Netgear
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
$699.99
Released 2021-10
Best Wi-Fi Routers · head-to-head
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 vs Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) is cheaper at $139.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Amazon eero
Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack)
$139.99Cheaper
Released 2021
Which is better: the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 or Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack)?
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) is the cheaper at $139.99. Get the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 for the stronger spec sheet, the Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) to spend less.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 | Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $699.99 | $139.99 |
| Brand | Netgear | Amazon eero |
| Released | 2021-10 | 2021 |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Max speed (Mbps) | 10800 | 1000 |
| Bands | Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz) | Dual-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz with 160 MHz channels) |
| Coverage (sq ft) | 3500 | 1500 |
| Ports | 1x 1 Gbps WAN, 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gig (configurable WAN/LAN), 2x USB 3.0 | 2x Gigabit Ethernet (WAN/LAN auto-sensing) |
| Mesh | No | Yes |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.8 GHz | Dual-core 1 GHz |
| Release | 2021-10 | 2021 |
Sources — Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500: smallnetbuilder.com (verified 2026-06-15). Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack): eero.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 and Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Wi-Fi standard: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) vs Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Max speed (Mbps): Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 10800 vs Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) 1000
- Bands: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz) vs Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) Dual-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz with 160 MHz channels)
- Coverage (sq ft): Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 3500 vs Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) 1500
- Ports: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 1x 1 Gbps WAN, 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gig (configurable WAN/LAN), 2x USB 3.0 vs Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) 2x Gigabit Ethernet (WAN/LAN auto-sensing)
- Mesh: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 false vs Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) true
- Processor: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Quad-core 1.8 GHz vs Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack) Dual-core 1 GHz
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
Two whitelisted testers (Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide) lab-benched this exact RAXE500. Both praise record-setting close-range throughput (Tom's Guide measured 2.396 Gbps at 15 feet, boosted by the 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E band) but flag steep falloff with distance and a very high ~$599 price. Tom's Hardware additionally found severe congestion/QoS problems and did not recommend the router; Tom's Guide did not run a congestion test and named it Editor's Choice. RTINGS not found. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Class-leading throughput at close range, boosted by the 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E band; Distinctive winged design.
Flagged: Throughput drops off sharply with distance; best used close up; Very expensive (~$599), roughly triple a high-end Wi-Fi 6 router; Bundled security/support becomes a paid subscription after the trial (~$70/yr).
Amazon eero 6+ (1-pack)
No sourced tester review yet.