Netgear ac3200 vs. Linksys ac3200 – Which is faster?

Some of the amazing routers in the market are those that are tri-band and that run on fast processor chips. If you are network nerd then having a router that let’s you flash the firmware is an added advantage.

If you are in the market for a router one of the key things you need to be on the lookout for is speed. Nothing is as irritating as trying to stream a movie online and when the action starts that’s when it starts buffering. If you want to avoid this then you need to check out these two amazing routers – Netgear ac3200 and Linksys ac3200.

What are the key differences between Netgear ac3200 vs. Linksys ac3200?

Netgear ac3200 vs. Linksys ac3200 – How do they differ?

Design

When it comes to size the Netgear ac3200 is a massive router while the Linksys ac3200 is average in size. One thing we liked about the ac3200 is that it is capable of standing in a vertical position. The Linksys ac3200 comes with three external antennas and three internal ones. At the rear you have four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one Gigabit LAN port and one 3.0 and 2.0 USB ports. The Netgear ac3200 is massive and almost resembles a spaceship when its four external antennas are placed in an upright position. At the center of the router is a wide strip with 13 LED status lights and a large mesh for preventing the router from overheating. The Netgear 13 inch antennas can fold out and rotate 140 degrees. The Netgear ac3200 comes with four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one each – 3.0 USB and 2.0 USB ports.

Speed

Both routers are tri-band meaning you have a single 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands. For the Netgear ac3200 you can reserve one of the 5GHz channels for high speed traffic. Internet speeds is through the 600MHz 2.4GHz band and 1,300 5GHz band and this gives one a maximum theoretical speed of 3,200Mbps. The Netgear runs on a 1GHz processor with 128MB of flash storage and 256MB of RAM.

Setup and software

The Linksys ac3200 is very impressive when it comes to its software features. You have the network map that allows you to categorize your connected clients based on connection type or device type. You also have a simple drag and drop media prioritization feature that allows one to categorize connected clients based on priority. You can set high and normal priority lists. Lastly, you have a parental control feature that allows you to determine a list of restricted sites for your kids. The Netgear ac3200 also acts as an access point and it is easily customizable. Operation of the Netgear is through its genie app that is available for both iOS and Android. You can check out the download and upload speeds through its traffic meter and you can also receive email notifications anytime a new client logs in. You also get parental control feature and a map of connected clients.

Netgear ac3200 vs. Linksys ac3200 – A Comparison Overview

Netgear ac3200 – Overview

NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 Smart Wi-Fi Router (R8000) - AC3200 Tri-band Wireless Speed (Up to 3200 Mbps) | Up to 3500 Sq Ft Coverage & 50 Devices | 4 x 1G Ethernet and 2 USB ports | Armor Security

• Recommended for up to 50 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect...
• Wired Ethernet ports: plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices...

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This tri-band router offers excellent range at incredible speeds. It comes with six external antennas measures 11.5 x 8.8 x 2.2 inches. This makes it one of the biggest routers in the market and you will need to invest in space to operate it. You can either screw the router on a wall or place it horizontally. At the top there air vents for ventilation and a wide strip with 13 status LEDs. Should you find these lights irritating you can simply turn them off.

The Netgear handles three bands – one 2.4GHz frequency and two 5GHz bands. To help you boost your signal the router comes equipped with beamforming technology and you can adjust the 3.3-Inch antennas to an angle of 140 degrees.

The setup of the Netgear is fast process and can be done through its Genie software. Once you have plugged in your router login to routerlogin.net and the software will automatically detect the router and devices. You can also use the router as an access point and customize features like IPv6 to Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) protocols. The router comes with four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one 3.0 USB port and 2.0 USB port. The router uses the latest security features including WPA2/Enterprise encryption.

Pros

• Genie software comes with many customization options
• Great speed and range
• Tri-band internet connection
• Large air-vents to prevent router from overheating
• Supports 3.0 and 2.0 USB ports

Cons

• Bulky and expensive

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Linksys ac3200 – Overview

Linksys WRT3200ACM: AC3200 Dual-Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Router, Beamforming Tri-Stream Wireless Signal, Ethernet Ports, MU-MIMO (Black, Blue)

• Fast wireless router provides Wi-Fi coverage for your home (works with existing modem)
• Open source firmware offers advanced customization; Certified operating systems: MacOS (10.X or higher),...

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This is an ideal router for those who want to maximize on the fast 5GHz frequency. The router is tri-band and supports 3×3 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. With the bands you are capable of hitting speeds of up to 600MHz on the 2.4GHz and 1,300Mbps 5GHz band. This gives you a total maximum theoretical speed of 3,200Mbps.

The Linksys ac3200 comes with three external antennas and three internal ones. It is compact in design and can stand on its own vertically on a fixed stand. In addition, you also get four Gigabit LAN ports, one Gigabit WAN port, one 2.0 USB and 3.0 USB port for connecting your external hard disk or printer.

The router does come with some helpful features like network map – that allows you to see all your connected clients; you can narrow this view to devices and connection type. You also get the media prioritization feature that allows you to drag and drop various priority clients on the basis of either high or normal. If you have kids, you can use the parental control feature to regulate the kind of sites your kids are surfing. You will also find other networking settings like IPv6, port forwarding, and Dynamic DNS.

Pros

• Two in-built 5GHz band
• Can be positioned vertically
• Great speeds and range
• Many customization options including network map, parental control etc.

Cons

• Few air vents

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Conclusion: So, Which is better – Netgear ac3200 vs. Linksys ac3200?

The Netgear ac3200is out winner in this review. This tri-band router comes with excellent Wi-Fi speeds and range. While the router is quite large, it compensates for this by enabling you to connect multiple devices to your network at impressive speeds. The genie software can be used for a number of customization options including parental control, security settings, traffic meter among others. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices.

FAQ

Is the Netgear Nighthawk the fastest router in the market?

While the router does deliver some impressive speeds it is not the fastest in the market. The router runs on the Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) technology while the latest routers are running on the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).  However, the router does come with some impressive technologies to boost connectivity like dynamic QoS, beamforming and Smart Connect.

Can I stream 4K videos on the Linksys ac3200 without buffering?

The ac3200 comes with tri-stream 160 technology that enables it double bandwidth from 80MHz to 160MHz. It also is capable of hitting speeds of up to 600Mhz on 2.4GHz band and 2,600MHz for its 5GHz bands.