# Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 vs Google Nest Wifi Pro: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 (Netgear) and Google Nest Wifi Pro (Google) among wi-fi routers. Google Nest Wifi Pro is the cheaper of the two at $199.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 | Google Nest Wifi Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $699.99 | $199.99 |
| Brand | Netgear | Google |
| Released | 2021-10 | 2022-10 |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Max speed (Mbps) | 10800 | 5400 |
| Bands | Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz) | Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz) |
| Coverage (sq ft) | 3500 | 2200 |
| 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) |
| Mesh | No | Yes |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.8 GHz | Qualcomm IPQ5018 dual-core 1.0 GHz |

## Key differences

- Max speed (Mbps): Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 10800 vs Google Nest Wifi Pro 5400
- Coverage (sq ft): Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 3500 vs Google Nest Wifi Pro 2200
- 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 Google Nest Wifi Pro 2x Gigabit Ethernet (WAN/LAN)
- Mesh: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 No vs Google Nest Wifi Pro Yes
- Processor: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Quad-core 1.8 GHz vs Google Nest Wifi Pro Qualcomm IPQ5018 dual-core 1.0 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.)

**Google Nest Wifi Pro** — Across two whitelisted testers (Tom's Guide, lab-benched with IxChariot; Engadget, hands-on), the Nest Wifi Pro is a cheap, tiny, easy-to-set-up Wi-Fi 6E mesh whose performance disappoints, especially at range. Both sources agree it trails rivals on raw speed but wins on ease of use and price. (2 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500: https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/2021/07/netgear-nighthawk-raxe500-product-guide-everything-you-need-to-know/ (smallnetbuilder.com, verified 2026-06-15)
- Google Nest Wifi Pro: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Nest_Wifi (en.wikipedia.org, verified 2026-06-15)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/wifi-routers/netgear-nighthawk-raxe500-vs-google-nest-wifi-pro/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 ($699.99) vs Google Nest Wifi Pro ($199.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/wifi-routers/netgear-nighthawk-raxe500-vs-google-nest-wifi-pro/
License: CC BY 4.0.