Nighthawk X8 vs X10 – which one is the better option?
The Netgear company manufactures many routers, although you might be confused when trying to choose among all of them as they share similar attributes. We tested two of them, the X8 and X10, and this article covers what we found as well as which between them is a better option overall.
Both the Netgear Nighthawk X10 and X8 are meant to work for your home environment. While both will give you a strong Wi-Fi signal, you might wonder which one between them is the better choice – especially because they are so similar.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the Nighthawk X8 and X10?
Nighthawk X8 |
Nighthawk X10 (Winner) |
|
Wi-Fithroughput speeds |
800 Mbps |
1000 Mbps |
Wi-Fi technology in use |
Smart Connect, Dynamic QoS |
Plex media system |
Number of bands |
2 |
3 |
Dimensions (inches) |
13.7 x 11.4 x 5.1 |
8.6 x 6.7 x 2.9 |
Nighthawk X8 vs. X10 – How they compare
These two routers share numerous similarities, which is understandable as they are from the same company. These similarities include:
- They both use MU-MIMO technology
- Their build has 4 external and internal antennas that increase the Wi-Fi signal range
- Both have in-built parental controls and WPA2/WPA settings to increase online security
- They also have customizable guest settings that will allow other users to have their own login criteria into your network
- They each have 6 gigabit LAN Ethernet ports to aggregate links and boost connection speed
- They also have USB 3.0 and 2.0 connection
There are some slight differences though, which include:
Performance
The throughput maximum to expect in the Nighthawk X8 is slightly above 5.3Gbps, as it can connect a number of devices through a pair of 5GHz channels (Wi-Fi speeds for each stand at 2.166 Gbps), and a single channel of 2.4GHz (Wi-Fi speed here is at 1 Gbps). This makes the router suitable for the data-hungry user.
In addition to this, X8 supports MU-MIMO technology as well as beam-forming technology in order to make the most from your connection. There is some load balancing here, which ensures that it takes care of your slower devices on the 5GHz bands.
When we tested the X8 in a crowded Wi-Fi environment, it proved itself to be in the upper level of router, thanks to its delivery of a maximum of 736.8 Mbps across a distance of 15 feet through three data bands, and the throughput at 5 feet dropped to 641.2 Mbps, which is its peak throughput for the longest period. When we tested it in a thick-walled house, the maximum range it could achieve was 150 feet, which is in the middle of the router pack.
At the back of the X10, there are seven Gigabit ports – 6 LAN ports, and 1 WAN port. You can operate the first and second port in aggregate mode when you want to combine the throughput and increase the speed.
The X10 has an additional 60GHz frequency alongside the usual 5- and 2.4 GHz bands, and this is known as WiGig. It has very low latency levels, along with very high wireless speeds that begin at 4 Gbps. The throughput, on the other hand, stands at 4.6 Gbps on the 60GHz band, 1733 Mbps on the 5GHz bands, and 800 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. It adds dual USB 3.0 ports and a 1.7 GHz quad core processor, and there are two WiGig channels – 3 and 2.
Additional Features
The X10 is quite impressive in its features – and even has things that surpass those of a traditional router. These include inserting a flash drive in any of the USB 3.0 ports to allow NAS functionality, as well as converting a USB printer into a networked one. There is additional support for backing up data into an Amazon drive account, as well as enabling BitTorrent downloads, integration with Kwilt, and providing backup methods from your PC to router.
Similar to most other routers, the Nighthawk X8 has four antennas that you can rotate when you want stronger signals. Even though it is impossible to remove them, you will not miss out on much – each antenna has a series of integrated amplifiers that will extend the range of the system for increasing the range of both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz connections, there are four additional internal antennas specifically for the 5GHz band.
Design
The design of the Nighthawk X8 makes it among the largest routers in the market, even in Netgear standards. The design is in angular form, along with a top surface in a curved format, as well as plenty of vents to help in preventing overheating. The unfortunate part is the difficulties in stacking it with other Netgear equipment – it can hardly fit properly on a bookshelf. You can choose to mount it on a wall, although it does not have the thoughtful templates like certain models (such as Linksys) to guide you on where to drill it.
