TP Link Vs Netgear – Which is better for home gaming?
TP Link and Netgear are two of the most popular companies with a long line of high quality products. In this article, we are going to compare them and provide insight on some of their best products.
Whether you’re looking for a router, switch, hub or any other networking devices, TP Link and Netgear have something lined up for you. The two brands have been around long enough and have built a good reputation for their products. In this article, we are mainly focused on the Wi-Fi routers they provide. The use of wireless routers has been growing exponentially due to the increase of home internet usage. Because of this, there are routers that cater for different needs such speed, coverage, streaming ability and more. Netgear provides arguably the best high end performance models while TP Link is more tailored towards more budget friendly affordable routers. Here, we’ll see how the two compare head to head.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between TP Link and Netgear?
Brands |
TP Link |
Netgear |
Best for |
Budget friendly models |
High end performance models |
Specialty |
Routers, modems and switches |
Routers, mesh router systems, modems |
Operating system |
TP-Link OS |
NetgearOS or DD-WRT |
Internal Antennas |
Between 2 and 10 |
2-10 |
LED Light Position |
Around the top |
Bottom front |
Guest Networking |
Yes |
Yes |
Default username |
admin |
Admin |
TP Linkvs. Netgear – How do these router brands compare?
The following section compares their key features and highlights the advantages of each over the other.
Speed and Performance
When looking for a router, performance is perhaps the most important factor to consider. it refers to the throughput speed of the router in a real world environment. Although routers come with their own speed rating stated on the box or manual, these speeds are usually under ideal conditions. Netgear is known to focus more on the performance end of routers. Most of their best performing routers such as the Nighthawk Series are high end performance routers meant for gamers. Their routers have speeds of up to 8 gbps. TP Link routers are much slower compared to beasts like the Netgear Nighthawk S8000. This is because they build their models based on affordability to target the wider market. Here, Netgear definitely takes the win with much more superior performance models.
Area of coverage
One of a router’s main features is the distance it covers. This is an especially important factor if you have a large home or work space. Netgear routers offer better range compared to TP Link and this is why. Netgear models are built for heavy usage such as 4K streaming and gaming. The models are therefore fast and cover wide range. TP Link routers also offer decent range, however, they are affected by obstacles a lot more than other brands. Even the high end products have been said to suffer from this problem. This is why we prefer Netgear over TP Link for range
Mesh routers
Mesh systems are quickly being adopted into homes and office environments. A mesh router is a package of two or more routers that are placed at different points of the house to eliminate dead zones and provide high speeds through the whole house. Not only are they affordable compared to high end router, but they also provide insane range of up to 20000 square feet. TP Link takes the cake when it comes to mesh systems. With a dedicated line of mesh known as Deco, there are not many mesh systems that can compete with the Deco routers. They are fast, provide amazing range and quite affordable for anyone in both entry and high end level.
Netgear’s most common mesh is known as Orbi and is one of the best mesh routers in the business. With a range of up to 10000 square feet, it is an excellent performing model. However, the Orbi is overpriced yet doesn’t offer much compared to say, the Deco M9. If a mesh system is what you need, TP Link has got you covered
Pricing
Lastly, the price is major consideration when looking for a router. Here, TP Link is way better and reasonably priced compared to Netgear products. For instance, the Netgear Nighthawk router may cost north of 300 bucks while the TP Link Archer C2300 (with similar specs and performance) costs about 100 bucks less. Although some may argue of higher quality for Netgear models, TP Link is a much more affordable choice and offers better value for your money
TP Link vs Netgear – A comparison review
TP Linkoverview
TP Link is one of the leading router manufacturers in the world. Started in China in 1996, the company began with manufacturing switches and hubs. Over the years, they diversified and grew to the large brand we know today. Through the years, TP Link has built a reputation for their routers with a combination of affordable prices, great performance and top additional performance features. Because of this, the brand produces amazingly balanced routers. On top of these, TP Link routers boast excellent speed and security. But perhaps what sets them apart from their competitors is that they produce both wired and wireless routers. This is quite something with the world drifting away from wired routers. TP Link models operate on Open WRT and/or DD-WRT firmware for easy flashing if need arises. With that, the following are some of the best releases.
