OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
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REVIEWS
Scored using Routers Methodology v3.0
Routers Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Routers Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Routers Methodology v3.0

Netgear Nighthawk RS500 review: 77 specs compared

Avg. price:~£380Wi-Fi version:Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)Wi-Fi speed:12000 MbpsLAN port speeds:2.5 Gbps + 1 GbpsMesh Wi-Fi:?

Netgear Nighthawk RS500 Review: Compare 77 technical specifications and 3 expert reviews to see how this product ranks in the Routers category and whether it is worth buying.

Netgear Nighthawk RS500
8.0/10

Overall score

Score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, expert reviews, best-of lists and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 40%, Reviews score 25%, List score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 81% of models
Score components

40%

8.5

Technical score

25%

8.1

Reviews score

25%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 6.9, the mark of a weaker model in this category

▲Better than 81% of routers
8.1

Value for money

Value for money
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the router's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a router with a good balance between network performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 54% of models
Score components

70%

8.0

Overall score

30%

8.5

Price

▼Worse than 54%
8.5

Technical score

Technical score
8.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 92% of models
Score components

26%

9.2

Wireless

20%

6.8

Ports

18%

8.4

Networking

14%

10

Security

12%

8.4

Hardware

10%

8.0

Management

★Better than 92%
8.1

Reviews score

Reviews score
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 53% of models

80%

8.4

Average grade

20%

7.0

Popularity

Grades by review (3)
3 reviews: 2 with a printed score, 1 estimated from the review. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
▼Worse than 53%
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 25% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.

What reviewers say about the Netgear Nighthawk RS500

Based on 4

Reviewers praise the strong Wi-Fi and handy USB ports, but agree the parental controls fall short.
Praised
Criticised
Pick a topic to see who said what
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Routers model ranking

Ranked #80 of 524 models in Routers (Overall score)

Technical Specifications of router Netgear Nighthawk RS500

Technical score
Technical score
8.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 92% of models
Score components:

26%

9.2

Wireless

20%

6.8

Ports

18%

8.4

Networking

14%

10

Security

12%

8.4

Hardware

10%

8.0

Management

8.5
Reviews score
8.1
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the router's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a router with a good balance between network performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▼ Worse than 54% of models
Score components:

70%

8.0

Overall score

30%

8.5

Price

8.1
Brand name
Netgear
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
This router uses Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), which is more advanced than 88.2% of routers and equal to 11.8% of routers.
Wi-Fi bands
2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz
This router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz Wi-Fi bands, which are more versatile than 90.4% of routers and equal to 9.6% of routers.
Wi-Fi speed
12,000 Mbps
Market range: <0 Mbps – >6k Mbps
This router delivers 12,000 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is higher than 96.1% of routers.
Channel widths supported
20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz + 320 MHz
This router supports 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz + 320 MHz channel width options, which is more than 94.3% of routers and the same as 5.3% of routers.
Show more
What reviewers say
Wi-Fi security protocols
WPA3, WPA2, WPA
This router supports WPA3, WPA2, WPA Wi-Fi security protocols, which are more advanced than 85.7% of routers and equal to 14.3% of routers.
DoS protection
yes
This router includes DoS protection. 9.8% of routers include DoS protection.
SPI intrusion protection
yes
This router includes SPI-based intrusion protection. 4.7% of routers include SPI-based intrusion protection.
MAC address filtering
yes
This router supports MAC address filtering. 1.7% of routers include MAC address filtering.
URL filter
yes
This router supports URL filtering. 2.6% of routers include URL filtering.
Show more
What reviewers say
IPv6 support
yes
This router supports IPv6. 8.8% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
no
This router does not support dynamic routing. 46.2% of routers support dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
?
VLAN tagging
?
QoS
yes
This router includes QoS controls. 2.4% of routers include QoS controls.
Show more
N. of LAN ports
4
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 4 LAN ports, which is more than 34.2% of routers and the same as 59.3% of routers.
LAN port speeds
2.5 Gbps + 1 Gbps
This router offers 2.5 Gbps + 1 Gbps on its LAN ports, which is faster than 92.2% of routers and on par with 3.5% of routers.
N. of WAN ports
1
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 WAN ports, which is more than 0.8% of routers and the same as 89.4% of routers.
N. of USB ports
1
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 USB ports, which is more than 40.1% of routers and the same as 41.5% of routers.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
no
This router does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 1.7% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
Show more
What reviewers say
Management interface
Web UI, App
This router uses Web UI, App for management, which is more advanced than 29.7% of routers and equal to 60.9% of routers.
Firmware upgrade method
Web UI, App, Automatic
This router supports Web UI, App, Automatic firmware update methods, which are more convenient than 71.9% of routers and equal to 27.2% of routers.
Traffic monitoring
yes
This router includes traffic monitoring. 13.9% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
yes
This router offers a guest Wi‑Fi network. 7.3% of routers offer a guest Wi‑Fi network.
Captive portal
no
This router does not offer captive portal features. 22.4% of routers offer captive portal features.
Show more
CPU clock speed
4x 2 GHz
This router runs at 4x2 GHz, which is faster than 87.7% of routers and on par with 6.5% of routers.
RAM capacity
?
Internal storage
?
Hardware acceleration
yes
This router offers hardware acceleration. 24.9% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
?
Show more

