Nighthawk ac1900 vs. ac3200 – which offers the fastest speeds?
Most of the modern routers in the market are now coming with some of the latest technologies like beamforming or MU-MIMO. This ensures interrupted internet connectivity. In this review of Nighthawk ac1900 vs. ac3200 we see how these two routers compare against each other.
Setting up a local home network can be intimidating for most people. But, it is actually very simple. Most of the routers for home use will come with easy to follow instructions and mobile apps that make it very easy to customize the router. The routers will act as modems, switches and gateways hence enabling you to connect your gaming console, printer and external hard disk with ease. Once you have plugged in everything and connected your router to a web browser or mobile app, you will find step-by-step wizards.
Even after doing this you have to be extra careful that your router is not obstructed in any way. Do not place it in areas where there will be a lot of electro-magnetic interference. This review of Nighthawk ac1900 vs. ac3200, checks out these two popular routers and we tell you which to install for your home.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Nighthawk ac1900 and ac3200?
Model |
Nighthawk ac1900 (Winner) |
Ac3200 |
Dimensions |
1.97 x 11.22 x 7.26 |
11.5 x 8.8 x 2.2 |
Processor |
1 GHz dual core processor |
Dual core 1,000MHz chip |
Advanced technology |
Dual band, smart connect, beamforming+ |
MU-MIMO, dual band, beamforming+, smart connect |
USB Ports for shared storage/printer |
1x 3.0 , 1 x 2.0 |
1x 3.0 |
Speed and range |
600Mbps for 2.4GHz band and 1.3Gbps for 5GHz |
1,300 GHz on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band |
Nighthawk ac1900 vs. ac3200 – How do they differ?
Design
The ac3200 comes in a trapezoid design that almost resembles a spaceship. The router comes with six antennas to boost coverage and it is a bit bulky measuring 11.5 x 8.8 x 2.2 inches. At the middle you get this wide strip with 13 LED indicator lights. These constantly blink, but you can switch them off should they become irritating. At the bottom you have a large air vents to keep the router cool and prevent it from overheating. The antennas are collapsible and so you can fold them should you be in need of space. The router also comes with four Gigabit LAN ports, 2.0 & 3.0 USB ports and one Gigabit WAN port.
The ac1900 comes with three external antennas but it is a bit bulky. This means it works best when laid on a horizontal position. The chassis is made of plastic and is durable enough to last you a few years without signs of breakages. The ac1900 is a heavy router measuring 1.97 x 11.22 x 7.26 inches. It weighs a bit over 1.6 pounds. The router comes with one Gigabit WAN, four Gigabit LAN ports, front 3.0 USB port and back 2.0 USB port.
Performance and technologies
The Nighthawk ac1900 runs on a dual-core 1GHz processor that also comes with 256RAM and 128MB flash memory. With this processor the router is capable of achieving speeds of 1,300 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz frequency. The ac1900 also supports Broadcom TurboQAM that enables it offer faster speeds. It also supports third-party firmware like DD-WRT. The ac3200 comes with beamforming technologies and Wi-Fi transmission is through one 2.4GHz frequency and a pair of 5Ghz bands. The ac3200 runs on a 1GHz processor with enough flash memory(128MB) for support of passwords and firmware. The router has a total theoretical maximum throughput speed of 3.2Gps.
Installation and setup
You can install the Nighthawk ac3200 through the Netgear genie mobile app. Here you will find a host of basic and advanced setup features. The ac1900 also uses the genie app for installation. During purchase you will notice that the packaging comes with an installation guide. Once you have connected the devices to a power source the last step is to launch a web browser and use it to setup some basic and advanced router settings.
If you are planning on using your router for gaming or streaming videos you will find the QoS coming in handy. The feature will help you in optimizing video streaming. It also comes with the Wi-Fi MultiMedia (WMM) feature that allows the device to connect to either 2.4GHz or 5GHz band or both. The QoS will give priority to a device depending on what you are streaming. The routers also come with beamforming technology that allows them to send signals to devices instead of broadcasting them widely. This means you get stronger signal that at faster speeds. The ac1900 also comes with NAS functionality.
Nighthawk ac1900 vs. ac3200 – Overview
Nighthawk ac1900 – Overview
- Fast wifi performance: Get up to 1800 square feet wireless coverage with AC1900 speed (Dual band up to...
