Is the Nighthawk RS700S right for you?

The Nighthawk RS700S is the fastest router we’ve tested to date, but that doesn’t mean you should go out and buy it right now. You need at least a Wi-Fi 6E device to use the new third 6 GHz band and a Wi-Fi 7 device to see all the benefits the new specification brings to Wi-Fi. That said, get the RS700S if you’re willing to invest the money and plan to upgrade your devices to Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 soon.

Fastest internet plans for the Nighthawk RS700S

The RS700S uses a 10Gbps Ethernet connection, so it’s compatible with internet plans about 9.4Gbps and slower.

To see if you have the best internet speeds for the RS700S, run our speed test first:

To see if you have the best internet speeds for the RS700S, use our speed test app first:

You don’t need the fastest plan to enjoy this router. But If you’re shopping for an internet upgrade, here’s a list of the best plans to get the most out of it.

Nighthawk RS700S standout features

The Nighthawk RS700S doesn’t have many outstanding features outside its overall design. It offers a built-in VPN server, support for file sharing from the USB port, and link aggregation if you have a modem that supports it, but that’s it. There are no parental controls, and premium security features require a subscription.

Compare the Nighthawk RS700S to the competition

This isn’t a fair fight, but the RS700S is our first Wi-Fi 7 router, so all we can do is compare it to Wi-Fi 6E ones.

As the above chart shows, our iPhone tested similarly on the RS700S, RAXE500, and Archer AXE75 from our marker at 40 feet, but around 100Mbps slower from the Hydra Pro 6E. Of course, testing on an 80 MHz bonded Wi-Fi channel doesn’t showcase the full potential of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, but it was the only level field we could use to compare these routers.

The RS700S is the only router in our comparison with 10Gbps ports, which you need for internet connections of 5Gbps and faster. The Linksys Hydra Pro 6E has a 5Gbps internet port, while the RAXE500 has a 2.5Gbps port you can configure for internet. The Archer AXE75 is the only router listed above that doesn’t support multi-gig internet.

See our full coverage of the best Wi-Fi routers.

Our Nighthawk RS700S scoring breakdown

* out of 5 points

The RS700S is our first Wi-Fi 7 router, so we can’t offer an apples-to-apples performance comparison with other Wi-Fi 7 models just yet, but wow, are we speechless! The RS700S is the fastest router we’ve tested to date.

First, we used the OnePlus 11 5G and a 320 MHz bonded channel on the 6 GHz band to see how much speed a single device can squeeze out of this router. The OnePlus is rated at 5,764Mbps, but the best link rate we could get was 5,187Mbps. Here’s what we got:

For kicks, we compared the numbers to what we tested with our iPhone on the 5 GHz band. It’s an unfair comparison, sure, but it’s a great way to see the speed differences between Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6 devices connected to this router.

After that test, we stayed on the 6 GHz band but narrowed the channel width to 80 MHz for a better apples-to-apples speed comparison of our OnePlus and Google Pixel 6—our iPhone doesn’t support this connection. Take a look:

Next, we moved to the 5 GHz band. A big callout with Wi-Fi 7 is how routers now handle interference. With Wi-Fi 6E and older models, we normally can’t use 160 MHz bonded channels on the 5 GHz band due to radar interference. But with the RS700S, we saw superfast, stable Wi-Fi speeds—no major downshifting to slow-as-snails Wi-Fi. That’s a big yay! in our book.

The results for the two Android phones were surprisingly similar to what we previously saw using the 6 GHz band, and that’s a good thing. However, the iPhone was noticeably slower but on par with the results we’ve seen using this phone on other routers: Around 850Mbps average at close range. That said, this comparison was more about Android vs. iOS (and the underlying hardware) than the router’s performance.

The big takeaway here is that you simply can’t go wrong with the Nighthawk RS700S if speed and range take priority over price. However, you need a Wi-Fi 7 device to take full advantage of every ounce of speed this powerhouse has to offer.

The Nighthawk RS700S includes an OpenVPN server for remotely accessing other devices on your network and browsing the internet while away from home. The latter replaces a paid VPN service by routing traffic through the RS700S instead of a service’s remote server(s).

Other callouts include link aggregation for 2Gbps WAN and LAN connections and a built-in DLNA server for streaming saved media from a USB storage device to a TV, game console, digital media player, and so on.

What we wish the RS700S did better

• Free security features
• Parental controls

NETGEAR’s RS700S lacks free security features, which is nothing new, but it would be nice to have bonuses similar to TP-Link and ASUS routers, which have free antivirus built into the firmware.

