Nighthawk RS700S WiFi 7 Router Review
The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S stands as the brand’s inaugural dive into WiFi 7 technology, boasting state-of-the-art specifications. It includes tri-band capabilities reaching a staggering 19 Gbps speed, advanced 4096-QAM modulation for enhanced data transfer, and Multi-User MIMO technology to accommodate numerous devices concurrently.
Retailing at £800, the RS700S is notably pricey, yet it promises to elevate your home network to future-ready standards. It’s a pioneering consumer router, fully equipped to harness the capabilities of increasingly prevalent multi-gigabit internet services.
Aesthetically, the RS700S departs from the typical aggressive design of previous Nighthawk models, adopting a more subdued, matte black tower form. Its sizeable and hefty build, necessitated by large internal heatsinks, aids in sustaining peak performance. The router features an array of LED indicators and multiple I/O options, including dual 10GBASE-T ports.
The setup process is user-friendly, with Netgear’s mobile application offering step-by-step guidance, taking only minutes to complete. The interface then provides access to over 40 sophisticated wireless settings for network optimization. Functions such as guest networks, LAN port link aggregation, and port forwarding for remote device access are all conveniently manageable.
In practical usage, the RS700S excels, becoming the first router to fully utilise a 2.5Gbps LAN connection, achieving WiFi speeds of up to 3.5Gbps when paired with a 10GbE LAN — a rate 2.3 times faster than its WiFi 6E predecessors.
The router’s range comfortably covers a medium-sized home with robust signal strength, thanks to its eight high-gain antennas. It consistently delivers high-speed connectivity even through physical barriers like floors. The introduction of WiFi 7 features, such as Multi-Link Operation, further amplifies performance by merging multiple channels.
For those prioritising cutting-edge wireless performance and connectivity, the RS700S’s high cost is a worthwhile investment. However, users with tighter budgets might find better value in opting for more affordable WiFi 6 or 6E routers, which offer comparable performance for most typical use cases.
The full version of this Netgear Nighthawk RS700S WiFi 7 router review was posted on mightygadget.com
