Netgear Nighthawk 8 AX8 - a really good gaming router for Wi-Fi 6

The Netgear Nighthawk AX8 router is an excellent choice for gamers. It is easy to use and offers great features - overall a good gaming router. This Netgear Nighthawk model, also known as RAX80 is as stylish as it sounds. High-speed and secure, it also features the most recent Wi-Fi 6 connectivity standard. This means that this router is not the most affordable, but it's a great option that delivers a lot of value for money, especially on performance.

Although this is the most recent 802.11ax router, there are other options available that offer similar speeds for a lower cost. Just don't expect them to be as fast and stable though. This router offers high-performance and is designed to provide the fastest throughput speeds, lots of wired connectivity, as well as ease of setup via the iOS or Android apps. You get some malware apps onboard the Netgear Armor software, which is included free of charge for the first year. Is this the right wireless router for you? This Netgear Nighthawk X8 review will tell you everything.

Although it's not often that we can say that a router looks good, the AX8 is a great example of that. It's a sleek, wing-toting feature that enhances the space it's in. These are the antennas. There are two antennas in each of those wings. These are used for wireless signals, but can be folded down to make storage easier or if not being used (e.g. if you use Ethernet only).

Unfortunately, the wings can't be adjusted or replaced because they are built-in. Folded down, the device measures 10.8x8x2.8 inches. When opened, it expands to 12x8x6.3 inches. The silver and black unit can be fixed to a wall or attached to the table's underside with soft rubber feet. The top and front grilles help to dissipate heat. The max temperature of the device has been known to be around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. This is even with its maximum performance.

Beamforming technology is used to ensure the signal is optimized for connected devices. The bands are available at both 2.4GHz & 5GHz. Five Ethernet LAN ports are located at the back. They support port aggregation, which allows you to connect two devices using one port for a bandwidth of 2Gbps. A USB 3 port is available for high-speed data transfer.

The LED lights are very minimal and keep this as discreet as possible. There is even a button that can turn them off completely if desired. The rear panel has an on/off switch and a WPS button for quick setup. Netgear Armor software provides great security and includes access to Bitdefender malware protection apps for a 12-month period. This router supports Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant and can also be set up using the Nighthawk App.

This router is hands down the fastest Wi-Fi router available right now at it's price. This router is, in fact, the fastest performing one we've reviewed in a while. In close range testing, the router achieved a remarkable 1.4Gbps top speed. The speed drops if you extend the range beyond this room. A 50-foot distance gets 277Mbps, and 75-feet is able to get 143Mbps. The limit at a maximum distance of 90 feet is 20Mbps. This is enough to stream a 4K Netflix stream.

Compared to this, other high-end routers may not even be detectable in the same range. This router has the unique ability to transmit a signal through walls even in older homes. This router can transmit a signal through a wall to a device located 20 feet away. The next room gets speeds of just under 1Gbps, which is very significant. Performance across floors is impressive and top-notch. This machine reaches speeds of 629Mbps from downstairs to upstairs. This is all while it runs reliably without any issues, even when it is in constant use. It is ideal for use with one of the top laptops or if your home computer is located in another room. We can safely say that it is a good gaming router - in fact one of the best gaming routers for PS4, PS5 and Xbox gaming as well.

It is one the most powerful routers available, and it is also on the expensive side. It's not the most costly though and can be purchased for about $300. For long-term use, you can expect 13 watts of power when working and 5.5 when idle. This equates to approximately $10 per year, if you use it for 12 hours per day at 13 cents/kilowatt-hour.

The Netgear Nighthawk AX8 comes with a limited warranty of one year. The warranty includes access for 90 days to technicians from the company who can assist with setup. For $30, you can extend the warranty to 2 years. You can also extend the warranty for an additional $80. The Netgear Nighthawk AX8 Wi-Fi router is the best. It is fast, easy to set up and use, and it is also the most popular. It works well in both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz frequencies, doesn't overheat and looks amazing. Its only obstacle could be its price. However, Wi-Fi 6 is future-proofed so it will last you for a long time.

There are many great features to this router and it is highly recommended for gamers. So do we recommend this for gamers? Absolutely. If your budget allows you to get this router, we promise you that it will take care of any connectivity challenges you face so you can focus on the gaming!