Netgear Nighthawk RS500 vs the average router

246810TotalWirelessSecurityNetworkingPortsManagementHardware
  • 6.86x faster Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (12,000 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    12,000 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA3, WPA2, WPA, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA3, WPA2, WPA vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Newer Wi-Fi version
    This router supports a newer Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Faster LAN ports
    This router has a higher LAN port speed than the average router (2.5 Gbps + 1 Gbps vs 1 Gbps). The average router has a LAN port speed of 1 Gbps.
    2.5 Gbps + 1 Gbps vs 1 Gbps
  • More Wi-Fi bands
    This router supports more Wi-Fi bands than the average router (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). The average router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.
    2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
  • Supports OFDMA
    This router supports OFDMA, while the average router does not. 41.5% of routers support OFDMA.
  • Wider channel widths
    This router has a higher supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz + 320 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz). The average router supports channel width of 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz.
    20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz + 320 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
  • Higher CPU clock speed
    This router has a higher CPU clock speed than the average router (4x2 GHz vs 2x1 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x1 GHz.
    4x2 GHz vs 2x1 GHz
  • 5.2% higher review score
    Reviews score
    8.1/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    ▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    ▼ Worse than 53% of models

    80%

    8.4

    Average grade

    20%

    7.0

    Popularity

    Grades by review (3)
    3 reviews: 2 with a printed score, 1 estimated from the review. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    8.1 vs 7.7
  • 6.86x faster Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (12,000 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    12,000 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • Newer Wi-Fi version
    This router supports a newer Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • More Wi-Fi bands
    This router supports more Wi-Fi bands than the average router (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). The average router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.
    2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
  • Supports OFDMA
    This router supports OFDMA, while the average router does not. 41.5% of routers support OFDMA.
  • Wider channel widths
    This router has a higher supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz + 320 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz). The average router supports channel width of 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz.
    20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz + 160 MHz + 320 MHz vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
  • 24.7% wider wireless coverage
    This router has wider wireless coverage than the average router (232 m² vs 186 m²). The average router offers wireless coverage of 186 m².
    232 m² vs 186 m²
  • Supports TWT
    This router supports Target Wake Time (TWT), while the average router does not. 42.6% of routers support Target Wake Time (TWT).
  • 1 more spatial streams
    This router has more spatial streams than the average router (4 vs 3). The average router has 3 spatial streams.
    4 vs 3
  • 56 more connected devices
    This router supports more connected devices than the average router (120 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
    120 vs 64
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA3, WPA2, WPA, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA3, WPA2, WPA vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Faster LAN ports
    This router has a higher LAN port speed than the average router (2.5 Gbps + 1 Gbps vs 1 Gbps). The average router has a LAN port speed of 1 Gbps.
    2.5 Gbps + 1 Gbps vs 1 Gbps
