Wireless Type | 802.11ac |
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NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 Wi-Fi Router with 4 Ethernet Ports and Wireless Speeds Up to 2.6 Gbps, AC2600, Optimized for Low Ping
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Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | NETGEAR |
Model Name | XR500-100NAS |
Special Feature | WPS |
Frequency Band Class | Dual-Band |
Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11ac |
Compatible Devices | Gaming Console, Personal Computer, Tablet, Smartphone |
Frequency | 5 GHz |
Recommended Uses For Product | Gaming |
Included Components | XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router (XR500)^4 detachable antennas^Ethernet cable^Quick start guide^Power adapter See more |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet |
About this item
- Minimize ping and maximize performance with four 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports for lag free, wired connectivity and 1.7 GHz dual core processor network efficiency.Beamforming : Implicit & Explicit Beamforming. LEDs : On/off LED lights option.
- Amp up your Wi-Fi with AC2600 dual band router that delivers blazing fast speeds up to 2.6 Gbps
- Put your gaming traffic in a designated express lane with advanced quality of service, bypassing network congestion and reducing lag spikes, jumps and jitters
- Make every millisecond count by using Geo filtering to connect to the closest servers and players so you can respond and dominate
- Monitor your network and game ping in real time so you can see who’s hogging the bandwidth by device and application
- Protect your network identity by connecting to a secure gaming VPN server
- Optimized to give you the lowest ping possible on Fortnite, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Overwatch, PubG, CS:GO, and more
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From the manufacturer
XR500 - Powered by DumaOS.
Hardware
- AC2600 Dual Band WiFi - Fast and reliable WiFi
- 4x Gigabit Ethernet Ports - Maximized wired speeds
- Dual-core 1.7GHz Processor - Support multiple devices and demanding traffic
- 2x USB 3.0 Ports - Access media or connect a printer
Nighthawk Pro Gaming WiFi Router
Power to Win
The XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming WiFi Router uses state-of-the-art software to optimize your internet connection by stabilizing ping, reducing lag spikes, and keeping you in the game with reliable wired and wireless connectivity for fast-paced gaming.
- Quality of Service - Prioritize gaming devices over others to prevent lag spikes
- Geo Filter - Limit distance to servers or other players
- Gaming Dashboard - View real-time bandwidth utilization by device
- Network Monitor - Identify applications that could be causing lag
- Gaming VPN - Support your existing VPN service
- Nighthawk app - Easily setup your router, manage Internet access by pausing and resuming internet instantly. All from your mobile device!
Software Features
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Prioritize Your Gaming TrafficPrioritize gaming devices and allocate bandwidth by device to eliminate lag. Easily control the maximum upload and download speeds per device on the network to minimize sudden lag spikes while gaming. |
Guarantee Local Connection & Eliminate LagGeo-Filter lets you fix your gaming lag by limiting distance to servers or other players. You can get a guaranteed local connection and blacklist laggy opponents and whitelist your friends. |
Customizable DashboardPersonalize your gaming dashboard to view real-time bandwidth utilization by device, ping and many other parameters on a single screen. |
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Up to 2.6Gbps Wireless SpeedsFour (4) external antennas for better WiFi coverage, faster speeds and less interference. Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) for simultaneous streaming, Quad-Stream & 160MHz for accelerated speeds. |
Powerful Processor for Smoother PerformanceThe Dual-core 1.7GHz Processor keeps the speed consistent and reliable for your connected devices. Supports many devices for better VR gaming, 4K streaming, surfing and more. |
Wired Connections for Optimal PerformanceKeep your gaming devices connected at all times. Four (4) Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports maximize wired speeds ideal for fast-paced gaming and high-quality streaming. |
SecurityMaintain high security across your network to ensure your privacy & family is safe while online. VPN, WPA/WPA2, and the Gaming VPN client support protects your network identity and prevents DDoS attacks. |
XR300 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router | XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router | XR700 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router | |
---|---|---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars
635
|
4.4 out of 5 stars
4,750
|
4.1 out of 5 stars
592
|
WiFi Speed | AC1750 | AC2600 | AD7200 |
Gaming Dashboard | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
10 Gigabit Gaming | - | - | ✓ |
Processor | Dual-core 1.0GHz processor | Dual-core 1.7GHz processor | Quad-core 1.7GHz processor |
