Nighthawk x4s vs. x6 – which router is suitable for crowded homes

Finding a fast and reliable router these days is not hard due to the different reviews available online. Check out this Nighthawk x4s vs. x6 comparison guide to find out how they differ.

Over the past couple of months, we had been using a router that was quite disappointing. Some of the wireless devices could not connect, and we had to keep on rebooting it to establish a Wi-Fi connection. Such problems forced us to start looking for a better router. We decided to compare popular models such as Nighthawk x4s and x6 to discover which one would give us a more reliable experience. This is what we found out.

What are the differences between nighthawk x4s and x6?

Name
Nighthawk x4s 
Nighthawk x6 (Winner)
Network coverage
2500sq. ft.
3500 sq. ft
Speed
Download speed-100 MbpsUpload speed-40 Mbps
Download speed-150 MbpsUpload speed-50 Mbps
No. of devices
45
50
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Nighthawk x4s vs. x6- How do they compare?

Network coverage

One of the factors you should consider when comparing routers is the size of your home. Doing this can help you choose a router that can give you extensive coverage throughout the house. Though both Nighthawk x4s and x6 have great network coverage, Nighthawk x6 offers more network coverage over a large area.

Nighthawk x6 is, therefore, better for large houses since it offers more network coverage.

Devices supported

Most smart homes have a lot of devices that depend on Wi-Fi to operate. You can choose Nighthawk x6 if you need to connect up to 50 devices to your home network. Nighthawk x4s, on the other hand, can support up to 45 devices.

Nighthawk x6 is, therefore, better at supporting numerous devices.

Performance

When we tested Nighthawk x4s, it registered a speed on of 786 Mbps at a distance of 15 feet. Nighthawk x6, on the other hand, delivered a rate of 815 Mbps at the same range. We liked the reliable performance of Nighthawk x6 since it showed a lot of consistency.

Nighthawk x6 is, therefore, a better performing router since it offers greater speeds.

Nighthawk x4s vs. x6 – A comparison overview

Nighthawk x4s

NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S Smart WiFi Router (R7800) - AC2600 Wireless Speed (up to 2600 Mbps) | Up to 2500 sq ft Coverage & 45 Devices | 4 x 1G Ethernet, 2 x 3.0 USB, and 1 x eSATA ports
  • Fast wifi performance: Get up to 2500 square feet wireless coverage with AC2600 speed (Dual band up to...
  • Recommended for up to 45 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect...

Get this good looking router that performs well and solve your Wi-Fi problems. Most people are impressed with the gorgeous design of this router. Like most of the Nighthawk routers, this model makes use of the Netgear Genie app. You can use this app to configure the router’s settings. Though the genie dashboard may not look eye-catchy, it functions as expected.

If you love online gaming, you should choose this router since it can boost your experience. The router supports MU-MIMO technology, thus allows simultaneous data streaming across multiple devices without any interference. We discovered that this is a fast router that enables us to conduct local tasks such as sharing files effortlessly. Since the router has a stable signal, it can give you better network coverage around your home.

On the router, you should notice different peripheral ports, including an eSATA port and two USB ports. You can, therefore, connect external hard drives and a printer to it. It also comes with at least four detachable antennas that can help boost the Wi-Fi signal. According to the manufacturer, this router can deliver the speed of up to 800 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz and 1733 Mbps on the 5 GHz. It has not only powerful hardware but also comes ready to use. You, however, get the option of changing a few things if you wish to customize the network. For instance, you can change the name and password of your network.

This router also contains all the essential features found in the latest wireless routers, including firewall, port forwarding, and Dynamic DNS. It also includes QoS control that can prioritize traffic to various online applications.

Pros

  • It is fast
  • Offers MU-MIMO support
  • It is user-friendly

Cons

  • The router is not always reliable

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Nighthawk x6

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...

This is a tri-band router that can handle numerous wireless devices on one network. Tri-band routers are known to offer fast internet speeds, and this router is no exception. Unlike dual-band routers, this comes with at least three radio bands. It provides a pair of 5 GHz bands and a single 2.4 GHz band. Most of the home networks nowadays consist of smartphones, gaming consoles, and tablets.

The manufacturer of this model ensures that it can handle complex throughput tasks so that you can use any of the devices effortlessly. It means that you can stream video content for hours while using this router without experiencing slow speeds. We found this router quite reliable to use. Nighthawk x6 configures its bands on various channels, enabling you to connect different devices without any performance issues.

The design of this router makes it stand out. It looks more like a robotic insect than a router. Apart from its bizarre shape, the router comes with at least six antennas that you can easily fold in or out. Feel free to position the antennas as preferred for you to enjoy the best signal. Though these antennas are steadily built, you should be careful maneuvering them to avoid breakage.

On the 5GHz band, Nighthawk x6 supports a speed of up to 13000 Mbps and 600 Mbps on the 2.4 Hz band. The router also contains some powerful components, including a dual-core processor, 256 MB of RAM, and a flash memory of 128 MB. You should notice a 3.0 and 2.0 USB ports on the exterior of this router. We also liked the additional features such as 4 LAN ports, and 13 LEDs present here. This powerful and big router comes with vents on the top part to enhance cooling. You should, therefore, not worry about it overheating with time. Ensure you place it on an area that has adequate airflow.

Even if you have never set up a router, you will still find this one easy to install and manage. You can easily configure it through the Netgear genie software. Like other Netgear routers, Nighthawk x6 comes with a Network map that allows you to see the number of devices connected to your home network.

Pros

  • Offers excellent throughputs on different channels
  • Easy to set up
  • Delivers a great wireless range

Cons

  • It lacks QoS configuration options.

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Conclusion

Benchmarking routers is the best way to find one that can fulfill all your internet needs. Netgear Nighthawk is considered a leader when it comes to providing excellent routers for households. It continues delivering competitive routers that come at a reasonable price. Some of the models you should consider buying from this manufacturer include Nighthawk x4s and x6.

Verdict: So, which is better? Nighthawk x4s or x6

We took our time to test these two routers and discovered some significant differences that lead to their differing performances. Though Nighthawk x4s offers MU-MIMO support, it does not provide the same network range or fast speeds as Nighthawk X6. We liked not only the consistent performance of Nighthawk x6 but also its advanced capabilities. It is a tri-band router that supports numerous wireless clients. If you have been experiencing lag or other connectivity problems, you should choose Nighthawk x6 since it is better than Nighthawk x4s.

FAQs

What is a tri-band router?

This is a router that comes with at least three frequency bands, including two 5GHz bands and one 2.4 GHz band. Such routers are known to be high performing.

Why do most routers come with LEDs?

They help you know the signal strength and tell which ports are active.

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