Nighthawk XR500 vs Nighthawk X6S – Find the best Wi-Fi router for all your requirements
Finding the right Wi-Fi router for your home or office is an arduous task that is crucial as well. Nighthawk XR500 and Nighthawk X6S are two top contenders for the best options in the market- with the latter feature better performance specs because of its chipset.
When you are fixing your Wi-Fi connection for your home or office, your Wi-Fi router choice is crucial. Selecting the best router will make a whole world of difference. For instance, if you are looking for a router to fit in your office, the best choice determines just how well your employees can perform.
Some of the factors that you need to consider include the chipset as well as speeds that are available when you are within short and long range as well. As these aspects are rather technical, choosing just one router can be quite difficult with all the premium quality options in the market. This article has narrowed down to Nighthawk XR500 and Nighthawk X6S as the top two contenders for the best routers in the market. For the Nighthawk XR500 it is has fast throughput speeds while Nighthawk X6S is just as reliably fast.
To further help you pick between the two, this guide has given a detailed comparison overview of each.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the Nighthawk XR500 and Nighthawk X6S?
Model |
Nighthawk XR500 |
Nighthawk X6S (Winner) |
MU-MIMO &Beamforming |
Yes |
Yes |
Chipset |
Dual-core processor (1.7GHz), QCA 9984, 512MB RAM and 256MB flash memory |
Dual-core processor (1.8GHz), BCM4365E, 128MB RAM and 512MB solid-state storage |
Speed |
Combined up to 2.6GBps |
Combined up to 4GBps (750Mbps+1625Mbps+1625Mbps) |
Antenna |
5 (4 external and 1 internal) |
6 external |
Nighthawk XR500 vs Nighthawk X6S – How do they compare?
Software Features
Nighthawk XR500 comes with many quality software features that come in handy for a truly immersive experience. Some of the quality software features include the customizable dashboard, geo-filter and prioritization options. For example, you can choose to prioritize your gaming devices such that they get the most bandwidth. This in turn enhances your overall gaming performance and even help you win against the opponent as it minimizes lag.
Nighthawk X6S on the flipside is just as premium quality. Its most notable software feature is its Smart Connect option. With this enabled, this router is able to intelligently route devices and connect them to the fastest channel possible.
Performance in speed tests
Nighthawk XR500 performs well on throughput tests. When within 15 feet from the router, you can get up to 715.4Mbps.
For Nighthawk X6S on the flipside, it is quite fast and can do up to 661.5Mbps when 50 feet away from the router. Within 5 feet and 15 feet, the speeds are 571.2Mbps and 628.7Mbps respectively.
Coverage and Capacity
For the Nighthawk X6S, it has wider coverage of up to 3500 square feet. Regarding its capacity, up to 55 devices can be comfortably connected to the network.
Like the Nighthawk XR500, Nighthawk X6S is also loaded with the latest advanced technology. It is fitted with a 1.8GHz dual-core processor that is able to keep up with resource intensive tasks. The X6s also has advanced software like MU-MIMO and Beamforming+ that are a bonus for simultaneous use in many devices.
Security
The security of you and your loved ones is also ensured with both Nighthawk XR500 and Nighthawk X6S. For Nighthawk routers, they come with the WPA/WPA2, VPN and gaming VPN client support features to protect the identity of your network at all times. This offers good security against all kinds of cyber threats. Nighthawk X6S also has Netgear Armor which adds to the security you get with these routers.
Additional accessories
For Nighthawk XR500 and Nighthawk X6S they both support the Nighthawk app that comes in handy for a number of purposes. First, the installation and setting-up process has been made all the more easy with the app. All you need to do is download the Nighthawk app on your smart phone or tablet then follow through with the prompts for setting up.
You can also use the Nighthawk app for parental control options and remotely managing of your network. For example, you can pause and resume internet connection through the app. You can easily do this if you have children and want to set online time limits.
Nighthawk XR500 vs Nighthawk X6S – A Comparison Overview
Nighthawk XR500
- Minimize ping and maximize performance with four 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports for lag free, wired...
- Amp up your Wi-Fi with AC2600 dual band router that delivers blazing fast speeds up to 2.6 Gbps
Referred to as a Pro Gaming router, Netgear Nighthawk XR500 is a specially designed router that is able to keep up with the most resource intensive tasks. In fact XR500 can deliver wireless speeds of up to 2.6Gbps with minimal signal degradation or interference.
This is partly because of its 1.7 GHz dual core processor that is simply built for network efficiency. Aside from stellar element of this XR500 router, it also hasmany other pro features.
First, it comes designed with 4 Ethernet ports that come in handy for fast wired connections. Each port is 1 Gigabit to ensure you experience a lag-free connection at all times.
Thirdly, XR500 gives you many options to monitor and manage your network. For instance, you can easily check on the status of your network and game ping whenever you want.
You can do this to find out if there is one application or device that hogging up all the bandwidth thereby affecting your performance. Another way XR500 keeps you in control of your network is the availability of a secure gaming VPN server. Once switched on, you can easily protect your network identity by doing the connection through the trusted VPN.
Designed and optimized to deliver on the lowest ping ever, XR500 works exceptionally well for games such as PUBG, Fortnite, Call of Duty and much more. All the high-definition movies and videos can also be streamed with minimal lags as well. To add, XR500 is a modern router as it works well with Alexa. This allows you to comfortably remote-manage your router using voice controls.