- Recommended for up to 30 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect...
If you are looking for a fast home router then the ac1900 is your router of choice. It comes with a 1Ghz processor that powers the 802.11ac network. The ac1900 is a large router measuring 1.97 x 11.22 x 7.26 inches. At a weight of almost 1.6 pounds, this is one of Netgears’ heavy routers. Due to the large size of the router you can place it on flat surfaces or mount in walls.
The Nighthawk ac1900 is one of Netgear premium dual band 802.11ac routers. It also offers one of the best speeds in its 5Ghz band. In addition, you have some cool router settings like Broadcom TurboQAM and a built-in OpenVPN. It also supports third-party firmware like DD-WRT.
The ac1900 operates on a dual core 1GHz processor that enables it to deliver speeds of up to 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz frequency. It also comes with 256RAM and 128MB of flash memory. It also has a front 3.0 USB port and rear 2.0 USB port. You can use the ports for your hardware and printers. At the back, you have four Gigabit LAN ports, one Gigabit WAN port, power and reset button. The top part of the router will show you LED lights for USB connection, and any other wireless activity.
When it comes to setup it is quite straightforward and easy. Routers will come with instructions guide to help you in this. You can also launch the router’s web browser and configure the router from there. The Genie mobile app is also an easy to use too that you can use to follow up of various router settings will on the go. The router comes with QoS. This feature allows you to get some priority during internet surfing. It will optimize your router for video streaming. This is also done through the Wi-Fi Multi-Media (WMM) feature that gives priority in cases of video streams.
What we liked:
- The throughput speeds for 5GHz is amazing
- QoS for optimized video streaming
- Excellent range
- Can be flashed with open-source firmware
What we did not like:
- The throughput speeds for the 2.4GHz are not that great
Nighthawk ac3200 – Overview
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The Nighthawkac3200 comes in an intimidating design with the antennas hanging out like spider legs. The router measures a decent 11.5 x 8.8 x 2.2 inches. This makes it a very large router. You can place it horizontally or screw it to a wall. At the middle of the router is a wide strip that displays 13 LED lights. At night this can be a bit irritating so you have a switch to turn them off. When it comes to performance, you get beamforming technology that streams to the six rectangular antennas. The total bandwidth for the router is 3,200Mbps. The router comes with a large mesh underneath that acts as air vents to cool the router from overheating.
The six antennas are collapsible should you need more space for the router. It also comes with one Gigabit WAN port, four Gigabit LAN ports and both 2.0 and 3.0 USB ports. The router also comes with buttons to switch off the Wi-Fi and one to activate the WPS. A dual core 1GHz processor runs the ac2300 and this enables it to run on speeds of up to 1,300 Mbps for the 5GHz band and 600Mbps for the 2.4GHz frequency.
When it comes to security the ac3200 comes with some of the latest security features like WPA2/Enterprise encryption and you also get the support of Network Address Translation (NAT) firewalls, Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), and Virtual Private Network (VPN). The ac2300 setup and installation can be done through the Netgear’s Genie app for Android and iOS devices. You also have parental control feature.
What we liked:
- Good performance due to it been tri-band
- USB 2.0 and 3.0
- Great range
- Easy to install and setup
- Awesome performance on the 5Ghz band
What we did not like:
- Bulky design and a bit expensive
Conclusion: Which is better: Nighthawk ac1900 or ac3200?
While it is quite hard finding a winner when you have two very similar products from the same company, we do have a verdict. Our top choice is the Nighthawk ac1900. The router operates through a fast 1GHz processor and comes with an inbuilt OPenVPN server. The speeds are decent especially on the 5GHz band. While the router is a dual-band it still offers exceptional speeds and range.
FAQ
How suitable is the Nighthawk ac1900 for home use?
While the router offers exceptional speeds – especially for the 5GHz band it is quite bulky for a router. It also comes with a large adaptor. What this means is you will have to allocate lots of space to accommodate it. However, the bulkiness is step back that can be overcome by the routers fast processor.
How fast is the ac3200?
The Nighthawk ac3200 is one of the fastest routers in the market capable of hitting speeds of up to 3,200Mbps. It is tri-band meaning you have a single 2.4 frequency and two 5GHz bands.
