Netgear · Updated June 2026
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500: price, specs & release date
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500, released 2021-10. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: smallnetbuilder.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is listed at $699.99 on smallnetbuilder.com as of 2026-06-27, #11 cheapest of 12 wi-fi routers (median $285); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Bronze Deskmark — 33/100 pay-blind standing, #8 of 12 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Class-leading throughput at close range, boosted by the 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E band; Distinctive winged design.
- Skip if Throughput drops off sharply with distance; best used close up is a dealbreaker.
Is the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 a good buy?
At $700, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is #11 cheapest of the 12 wi-fi routers we track, where the median is $290. On the spec sheet, its max speed of 10800 Mbps is above the median of the 12, and its coverage of 3500 sq ft is above the median of the 10.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 2
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 5
- Outlets on recordall tested
- 2
Two independent labs measured this product across 5 physical metrics — speed, overwatch frame rate, latency and 2 more. With a second lab on record, each figure comes from more than one independent hands-on source — a measure of how much evidence exists, not a rating of the product.
speed · overwatch frame rate · latency · range · power
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the 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.
Based on 2 reviews · 2 lab-tested · 2021-10-03–2024-02-16
Tested by Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide
Consistently praised
- Class-leading throughput at close range, boosted by the 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E band · 2 sources
- Distinctive winged design · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- Throughput drops off sharply with distance; best used close up · 2 sources
- Very expensive (~$599), roughly triple a high-end Wi-Fi 6 router · 2 sources
- Bundled security/support becomes a paid subscription after the trial (~$70/yr) · 2 sources
- No QoS, causing major performance collapse on congested networks
Where reviewers disagree The two testers diverge sharply on congestion handling. Tom's Hardware ran a congestion test (ten 8K videos) and saw Overwatch frame rate collapse from 142.83 to 21.88 FPS, concluding 'We don't recommend purchasing this router.' Tom's Guide never ran a congestion test and instead awarded it Editor's Choice, calling it 'the fastest router on the planet.'
The sources (2)
2.4 GHz throughput (near): 210.3 Mbps · 2.4 GHz throughput (far): 160.1 Mbps · 5 GHz throughput (near): 1398.5 Mbps · 5 GHz throughput (far): 951.8 Mbps · Overwatch frame rate, uncongested (Ethernet): 142.83 FPS avg · Overwatch frame rate, congested (Ethernet + ten 8K videos): 21.88 FPS avg · In-game latency (Overwatch, Ethernet): 68 ms
The 5 GHz test was more impressive, with a 1398.5 Mbps close test, and a drop to 951.8 Mbps on the far test.
But our testing shows it has major prioritization problems on congested networks.
the $599 MSRP and $529 street price of the RAXE500 puts it solidly at the high end of the high end category of consumer routers
Total throughput at 15 feet: 2.396 Gbps · Total throughput at 50 feet: 215.8 Mbps · Total throughput at 75 feet: 148.6 Mbps · Total throughput at 90 feet: 18.9 Mbps · Range: 105 feet · Peak power draw: 15.4 watts
the RAXE500 delivered a peak throughput of 1.153Gbps for the 6Ghz band and another 1.242Gbps for the 2.4- and 5GHz bands. That's a total of 2.396Gbps at 15 feet.
On the downside, as was the case with the AX8, the RAXE500's throughput falls off quickly with distance, making it the router to use close up.
At $599, it's roughly triple what some high-performance Wi-Fi 6 routers go for
Specifications
| Price (US) | $699.99 US MSRP at launch October 2021; widely available at reduced price later |
|---|---|
| Brand | Netgear |
| Released | 2021-10 |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Max speed (Mbps) | 10800 |
| Bands | Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz) |
| Coverage (sq ft) | 3500 |
| Ports | 1x 1 Gbps WAN, 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gig (configurable WAN/LAN), 2x USB 3.0 |
| Mesh | No |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.8 GHz |
Source: smallnetbuilder.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by netgear.com. Specs confirmed via smallnetbuilder.com product guide + official Netgear RAXE500 datasheet/Amazon listing: AXE11000 (~10.8 Gbps), WiFi 6E tri-band (1.2 + 4.8 + 4.8 Gbps), 1.8 GHz quad-core processor, coverage up to 3,500 sq ft. CORRECTED 2026-06-17: ports are 1x 1G WAN + 4x 1G LAN + 1x 2.5G Multi-Gig (configurable) + TWO USB 3.0 (prior entry listed '1x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0' and mislabeled the WAN as Multi-Gig; the dedicated WAN is gigabit, the 2.5G is a separate configurable port). Release October 2021. Launch MSRP $699.99. Note: discontinued from NETGEAR active product lineup as of 2026 (WiFi 7 successors now sold).
Is the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 worth it vs cheaper wi-fi routers?
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 against its closest cheaper and pricier wi-fi routers on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 12 ranked
| Product | Price | Wi-Fi standard | Max speed (Mbps) | Bands | Coverage (sq ft) | Ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 this | $699.99 | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | 10800 | Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz) | 3500 | 1x 1 Gbps WAN, 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gig (configurable WAN/LAN), 2x USB 3.0 |
| ASUS ZenWiFi BT8 | $599.99 | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | 14000 | Tri-band (2.4 GHz 688 Mbps + 5 GHz 4323 Mbps + 6 GHz 8643 Mbps) | 5900 | 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN, 2x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x USB 3.0 per unit |
| Netgear Orbi RBKE963 | $1499.99 | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | 11000 | Quad-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 5 GHz backhaul + 6 GHz) | 9000 | Router: 1x 10 Gbps WAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN, 3x 1 Gbps LAN; Each satellite: 3x 1 Gbps LAN |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the 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. 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); No QoS, causing major performance collapse on congested networks. (From 2 tester reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
How much does the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 cost?
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 has a US price of $699.99 (US MSRP at launch October 2021; widely available at reduced price later), as of 2026-06-15.
How does the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 compare on price?
At $700, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is #11 cheapest of the 12 wi-fi routers we track, where the median is $290.
When was the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 released?
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 was released 2021-10.
What are the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500's key specs?
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 (Netgear): wifi standard Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), max speed mbps 10800, bands Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz), coverage sqft 3500, ports 1x 1 Gbps WAN, 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gig (configurable WAN/LAN), 2x USB 3.0. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $699.99 at smallnetbuilder.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar wi-fi routers
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Compare with
Head-to-head
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Step up
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