Number of Wired Ports | 4 Ethernet Ports | 4 Ethernet Ports | 7 Ethernet Ports |
USB Ports | 1 USB 3.0 Port | 2 USB 3.0 Port | 2 USB 3.0 Port |
Antennas | 3 External | 4 External | 4 Active External |
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This Item NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 Wi-Fi Router with 4 Ethernet Ports and Wireless Speeds Up to 2.6 Gbps, AC2600, Optimized for Low Ping | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $249.99$249.99 | -45% $109.99$109.99 New Price: $199.99 | -30% $280.00$280.00 List: $399.99 | -10% $224.99$224.99 List: $249.99 | -13% $349.99$349.99 List: $399.99 | -10% $179.99$179.99 List: $199.99 |
Delivery | — | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
WiFi signal | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.4 |
Tech Support | 4.0 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 4.0 |
User interface | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | — |
Value for money | — | — | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 4.3 |
Easy to install | 4.7 | — | — | 4.6 | — | 4.3 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Woot | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
connectivity tech | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Ethernet, Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | ✅EDITORS‘ CHOICE |
number of ports | 7 | — | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
data transfer rate | 2600 megabits per second | — | 7.8 gigabits per second | 6579 megabits per second | 11000 megabits per second | 5400 megabits per second |
wireless standard | 802 11 AC | — | 802 11 AX | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 B | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 A | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 B |
frequency band class | dual band | dual band | tri band | tri band | tri band | tri band |
lan port bandwidth | 1000 Mbps | — | — | 10/100/1000 Mbps | 2.5 Gigabit | 10/100/1000 Mbps |
What's in the box
Product Description
XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Wi-Fi Router uses state-of-the-art software to optimize your internet connection by stabilizing ping, reducing lag spikes, and keeping you in the game with reliable wired and wireless connectivity for fast-paced gaming. Personalize your gaming dashboard to view real-time bandwidth utilization by device, ping and many other parameters. VPN Client protects your network identity and prevents DDoS attacks. Blazing-fast 2.6Gbps Wi-Fi speeds, Gigabit Ethernet ports, and a dual core 1.7GHz processor make online and network gaming frustration free.
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Product information
Technical Details
Brand | NETGEAR |
---|---|
Series | XR500-100NAS |
Item model number | XR500-100NAS |
Item Weight | 3.71 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 2.2 x 12.7 x 9.6 inches |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 2.2 x 12.7 x 9.6 inches |
Color | Black |
Voltage | 220 Volts |
Manufacturer | Netgear |
ASIN | B078GWJ44Z |
Country of Origin | China |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | January 8, 2018 |
Additional Information
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
---|---|
Best Sellers Rank | #20,397 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories) #765 in Computer Routers |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
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Customer Review: The Best Gaming Router of 2018!!
Tech HD
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, ease of setup, and speed of the networking router. For example, they mention it's a solid router, reliable, and powerful. Some appreciate the VPN features and the user interface is extremely simple and intuitive. That said, they say the download speeds increase significantly and the router helps reduce lag. Customers also like the range, and gaming experience. That being said, opinions are mixed on signal strength, performance, and value.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the router. They mention that it's a solid router, reliable, and powerful. They also appreciate the astonishingly well-crafted NetDuma operating system. Overall, customers describe it as the absolute best gaming router.
"...they deliver on their promises of helping reduce lag and improve network performance is supported by their recent partnership with Netgear...." Read more
"...my enterprise gear at home with something simple to manage, yet powerful. I’m getting old and I’d rather not troubleshoot network problems at home...." Read more
"...3. Reliability—I haven’t once needed to restart the router for any reason related to the router, only from activities by my ISP (Xfinity)...." Read more
"...Overall, the router is quite powerful and resolved a lot of issues for me, and I'm glad I got it...." Read more
Customers find the setup process of the router to be simple. They mention that the OS is informative and relatively easy to use. The router user interface is extremely simple and intuitive. The VPN setup is simple and straightforward, and the included quickstart guide has easy to understand diagrams and text boxes for plugging the router in. The app is user friendly, and customizing the dashboard is easy.
