Netgear
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
$699.99
Released 2021-10
Best Wi-Fi Routers · head-to-head
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) is cheaper at $209.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
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GL.iNet
GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300)
$209.99Cheaper
Released 2025-06
Which is better: the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 or GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300)?
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) is the cheaper at $209.99. Get the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 for the stronger spec sheet, the GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) to spend less.
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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 | 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 |
| Release | 2021-10 | 2025-06 |
Sources — Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500: smallnetbuilder.com (verified 2026-06-15). GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300): gl-inet.com (verified 2026-10-15).
What's the difference between the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 and GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300)?
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 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 false vs GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) true
- 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
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).
GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300)
No sourced tester review yet.