Netgear ex7500 Vs Netgear ex7700 – An in-depth comparison
The Netgear ex7500 and the ex7700 are two of the best Wi-Fi extenders in the market today. Which one best suits your specific needs while meetingyour available resources?
The Netgear ex7500 and ex7700 are two consecutive releases in the ex-series by Netgear for Wi-Fi extenders. This implies that they have very few differences, aside from their price and that the ex7700 is an improvement based on the ex7500. Despite their relationship, it is important to weigh the two against each other independently and with the user’s specific needs in mind in order to determine which one is more suitable to buy.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Netgear ex7500 and Netgear ex7700?
Feature |
Netgear ex7500 |
Netgear ex7700 (Winner) |
Added Wi-Fi coverage |
2000 square feet |
2500 square feet |
Maximum number of devices |
45 |
45 |
Ports |
None |
2 Ethernet ports |
Number of antennas |
1 |
1 |
Wi-Fi technology |
Tri-band |
Tri-band |
Dimensions (Inches) |
6.4 x 3.3 x 3 |
7.8 x 6 x 2 |
Power supply required |
AC (wall outlet) |
DC (Power adapter) |
Maximum speed (5 GHz) |
870 Mbps |
870 Mbps |
Netgear ex7500 Vs Netgear ex7700- How do they compare?
Speed and performance
The Netgear ex7500 has two channels that offer different maximum speeds; there is the 5 GHz channel that offers speed of up to 870 Mbps and the 2.4 GHz one that gives a maximum speed of 400 Mbps. In addition to the two channels present in the ex7500, the Netgear ex7700 has a LAN connection that offers speed of up to 1000 Mbps.In addition to this, the ex7500 offers a Wi-Fi coverage that spans about 2000 square feet, while that of the ex7700 is effective over a range of up to 2500 square feet. The combination of these factors make the ex7700 the obvious choice because the LAN gives it an edge in performance speed and it can comfortably serve a wider area range compared to the ex7500.
Number of ports
The Netgear ex7500 has no ports while the ex7700 allows for two Ethernet connections in addition to having the option of connecting to the main router via LAN, as opposed to wirelessly. This automatically makes the ex7700 more convenient to because not only does it allow connection to other devices, but it allows for internet connection through LAN which boosts the internet speed beyond wireless connection capabilities.
Required Power supply
The Netgear ex7500 needs AC electricity from a wall socket while the ex7700 uses DC power, which can be from a desktop or any other power adapter. Therefore, the ex7500 should be directly mounted on a socket, while the ex7700 can be placed virtually anywhere in the room, given that it is in proximity to the main router. In addition to this, the presence of the LAN port makes proximity from the main router irrelevant for the ex7700, given that it is connected to the main router via the LAN, which can be as long as required so as not to inconvenience the user. The ex7700 is more flexible, because it transcends the boundary of being constrained to the power socket faced by the ex7500.
Netgear ex7500 Vs Netgear ex7700 – A comparison review
Netgear ex7500
- EXTENDED WIRELESS COVERAGE: Adds WiFi range coverage up to 2300 square feet, and connects up to 45...
- SEAMLESS SMART ROAMING: Uses your existing network SSID name so you never get disconnected as you move...
The Netgear ex7500 is the fourth instalment in the ex-series of Wi-Fi extenders by Netgear, counting from the ex6250 and the introductory instalment to the new Nighthawk series that has the ex7700 and the ex8000. The ex7500 is designed to allow the user to roam around the covered area while their device is transferred directly from the main router signal to that of the extender with no loss or variation of signal or buffering. This ensures that the user experiences seamless internet connection for streaming and other functions, without variations that would be created by distance from the main router. It is very simple to set up and although it seems a bit large, it fits perfectly and is quite stable on a wall socket while ensuring that it is possible to use the next port.
Pros
- Its set-up and configuration is very easy
- It is stable on a wall socket
- It is affordable
Cons
- The extender experiences periodic signal drop outs
Netgear ex7700
- EXTENDED WIRELESS COVERAGE: Adds WiFi range coverage up to 2300 square feet, and connects up to 45...
- SEAMLESS SMART ROAMING: Uses your existing network SSID name so you never get disconnected as you move...
The Netgear ex7700 is the successive instalment to the ex7500 in the ex-series of Wi-Fi routers and the third of the Nighthawk Mesh extenders series. It was designed to be at the centre of the ex7500 and ex8000 in the latter series, allowing it to cut in the middle of the high-end ex8000 and the introductory level ex7500. It has two 802 AC antennae that enable it to support up to 860 Mbps on its 5GHz band and 400 Mbps on its 2.4 Ghz band. In addition to this, it works as a tri-band extender which enables it to dedicate an antenna to handle networking tasks that can be classified as back-end, allowing the remaining bands to continue providing Wi-Fi to the users at a high speed. This reduces the chances of the Wi-Fi becoming slow when too many people get logged onto the servers, making the ex7700 ideal for use both at home and in the office.
Pros
- Its set up and configuration is very simple
- It significantly boosts the Wi-Fi signal as required and allows for great connection speeds
- It ensures that the user is consistently on the best channel automatically
Cons
- The application that is used for configuration is basic and the manual does not offer much information either
Conclusion
The Netgear ex7500 and the ex7700 are two great Wi-Fi extenders that are designed to appeal to different users, with the ex7500 being the introductory model for the ex7700. This implies that the ex7700 has better functionality and improved specs. However, this does not take away from the ex7500, which is still highly functional and efficient, even in its smaller area of application. This makes them appealing two different users, based on their requirements and the available resources.
Verdict- So which is better, Netgear ex7500 or Netgear ex7700?
Considering all the information available on the two Wi-Fi extenders, the Netgear ex7700 is clearly better and more efficient than the ex7500
FAQs
How does the Netgear mesh functionality on the Netgear ex7500 work?
Netgear mesh uses smart roaming to intelligently connect the device in use to the fastest Wi-Fi signal available in order to ensure that the user gets the best quality of web surfing, streaming and other internet functions. The Wi-Fi 6 Mesh in Netgear extenders use a similar password and user name to the connected Wi-Fi network, which makes it simple to connect to.
Does the Netgear ex7700 have the wireless or AP mode?
Yes it does. It works by allowing the user to use a LAN connection between the router and the extender, which gives high speed connection, of up to 1000 Mbps to the users who are wirelessly connected to the extender. It also helps to overcome wall or location barriers because it does not require wireless connection between the router and the extender.