"...For gamers wanting a router that has both sheer power combined with ease of use, look no further. This is the router for you...." Read more
"...-Initial setup is simple. My dog could have done it.-VPN is simple to configure and has detailed instructions accompanying the menu..." Read more
"...1. Setup—a breeze for those who know the ins and outs of networking. An app is available to those who are less network savvy...." Read more
"...Immediate improvement. It’s faster, more reliable and has a way better admin setup...." Read more
Customers like the speed of the router. They say that it has amazing speed, their download speeds increase significantly, and the device manager loads quicker. They also say that the router has low ping, zero packet loss, and no lag. Customers also mention that it screams their internet connection rather effortlessly when streaming HD and 4K video, making the game play smoother.
"...times and since purchasing the XR500 Nighthawk I've noticed improved speeds and reduced ping...." Read more
"...games I would say but since I bought it I will say I have had very few laggy lobbies...." Read more
"...were cutting in line, basically. Despite having great speeds and bandwidth, the Cox router does a poor job of handling the traffic...." Read more
"...Immediate improvement. It’s faster, more reliable and has a way better admin setup...." Read more
Customers are impressed with the range of the networking router. They say it has a fantastic range, and is able to handle higher bandwidth. Customers also say that the 2.4GHz band gives them more distance, and the 5GHz band is beastly. They also appreciate the feature of assigning bandwidth to different devices, which is handy if you want to.
"...The BufferBloat tool is great and I love the ability to set a range for players in online matches if games...." Read more
"...Not anymore. The range over 5ghz is also beastly...." Read more
"...The range on this unit was exceptional compare to the ASUS RT-AC66U giving me 56 mbps at the most distant spot in my house from the router...." Read more
"...2.4Ghz also gives you more distance so this router will probably cover your whole house without an extender...." Read more
Customers like the gaming experience with the router. They mention that it delivers the best online gaming experience possible, provides a competitive edge, and helps with gaming experience. The router is gaming oriented but can easily be tailored to multi-use processes. It makes for a more pleasurable gaming experience, and flawless with no interruptions. Overall, customers are happy with the gaming performance and recommend it to others.
"...(Netgear) and the best software (DumaOS) make this router a blessing for online gaming. Seriously, a BLESSING...." Read more
"...My gameplay drastically improved because I had a reliable, stable connection with low ping, zero packet loss, and no lag spikes...." Read more
"This is a solid router and has helped my gaming experience a lot. Not to mention I'm not hearing any issues with the singal to my TV downstairs...." Read more
"...to purchase this particular router, the XR500 is by far the best for gaming, and multi streaming so if that what your looking for I’ll save you the..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the signal strength of the networking router. Some mention that the signals are strong, reliable, and reach all throughout their home. However, others say that the router loses internet connectivity.
"...hours and with the parental control settings, connections for devices can be tailored specifically so that they are unable to get online during..." Read more
"...BUT, I was inexplicably having lag and connectivity issues when playing games like Rainbow Six Siege on our PS4's...." Read more
"...-Never needs a reboot to change a setting.-The WiFi range goes well into my yard, past my neighbors home and into the street. How??..." Read more
"...There are large parts of the house the signal can’t penetrate. And, as we’re getting ready of school to start, in need some parental controls...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the networking router. Some mention that it typically works well, while others say that it has issues and begins to perform poorly. Some customers also mention that the router has crashing and freezing issues.
"...Had it about a week now and everything is working great and I am enjoying the fast speed." Read more
"...I bought this instead. It was pricey, but worth it. It works with Spectrum and I get great speeds consistently...." Read more
"...-I could not get the Internet to work in “manual setup” mode. The router would proxy any DNS address to itself: 192.168.1.1...." Read more
"...Now on day 3 of no reboots. Device Manager loads quicker. Everything works great. I recommend NOT using the DOS/Port Scan protection...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the networking router. Some mention that it's worth the money, while others say that it helped a little but is not worth the price. The router is not cheap and is not a good choice if you want anything more. Some customers also mention that the router is completely useless and has an awful OS.
