Netgear N600 Vs Airport Express- Which router is better

The simplest description of a router is that it is a computer hardware configured to transfer internet messages to networking devices in another room.

New router users tend to have problems when installing their new routers. So for most of our new clients and those looking to replace their old units, we advise them to settle with routers that have incorporated the shortest setup process, for example, some just have a simple three-step process and the router is up and working, and some are installed using a CD.

The Netgear N600 and the Airport Express are some of the routers that we recommend to our clients, let us, therefore, see how they stack up and if the installation process features a steep learning curve.

What are the differences between the Netgear N600 and the Airport Express

Model	Netgear N600	Airport Express (Winner)
Speeds	300mbps upload speeds 300mbps download speeds	450mbps at 5GHz 225mbps at 2.4GHz
Connectivity technology	Wi-Fi˄Wired	Cat5, Wireless
Wireless communication standard	802.11a/b/g/n	2.4 GHz Radio Frequency, 802.11n, 5GHz Radio Frequency
Total Ethernet Ports	5	1
	Check Price Here	Check Price Here

The Netgear N600 vs the Airport Express- How do they compare?

Speeds

How fast do you want your router to work when it comes to uploading and downloading of information; the first things that you need to look at before settling for a specific router are the number of devices that you wish to connect to your network? Remember that some routers tend to work slowly when you connect many devices but some have incorporated the latest technology, which helps to ensure that all the devices in the network enjoy fast internet speeds such as beamforming technology.

A router’s speeds are also used to determine its application, if the upload and download speeds are high, all you need to do is match it to your ISP and you are in business. Router speeds are also affected when many devices are into the bandwidth-intensive applications such as HD streaming and online gaming, but you won’t have to worry if your router has been equipped with the Quality of Service (QoS) feature which helps to prioritize traffic.

Both the Netgear N600 and the Airport Express router offer faster networking speeds, with some slight difference where the Airport Express seems to be having lower speeds at 2.4GHz band.

Performance

The wireless communication standard has a lot to do with the performance of a router, and the Netgear N600 offers high performance at 802.11a/b/g/n. The above is a Wi-Fi technology meant to achieve maximum throughput from a Wi-Fi device, meaning that you can expect the router to utilize the multiple frequency bands to perform the multiple input and multiple output.

The Airport express router is a higher performance router because of the incorporated wireless communication standards, the 2.4GHz radio frequency which offers a farther range and can get better penetration through solid objects. You must, however, note that this frequency is more prone to interferences and tends to be slower than 5GHz.

Still, on the Airport Express, you have been provided with an 802.11n standard that helps to increase the wireless local area network speed. The standard also increases the speeds that the router offers, helps improve reliability while extending the range of wireless transmissions. And still, on the wireless communication standard, the Airport Express also utilizes the 5GHz, meaning that the devices located close to the router will enjoy faster data transfer speeds.

Design

The design of a router has a lot to do with deployment and space, while some will not have you moving your books from the shelf, others might have you change the whole layout of your home, to get a good space where the router will be placed. Remember that routers don’t work well when located close to an electronic device, or when it is obstructed by a thick wall.

Additionally, you cannot place it too low, close to the floor, and expect optimum performance, so these are some of the things that should be considered with the design of a router. The Netgear N600, therefore, does have some deployment logistics where you will have to ensure that you have enough space so that the router can assume an upright position. The good thing, however, is that it has incorporated a support stand to help with stability once you get the right position.

The stands are, however, not permanent and you can remove them to achieve the flat position on top of a shelf. The same goes for the Airport Express and with this unit, it can even complement your home décor whether you want to place it in the living or the bedroom.

Between the Airport Express and the Netgear N600, the former is easy to deploy because it is small sized and features a beautiful white color.

The Netgear N600 vs the Airport Express- A Comparison overview

The Netgear N600 Overview

The Netgear N600 is a high performing router but we are sorry to deliver some slightly bad news that you will only be able to incorporate 5 devices to the network. Worry not though because there are other benefits, for example, the router can intelligently choose between the dual bands and minimize interference while maximizing on the speeds for the smart wireless devices connected to the network.

The maximum wired speed is 100mbps, meaning that your gaming console and the computer will experience faster internet connections. In essence, is that there isn’t much going on with this router so if you settle on purchasing it, you can only run the basic internet activities such as browsing, downloading and video streaming.

Pros

• Data transfer rate is 300mb per second
• Has been equipped with both the wired and Wi-Fi connectivity technology
• Enhances connection by reducing interference
• Can be adopted by both the medium and large homes

Cons

• Drops the connection
• The huge blue lights rarely goes off

View Price on Amazon

Airport Express Overview

When compared to the Netgear N600, the Airport Express is a maze of features; first, it will allow you to set up Wi-Fi via your iPad, iPhone, or MAC devices; additionally, the devices can connect to your network via the 2.4 or 5GHz bands. You can, therefore, be sure that each of the devices connected will automatically use the best available band.

The router is also compatible with all the devices that use the common wireless communication standards, meaning that no matter what type of Wi-Fi device you use it will work with the Airport Express.

Pros

• Has incorporated an in-built firewall meaning that your network will be protected
• Allows users to print wirelessly from different rooms
• Wi-Fi set up is easy via the Apple devices
• Only weight 8.3 ounces

Cons

• Offers slower wireless speeds
• Has problem communicating with the non-apple routers

View Price on Amazon

Conclusion

Both the Netgear N600 and the Apple Airport Express are high performing routers, the Netgear has however been configured to be used in a small setting as it can only cater to additional 5 devices in the network. It also comes with a high price point that does not complement its functional features; the Airport Express, on the other hand, is fairly priced but will only provide you with one Ethernet port.

Verdict; so which is the better router? The Netgear N600 or the Airport Express

The Apple Airport Express is the better router because it offers varied wireless communication standards that help enhance the routers performance in terms of speed. The wired and wireless connectivity option also allows users to expand their wireless networks and the incorporated 5 Ethernet ports allows for the addition of more networking devices to the wired networks.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many Apple Airport Express can I use?

Each base station can connect either 10 or 15 devices, and you can also connect 20 Airport express devices to the main router.

2. Can the Netgear N600 connect be used with the Airport Express?

Yes you can use the Netgear router with the Express