Linksys AC2600 vs. Nighthawk X6 – what is the better general-purpose router?

There are many options you can use when you want your home to stay connected to the internet – but that does not mean you just pick the first router you see without doing your research on it first.

There are plenty of routers out there, and our experiences show that choosing one is a tough call when you are not sure on what to look for. However, there is some good news – we have done the w2ork for you by comparing two popular models, the Linksys AC2600 and the Nighthawk X6.

What are the differences between the Linksys AC2600 and the Nighthawk X6?

	Linksys AC2600	Nighthawk X6 (Winner)
The throughput speed	1000 Mbps	1300 Mbps
Number of ports/connection type	1/WAN	4/Ethernet
Dimensions (inches)	10.1 x 7.2 x 2.2	2.14 x 11.54 x 8.92
	Check here	Check here

Linksys AC2600 vs. Nighthawk X6 – How they compare

Wi-Fi tech

The Wi-Fi chip in the Linksys AC2600 comes with MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology, which is designed to efficiently handle Wi-Fi bandwidth, making the router better able to handle multiple connections at a time.

The existing 802.11ac access points will use the original MU-MIMO technology – this means they will treat all clients in the same way, regardless of the Wi-Fi power available. Because routers have more Wi-Fi power compared to the client, the router is hardly at full capacity when you are using it.

As for the Nighthawk X6, it also uses 802.11ac technology, although its wireless coverage and throughput will vary. This is due to external criteria such as environmental factors, network conditions, network overhead, and so on. Even though the parental controls are slightly more challenging to access compared to what you would find in the Linksys AC2600, but they are all great and will allow you to set reasonable limits of internet usage on specific devices.

Other than getting the Nighthawk X6 router in operation, the Netgear software will show you a variety of network settings that are going on, and you can find the control app for iOS and Android as well. The apps also show a user-friendly dashboard that will show the information about the specific network you are using, the number of connected devices, the version of firmware that is in use, and so on.

Performance

In addition to the support for MU-MIMO feature, the Linksys AC2600 is a powerful router gives you an impressive speed of 1733 Mbps on its 5GHz band, while the 2.4GHz band gives a maximum speed of 800 Mbps.

It uses a 1.4GHz dual-core processor as the power source, while the memory is comprised of 512MB DDR3 RAM and 128MB flash storage. These are some of the most impressive specs of hardware in a router we have seen so far. Other than these, it comes with one Gigabit WAN port (for internet connection), four Gigabit LAN ports, one USB2.0/eSATA combo port, and one USB 3.0 port.

On the contrary though, the Nighthawk X6 has three bands rather than the two you will find in the Linksys AC2600 – it comes with one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands. The dual 5GHz bands will function as load balancers that increase performance. It has a combined speed of 3.2 Gbps – the 2.4 GHz band has 600 Mbps, while the 5GHz bands have 1300 Mbps speeds each.

This is very helpful because many homes have gaming consoles, tablets, smartphones, and other devices, which will all demand heavy throughput. The Nighthawk X6 will configure the two 5GHz bands on different channels, so that you can perform these tasks without compromising on performance.

Designs

The design of the Linksys AC2600 uses a similar approach to the EA8350, along with 4 detachable antennas. These antennas will promise you better coverage thanks to using a longer and larger design. It can also remain on a surface, and you can also mount it (although it lacks mounting screws).The setup process is relatively easy, as it uses the same Smart Wi-Fi firmware as you would find in other Linksys routers. All you will need is connecting the WAN port to the internet source and plug it into a power supply.

The Linksys AC2600 has a major difference compared to most other routers – it does not have indicator lights. The only LED light is the power status light, which is in the shape of the Linksys logo. This omission might not seem like much to a home user, but a savvy user might want more from it when troubleshooting networks through looking at little LEDs.

On the other hand, the Nighthawk X6 employs a unique approach – its appearance is similar to that of a robotic insect. The chassis is rectangular in shape, slopes in an upward direction, and has 6 antennas that are all retractable. When they are in an extended position, they make the router look like a 6-legged insect. While they are strong enough, they can easily break if you handle them roughly.

Linksys AC2000 vs. Nighthawk X6 – A comparison review

Linksys AC2000 – Overview

While this is among the first in a line of MU-MIMO routers, it struggles to achieve its potential even though it has plenty of software and hardware for filling a home with web access. It will mostly benefit you if your home has plenty of devices due to its storage performance, but you should probably look for something cheaper if you have modest requirements.

This router is among the first in the market to use the technology of Qualcomm MU/EFX Wi-Fi, which promises to give good levels of performance when you use it in a crowded mixed network. In light of our testing, it did deliver on this mandate.

Our experience with it proves that it is at its best when it hosts a network that is made of mixed 5GHz clients, as it will allow each of them to connect at maximum speeds. Other than that, the coverage is also very good. When using it along with an external hard drive, it provides the best extent of network storage data even when you compare it to other routers, and even surpasses the famed dedicated NAS servers.

However, there is a significant downfall – the performance when using the 2.4GHz band is below par, while there is a glaring absence of Time Machine backups in the network storage feature. It is also quite expensive, making it a major drawback if you want a budget-friendly router.

Pros

• You can use it as a wireless extender or bridge
• It comes with the latest MU-MIMO Wi-Fi technology
• Comes with an assortment of software and ports

Cons

• Its performance is unimpressive and requires more adjustments
• It is very expensive

View Price on Amazon

Nighthawk X6 – Overview

This router is among the most impressive among the tri-band routers, as it has redefined this by handling a multitude of wireless devices on one network. The manufacturer, Netgear, is among the first to feature a tri-band router, which is meant to help the system known as the IoS (Internet of Things), which allows it to handle an increasing number of devices. However, it does have its rough spots that turned up in the testing process, which show that it will need some updates to the firmware.

You can configure it manually, if you want to do so. You can also set up the router as an access point, while the firmware will allow you to enter details ranging from MTU size (Maximum Transmission Unit) to IP V.6, making it incredibly easy to customize according to your needs.

Other than the expected wired connections that you will find in the router, you can also use them to work with an external hard drive, as well as a printer. One aspect we really liked was that the drives are easy to connect to the Apple Time Machine feature when you want to do a network-scale backup. Its protocols in use are up-to-date in their security, even up to the WPA2/Enterprise levels of encryption.

Pros

• Stays cool even while running
• Very good at optimizing performance of multiple devices
• Solid NAS performance and throughput
• Very easy to setup

Cons

• Expensive
• The network map feature will require some improvement
• It lacks an enhanced QoS feature
• Experiences some connection timeouts at 30+ feet

View Price on Amazon

Verdict: So which is better? The Nighthawk X6 or the Linksys AC2600?

These two routers are quite similar in their outlook and functionality, as well as their overall speeds. However, the Nighthawk X6 is a better option because it will allow you to spread out your connection across multiple devices without straining the quality of the connection, and therefore leading to a better experience.

Frequently asked questions

Is it necessary to have the most recent firmware on my Nighthawk router?

It is not entirely necessary, but it is advisable. This will increase the functionality, stability, and performance of the product. When you have the up-to-date versions of the firmware, this will have a higher likelihood of correcting any issues, as well as adding improvements in the product features.

What are some of the Wi-Fi security modes on the Linksys AC2600?

These will be similar to some of the other Linksys routers. These security modes include the WPA2/WPA Mixed Enterprise and Personal modes, WEP, and WPA2 Enterprise.