"...This thing is very expensive if you don't see yourself using the DumaOS and customizing a lot of features I would strongly recommend just buy..." Read more
"...I bought this instead. It was pricey, but worth it. It works with Spectrum and I get great speeds consistently...." Read more
"...The S8000 switch is fine, but expensive. I’ll keep it, but a cheaper box would have been just as good.So I’m done with Netgear...." Read more
"...a hotfix before you pick up an XB or PS4 controller, but it's well worth every penny if you enjoy pubstomping with your friends on Fortnite, PUBG,..." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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The proof that they deliver on their promises of helping reduce lag and improve network performance is supported by their recent partnership with Netgear. When I heard of their partnership and the fact the Netduma's new and improved DumaOS would be powering the already powerful and renown Nighthawk, it was an instant purchase for me.
For gamers wanting a router that has both sheer power combined with ease of use, look no further. This is the router for you. The sheer size and design of this router instantly caught my eye, this thing is a beast! The product came with everything needed to get started quickly and setting up the router prior to installation was a breeze.
Setting up the router and connecting all my devices was honestly the easiest thing I have ever done. Simply follow the instructions (there's maybe 3 steps!) and you're good to go. The router re-directed me instantly to the setup page, updated itself to the latest firmware and walked me through every step. To point it bluntly, the setup is idiot proof.
Now the Nighthawk has always been an incredible product for any gamer but with it now being powered by DumaOS, this router is a step above anything I've seen.
To say the router's user interface is user-friendly would be an understatement. It is a huge step up from Netduma's previous design and allows even the most novice computer users to tailor the router to their own needs. The router provides a quick and informative tour of all the features you can use, navigating you every step of the way. The new dashboard can be entirely customised, allowing users to place their most important features only a click away.
I run a fairly heavy system which includes multiple consoles, multiple desktops/laptops and a whole host of wireless devices. So far everything has been working flawlessly and with the inclusion of 5GHz wireless connectivity I've noticed improved speeds for those connected devices. I've tested my connect speeds (wired and wireless) multiple times and since purchasing the XR500 Nighthawk I've noticed improved speeds and reduced ping. This is on top of an already consistent and high quality connection that I had previously.
Even for non-gamers, this router can be an excellent choice for anyone wanting to keep tabs on their network. The Device Manager allows you to effortlessly see what products are connected, how they're connected and whether they're currently online. See something you don't like? You can easily block the device and remove it altogether. This can be great for families wanting to restrict Internet usage at late night hours and with the parental control settings, connections for devices can be tailored specifically so that they are unable to get online during certain hours. You really get the sense that this router is designed to work for you and handle any task you throw at it.
If there's one thing that I can say, it's that the best part of this router is knowing I have the Netduma support watching my back. Going back to my previous comment, these are gamers first who know exactly what we want from a gaming router. For any technical problem or concern they have always been there to listen and provide assistance wherever possible. There's nothing more frustrating than having technology breakdown and not work. Netduma have an incredible support system, an active forum and from first hand experience, will always be there to help you resolve any issues you have.
No more sending emails in a vague hope of getting a reply and dealing with strangers. The team is friendly, passionate and actively prepared in getting any issues resolved asap. The community is supportive and will always help users encountering issues.
When you have a Netduma product, you're part of the Netduma family where only the best connections and experiences are found. I can't recommend this product enough!
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2018
The proof that they deliver on their promises of helping reduce lag and improve network performance is supported by their recent partnership with Netgear. When I heard of their partnership and the fact the Netduma's new and improved DumaOS would be powering the already powerful and renown Nighthawk, it was an instant purchase for me.
For gamers wanting a router that has both sheer power combined with ease of use, look no further. This is the router for you. The sheer size and design of this router instantly caught my eye, this thing is a beast! The product came with everything needed to get started quickly and setting up the router prior to installation was a breeze.
Setting up the router and connecting all my devices was honestly the easiest thing I have ever done. Simply follow the instructions (there's maybe 3 steps!) and you're good to go. The router re-directed me instantly to the setup page, updated itself to the latest firmware and walked me through every step. To point it bluntly, the setup is idiot proof.
Now the Nighthawk has always been an incredible product for any gamer but with it now being powered by DumaOS, this router is a step above anything I've seen.
