one solution, still, their ORBI routers offer mesh, so I would have liked to see that option regardless.

360-degree Coverage

Netgear’s claim of 360-degree coverage with a range of up to 3500 square feet seems accurate based on your testing, which is about an 18M range and certainly more than enough to cover most mid-to-large homes. The router’s consistent performance across various distances and through obstacles is commendable, and with support for hundreds of simultaneous devices too.

Design

The RS700’s sleek and modern design is a welcome departure from the bulky, antenna-laden routers we often see, and that I have at home too actually. Its vertical form factor and compact footprint make it easier to integrate into any home environment. It’ll fit on a shelf, a side table, windowsill easily enough without looking garish or distracting.

Should I Buy One?

The Netgear Nighthawk RS700 is undeniably a premium router with a premium price tag. It’s aimed squarely at users who demand the absolute best performance and are willing to pay for it. If you have a multi-gig internet connection, plan to have a significant amount of connected devices and a need for future-proof networking technology, the RS700 is an excellent choice. However, for most enthusiast gamers, and smart device users, something further down the range, and further down the price range, would more than suffice.