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The Nighthawk RS200, first announced late last month, is the odd one out in Netgear's Wi-Fi 7 standalone router lineup. Despite its model number, it's not the lowest tier among its peers. Instead, it's a comparable variant to the high-end RS600 but without the 6GHz band.
The hardware specs put it next to the Asus RT-BE86U, a formidable contender among the increasingly crowded pool of dual-band Wi-Fi 7 hardware.
Here's the bottom line: If the 6GHz band is irrelevant to youโyou don't care for it, or it's simply not available in your regionโthe RS200 is the best deal among Netgear's Wi-Fi 7 Nighthawk lineup for those needing a single broadcaster. It's a well-performing, reliable Wi-Fi machine that's also easy on the eye.
However, the RS200 pales in comparison to Asus' rival, which has more multi-Gigabit network ports and better free features, including web-based remote management and support for a mesh network, even when considering its comparatively lower price.
Netgear Nighthawk RS200: A Top-tier 2.5Gbps sans-6GHz Wi-Fi 7 router
As mentioned, the new Nighthawk RS200 is not an entry-level router like the case of the RS300. It has a top-tier 5GHz band and a couple of 2.5Gbps ports.
Compared to the Asus RT-BE86U, however, it was indeed behind on all counts. The table below shows the hardware specs and real-world power usage of the two.
Netgear Nighthawk RS200 vs. Asus RT-BE86U: Hardware specifications
| Netgear Nighthawk RS200 Wi-Fi 7 BE6500 Router | ASUS RT-BE86U BE6800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Model | RS200 | RT-BE86U |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth (stream per band) | Dual-band BE6500 | Dual-band BE6800 |
| Modulation Scheme (QAM) | 4096-QAM (all bands) | |
| 2.4GHz Band (channel width) | 2ร2 BE: Up to 688 Mbps (20/40MHz) | 3ร3 BE: Up to 1032Mbps (20/40MHz) |
| 5GHz Band (channel width) | 4ร4 BE: up to 5762Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | |
| 6GHz Band | None | |
| Stream per Band | 2x4 | 3x4 |
| Network Standards | IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11be, IPv4, IPv6 | |
| Network Features | Web user interface Nighthawk mobile app Limited free features and settings | Web user interface Asus Router mobile app Comprehensive free features and settings |
| Web-based Remote Management | No | Yes (via Dynamic DNS) |
| Vendor Login Account Required | Yes (Only for the Nighthawk Mobile app) | No |
| Premium Add-on (trial period) | Netgear Armor ($100/year) Parental Control (70/year) (30-day) | None |
| Mesh-Ready | No | Yes |
| Operating Mode | Router Access Point | Router Access Point Repeater Media Bridge AiMesh Router/Node |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 2.5Gbps WAN 1x 2.5Gbps LAN | 1x 10Gbps WAN/LAN 1x 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN 3x 2.5Gbps LAN |
| Gigabit Port | 3x LAN | None |
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) | N/A | |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Not at launch (might be added later via firmware updates) | Yes |
| Link Aggregation | Yes (WAN and LAN) | |
| Dual-WAN | No | Yes |
| USB Port | 1 x USB 3.0 | 1 x USB 3.0 1x USB 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 9.8 x 5.9 x 4 in (24.9 x 15 x 10.2 cm) | 12.44 x 9.25 x 3.54 (31.6 x 23.5 x 9 cm) |
| Weight | 2.09lb (.95 kg) | 1.88 lbs (854 gram) |
| Processing Power | 2.0GHz quad-core CPU, 512MB Flash, 2GB DDR4 RAM | 2.6GHz quad-core CPU, 256 MB Flash, 1GB DDR4 RAM |
| Power Intake | 110-240V | |
| Firmware (at review) | V1.0.1.60 | 3.0.0.6.102_37022 |
| Power Consumption (per 24 hours) | โ 160 Wh | โ 280 Wh |
| US Release Date | September 24, 2024 | October 2024 |
| US Launch Price (compare current cost) | $229 | $329.99 |
From the table above, it's worth noting that the Nighthawk RS200 has only two 2.5Gbps ports, one WAN and one LAN. That's significantly behind the Asus counterpart, which goes all five Multi-Gig ports, with one being a 10Gbps.
Addtionally, the Asus also has a better 2.4GHz band, though, in the real-world performance, that'd made little or no differenceโthe specs haven't meant much on this band since Wi-Fi 6. What's most significant is the fact the RS200's firmware has significantly fewer features, including the fact there's no way for users to manage it remotely. The Asus generally has everything one might expect from a standard router.
Netgear RS200: Largely a typical Nighthawk router
Like the case of the RS700S to the RS300, on the inside, the new RS300 is a standard router in Netgear's Nighthawk family of Wi-Fi 7.
While these routers differ in hardware specs and, therefore, real-world performance, they share the same firmware with an identical approach in setup, management, Wi-Fi settings, and features set.
The actual number of features might vary, though. The RS200, for example, seems to no longer have Quality of Service (QoS) within its local web interface. This omission is not a huge deal since the feature itself is too simplistic and proved to be buggy in the case of the RS300.
As the only one without the 6GHz band in the pack, the RS200 doesn't feature MLO out of the box, though that might not be entirely bad considering the incompatibility MLO generally causes due to higher security requirements. Netgear told me MLO would be added later via firmware update.
Below are what you'll commonly find in a Nighthawk router, including this RS200.
Standard web user interface, app coercion, a relatively thin feature set, and few Wi-Fi options
A Netgear Nighthawk router generally has a full web user interface accessible via the default IP address, 192.168.1.1, allowing you to set it up the way you do any standard router.