Instead of putting a very colorful show of lights, the Nighthawk X8 has white LED lights that take on a more subdued approach rather than standing out. At the back of the router, you will find a switch that can turn off everything in the router, except the power light. Other than that, you will find switches for activating the Wi-Fi protection system (WPS) when you are connecting a new device, and there is also a recessed reset button.
The X10 continues in the Netgear tradition in using angular, dark routers. There are some differences to the X8 though; while it does have a series of LED lights across its upper front section, the 60 GHz frequency has its own lights that indicate its own information. The standout aspect here, especially if you are a lover of LED lights, is the blue LEDs that are on each antenna, and each LED hasits on/off switch.
Nighthawk X8 vs. X10 – A comparison review
Nighthawk X8 – Overview
- TRI-BAND MU-MIMO WIFI —Up to 600 + 2166 + 2166Mbps to deliver more WiFi for more devices simultaneously
- GIGABIT WIRED —Six Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports with the ability to aggregate two ports for faster file...
Thanks to its combination of a multitude of LAN ports, reasonable range, and very good data speeds, the X8 is well worth its price if you happen to be a power user, although it does have its own security concerns.
The X8 also comes with a USB 2.0 and 3.0 port, which you will find hiding on the side of the router behind a hinged door. These are useful for linking USB hard drives or printers if you wish to do so. It can also work well as a media server, wireless range extender, and access point. The way to achieve this is plugging in the router’s AC adapter, and then connect the WAN port to your modem.
At the end of the day, this router will work for you if you have plenty of wired connections and devices, since it comes with 6 Ethernet ports rather than the 4 you will usually find. Every port here can handle gigabit traffic, while you can aggregate two of them simultaneously to handle network storage, streaming 4K videos, or top-speed gaming.
Pros
- Allows for data aggregation due to many LAN ports
- Plenty of customization choices
- Has amplified, active antennas
- The use of the tri-band operation leads to very impressive speeds
Cons
- It has a bigger size compared to most routers
- Quite expensive
- The interface is sluggish at times
Nighthawk X10 – Overview
- Fast WIFI Performance: Get up to 2500 sq ft wireless coverage with AD7200 speed (Tri-band up to 800 +...
- Recommended Up to 45 Devised: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart...
Considered as an improvement of the X8, the X10 brings a variety of features that prove to be a big step forward for consumers. There is plenty to unpack here, and the features are power-intensive such that the router has a combination of heatsink and fan to vent the heat away.
Netgear informs you that the X10 is for serious network setups, and this is understandable as the router is among the first to have 10-gigabit support. If you are a gaming enthusiast, you will find much more than you initially thought – the support this router gives you is 10 times faster than the usual router. This specific port is of the SFP+ type, which will usually need a specific transceiver, usually optical – and this means you might find yourself spending insane bandwidth amounts.
Pros
- Very good speeds
- It has port aggregation for faster connection
- Comes with an integrated Plex media server
- 10Gbps support
Cons
- It lacks QoS settings, which means it cannot optimize gaming traffic
- The 10Gbps port is only for SFP+ optical
Verdict: So which is the winner? The Nighthawk X8 or the X10?
Our experience with using these two routers proves that they are very similar in their attributes, while not having as many contrasts as other routers. However, our conclusion is that the Nighthawk X10is a better choice, mainly because of the slight improvements in its higher speeds and range.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the 5GHz and 2.4GHz band?
The 2.4GHz band is slower, but it has more reliability and greater range.
When I connect my USB storage to the Nighthawk router, the LED does not come on. What does that mean?
This means that the router does not recognize your USB storage, probably due to interoperability issues. If you plug the USB storage before the router is on, do the test again but make sure the power LED light is white, and see if it accepts it.
