OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
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

Western Digital N900 review: 77 specs compared

Avg. price:~£130Wi-Fi version:Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)Wi-Fi speed:900 MbpsLAN port speeds:1 GbpsMesh Wi-Fi:no

Western Digital N900 Review: Compare 77 technical specifications and 17 expert and video reviews to see how this product ranks in the Routers category and whether it is worth buying.

Western Digital N900
7.3/10

Overall score

Score
7.3/ 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
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 55% of models
Score components

40%

6.7

Technical score

25%

8.2

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

â–¼Worse than 55% 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
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 54% of models
Score components

70%

7.3

Overall score

30%

9.8

Price

â–¼Worse than 54%
6.7

Technical score

Technical score
6.7/ 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
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 67% of models
Score components

26%

5.3

Wireless

20%

6.3

Ports

18%

7.9

Networking

14%

9.1

Security

12%

6.3

Hardware

10%

6.2

Management

â–¼Worse than 67%
8.2

Reviews score

Reviews score
8.2/ 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
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 52% of models

80%

8.0

Average grade

20%

9.1

Popularity

Grades by review (17)
16 reviews: 6 with a printed score, 10 estimated from the review. 1 video review, counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
â–²Better than 52%
?

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
  • western-digital-n900
  • western-digital-n900
  • western-digital-n900
  • western-digital-n900
  • western-digital-n900
western-digital-n900
western-digital-n900
western-digital-n900
western-digital-n900
western-digital-n900
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 Western Digital N900

Based on 10 · 1

Reviewers like the easy setup, streaming priority, backup and guest network, but many find network speeds disappointing.
Praised
Mixed views
Criticised
Pick a topic to see who said what
Loading category ranking...

Technical Specifications of router Western Digital N900

Technical score
Technical score
6.7/ 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
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 67% of models
Score components:

26%

5.3

Wireless

20%

6.3

Ports

18%

7.9

Networking

14%

9.1

Security

12%

6.3

Hardware

10%

6.2

Management

6.7
Reviews score
8.2
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
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 54% of models
Score components:

70%

7.3

Overall score

30%

9.8

Price

8.1
Brand name
Western Digital
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
This router uses Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), which is less advanced than 65% of routers and equal to 32.7% of routers.
Wi-Fi bands
2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
This router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands, which are more versatile than 24.2% of routers and equal to 65.6% of routers.
Wi-Fi speed
900 Mbps
Market range: <0 Mbps – >6k Mbps
This router delivers 900 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is lower than 64.3% of routers and equal to 1.6% of routers.
Channel widths supported
20 MHz + 40 MHz
This router supports 20 MHz + 40 MHz channel width options, which is fewer than 63.7% of routers and the same as 31.2% of routers.
Show more
What reviewers say
Wi-Fi security protocols
WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS
This router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS Wi-Fi security protocols, which are less advanced than 69.1% of routers and equal to 9.4% 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
IPv6 support
yes
This router supports IPv6. 8.8% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
yes
This router supports dynamic routing. 54% of routers support dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
no
This router does not support inter-VLAN routing. 24.5% of routers support inter-VLAN routing.
VLAN tagging
no
This router does not support VLAN tagging. 66.6% of routers include VLAN tagging.
QoS
yes
This router includes QoS controls. 2.4% of routers include QoS controls.
Show more
What reviewers say
N. of LAN ports
7
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 7 LAN ports, which is more than 97.3% of routers and the same as 0.4% of routers.
LAN port speeds
1 Gbps
This router offers 1 Gbps on its LAN ports, which is faster than 25.7% of routers and on par with 56.1% 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
2
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 2 USB ports, which is more than 81.9% of routers and the same as 17.9% 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
This router supports Web UI firmware update methods, which are less convenient than 75.5% of routers and equal to 23.9% of routers.
Traffic monitoring
no
This router does not include traffic monitoring. 86.3% 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
What reviewers say
CPU clock speed
0.6 GHz
This router runs at 0.6 GHz, which is slower than 72.9% of routers and on par with 2.5% of routers.
RAM capacity
256 MB
Market range: <0 MB – >1k MB
This router has 256 MB of RAM, which is more than 46.3% of routers and the same as 14.9% of routers.
Internal storage
0.015625 GB
Market range: <0.0039 GB – >0.5 GB
This router has 0.015625 GB of internal storage, which is less than 55.2% of routers and the same as 13% of routers.
Hardware acceleration
yes
This router offers hardware acceleration. 24.9% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
0
Market range: <0 – >10
This router has 0 external antennas, which is fewer than 62.7% of routers and the same as 37.3% of routers.
Show more

