Are you searching for the best wireless router under $100 or any specific budget? Then, you should go with Netgear R6700AX. This router comes with a lot of upgrades and is expected to replicate the success of R6700. In Europe and other areas, it is called RAX10. This model is capable of offering 1800 Mbps of throughput and can cover almost 1,500 sq ft range.
This model is equipped with a built-in VPN server and client. Therefore, when you browse the web, it can help you to remain secure. But there are some Netgear’s services which you can enjoy by purchasing the subscription to get the most out of the router.
Standout Features of Netgear R6700AX:
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Wireless Speeds & Suitability:
This router can offer a maximum 1800 Mbps speed, which is divided into dual-band WiFi frequencies, including — 1200 Mbps for 5 GHz frequencies and 600 Mbps for 2.4 GHz. You can choose service packages offering speeds from 500 Mbps to 1000 Mbps based on your internet requirements. However, about 60-70 feet away, a speed drop can be experienced. It is able to cruise through standalone gaming sessions of some popular games like God of War, Creed of Assassins, and FIFA in the best quality.
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WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity of Netgear R6700AX:
Although the expected spanning region that this router can cover is 1,500 Sq Ft, its three external beamforming antennas can cover 1,300 Sq Ft only in real life.
If you use many devices at a time in full flow on the internet, you can see the difference between speeds. It is equipped with OFDMA and MU-MIMO features, which help to operate with 15-18 devices without experiencing any drop in connection.
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Design:
Although this model does not come with the most trendiest design, we can not say that the design of Netgear R6700AX AX1800 is poor. It comes with a black plastic build while having a checkered design on the top. The dimensions of this model are 9.27 x 7.26 x 2.25 inches, whereas its weight is 1.1 pounds.
In order to keep the model functional, heat vents are designed on the sides and rear. You can use the 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports for gaming, primary streaming, and work devices. The proper spacing in ethernet ports helps you both plug or unplug the mode and you do not need to face any disturbances during the entire setup.
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Security Features:
In order to prevent any type of unauthorized access and keep your home network safe, the router helps to employ WPA 3 encryption for secure passwords. When it comes to parental controls, the router allows you to control the internet and manage it only a little bit. You are able to get a subscription to the premium security suite so that you can get protection from malicious content, DDOS attacks, intrusions, etc.
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Hardware & Other Features
The router’s standout features are its dependable hardware unit and accommodating design. It contains a Broadcom-based BCM 6750 Chipset, which features four cores used to clock at 1.5GHz. The RAM size is 512 MB, whereas 256 MB is the size of available storage.
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Setup:
This router does not belong to Netgear’s Nighthawk-branded routers. However, it is still possible to use the Nighthawk app so that you can set this device. Also, it enables you to manage your network settings. Compared to setting this up in an old way, this new approach is simpler. Once you log into the router’s IP address in your internet browser, the app will check every necessary box you want and help to make your network ready and run this within about 10 minutes.
The annoying thing is that the app will nag you daily so that you can buy a subscription to Netgear’s premium security as well as technical support services. As soon as you come online, you can track the devices on your network using the app. Also, you are capable of running a quick speed test. Moreover, you can access the guest network, the parental controls, and the VPN.
Netgear Armor is the most popular feature, which is basically a suite of automated security features. The price of this feature is $100 per year. However, you can try this for 30 days. During this time, the app continues to bombard you with pop-up flash screens. The same thing happens with the premium tech support package of Netgear.
Pros:
- You can enjoy a stable connection to WiFi devices of current- and previous-generation.
- It is compatible with next-gen Wi-Fi 6 features and WPA3 security.
- Simple to set up.
- The average upload speed is powerful.
- Built-in VPN server and client.
Cons:
- Security as well as tech support services provide disturbing ads.
- The USB jack is absent.
- Limited stream count.
- Users need to subscribe for parental controls.
- Users need to go for a subscription to get security features.
Are There Any Additional Costs?
If you want to get the potential features of Netgear R6700AX, you need to invest extra money for this. However, adding three subscriptions makes it possible to use features on this router that are available for free on most routers. If you go for NETGEAR Armor, you will be able to use VPN service, anti-theft, and some other services. Remember that using NETGEAR Armor is not mandatory. However, it is beneficial for those devices that are unable to block malware.
Netgear DPC or Smart Parental Controls is another service pricing $7.99 per month. If you want a yearly subscription, you have to spend $69.99. As soon as you activate it, you will be able to open the app. It enables you to customize bedtimes, create profiles, etc. In addition, the app helps to filter content. As a parent, My Time by NETGEAR is an app you can install on your kid’s devices. Thus, your kid can see their time limit.
The VPN client is only compatible with the PureVPN subscription service. In order to use the service, you have to spend $10.95 monthly.
However, people who want to enjoy and buy all the services need to spend more than $300 every year and get a feature-rich device.
The Bottom Line:
Netgear R6700AX is a good option for those living in a small home or an apartment and who are not willing to invest a lot of money. But if you go for this router, you should not expect to get multi gig internet or media & printer sharing. However, the good thing is you can use VPN service to keep your location and your internet activity hidden.