However, the first time you access this web interface, you have to get past Netgear's Nighthawk mobile app coercion by clicking on the link at the bottom of the web page.
After that, you need to create a new admin password, set up the Wi-Fi SSIDs, and access the router's standard network settings. Things are generally self-explanatory. You can expect the following in all standard Nighthawk routers:
- Standard LAN configuration: The customization of the DHCP server with its IP address pool. In most cases, you can just leave this in the default settings.
- Standard WAN settings: The router can connect to the Internet via a dynamic IP address (the default) or a static IP address.
- IP reservation and port forwarding: These settings allow you to give a local client a specific IP address and forward a particular port to it. They are helpful in setting up a server within the local network.
- Main Wi-Fi network: You can choose between Smart Connect or one SSID for each band. Each band includes some customization, with the option to pick the performance grade "up to" a certain speed gradeโthere's no reason not to pick the highest number (default).
- Guest Wi-Fi network: One SSID for each band. You have the option to make the SSID not isolated from the primary network.
Additionally, the router comes with the following noteworthy free features:
- VPN Service: The support for the Open VPN protocol, including downloads for VPN clients for Windows, macOS, and smartphones.
- Dynamic DNS: The support for DDNS using Netgear, NoIP, or Dyn as the domain provider.
- Traffic Meter: This is a useful bandwidth management tool that allows users to set download or upload limits and manage the monthly data cap.
It's worth mentioning that Netgear consumer-grade routers do not offer web-based remote management. This feature was initially available in previous Nighthawk routers until it was quietly killed to encourage users to use the Nighthawk mobile app.
The underwhelming Nighthawk mobile app
This app is attached to a login account with Netgear and is required for add-on premium features, including Netgear Armor, Parental Control, and more advanced VPN. All of them costs extra to use. Additionally, the app has the "Anywhere Access" feature that allows users to manage the router while on the go.
Netgear and your privacy
Registering the hardware with a login account with the vendor generally translates into privacy risks.
Here's Netgear's Privacy Policy.
Managing your home network via a third party is generally not a good idea, but privacy is a matter of degree. Data collection and handling vary vendor by vendor.
It's worth noting that the app has very little access to the standard settings and features mentioned above. For example, you must use the web user interface to manage port forwarding or IP reservation.
Addtionally, the app feels stagnant and doesn't always work as intended. It often doesn't show the correct number of connected client or their actual status.
In any case, home users who just want to get their network up and running will find the Nighthawk app sufficient enough and will be happy with a Netgear router.
On the other hand, advanced users will find those from Asus, TP-Link, Synology, or Ubiquiti much better alternatives in terms of features and usability. The fact that their web user interface can be configured to be accessible via the Internet alone is a considerable management advantage.
Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Good and reliable Wi-Fi but comparatively subdued NAS performance
The Nighthawk RS200 proved to be reliable but didn't wow me in my week-long trial, during which I didn't have any unexpected disconnection.
The router has no internal fan. It was silent and ran cool even during heavy loads. In terms of coverage, it was similar to that of the RS300. It's always tricky to put Wi-Fi range in number, but if you live in a home of around 1,600 ft2 (135 m2) and place it at the center, it'll be able to blanket every corner.
In terms of real-world data rates, the router was comparatively subdued, as you will note in the charts below.
Without a 10Gbps port, the RS200 was consistently slower than the RT-BE86U, and it was also slower than some other dual-band 2.5Gbps Wi-Fi 7 routers in specific tests. Still, the router wasn't slow. It had enough speed to deliver a Gig+ broadband connection in full in most cases.
What was most disappointing was the Nighthawk RS200's network-attached storage performance. When hosting a portable SSD via its USB 3.0 port via a 2.5Gbps connection, it averaged less than 85MB/s for both reading and writing, the slowest among all Wi-Fi 7 routers to date.
At these rates, it is generally a good idea to get a dedicated NAS server if you need network storage.
As for wired performance, the RS200's two 2.5Gbps ports performed as expected, with the performance being about as fast as the grade can be after overhead.
Netgear Nighthawk RS200's Rating
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi for the specs; two 2.5Gbps ports with excellent wired performance
Robust web interface with (optional) complimentary mobile app
Practical, fan-less, aesthetically pleasing design; runs cool and quiet; comparatively low power consumption; friendly pricing
Cons
No 6GHz band or 10Gbps ports, only two 2.5Gbps ports; no standard Remote Management via Dynamic DNS; limited built-in free features
Disjointed web user interface and mobile app; online protection and Parental Controls require the Nighthawk mobile app and premium subscriptions
Conclusion
At $230, the Netgear Nighthawk RS200 is an excellent dual-band option for those wanting a simple and reliable Wi-Fi 7 router without the 6GHz band. It's a broadcaster that will get the job done without being overly sophisticated.
However, if you want more both in terms of features and performance, the Asus RT-BE86U is a much better (and more expensive) alternative. Check them out today!
Can you explain why the Asus be 86u 330$ is better in the short and long range at 2.4ghz 3ร3 and in the short range at 5ghz than the 650$ RS700s, Asus be98 pro and Asus be96u 4ร4 ?
The 2.4GHz band varies wildly. It’s always been the case since Wi-Fi 6. It is what it is. Make sure you read. Also, higher price doesn’t warrant better performance in all categories. If only it were that simple.
The lack of the 6 GHz band does not have to be a disadvantage.
for any device.
True. It doesn’t have to be, but it is one.