Airport extreme vs. Nighthawk-Find out why these two routers are rated differently
Would you like to enjoy a lag-free gaming experience? You have to choose a good router that does not disappoint. Read this Airport extreme vs. Nighthawk guide and discover an ideal one for your needs.
Buying a router for our home has always been intimidating. The technical aspects of different routers were confusing since we did not have a lot of knowledge regarding wireless routers. Researching before making the purchase was quite useful since we learned most of the basics of different models. We even compared some popular routers such as Airport extreme and Nighthawk and found out the following.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Airport extreme and Nighthawk?
Name |
Airport Extreme |
Nighthawk (Winner) |
Antennas |
Internal |
External |
Speed |
Download speed-125 Mbps
Upload speed-35 Mbps |
Download speed-150 Mbps
Upload speed-50 Mbps |
Port interface |
2.0 USB port |
3.0 and 2.0 USB ports |
Parental controls |
Not available |
Available |
Call to action |
Airport extreme vs. nighthawk-How do they compare?
Design
Airport Extreme is a lightweight router that comes in the form of a rectangular tube. It is meant to stand vertically and does not need a lot of space. Apart from its elegant design, it also comes with internal antennas. Nighthawk, on the other hand, has a trapezoid design and features flared sides. It is a bulky router than needs a lot of space. It features three external antennas that can boost the wifi signal and extend the range.
Though Nighthawk has a bulky design, it offers better wifi coverage due to the inclusion of external antennas.
Port interface
Nighthawk offers more connection possibilities compared to Airport Extreme. This is because it comes with 4 Gigabit LAN ports and 2 USB ports. Airport Extreme, on the other hand, contains 3 LAN and 1 USB port.
Nighthawk is, therefore, better at connecting devices since it has more ports.
Performance
According to Apple, Airport Extreme can offer wifi speeds of up 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. Though Nighthawk can deliver the same maximum speed on the 5 GHz band, it offers up to 600 Mbps on the second band.
When we conducted tests on both routers, Nighthawk recorded speeds of up to 295 Mbps from a range of 100 feet on the 5 GHz band. Airport Extreme, on the other hand, showed an average speed of 204 Mbps at a distance of 100 feet.
Nighthawk offersbetter performance since it can deliver greater speeds.
Airport extreme vs. Nighthawk- A comparison overview
Airport extreme
- This Certified Refurbished product has been tested and certified to work and look like new, with minimal...
- New 6.6-inch height with smaller 3.85-inch base, Easy setup with Macs and iOS devices
Apple came up with this elegant looking router that supports 802.11 ac technology a few years back. Since it was introduced, most customers reveal that they enjoy its solid performance and find Airport Extreme easy to use. If you have a lot of wifi-enabled devices, you can benefit from choosing this router.
This is a dual-band router that comes with a compact design. It, therefore, does not occupy a lot of space in your home. It looks like a rectangular tube that stands at 3.85 inches wide and 6.6 inches tall. You should notice a status light on the front part of the router that glows when the router is working accordingly. When you see the amber color, it means that the devices require some attention.
On the back part, it comes with at least 3 Gigabit LAN ports that connect different wired clients. Use the available 2.0 USB port to connect a printer or external hard drive to Airport Extreme. This router is a bit disappointing since the latest models in the market today offer 4 LAN ports and an extra 3.0 USB port, which is known to deliver better performance when connected to a hard drive.
Despite such drawbacks, Airport Extreme is easy to set up even for first-time users. You need the Airport Utility software for you to install this router. The software is available for different systems, including iOS, Windows, and Macs. The problem with this software is that it does not give you access to so many features and customization options.
This router offers wifi coverage on two frequency bands, namely the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. It can accommodate data speeds of up to 1.3 Gbps. Like other wireless routers, Airport extreme has standard features such as guest networking, port forwarding, Access Control, and DynDNS. It also allows you to share large files within a short duration. You should, however, not expect features such as QoS customization and Parental controls in this router. Despite the lack of some elements, this router can give you a reliable wifi network in your home.
Pros
- It performs well
- Elegant design
- It is lightweight and easy to use
Cons
- Limited customization options
Nighthawk Overview
- Fast wifi performance: Get up to 1800 square feet wireless coverage with AC1900 speed (Dual band up to...
- Recommended for up to 30 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect...
If you are experienced with a modern router, you are probably looking for one that is equipped with numerous features. Nighthawk will not let you down. It is a dual-band router that offers multiple customization options and runs at 1 GHz. It delivers fast speeds so that you can stream content uninterrupted and enjoy gaming online.
It comes with an in-built OpenVPN server and offers support for TurboQAM. Nighthawk also supports third-party firmware like DD-WRT. When it comes to the design, this is a large router that is quite bulkier than most models. You should have enough space for Nighthawk if you don’t plan on mounting it on a wall. A wall socket can also accommodate the large power adapter of this router.
Unlike the first model, this one comes with at least three external antennas. The manufacturer houses it in a plastic casing that makes it sturdy. We also liked the fact that the finishing does not attract fingerprints like other routers. You will also find the setup of this router a breeze. You can customize Nighthawk through the Genie web interface. Alternatively, you can also download the Genie mobile app to customize most of the settings. You can even utilize this app when you want to stream content to a portable device such as an iPad.
You should also notice at least 4 gigabit LAN ports and 2 USB ports, including 3.0 and 2.0. It also comes with two guest networks and parental controls. Apart from that, Nighthawk offers the QoS feature, which allows you to manage the downstream and upstream. This functionality facilitates bandwidth prioritization so that applications such as video chat, HD streaming, and online gaming get the most bandwidth for enhanced user experience. Unlike Airport extreme, Nighthawk offers support for Time back machine. Apart from that, Nighthawk offers backup software for Windows computers, which is known as ReadyShare Vault.
Pros
- Contains parental controls
- Enhances secure browsing
- Delivers an impressive performance
Cons
- Not ideal for huge houses
Conclusion
The manufacturers of both Airport Extreme and Nighthawk have done an excellent job of creating highly competitive routers. Though both of these routers can deliver high performance, they work differently and have many distinguishing features.
Verdict: So, which is better? Airport extreme or Nighthawk
We tested both Airport Extreme and Nighthawk and discovered that Nighthawk delivers faster speeds compared to its counterpart. It also offers so many features that are absent in Airport extreme such as Quality of service, parental controls, Time machine backup, and Airtime fairness. We also liked the inclusion of an additional USB port in the Nighthawk router. This router gives more customizable options for our home network. It, therefore, made us conclude that Nighthawk is better than Airport Extreme.
FAQs
Why should I choose a router with Airtime fairness?
Such a router can prevent lagging of your network even when you connect slower devices to it.
Does Airport Extreme use Beamforming technology?
Yes, the antennas of this router make use of this technology to boost the range performance.