  • Higher CPU clock speed
    This router has a higher CPU clock speed than the average router (4x2 GHz vs 2x1 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x1 GHz.
    4x2 GHz vs 2x1 GHz
  • 6 more internal antennas
    This router has more internal antennas than the average router (6 vs 0). The average router has 0 internal antennas.
    6 vs 0
  • 6 years newer release date
    This router was released more recently than the average router (2025 vs 2019). The average router release year is 2019.
    2025 vs 2019
  • 4x more expensive
    Netgear Nighthawk RS500 is more expensive than the average router (£380 vs £95).
    £380 vs £95
  • 197.6 mm higher height
    This router is taller than the average router (249 mm vs 51.4 mm). The average router is 51.4 mm tall.
    249 mm vs 51.4 mm
  • 2.15x heavier weight
    This router is heavier than the average router (967 g vs 450 g). The average router weighs 450 g.
    967 g vs 450 g
  • 47.6 mm thicker design
    This router is thicker than the average router (101.6 mm vs 54 mm). The average router is 54 mm thick.
    101.6 mm vs 54 mm
  • Narrower DFS range
    This router has fewer supported DFS channels than the average router (52-64 + 100-140 vs 52-64 + 100-144). The average router supports 52-64 + 100-144 DFS channels.
    52-64 + 100-140 vs 52-64 + 100-144
  • 4x more expensive
    Netgear Nighthawk RS500 is more expensive than the average router (£380 vs £95).
    £380 vs £95
  • Narrower DFS range
    This router has fewer supported DFS channels than the average router (52-64 + 100-140 vs 52-64 + 100-144). The average router supports 52-64 + 100-144 DFS channels.
    52-64 + 100-140 vs 52-64 + 100-144
  • 197.6 mm higher height
    This router is taller than the average router (249 mm vs 51.4 mm). The average router is 51.4 mm tall.
    249 mm vs 51.4 mm
  • 2.15x heavier weight
    This router is heavier than the average router (967 g vs 450 g). The average router weighs 450 g.
    967 g vs 450 g
  • 47.6 mm thicker design
    This router is thicker than the average router (101.6 mm vs 54 mm). The average router is 54 mm thick.
    101.6 mm vs 54 mm

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

7.8
highspeedinternet.com
✓ explicit
02/10/2026
Hands-on test · Wi-Fi 7 router
Verdict
The Netgear Nighthawk RS500 is a bare-bones Wi-Fi 7 router whose 2.5Gbps internet port holds back its wireless speed, and key security features need a subscription.
8.8
connect.de
✓ explicit
13/01/2025
Comparison test · Wi-Fi 7 routers
Verdict
The Netgear Nighthawk RS500 suits heavy users with many Wi-Fi 7 devices, thanks to its four-stream 5GHz band, but child safety features need subscriptions.
9.0
videonerd.de
≈ estimated
20/03/2025
Test report · Wi-Fi 7 router
Verdict
The Netgear RS500 suits gamers and busy homes with many devices, staying stable under load, but Armor security and child safety features need subscriptions.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Netgear Nighthawk RS500

  • Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 at 12000 Mbps with 320 MHz channels
  • Six internal antennas cover about 232 m²
  • Room for up to 120 connected devices
  • Quad-core 2 GHz CPU and four spatial streams
  • 2.5 Gbps internet port plus a USB port
  • Guest Wi-Fi, VPN server and WPA3 with WPA2 and WPA

What customers don't like about Netgear Nighthawk RS500

  • Only one LAN port reaches 2.5 Gbps
  • No 10 Gbps port for faster lines
  • Heavy 967 g body, 249 mm tall
  • NETGEAR Armor is a 30-day trial only
  • Premium price for a router with one multi-gig LAN port

Verdict

Netgear positions the Nighthawk RS500 as the stronger tri-band option for larger homes. It is rated at 12000 Mbps, with 320 MHz channels, four spatial streams and room for 120 devices. Six internal antennas cover about 232 square metres, and a quad-core 2 GHz processor runs the system. Wired connections are a 2.5 Gbps internet port, one 2.5 Gbps LAN port, three 1 Gbps LAN ports and USB. Guest Wi-Fi and a VPN server are built in, and the listing mentions free expert help. NETGEAR Armor comes with a 30-day trial. At 967 g it is a substantial unit, and the single multi-gig LAN port limits wired setups. It suits larger flats and houses with many devices on a fast 2.5 Gbps line.

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