Netgear x6 vs. Asus ac3200 – Which is the fastest router?
Having a home router is today considered a necessity due to the high number of IoT devices in most homes. This means you need to purchase the fastest router to enjoy 4K video streaming and playing of online games
The number of devices that today need to be connected to the internet keeps increasing. You have your smart TV, IoT and if you live in a large family setup you have multiple devices all haggling for bandwidth. A normal dual band router won’t meet all your needs without you experiencing buffering or deadzones.
It is this market, that the Netgear x6 and Asus ac3200 have been designed to fill. The routers are both tri-band meaning you are going to be enjoying maximum theoretical speeds of up to 3200Mbps. They are also massive and allow you to do 4K video streaming and play a multitude of online games. This review, takes a closer look at makes these two routers stand out.
Table of Contents
What are the key differences between the Netgear x6 vs. Asus ac3200?
Model |
Netgear X6 (Winner) |
Asus ac3200 |
Dimensions (inches) |
2.14 x 11.63 x 8.92 |
2.3 x 11.4 x 7.4 |
Weight (pounds) |
2.5 |
3.81 |
Range |
1800 sq.ft |
N/A |
Connectivity |
802.11ac |
802.11ac |
Speed |
600MHz on the 2.4GHz band and 1.3Gbps for the 5GHz band. Maximum theoretical speed is 3.2Gbps |
2.4GHz (802.11n) scores 86Mbps for 5 feet & 65.7Mbps at 30 feet. 5GHz scores 196Mbps for 5 feet & 160Mbps for 30 feet |
Availability |
Netgear x6 vs. Asus ac3200 – How do they differ?
Design
The Asus ac3200 is a mid-sized router that measures 11.6 x 8.9 x 2.1 inches and comes with six external antennas – four at the back and two on the sides. It also has four Ethernet gigabit LAN ports, one WAN port, 2.0 & 3.0 USB port. The Nighthawk x6 is a massive router measuring 2.14 x 11.63 x 8.92 inches. It also comes with a sufficient number of air vents to prevent overheating. The router has four gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and a WAN port.
Performance and technologies
The Asus RT ac3200 capitalizes on the Smart Connect technology to ensure that the router signal is directed to each of its three bands – 2.4GHz and two 5GHz. It also has beamforming technology for a more directed signal to each of the connected router clients. To help boost your gaming experience the Asus ac3200 has the adaptive Quality of Service (QoS) feature that helps you prioritize bandwidth for video and gaming streaming. The Nighthawk is a fast router courtesy of its dual core 1GHz processor. It also comes armed with router technologies like network map, QoS and Smart Connect.
Installation
Management and monitoring of the Netgear Nighthawk x6 is through the Genie app that is available for both the desktop and mobile version. The user interface is interactive and comes separated between basic and advanced settings. The app also gives users a FAQ for troubleshooting purposes. The Asus GT ac3200 has a user friendly interface that comes with features like the network map that shows you all your connected devices, adaptive Quality of Service (QoS) and guest network section. It will also show you the upload and download speeds.
Netgear x6 vs. Asus ac3200 – A Comparison Overview
Netgear x6 – Overview
- 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...
The Netgear Nighthawk x6 is a massive tri-band six antenna router. The router has been unveiled to satisfy the market for online gamers and bulk video streaming. The tri-band router has a maximum bandwidth speed of 3200Mbs. With this kind of speeds the router can handle a wide variety of devices without compromising on speed.
The Netgear x6 optimizes one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz band. The router is capable of optimizing the two 5GHz bands to various channels. This means you can use the 5GHz band as a performance load balancer. When it comes to the design the router looks like something off a ski-fi movie. You have your three antennas on each side, with a long status strip in the center. The top part of the router is covered with a mesh for easy ventilation. The x6 comes four Gigabit LAN ports, two USB ports (2.0 and 3.0) and one Gigabit WAN port. It also can be activated for WPS.
Pros
- Does not overheat easily
- Excellent speeds for its 5GHz band
- Easy to setup and manage
- Functions also as a NAS server
Cons
- Pricey and you may lack good connectivity at longer ranges
Asus ac3200 – Overview
- Smart Connect automatically selects the fastest band for all devices individually, based on their demands...
- Built-in USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports for up to 10-times faster data transfers to USB storage devices1,...
The Asus ac3200 is a tri-band router meant for homes with multiple users and those interested in experiencing fast internet speeds for their gaming consoles or smart TVs. Coverage for the router is through six gigantic external antennas. The Asus ac3200 has nine LED indicators that show you activity on your 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The router also comes with four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one 3.0 USB port, a Gigabit WAN port, WPS, a 2.0 USB port, power and reset buttons.
The Asus ac3200 comes with various technologies like beamforming, dual WAN, and SmartConnect that allows you to direct your clients to the fastest band. You also get additional connectivity options through the router’s user interface including a network map that shows you all your connected clients and USB devices, Adaptive Quality of Service (QoS) feature that allows you to give priority for bandwidth to your gaming or video consoles. The traffic analyzer feature allows you to check incoming and outgoing packers for your all your bands.
You get to protect your router from malware and viruses through Asus special AiProtection feature that is powered by the Trend Micro’s smart Home network. The AiCloudallows you to monitor router activity through cloud from your Android or iPhone. You can also sync your USB connected devices to Asus special webstorage cloud service.
Overall, the Asus ac3200 is a great router for those who are frustrated doing online gaming or multimedia streaming on a slow router. When put to the test the Asus ac3200 delivers very impressive speeds clocking 86Mbps for the 2.4GHz (802.11n) band at close proximity of 5 feet. At 30 feet you get 65.7Mbps. For the 5GHz band you get 196Mbps at close proximity and 160Mbps at 30 feet.
Pros
- Great for online videos and multimedia streaming
- Loaded with advanced features like QoS
- Fast 5GHz throughput
- UBS cloud storage
Cons
- Bulky
Conclusion: So, which is better – Netgear X6 or Asus ac3200?
The Netgear Nighthawk X6is our winner for this review. This tri-band router offers incredible internet speeds while supporting most of your IoT devices. The six legged router is capable of speeds of up to 600MHz on its 2.4GHz band and 1,300MHz on the 5GHz band. It also offers a host of router technologies like Network map, Smart Connect and QoS.
FAQ
Why is the network map in the Netgear X6 not detecting my phone?
The network map is an innovative feature in the x6 that allows you to see your connected devices. However, there have been issues with the labeling of the iPhone 4S where it sees it as iPhone 5c.
Can I use the Asus ac3200 for multiplayer gaming?
Yes, you can. Most of the Asus routers come with various features for optimal gaming experience. The ac3200 for example has the adaptive QoS that lets it prioritize applications for video/gaming streaming.