TP Link Archer C9
- 1 of wireless routers for Home which is compatible with all Wi Fi devices, 802.11ac and older
- Gigabit router with 4 gigabit LAN ports, fast Access to Multiple connected wired devices, also ideal as...
The Archer C9 is one of the best routers you can buy today. Not only does it provide superb range, but also features very high speeds ideal for gaming and 4K streaming. The router was built for long range coverage and does a fantastic job at this. A single unit can comfortable cover an average sized home of about three bedrooms. Furthermore, it is equipped with a powerful 1 GHz dual core CPU processor that provides speeds of up to 1.9 Gbps. Although this is only on paper, the router does well in a real world environment. When tested, it provided a speed of 111 Mbps over a distance of 5 feet. Standing 30 feet away, the router dropped its speed to 106 Mbps which is rather decent.
The C9 is a wireless router but features six ports for physical connections: 4 gigabit Ethernet and 2 USB ports. The router is sturdy and weighs 3 pounds.
TP Link Archer A7
- OneMesh Compatible Router- Form a seamless WiFi when work with TP-Link OneMesh WiFi Extenders
- Router for wireless internet, works with Alexa, compatible with all Wi-Fi devices, 802.11ac and older
This router is a more budget friendly option compared to the C9. It is considered the best mid-level performance router below 100 bucks. The TP Link Archer A7 comes features a data transfer rate of 1.7 Gbps on paper. In a real world setup however, it provided a speed of 95 Mbps on the 5 Ghz band and 82 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. This was done 5 feet away from the device. Standing 30 feet away, the speeds dropped to 87 Mbps and 68 Mbps respectively. When it comes to range, this router does exceptionally wellwith a coverage of 2500 square feet. The A7 is compatible with Alexa for voice command controls. And lastly, like other TP Link routers, it is easy to setup and configure using its mobile app.
Netgear– Overview
Netgear prides itself in being the top producer of high end performance routers. This huge brand has produced some of the best gaming routers we have today such as: the Nighthawk series. They are known for their superiority in speed and range. The company has always geared towards providing the user with a wonderful experience gaming and streaming. However, you will have to pay premium prices for their products. In the section below, we’ll look at two of their best releases yet
Netgear Nighthawk RAX80
- WIFI 6 – STREAM EVERYTHING AT EPIC SPEED: Simultaneously stream uninterrupted movies, games, video...
- WORKS WITH ALL INTERNET PROVIDERS: Replace your existing WiFi Router (separate modem or gateway...
If you’re looking for a router that has it all from design to performance, the Nighthawk RAX80 might be the best choice for you. In fact, what stands out most about this router is its design. With a unique spaceship look, you will definitely get some heads turning. It features wing-like structures where its four antennas are housed. On top of this, the routers sits ahead of many when it comes to integration with recent technology. It is fitted with Wi-Fi 6 also referred to as 802.11ax. And although many PCs and consoles do not support this, the system provides high speeds because of it. Nighthawk also provides superb range of 2500 square feet and a speed of up to 4.8 Gbps. Additional features include: MUMIMO, 8 160 MHz channels and multi gigabit internet.
Netgear Nighthawk X6
- 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...
We love the Nighthawk X6 due to its high performance and reasonable price tag that goes along with it. The router is fitted with a 1 GHz dual core processor that provides a speed of up to 3.2 Gbps across both bands. Furthermore, it comes with beamforming abilities that allows unused bandwidth to be directed at specific connected devices. Like the rest of the Nighthawk series, the router is ideal for gaming and 4K live streaming.
Model |
TP Link Archer A7 |
Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 |
Ports |
5 (four LAN, one USB) |
6 (four LAN, two USB) |
Antennas |
3 |
4 |
Special features |
MUMIMO, Beamforming |
MUMIMO, adaptive QoS |
Size |
9.59 x 6.32 x 1.29 inches |
9 x 7.2 x 8.8 inches |
Color |
Black |
Black |
Throughput speed |
1.7 Gbps |
4.8 Gbps |
Availability |
Conclusion
If you need a gaming router for your home, the Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 would be the best option for you. Otherwise, if you need a balanced router with affordable price and excellent performance, the TP Link Archer C9 will do it for you.
