Netgear AC1600 vs.Netgear AC1900 – two similar routers, two different outcomes
When you have a good router, it is very easy to remain connected to the internet, whether you are in your office or home. Whether it is a wireless or wired one, it transforms your surfing experience in an instant, and our experiences with the Netgear AC1600 and Netgear AC1900 are proof of that.
You might have some familiarity with Netgear routers, since the company is so prominent on the routers market. However, not all Netgear routers are the same in their attributes, since the models are many in the market. It is this thought that led us to test numerous routers from Netgear, such as the AC1600 and AC1900, both different even in appearance.
The AC can be confusing as you may be unfamiliar with router ratings. As a point of reference, the AC denotes that the router supports the 802.11ac connection standard (yes, there are several types of Wi-Fi connection standards), while the number tells you the total theoretical speeds to expect (so the 1900 has a speed of 1900 Mbps, while the 1600 has a speed of 1600 Mbps). The theoretical performance does not need to match with actual performance though, as our test results will show you.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Netgear AC1600 and AC1900?
Netgear AC1600 |
Netgear AC1900 (Winner) |
|
Average throughput speed |
99.62 Mbps |
174 Mbps |
Memory capacity |
128 MB – RAM
128 MB – flash |
256 MB – RAM
128 MB – flash |
Download speeds |
90 Mbps |
300 Mbps |
Upload speeds |
12 Mbps |
90 Mbps |
Dimensions (inches) |
12.0 x 10.13 x 2.84 (the bulkier router) |
11.22 x 7.26 x 1.97 (slightly smaller) |
Netgear AC1600 vs. AC1900 – How they compare
Design
The size of the AC1600 can be considered mid-tier compared to larger options, measuring 7.5 x 7.9 x 2.6 inches, and its weight is 417 grams. You will find it hard to squeeze in an inconspicuous corner of your home, but it can fit well on your working desk. Since it is in a vertical rather than a horizontal design, you can stand it on its base and it will consume less space.
In addition to this, the AC1600 adds one USB 3.0 port to help in your Network storage activities. Even though it only has this port to count on, the use of the 3.0 rather than the 2.0 standard makes it a good investment. It also only has one LED light, which is the Netgear logo at the front of the router, and its casing has some triangular cutouts that help it to remain cool as you use it.
On the other hand, the AC1900 is quite large though, as it measures 1.97 x 11.22 x 7.26 inches and weighs 1.6 pounds, and you can operate it both vertically by attaching it to a wall mount, or horizontally.
It has a very wide base, which helps it plenty when you need it to be steady in one position, and the overall approach to the design represents the slickest approach that the company has used. Each port can also accommodate cables, yet this will not interfere with its stability, and the rubber feet will also help in this regard.
Speed
The AC1600 uses a processor of an 800MHz dual-core type, with a RAM of 128 MB and flash of 128MB. Like the AC1900, it uses a dual-band setup – which means it utilizes both 2.4 and 5GHz bands to deliver the best chances of internet connectivity. The speeds to expect here are 300 Mbps on its 2.4GHz band, and the 5GHz band should deliver 1300 Mbps, though the actual throughput is only 99.62 Mbps.
The interesting thing is the lack of external antennas at all compared to its AC Netgear counterparts. The simplicity in its design allows it to comfortably adopt the beam forming type of technology, which increases efficiency that will allow you to upload content, less buffering, and experience lag-free gaming.
Since the AC1900 is quite the beefy router, it needs impressive specs to power its performance. In it, there is a 1GHz processor that is also dual-core, and it can support 1300 Mbps on its 5GHz band and 600 Mbps on its 2.4GHz band. The back panel will also contain the attachments of the three external antennas, and the router itself has a RAM of 256 MB and a flash of 128 MB.
Setup and specs
Similar to other newer routers in the market, the AC1900 is quite easy to set up and use. It comes with a very comprehensive installation guide, and you will get clear instructions on setting up the system, and its web setup page shows you the status of the router as well as the passphrase and pre-configured wireless SSID.
On the other hand, among the major reasons that make the AC1600 increase its speed in connectivity is due to the use of QoS technology (Quality of Service), which plays a role in ensuring high definition gaming and streaming. There is a major drawback though, which is the lack of MU-MIMO technology, which the AC1900 incorporates in its design.
However, it does share the Netgear Genie app setup method, just like the AC1900, and you can monitor its signal connection as well as management of your whole network. The AC1900 also uses QoS, which includes some preset rules in its interface. These rules include setting of upstream traffic when you use VPN, popular games, and Xbox applications, changing them to high priority and increasing their speed.
Netgear AC1600 vs. AC1900 – A comparison review
Netgear AC1600 – Overview
- Provides an extensible design that enables service prioritization for data
- Design that delivers high availability, scalability, and for maximum flexibility and price/performance
From the look of things – at least initially – the Netgear AC1600 does not exactly have the kind of beautiful design that will attract the masses. Its upright slab design with a sheen finish might look attractive at a glance, but the problem is that it will demand plenty of physical care on your end, even more than any other device you own.
That said, while it may not be the best choice for you if you need a router that supports a ton of bandwidth-hungry devices, it will still work well if you want an affordable version of an 802.11ac router.
Pros
- The range it offers is exceptional
- Very good wireless speeds
- Comes at a fair price, considering its performance
Cons
- Tends to drop its cloud storage system (ReadyShare)
- Aging setup process and User Interface
AC1900 – 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...
Another router in the Netgear line of premium routers, the AC1900 is among the best when it comes to comparing the 802.11ac standard of choices in their line-up. Even though it is not the fastest router out there, it gains points for its ability of sustaining good throughput levels, thanks to beam forming. In fact, the highest speeds we saw here were 174 Mbps – but the major drawback was the slow 2.4GHz speeds, which range around 69 Mbps.
In order to increase its security features, it uses Wi-Fi protection access (WPA2-PSK/WPS), as well as NAT and SPI firewalls (double firewall protection and denial of service attack protection).
Pros
- Very good throughput in its 5GHz band
- Great design
- Great QoS availability
- Good range rating
- Comes with full VPN capability
Cons
- Tends to be slow in applying settings changes
- Less than stellar throughput on the 2.4GHz band
Verdict: So which is better? The AC1600 or AC1900?
According to our experiences of using these two routers, it was a close call – but our clear winner in this review is the AC1900 due to its good connection stability, wide range, and good performance on its 5GHz band.It also stands out among Netgear routers including the AC1600, due to its relative affordability.
Frequently asked questions
If I see my Netgear LED blinking an orange light, what does that mean?
Orange light is an indication that the router is connecting to a network at slower speeds than usual – which is usually far less than 1 Gbps. If it is blinking, then there is some transmission that is currently happening on the internet.
How can I activate the VPN connection of the Netgear CA1900 to my Android phone?
This will require you to connect to the router’s web interface through the internet. You can use two methods of locating your router: the public internet address that your router is using, or the Dynamic DNS service (the better option). Note that the VPN will only work for an OpenVPN client.