Western Digital N900 vs the average router

246810TotalWirelessSecurityNetworkingPortsManagementHardware
  • Wider temperature range
    This router is rated for 5 to 40 C, while the average router is rated for 0 to 40 C.
    5 to 40 C vs 0 to 40 C
  • 3 more LAN ports
    This router has more LAN ports than the average router (7 vs 4). The average router has 4 LAN ports.
    7 vs 4
  • 1 more USB ports
    This router has more USB ports than the average router (2 vs 1). The average router has 1 USB ports.
    2 vs 1
  • Supports dynamic routing
    This router supports dynamic routing, while the average router does not. 46.1% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • More capable NAS services
    This router includes SMB, FTP, media server, time machine, AFP NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, media server.
    Requires attached USB storage.
    SMB, FTP, media server, time machine, AFP vs SMB, media server
  • Suitable for gaming
    This router is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 37.9% of routers are designed for gaming.
  • 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
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • 6.5% higher review score
    Reviews score
    8.2/ 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
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–² Better than 52% of models

    80%

    8.0

    Average grade

    20%

    9.1

    Popularity

    Grades by review (17)
    16 reviews: 6 with a printed score, 10 estimated from the review. 1 video review, counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    8.2 vs 7.7
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Supports dynamic routing
    This router supports dynamic routing, while the average router does not. 46.1% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • 3 more LAN ports
    This router has more LAN ports than the average router (7 vs 4). The average router has 4 LAN ports.
    7 vs 4
  • 1 more USB ports
    This router has more USB ports than the average router (2 vs 1). The average router has 1 USB ports.
    2 vs 1
  • More capable NAS services
    This router includes SMB, FTP, media server, time machine, AFP NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, media server.
    Requires attached USB storage.
    SMB, FTP, media server, time machine, AFP vs SMB, media server
  • Wider temperature range
    This router is rated for 5 to 40 C, while the average router is rated for 0 to 40 C.
    5 to 40 C vs 0 to 40 C
  • Suitable for gaming
    This router is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 37.9% of routers are designed for gaming.
  • 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
  • 24 mm thinner design
    This router is thinner than the average router (30 mm vs 54 mm). The average router is 54 mm thick.
    30 mm vs 54 mm
  • Limited firmware updates
    This router supports the firmware update methods Web UI, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
    Web UI vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • Older Wi-Fi version
    This router uses an older Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • No VLAN tagging
    This router does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 66.5% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No MU-MIMO
    This router does not support MU-MIMO, while the average router does. 54% of routers support MU-MIMO.
  • No traffic monitoring
    This router does not offer traffic monitoring, while the average router does. 86.1% of routers offer traffic monitoring.
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    This router has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (0.6 GHz vs 2x1 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x1 GHz.
    0.6 GHz vs 2x1 GHz
  • Narrower channel widths
    This router has a lower supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz + 40 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 vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
  • 48.6% slower Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (900 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    900 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • 36.8% more expensive
    Western Digital N900 is more expensive than the average router (£130 vs £95).
    £130 vs £95
  • Older Wi-Fi version
    This router uses an older Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • No MU-MIMO
    This router does not support MU-MIMO, while the average router does. 54% of routers support MU-MIMO.
  • Narrower channel widths
    This router has a lower supported channel width than the average router (20 MHz + 40 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 vs 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
  • 48.6% slower Wi-Fi speed
    This router has a lower Wi-Fi speed than the average router (900 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,750 Mbps.
    900 Mbps vs 1,750 Mbps
  • No VLAN tagging
    This router does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 66.5% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • Limited firmware updates
    This router supports the firmware update methods Web UI, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
    Web UI vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • No traffic monitoring
    This router does not offer traffic monitoring, while the average router does. 86.1% of routers offer traffic monitoring.
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    This router has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (0.6 GHz vs 2x1 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x1 GHz.
    0.6 GHz vs 2x1 GHz
  • 87.5% less internal storage
    This router has less internal storage than the average router (0 GB vs 0.1 GB). The average router offers 0.125 GB of internal storage.
    0.015625 GB vs 0.125 GB
  • 2 fewer external antennas
    This router has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
    0 vs 2
  • 7 years older release date
    This router is an older model than the average router (2012 vs 2019). The average router release year is 2019.
    June 2012
    2012 vs 2019

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

8.0
CNET
≈ estimated
14/06/2012
First look · short intro and QoS test
Verdict
Western Digital N900 shows promising performance and a responsive interface, but this short first look stops short of a firm recommendation.
Brand video

