# Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300): specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 (Netgear) and GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) (GL.iNet) among wi-fi routers. GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) is the cheaper of the two at $209.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 | GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $699.99 | $209.99 |
| Brand | Netgear | GL.iNet |
| Released | 2021-10 | 2025-06 |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Max speed (Mbps) | 10800 | 9300 |
| Bands | Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz) | Tri-band (2.4 GHz 688 Mbps + 5 GHz 2882 Mbps + 6 GHz 5765 Mbps) |
| Coverage (sq ft) | 3500 | 2000 |
| Ports | 1x 1 Gbps WAN, 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gig (configurable WAN/LAN), 2x USB 3.0 | 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN, 3x 2.5 Gbps LAN, 1x USB 3.0 |
| Mesh | No | Yes |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.8 GHz | Qualcomm quad-core 1.5 GHz |

## Key differences

- Wi-Fi standard: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
- Max speed (Mbps): Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 10800 vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) 9300
- Bands: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz) vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) Tri-band (2.4 GHz 688 Mbps + 5 GHz 2882 Mbps + 6 GHz 5765 Mbps)
- Coverage (sq ft): Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 3500 vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) 2000
- 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 GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN, 3x 2.5 Gbps LAN, 1x USB 3.0
- Mesh: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 No vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) Yes
- Processor: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Quad-core 1.8 GHz vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) Qualcomm quad-core 1.5 GHz

## What reviewers say

**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.)

## Sources

- Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500: https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/netgear-nighthawk-raxe500-product-guide-everything-you-need-to-know/ (smallnetbuilder.com, verified 2026-06-15)
- GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300): https://www.gl-inet.com/en-us/products/gl-be9300 (gl-inet.com, verified 2026-10-15)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/wifi-routers/netgear-nighthawk-raxe500-vs-gl-inet-flint-3-gl-be9300/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 ($699.99) vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) ($209.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/wifi-routers/netgear-nighthawk-raxe500-vs-gl-inet-flint-3-gl-be9300/
License: CC BY 4.0 for our notes and computed fields; prices and specs are facts, free to quote. Not covered: product images, quotations and test results from other publishers. Credit: The Front Desk Review, with the figure's source and date.