To say the router's user interface is user-friendly would be an understatement. It is a huge step up from Netduma's previous design and allows even the most novice computer users to tailor the router to their own needs. The router provides a quick and informative tour of all the features you can use, navigating you every step of the way. The new dashboard can be entirely customised, allowing users to place their most important features only a click away.
I run a fairly heavy system which includes multiple consoles, multiple desktops/laptops and a whole host of wireless devices. So far everything has been working flawlessly and with the inclusion of 5GHz wireless connectivity I've noticed improved speeds for those connected devices. I've tested my connect speeds (wired and wireless) multiple times and since purchasing the XR500 Nighthawk I've noticed improved speeds and reduced ping. This is on top of an already consistent and high quality connection that I had previously.
Even for non-gamers, this router can be an excellent choice for anyone wanting to keep tabs on their network. The Device Manager allows you to effortlessly see what products are connected, how they're connected and whether they're currently online. See something you don't like? You can easily block the device and remove it altogether. This can be great for families wanting to restrict Internet usage at late night hours and with the parental control settings, connections for devices can be tailored specifically so that they are unable to get online during certain hours. You really get the sense that this router is designed to work for you and handle any task you throw at it.
If there's one thing that I can say, it's that the best part of this router is knowing I have the Netduma support watching my back. Going back to my previous comment, these are gamers first who know exactly what we want from a gaming router. For any technical problem or concern they have always been there to listen and provide assistance wherever possible. There's nothing more frustrating than having technology breakdown and not work. Netduma have an incredible support system, an active forum and from first hand experience, will always be there to help you resolve any issues you have.
No more sending emails in a vague hope of getting a reply and dealing with strangers. The team is friendly, passionate and actively prepared in getting any issues resolved asap. The community is supportive and will always help users encountering issues.
When you have a Netduma product, you're part of the Netduma family where only the best connections and experiences are found. I can't recommend this product enough!
The XR500 ticks off the boxes I was looking for:
-It does not need to be rebooted for silly wireless issues. It’s rock-solid stable.
-Never needs a reboot to change a setting.
-The WiFi range goes well into my yard, past my neighbors home and into the street. How?? It blows away a multiple AP setup it replaced.
-My iPhone X is speed testing at 91/5.5 on a 100/5 Internet connection. My computers test at 110+/5.5.
-AirPlay runs flawessly to my Apple TV 4K.
-Initial setup is simple. My dog could have done it.
-VPN is simple to configure and has detailed instructions accompanying the menu options.
-Dynamic DNS is insanely easy to turn on. It even configured an account for me.
While there are very few drawbacks:
-Remote admin can only be secured to one IP or a range. I can’t input a list of IP’s I’d like to have access from.
-There’s no mobile app for DumaOS. The web view works pretty well on mobile though, so I’d say that 75% makes up for it. (UPDATE 10/27/18: The Nigthawk app works great with this router; I highly recommend it.)
-I could not get the Internet to work in “manual setup” mode. The router would proxy any DNS address to itself: 192.168.1.1. There might be a bug that caused the proxy not to turn off, or maybe there’s a setting I simply couldn’t locate. When I used the automatic setup, Internet started working in one click.
Overall I’m very happy with my XR500 and I’m excited to have my home network all under one box again. My “issues” with the router are all “fussy network engineer-problems” that most users would *never ever* encounter. Since my number one concern was stability, I would go as far to say that there is no other home-class router on the market that could satisfy me. I’m a demanding user and the XR500 delivers in spades. In the network world, this thing is the equivalent to an indestructible tank. Congratulations to the Netgear and DumaOS teams who developed this product. You absolutely outdid yourselves.
UPDATE 10/27/18: I'm still absolutely loving this router, and I can't recommend it enough. I recently updated my XR500 to the latest firmware, and believe it or not, it didn't require a reboot! This thing NEVER needs to reboot. You may be able to tell that I'm the kind of techie that gets excited about servers with up-times measured in decades. The XR500 definitely gives off that feel! I hadn't thought about it until today, but we never have network problems at home anymore. Not even one- The last time the Internet stopped working, it was because the power was out during a storm. This device is amazing, and I have ZERO regrets in my purchase decision.