The same goes for parental controls. None are available here, not even a means to prevent a specific device (like a child’s tablet) from accessing an inappropriate website. Currently, this router is not on the Smart Parental Controls compatibility list.

We’ve seen quite a few routers with a multi-gig internet (WAN) port, like the Linksys Hydra Pro 6E and the MSI RadiX GRAXE66, that don’t have a complimentary LAN port, so you can’t fully utilize the wired speeds you get from a multi-gig internet connection. That’s not the case with the RS700S, as it complements its 10Gbps WAN port with a 10Gbps LAN one. All you need to enjoy that superfast wired speed is a compatible USB adapter or desktop add-in card.

Another design callout is the number of spatial streams across all three bands. The router supports up to 200 devices, but it can only handle 12 devices simultaneously at a time. That number translates to 12 devices downloading at half their speed or six downloading at full speed (if they have the standard 2 x 2 antenna configuration). Simultaneous transmissions also work both ways (since Wi-Fi 6E) versus downloads only with Wi-Fi 6.

Finally, we have to mention the router’s overall shape. It’s roughly 10 inches tall and four inches wide, reminding us of the Xbox Series X gaming console. With the latter, we lay it horizontally to prevent kids and pets from toppling it over. We asked NETGEAR if setting the RS700S on its side could affect Wi-Fi performance, and we’re still waiting to hear back—although we assume the answer is yes due to how the antennas are configured inside. However, the router does have mounting holes on the bottom that appear to work with NETGEAR’s wall mount mount kit. It’s definitely something to consider if you have a crowd of little speed demons in your home.

The Nighthawk RS700S setup is no different from the other NETGEAR routers we’ve tested in recent months. Agree to the terms, set the admin password, set your security questions and answers, and set the SSID and password. It’s streamlined for a single SSID setup, so you’ll need to come back to the web interface later if you want a different network name for each band.

NETGEAR doesn’t have a fancy name for its web interface, but we like it nonetheless. It’s clean and easy to use, although we’d like it more if offered a dark mode setting. The Basic tab presents a portion of the settings you’ll find under the Advanced tab, like your wireless options and USB services. The Advanced tab is where you’ll find the VPN service, static route configuration, and so on.

The Nighthawk app is okay at best. It presents a tile-based interface for quick tasks like sharing the Wi-Fi login and testing your internet speed. The Menu button has a few additional settings, but don’t expect full router management outside the web interface.

Are there any additional costs?

The security features require a NETGEAR Armor subscription that costs $99.99 per year, although it’s free for the first year when you buy the RS700S. You can renew your subscription in the Nighthawk app when the trial ends.

Our Nighthawk RS700S review: The verdict

We’re not sure if we’re dazzled by the router or what Wi-Fi 7 can do. It’s our first Wi-Fi 7 router in the lab, so we’re still on a high from all the multi-gig speeds we recorded in our tests. But one thing’s for certain: It delivers incredibly fast speeds if you have the right devices.

Keep in mind that NETGEAR routers usually have extra costs. In this case, the router itself costs $699, but if you want the cool security features, you’ll pay another $100 annually. Need parental controls? You’ll need to find a third-party subscription service for that. In the end, you’re paying a lot more than you originally anticipated for a device that simply routes internet traffic.

And yes, the RS700S has a few perks, like the VPN server and DLNA media streaming, but you’re really investing in the superfast wired and wireless speeds. It’s the heart of your home network, and at $699, make darn well sure you’re willing to live with that investment decision for years to come.

FAQ about the Nighthawk RS700S

Methodology

We test router speed by setting up each router in an office and connecting it to a local test server. Then, we transmit test data between our wireless devices and the server, taking numerous measurements to account for fluctuations in Wi-Fi speeds.

The first tests occur close to the router, without obstructions—so the Wi-Fi is as strong and fast as it’s gonna get. We repeat the process straight out at 10, 20, and 30 feet, with only a glass door obstructing our view of the router. The same glass door and an exterior door blocks our path when we test outside at 40 and 50 feet.

We also run tests in a hallway to the left of the TV room and office—where there’s a glass door, three walls, and an air handler unit blocking our view of the router. The dining room, another testing point, sits to the right of the kitchen, TV room, and office—two walls and a glass door block the path in this test.

To test video streaming, we connect a fast storage device to the router and stream a 4K video to six wireless devices simultaneously—two phones, three tablets, and a laptop—connected to the same wireless band.

Client devices used in testing

Nighthawk RS700S benchmarks

6 GHz tests

5 GHz tests

Disclaimers