Netgear AC2350 vs. Netgear AC1900 – is it wise to go for the higher AC router at all times?
It goes without much debate that choosing a good Wi-Fi router is essential for a good experience with surfing the internet, as well as connectivity. We can understand the frustration of choosing one though, such as when you are comparing the AC2350 and AC1900 – especially seeing that the AC2350 can be a better option than the AC1900 because of the higher number.
In order to select the best router, it is important to know what the AC means, and also know that a higher number does not necessarily mean that the performance is better. The truth is that the AC rating only means that the router itself supports the networking standard of 802.11ac, and the number just denotes the theoretical speeds that the router has, and the actual speeds do not always match up to the theoretical speed; in the case of the AC2350, the total theoretical speed is 2350 Mbps, while the AC1900 denotes a total theoretical speed of 1900 Mbps.
In light of the AC meaning, we initially thought that the AC2350 will deliver much better results, yet the results were much different than what we expected, as our tests and results actually showed.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between AC2350 and AC1900?
Netgear AC2350 |
Netgear AC1900 (Winner) |
|
Wi-Fi throughput speeds (average) |
59Mbps |
90 Mbps |
Upload speeds |
6 Mbps |
20 Mbps |
Download speeds |
90 Mbps |
89 Mbps |
Dimensions (inches) |
13.8 x 10.2 x 3.2 (the larger option) |
13.7 x 10.1 x 3.1 (the slightly smaller router) |
Processor power |
1.4GHz |
1GHz |
AC2350 vs. AC1900 – How they compare
Design and specs
The design of the AC2350 is quite large, thoughthe appearance is similar to the AC1900. Under its hood though, there are some contrasts. For instance, while both use dual-core processors, the AC2350 uses a dual core processor of 1.4GHz, in contrast to the AC1900 that uses a 1GHz chip. However, even though the AC2350 uses a faster chip, this does not make much difference in its NAS performance.
The AC2350 also includes an eSATA port aside from the usual USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports (which you will find in the AC1900), which proves to be useful when you want a more efficient storage than a USB drive.
One interesting contrast we find with the AC2350 that is absent on the AC1900 is the labelling of antennas, and the aim here is to place every antenna with its corresponding connector on the router. The problem though is that the antenna labels are printed in white on a sticker background of yellow, making it very challenging to read them.
All this does not mean the AC1900 is a perfect router, because it still has its struggles. The design is similarly large when compared to the AC2350. Unlike the AC2350, it also uses a design that is friendly for vertical mounting, through the attachment of its in-attached bases. Additionally, the base is also very strong, even when you connect cables to every port.
Performance and throughput
In terms of the throughput, the AC2350 is quite the mystery because of its less-than-stellar performance. We expected better because of its 4×4 design, especially because there are no 4×4 stream routers in the market; at least not in a widespread level of distribution.
The main issue here was that it kept on dropping the WAN connection, and the interface does not seem to see this – which leads us to think it might have problems with connection quality. The AC1900 struggles with its quality of connection on the 2.4GHz band as well, but fares much better in its 5GHz band.The AC1900, on the other hand, has very impressive specs, all powered by a 1GHz processor – slightly less than the AC2350.
When usingthe AC2350 2.4GHz mode, the average throughput is among the lowest we have seen, coming in at only 59 Mbps, with the 5GHz band averaging 130 Mbps. This is in contrast to the AC1900, which averages at 90 Mbps overall, with a 5GHz throughput of 171 Mbps and 2.4GHz performance of 70 Mbps.
Setup
Similar to most other router including the AC1900, the AC2350 has a similar installation process. After powering up the router, you can set it up through your laptop or desktop through connecting an Ethernet cable from the computer to one of the LAN ports on the router, or connecting a wireless device to the pre-configured wireless network of the router.
The AC1900 is also easy to setup, and the package includes an installation manual that will help you along the way. Much of the installation and configuration is through the web browser, although this is not a difficult task to follow through.
Overall, the performance of the AC2350 is quite the disappointment, especially seeing the high expectations it had when it first came on the scene. Many networking hardware enthusiasts shared a great excitement for its arrival, since it was among the few wireless routers that used a 4×4 streaming chipset. It fails to live up to its expectations though, and its performance does not justify the high price tag it comes with – which makes the AC1900 a much better choice in many aspects.
AC2350 vs. AC1900 – A comparison review
AC2350 – Overview
- Quad-Stream AC2350 WiFi - up to 2.33Gbps (600 + 1733 Mbps)
- Next generation Wave 2 WiFi.Denial-of-service (DoS) attack prevention
When it comes to the AC2350, it is among those that boast the specs of the impressive 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology. It uses the Quantenna chipset, and supports a theoretical 1.7 Gbps on its 5GHz band and 600 Mbps on its 2.4GHz band.
The AC2350 has many benefits thanks to its easy setup, but this does not necessarily translate to great range and throughput results. It boasts the strongest hardware specs of any consumer router, but this hides its greatest weakness: low range and throughput, and is quite expensive, which makes its purchase hard to comprehend.
Pros
- The setup process is easy
- Very strong QoS capability
- Comes with a full feature set
- It has excellent levels of NAS functionality
Cons
- Has so-so range on its 5GHz band
- Quite costly
- Disappointing throughput all around
- Has a tendency of dropping internet connections
- Its antenna labels are challenging to read
AC1900 – Overview
- Maximum Range : 1800 Sq Ft
- Recommended for up to 30 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect...
The AC1900 is among the best in the market, particularly because of its 5GHz band performance, as well as the addition of other features like a VPN setup and cool design.Its excellent speeds on its 5GHz band, along with its pairing with the latest USB adapters and high QoS (Quality of Service) features will reduce the buffering time when you are streaming videos. These make the AC1900 more enjoyable to use, even when you are carrying out tasks that demand high throughput.
Note that the AC1900 has two ports; one 2.0 port on its rear, and one USB 3.0 port on its front. The reason for the USB 3.0 placement is so that it does not interfere with the wireless signal of the 2.4GHz band (which is at the back), therefore increasing efficiency.
Pros
- Very attractive design
- Great QoS
- Excellent levels of range
- Very good throughput at the 5GHz band
- Full capability to handle VPN service
Cons
- So-so throughput at its 2.4GHz
- It is slow in applying the changes you make in the settings
- Configuration in bridge mode can be difficult
Verdict: So which is better? The AC2350 or AC1900?
Based on our tests and observations of the two routers, the clear winner of this review is the AC1900. Not only is it easy to setup and use, but the reliability and performance is much better compared to the AC2350 due to its use of QoS, it has plenty of features, and comes at a budget-friendly price.
Frequently asked questions
If I use a Wi-Fi extender on my AC1900 router, does it slow down the internet speed?
No, this is not the case. It will only slow downthe connection for the devices that are using the extender, with maximum slowdowns being around 50%.
Where is the WPS button on a Netgear router?
This is usually at the rear of any router, and the same is the case with both the AC1900 and AC2350.