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

8.0
uk.pcmag.com
✓ explicit
26/06/2014
Lab test · Dual-band router
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 is very fast on 2.4 GHz and easy to set up, with seven LAN ports, but its 5 GHz speed trails the best high-end rivals.
8.0
storagereview.com
≈ estimated
15/06/2012
Hands-on review · Streaming-first router
Verdict
The My Net N900 is a home router whose FasTrack keeps HD Netflix playing during heavy downloads, suiting busy households.
6.0
smallnetbuilder.com
≈ estimated
21/05/2013
Lab retest · High-end router
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 is fast on uploads near the router, but downloads and weak-signal speeds trail other top N900 routers.
8.0
storagereview.com
≈ estimated
04/01/2013
Hands-on test · Built-in drive
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 Central suits people who want a router that doubles as a backup drive, though its single internal drive limits expansion.
8.0
techporn.ph
✓ explicit
25/04/2013
Hands-on test · Design and streaming
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 Central is a plug-and-play router whose built-in drive streams 1080p video smoothly, with a web interface that guides beginners.
6.0
smallnetbuilder.com
≈ estimated
15/10/2012
Lab review · Wireless throughput tests
Verdict
The Western Digital My Net N900 HD is a quick router on 2.4GHz, but early units shipped with a 5GHz fault that left that band weak.
7.5
cnet.com
✓ explicit
11/09/2012
Hands-on review · NAS router
Verdict
The My Net N900 Central has a clean web interface, but its 2.4GHz range is weak and its one-year warranty is short.
8.0
techradar.com
✓ explicit
03/09/2012
Lab test · Wireless range tests
Verdict
The My Net N900 Central is strong on 5GHz, especially with 450Mbps laptops, but its built-in drive is slow for gigabyte-sized copies.
8.0
zitseng.com
≈ estimated
10/04/2013
Hands-on review · Setup and backup
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 Central is a very easy router that doubles as a media and backup server, though its Wi-Fi speed is only average.
8.0
gizmodo.com
✓ explicit
15/06/2012
Hands-on review · Priority router
Verdict
The My Net N900 HD is worth buying for busy homes, since FasTrack keeps streaming and games fast, though its NAS features lack depth and the price is steep.
8.0
bitpage.de
≈ estimated
06/09/2013
Hands-on test · NAS-style router
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 Central is a dual-band router with a built-in hard drive that suits people considering a NAS, though it cannot fully replace one.
9.0
connect-living.de
≈ estimated
04/09/2012
Hands-on test · Router with storage
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 Central combines a dual-band router with a 2TB network drive in one box, though its built-in help is thin.
8.0
pcwelt.de
≈ estimated
21/09/2012
Hands-on test · Home cloud router
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 Central is an upper mid-range router with FasTrack Plus for smooth HD video, though it cannot match a NAS for speed.
6.8
macwelt.de
✓ explicit
25/04/2013
Hands-on test · Mac backup router
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 Central suits Mac users who want backups and remote drive access, but it is slow and once needed a restart under heavy load.
9.0
tuexperto.com
≈ estimated
25/01/2013
In-depth review · Router with drive
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 Central suits busy homes with many Wi-Fi devices, lets everyone share a drive wirelessly, and prioritizes streaming traffic.
9.0
androidup.com
≈ estimated
06/03/2013
Hands-on test · Full HD streaming
Verdict
The WD My Net N900 Central is a solid all-in-one for Android users that streams Full HD well, though its home cloud is held back by slow upload speeds.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Western Digital N900

  • High number of ports, featuring seven Gigabit LAN ports for extensive wired connectivity
  • Intuitive and responsive web-based management interface that is mobile-friendly
  • Effective 'FasTrack Plus' QoS (Quality of Service) that prioritizes streaming traffic successfully
  • Strong wireless throughput and range on the 5 GHz band
  • Includes two USB ports for easy sharing of printers and external storage
  • Easy setup process suitable for non-technical users

What customers don't like about Western Digital N900

  • Lacks support for the newer 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, limiting long-term future-proofing
  • Inconsistent performance and stability on the 2.4 GHz band, especially at longer ranges
  • Awkward physical placement of USB ports too close to the power button
  • Average to slow NAS file transfer speeds when using attached storage
  • Relatively high initial launch price compared to competitors with better warranties
  • Limited advanced firewall flexibility, such as a lack of scheduling for rules

Verdict

The Western Digital My Net N900 is a high-performance dual-band 802.11n wireless router that offers a combined theoretical speed of 900 Mbps, with up to 450 Mbps on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It is uniquely equipped with seven Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and one Gigabit WAN port, alongside two USB 2.0 ports for printer and external storage sharing. Key characteristics include FasTrack Plus technology for real-time traffic prioritization of HD media and gaming, as well as DLNA and UPnP certification. Main pros include its extensive wired connectivity, excellent throughput on the 2.4 GHz band, and an intuitive, mobile-friendly web dashboard for easy management. However, notable cons include its lack of 802.11ac support, average 5 GHz range, and an awkward rear panel design where the power button is located too close to the USB ports, risking accidental shutdowns during device swaps.

Compare Western Digital N900 with other routers

1Product to compare no. 1
VS
2Product to compare no. 2
VS
3Product to compare no. 3 (optional)

Graphic comparison of Western Digital N900 and other routers

No results found