Netgear n300 vs Netgear n900- Which router is the best
A good fast networking router will improve the connection between your ISP modem and your computer or console and that is either through Wi-Fi or through a more reliable Ethernet connection.
Many home router users are not aware that they need to replace their routers at least after 3 to 4 years, but that is also dependant on the brand and quality that you are using. However, most of our customers tend to give up fast on a router when it starts exhibiting network issues, could be because they don’t see anything to repair given that they don’t have parts that you can remove and fix.
There is actually not much that you can do to repair an old router but before throwing in the towel, we always advise our clients to first update their router’s firmware, if the update is available then it might be able to fix some of the signaling and overloading issues.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Netgear n300 and the Netgear n900?
Model |
Netgear n300 |
Netgear n900 (Winner) |
Speeds |
92.02mbps Download speeds
5.53mbps Upload speeds |
17.51mbps Download speeds
0.97mbps Upload speeds |
Dimension |
10.24 x 8.98 x 2.56 inches (portable) |
11.57 x 9.45 x 4.02 inches (bulky) |
Weight |
5.8 Ounces |
200 pounds |
USB port |
No |
Yes |
The Netgear N300 Vs The N900- How Do They Compare?
Speeds
High upload and download speeds are equal to faster networking, for example, upload speeds of 10mbps or more will effectively handle the common uploading tasks at home or in the office and this includes online streaming and HD video calling. The Netgear n300 therefore, offers users 5.53 upload speeds and 92.02 download speeds, meaning that it offers enhanced networking performance when compared to the Netgear n900, which has low upload and download speeds.
So what are the recommended download speeds, for live streaming your router should provide you with at least 2mbps that will stream SD quality video, in addition to lossless music. If your router can offer you up to 3mbps download speeds then you will only access standard quality videos and if the download speeds are as high as 5mbps then you can be sure to enjoy high definition streaming for the videos.
And if you are to enjoy a full HD video or audio streaming then an internet connection of about 10mbps should suffice. The Netgear n300 therefore will furnish you with up to 92.02mbps download speeds which are high enough to cater to the bandwidth-intensive applications, the n900 does not offer a lot for the download speeds thus you will only get 17.51mbps, which can comfortably cater to some of the bandwidth-intensive applications.
The Netgear n300 can, therefore, be adapted in an office setting given the higher download speeds, while the n900 would best be utilized in a home environment because there is a chance that if multiple devices are running the bandwidth-intensive applications then the other devices connected to the network will be compromised.
Performance
The performance of the Netgear router n300 is not as excellent given that it can only cater to the medium-sized homes, but even at that, home networking has been greatly simplified by this router, and you can, access functionalities such as the turbo transfer, where you will be able to share files between the MAC, PC or Android devices.
You can also play media files in your network via the My Media application, and to ensure that you get the best connectivity, the router has been equipped with the advanced QoS designed to enable higher priority in media streaming application which ensures that you enjoy low latency gaming and gives priority for media streaming.
Despite the low performance in the upload and download speeds, the n300 can be adapted for use in large homes, the unit has also been equipped with a USB hard drive, to allow users to wirelessly share and access files and they can also connect to the printer.
Netgear N300 is IPV6 compatible, a thing that cannot be said for the n900, remember therefore, that IPV6 is the most recent version of the internet protocol configured to allow communication and data transfer to take place over a network.
Applications
The n300 seems to be limited to the number of applications that it can comfortably run, so the provided number of applications is two and that is online gaming where it can comfortably handle multiplayer gaming with minimal to zero lags. For the low latency applications, you can email, chat, surf, and enjoy music videos.
While the N300 is limited in the number of incorporated applications, the n900 is the real deal because with this unit you will run up to four different applications, the first one being Multiple HD Streaming with zero lag, the router is multiplayer and will allow you to enjoy high-quality HD streaming.
Netgear seems to have packed the same security features on both units and here you will access the parental control features, the guest network, and the high-level wireless security protocol.
Netgear n300 vs n900 – A Comparison Overview
Netgear n900 Overview
- Combined Modem and Router in one Unit
- DOCSIS 3.0 - up to 8x times faster than DOCSIS 2.0
The Netgear n900 is a higher performance router with multiple connectivity options, the unit has been equipped with 2 USB ports and four gigabit Ethernet ports, thus you are not limited to the number of devices that you can be connected to the router. Wireless connections are exposed to security issues when compared to wired connectivity.
And that is why the router features double firewall protections and these are SPI and NAT firewall, there is also the Denial of Service attack prevention and the high-level WPA/WPA2- PSK.
Pros
- Offers fast Wi-Fi speeds
- Set up and use is easy
- Incorporated advanced security features
- The two USB ports offer enhanced networking
Cons
- Has connectivity problems
- Not convenient for long term use
Netgear n300 review
- Supports Windows 8
- Fast downloads and online gaming with speeds up to 300 Mbps
The Netgear n300 is a good networking router but for the less bandwidth-intensive applications, connectivity options are not as many because you have only been provided with the Ethernet ports but no USB connection. Security options on this unit are also advanced, for example, you will get the double firewall protection, the denial of service attack prevention and the WPA/WPA2-PSK and WEP.
There is also the DMZ security option provided to the connected devices in your network, which is a secure gaming option. The DMZ security feature will protect your network even when your windows PC has been compromised.
Pros
- The router supports windows 8
- Offers fast downloading and online gaming speeds
- Comes with an easy to use dashboard
- The router comes with a Netgear lifetime warranty
Cons
- The firmware is not as effective
- Drops the internet occasionally
Verdict; so, which is the better router? The Netgear n300 or the n900
The Netgear n900 is the better router because it has incorporated two USB ports that help expand your network connectivity, and offers high download speeds for the bandwidth intensive applications. The router has also been equipped with gigabit Ethernet that helps enhance HD gaming and online video streaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Does my Netgear N300 support the 5GHz frequency?
No, the Netgear N300 does not support the 5GHz frequency
-
Why is my Netgear n900 not connecting to the internet
The most probable problem would be from your ISP, but you could also try to make it work by turning off the wireless function and then connect the router directly to your computer with the Ethernet cable.
