Netgear Router N600 Vs N900 – Which router provides better range?

 The Netgear N series has gained a lot of popularity due to their great performance routers. Among the best products in this line are the Netgear N600 WNDR3400 and Netgear N900 WNDR4500. Take a look as we highlight their top features and review them in depth.

Picking a home router today may be a challenge from the wide pool of options to choose from. However, there are a few standout brands that you can never go wrong with and Netgear leads this list. The company has been producing high quality routers and other networking devices for many decades now. Two of their best router releases belong to their popular N series: N600 and N900. The N simply refers to the maximum theoretical throughput speed of the unit. Our two products are similar but also differ immensely in some aspects as seen in the following table.

What are the differences between Netgear N600 and N900?

Model
Netgear N600
Netgear CM900 (Winner)
Speed
Up to 600 Mbps
Up to 900 Mbps
Ports
4 gigabit Ethernet LAN, 1 WAN, 1 USB port
4 gigabit Ethernet LAN, 1 WAN, 2 USB ports
RAM
64 MB
128 MB
Type
Dual band
Dual band
Processor chipset
Atheros AR7161680 32 bit
Atheros AR7161680 32 bit
Special features
QoS, WPS security, auto sensing
QoS, WPS security, WPA2 encryption, auto sensing, auto aging,
Availability

Netgear CM600 WNDR3400 vs Netgear CM900 WNDR4500 – How do they compare?

Speed and performance

The Netgear N900 is better than the N600 since it offers higher speeds. It is rated as a 900 Mbps router. Theoretically, this means that there’s 450 Mbps on the two bands: 2.4 and 5 GHz band channels. We tested the router to find its actual speed and found rather decent performance. On the 2.4 GHz channel, a speed of 80 Mbps was recorded and 164 Mbps on the 5 GHz. With such performance, everything from high resolution streaming to gaming is made possible making it the better choice for this category. On the other hand, the Netgear N600 also put up a good performance for its price. On the 2.4 GHz band, a speed of 72 Mbps was recorded while on the other channel, the speed was 122 Mbps. Similarly, the router is able to handle heavy bandwidth usage although latency may be a problem. Other performance enhancing features on the routers include QoS handling and auto sensing.

Design

The N600 WNDR3400 is more attractive and practical making it the better choice in this category. First, the unit features a mix of glossy black design and metallic grey colors. It is also a horizontally designed router that is slim for easy placement in the house. On the top center of the unit, there is blue globe that lights up when the router is on. The result of all these is beautifully stunning router. Netgear’s N900 on the other hand is tower design that makes placement in the house difficult. The matte black design is also quite plain compared to its competitor.

Ports

An essential component for any router is the number and type of ports it comes with. Here, Netgear’s N900 is the much better choice. First, it comes with four gigabit Ethernet ports for the LAN, one WAN and two USB ports. These are a lot by any standard. With them, you can connect most devices via cable from gaming consoles to laptops. The USB can be used for printers, external hard drives and more. On the other hand, the N600 also has four LAN ports. However, these are not gigabit ports meaning, slower connections and limited speeds. It also has one WAN and one USB port.

Installation and Setup

Netgear N900 generally takes a shorter time to install and setup than the N600. Although both routers use the Genie mobile or desktop app for installation, they differ in installation time due to the different processor and RAM. The N900 takes a short time, about two minutes, since it has more RAM and a much more powerful processor.

Netgear CM600 vs Netgear CM900 – A comparison review

Netgear CM600

NETGEAR N600 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router (WNDR3400)
  • Faster WiFi Speed: N600 Dual Band WiFi delivers 300 + 300Mbps
  • Ideal WiFi range for medium to large homes. System Requirements: Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10,Vista, XP,...

Netgear has been on the forefront of networking devices and has some of the best modems in the market. The company is mainly known to focus on high performance networking devices including modems and routers. The CM600 is a mid- tier level dual band router that offers solid performance and high bandwidth. Theoretically, it provides speeds of up to 600 Mbps equally distributes across its two channels. This translates to about 72 Mbps and 122 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band respectively. On top of this, the router is also quite attractive and will definitely fetch you some compliments. It is a slim horizontal router with a mix of black and metallic grey colors that compliment your interior décor. Furthermore, it comes with ample ports for wired connections: four LAN ports, one WAN and one USB port. With these, you are able to connect to a modem, gaming console, laptop and more.

In addition, the unit comes with some nice extra features that boost performance. It is fitted with QoS handling abilities, WPS and WPA2 security encryption, auto sensing and others. The following are its pros and cons

Pros

  • High internet speed of up to 72 Mbps
  • The router provides amazing range of up to 1500 sq. feet
  • Cheap and offers great value for money
  • Ideal for small to medium sized homes

Cons

  • It suffers from high latency

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Netgear N900

Netgear WiFi Dual Band Gigabit Router (WNDR4500-100NAS)
  • Wireless N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router with WiFi Speeds up to 900 Mbps (450 + 450) ideal for HD...
  • Security - Best in class (WPA/WPA2?PSK) and WEP and Push ?N? Connect ensures a quick and secure network...

Among the best and oldest Netgear router releases is the N900 WNDR4500. The router was released on 2011 with superb speeds and range for premium use. Being a dual band router, it provides a speed of 80 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 164 on the other band. But perhaps the best feature of this device is its range. With a coverage of up to 1500 sq. feet, it is perfect for medium to large homes. On top of this, the unit comes with four gigabit Ethernet ports for LAN, one WAN and two USB 2.0 ports. With it, you can connect all your home devices through cable at high speeds. Other devices such as printers can also be connected making it an excellent choice for small office setups. Like the N600, this one also comes with nice extra features such as QoS, fast and easy installation, auto ageing, WPA2 security and more

Pros

  • Offers high speeds of up to 80 Mbps
  • Two USB ports allow for multiple devices such as printers to be connected
  • Excellent range of up to 1500 sq. feet
  • Quick and easy to install

Cons

  • The Quality of Service feature is difficult to find

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Conclusion

In conclusion, netgear CM900 offers higher speeds and a stable consistent connection than the CM600 router. CM600 however excels in affordability and value for money.

Final Verdict -So which is better, Netgear CM900 or Netgear CM600?

Overall, the Netgear CM900 is the better purchasethan the CM600because it offers high speeds and consistency with very low latency. It is also durable and excellent for large homes and small office setups.

FAQs

  1. Does the CM600 overheat?

No. Netgear ensures breathability and cooling in their modems by using a mesh-like body.

  1. Does the CM900 feature QoS?

Yes. However, users have complained that it is difficult to find the feature.

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