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Mexico on January 25, 2021
5 Ghz is just passing 1 wall. whereas 2.4 Ghz is passing 2 to 3 walls in between.
Another thing about this router is Duma Os which is awesome if u r monitoring and managing home network frequenty. DHCP settings works as charm as I have some IOT devices where I need static ip address to be assigned.
Overall its good router and value for money if ur house is having lot of dead zone and u r serious about ur home network.
Pros:
- Does help to keep pings consistent for the most part.
- For basic use, it's easy to set up; but more advanced users will appreciate some of the under the hood settings.
- Fixed my bufferbloat issues.
- UI in the admin panel is practical on desktop, but useless on mobile.
- Bandwidth control on a per-device level is really nice.
- Looks amazing.
- Encrypted guest access.
Cons:
- Can cause some games to simply not connect if servers are outside of the geofenced area.
- No mobile admin UI; Netgear app is very limited and doesn't make use of any of the features this router has to offer.
- Ironically, I'm not getting the best pings I've ever had with this router, but the connection is stable.
- Weak content filtering.
*****************************
Let me start by saying that I've tried several high-end routers before settling on this one. We have several gamers in the home, but also have a lot of streaming and high-volume data transfers happening throughout the day, so the network and internet at home take a beating.
Previously, I was constantly having bufferbloat issues no matter what I did - this made it impossible to game unless it was after 11pm and forget about live streaming during the day - it didn't happen.
My internet is a 150/10 cable connection and it's usually always stable.
The XR500 has several features that I really wanted to take advantage of:
- Geo-filtering connections while gaming online.
- Granular control over bandwidth used by each device.
- Bufferbloat protection.
- Guest networks with encrypted connections (it's shocking that other high-end routers don't offer this...).
All of these needs were met, although there were a few caveats.
Most games do fine with the geofilter - I set mine to 2000km as it gets a good part of the east coast from where I am. Certain games like Rocket league (which have previously been notorious for me when it comes to lag) will often kick me out when looking for a server because the host or another player was outside of the geofilter. I would say this can happen maybe 3 out of 10 times when looking for a host. But when it does connect, the pings are STABLE - not the lowest I've ever seen - but stable!
Using this with my Xbox One has been very simple. When gaming on a PC, the geofence works a little differently because it can't auto-detect games as easily. When you add a PC, it basically gives you an option to select a geo filter by game (some like battlefield, COD, Overwatch are listed, but others like CS:GO and DOTA 2 are listed as "Source engine). You have to select one of those and it will set a distance for the geo filter for you. But you will automatically be put into "spectating mode" when selecting a PC, which means it's not using geo filtering. The idea is that PC games are good enough when deciding which server to connect to, while consoles aren't... at least that's what I've been reading about this feature. That said, I only use geofiltering on my console.
This router does have features like secure remote management, VPN, content filtering, guest access, and many other features you'd expect on a router of this calibre.
I will note that content filtering isn't nearly as good as it is on the Netgear R7000 I was using previously, which worked via opendns to filter categories of websites and not only keywords.
Regarding guest mode, this is as good as it gets. You can set up both a 2.4GHz (b/g/n) and 5GHz 802.11 (a/n/ac) guest SSID and can set whether each guest can see another on the network. Guest access can also be encrypted.
Overall, I'm happy with this router. My connection is as stable as it's ever been and my son no longer yells at me because of lag ;)
I wish that a mobile admin UI would be available, but this router is great as a set-and-forget unit.
But strictly out of the box, this beast gave my internet it's full potential. The moment you plug the ethernet to your computer, the OS pops in your browser telling you how to set it up. A child or an elderly person could set this up.
It has some of the easiest VPN setups I've seen so far and allows you to use your own VPN or a provider you paid for. You can turn the WPS button via the settings. It has everything you've seen except they just have such a nice setup.
After going through the setup, check your buffer bloat via the external site, then tweak that sweet setting everyone buys the router for and check again.
Wifi has excellent range but that's obvious.
If you're a gamer with internet speeds that exceeds 50+ mbps and you have some cash to spare and looking for a good router, this could very well exceed your expectations. I can't speak on behalf of anyone with lower internet speeds but just know that the OS features alone are the reasons to buy the router.