Finally, XR500 works well as a gaming Wi-Fi router for a number of reasons. For instance, you can designate your gaming needs to have their own signal express lane. This is made possible with the advanced Quality of Service (QoS) that every XR500 router is fitted with.
This ensures that you can avoid all kinds of lags and network congestion. The router is intelligently able to reduce any lags, jitters or jumps in turn leading to a seamless gaming experience. XR500 also makes use of geo-filtering to make sure you are connected to the fastest and closest server at all times. All these features matter to help you make fast moves and easily win all your games with other players.
To connect a printer or access any media files you have saved on a storage device, this router comes fitted with 2 USB 3.0 ports. This makes the XR500 highly efficient for a wide array of people.
With state-of-the-art technology for optimized internet connection and reliably fast gaming performance. Whether you are on wireless connectivity or wired through the Ethernet ports, you will not be disappointed with XR500 as it is fast-paced enough with minimal lag spikes and stabilized pings. The advanced Quality of Service can also be used to ensure that all gaming devices connected to your network are treated on a priority basis. All these work together to enhance your overall gaming experience.
Like all other products, Nighthawk XR500 is not without its own drawbacks. First, you cannot input a list of several IP addresses that you would like to access from. The router can only be secured to one range or IP system. This can be quite the deal breaker for some. Also, if you are not one for gaming features or geo-filtering, the price tag on the Nighthawk XR500 can be quite steep for you. This purchase is made all the more worthy if you are one to play online games often or have many connected devices to the network at once.
Pros
- Reliable and steady even with multiple devices connected to it
- Good coverage throughout your home and outdoors as well (backyard and patios)
- Easy installation process for the router and VPN software as well
Cons
- For IPs with your modem, you need to reset and refresh it manual
- Does not crush lag as well as you would expect
- Requires hands-on approach with the Dumas OS
The Netgear Nighthawk X6S
- AC4000 WIFI—Up to 750+1625+1625 Mbps wireless speed
- Memory: 128 MB flash and 512 MB RAM
The Nighthawk X6S is a well-rated smart Wi-Fi router for a number of reasons. First, it is a tri-band router that can deliver combined speeds up to 4000Mbps. Theoretically, its speed is 750+1625+1625Mbps on each band. When tested against IxChariot, Netgear Nighthawk X6s has impressive speeds that live up to its name.
Within close proximity (5 feet) this router can deliver up to 571.Mbps and at 15 feet it gives 628.7Mbps. To add, it has fast speeds when in long range as well. At 50 feet, this router delivers on 661.5Mbps. Nighthawk X6S also has a wide coverage of up to 3500 square feet and this can be for 55 connected devices.
Another quality feature of the X6S is the advanced technology it is loaded with. To begin with, it comes with a 1.8GHz dual-core processor that keeps up with all tasks given to it. This router also has MU-MIMO and Beamforming+ technology. To add, you can use Amazon’s Alexa to remotely manage your network using simple voice controls. This router also has Smart Connect and 6 antennas that amplify the Wi-Fi signals you get around your home or office.
Finally, the X6S also has smart parental control options. For example, you can have the internet access paused on your children’s devices during dinner time or bedtime. You can also filter out inappropriate websites to protect your children from the dangers of the internet.
Nighthawk X6s is also highly secure as it comes with a firewall and VPN. It also supports WPA2 security standards.
Pros
- Highly secure and safe- Has guest network options, VPN, Firewall and DoS
- Made for heavy duty streaming and online gaming
- Good capacity of up to 55 devices
- Easy set up through the app
More important, the Nighthawk X6s comes with the Netgear Armor that is all you need to protect your network from cyber threats. Once set-up, you can have all your devices protected from data thefts, malwares and viruses.
Cons
- Required to pay for troubleshooting if issue arises after 90 days of purchase
Conclusion
This article has analyzed Nighthawk XR500 and Nighthawk X6s that are quality routers developed by Netgear. They come with many good features like their gaming specs. Yet another pro feature is that you can easily control the download and upload speeds that each connected device gets to enjoy with these routers. This minimizes all kinds of lag spikes that often occur when one is gaming.
Nonetheless, they do have their own imperfections. For instance, many Netgear customers have often complained about the customer service support they received with this company.
Verdict: So, which is better between Nighthawk XR500 and Nighthawk X6s?
Nighthawk XR500 and Nighthawk X6S are premium quality routers that are guaranteed to blanket your home with stable and reliable Wi-Fi signal.
If you had to settle on just one, Nighthawk X6S easily wins out. It has faster speeds as well as wide coverage that is enough for all kinds of homes. Nighthawk X6S also delivers a stellar performance when tested against software like IxChariot. You are therefore assured of fast theoretical and practical speeds as well. Nighthawk X6S is therefore the better router.
FAQ’s
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Why do you always to be sure your Nighthawk router is running on the latest firmware?
Keeping up to date on the latest firmware enhances the performance and functionality of your router. Also, the newest firmware will be sure to correct any issues that might arise in your product.
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What is the maximum number of devices that can be wirelessly connected to your router?
Netgear Nighthawk routers can handle many devices. Maximum number of clients for most routers is 64, with 32 on each band.
