Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Router Review
9/10 (Expert Score)- Powered by DumaOS 3.0. Reduce ping rates up to 93% and enjoy faster, lag-free online gaming and smoother streaming with this Router OS built especially for gamers
- Fast AX5400 dual-band WiFi 6 performance with up to 4x more device capacity than AC routers
Original price was: $299.99.$159.97Current price is: $159.97.
Description
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That was until Wi-Fi6 came along. That’s where the XR1000 picks up where the others left off. The Nighthawk XR1000 has a number of features that are designed specifically for gamers. These include an 802.11ax (Wi-Fi6) network connection that delivers ultra-fast speeds, as well as advanced security features such as 256-bit AES encryption and dynamic QoS prioritization. The Nighthawk XR1000 is perfect for anyone who wants the best possible online gaming experience!
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Design
The Netgear Nighthawk XR1000s sleek space-shuttle design provides a visual example of speed even when it’s sitting still on your bookshelf. The 4 external antennas are removable and adjustable enough to squeeze the router into most tight spaces. In the back, you’ll find the usual 1GB WAN port for your internet connection and 4GB Ethernet ports for your wired devices or even a small network switch if you like Ethernet connections. Unfortunately, the Nighthawk XR1000 is not loaded with fancy features like Mult-Gig input or port aggregation output. Maybe because Netgear noticed those features usually go unused in most WiFi-happy households There is 1 USB 3.0 port for shared printing or a shared USB hard drive. This is quite a handy feature and may become one of the most used drives on your home network. A second USB port to allow for both printing and data sharing would have been nice. Even though the router is designed to lay flat on a horizontal surface there are still cutouts for wall mounting on the back. The Nighthawk XR1000s’ 11.6in. x 7.9in. x 2.5in. dimensions are small compared to other gaming routers such as the Nighthawk RAX80.
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Features
The Netgear Nighthawk XR1000s features include a 2.4GHz band that produces 600Mbps and a 5.0GHz band that produces 4.8Gbps. The two bands can be combined to work as one with the Netgear SmartConnect features. This feature can be a bit buggy and may take some experimentation to get right. The powerful Triple-Core 1.5Ghz processor, 512Mb of memory, and 256Mb of flash memory provide more than enough muscle to handle any game on the market. The Netgear Armor (Powered by BitDefender) included provides all-encompassing anti-virus, anti-malware, and data protection for your privacy and family and protects all devices on your home network from cyber-threats.
Net Duma OS
The NetDuma OS has become widely known for its advanced customization and network monitoring features created specifically for gamers.
Ping Rates
NetDuma OS uses a ping heatmap to track server quality and ping history to help you track and play with only the best lag-free servers.
Traffic Prioritization
Highly customizable QoS allows you to balance your network by allocating bandwidth to the most important storage devices on your home network. Maximum upload and download speeds are adjustable to control lag spikes.
Geo-Fencing
By filtering and locking into the best servers in your geographical area you can reduce lag time. It also provides the ability to whitelist (allow) friends and block laggy opponents who might drag your experience down.
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Setup
The Nighthawks DumaOS gets itself involved in the setup process by giving you the choice of setting the router up with a phone, tablet or web interface.
Phone Setup
You don’t have to be a computer nerd or techy to set up Netgears latest technological marvel. Setup is quick and easy with step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process. Expect to use two-factor authentication with the phone setup method though. A Netgear account will also be required.
Web Interface
Once the Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 is out of the box and the antennas are screwed in simply connect your browser to the router’s default IP address printed on a label on the router. You can also enter “routerlogin.net” to access the router’s web interface. Once you set an administrator (That’s your login to make configuration changes to the router) password it’s time to give your network a name and passphrase of your choosing.
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Configuration
This is where the Netgear XR1000 sets itself apart. The DumaOS Dashboard looks like the computer screens draping the walls of an air traffic controller tower. The screen comes alive with controls, graphs, and network statistics. The average tech fan will become giddy with delight at the sight of so many configuration options. All the information a gamer needs to make quick decisions that may impact his gaming experience including current IP address, bandwidth usage, ping speed, CPU usage, geo-filtering and Quality of service options are in constant view on a gamer’s second or third screen.
Performance
In tests, the Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 was able to fill a 3,500-square-foot home with a strong Wi-Fi signal. At close range throughput was slightly less than Netgears pricier 8-stream Nighthawk RAX80 but it was faster than the Linksys MR9600. As you would expect speeds decreased at 50 feet but picked itself up at 75 feet by surpassing the scores fo the Asus RT-AX86U and TP-Link AX6000. At 90 feet the Netgear XR1000 continued to pull away from the pack. The router shines even while playing an online game, streaming 4K TV, and watching Youtube videos. In short, lag is a thing of the past with this beast of a gaming router.
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 – Video
Youtube
Conclusion
Zombies and Aliens beware. The Wi-Fi6 version of the “Worlds Best Gaming Router” is here. If you loved the XR500 and the XR700 and their DumaOS customizability you’ll love the XR1000. For some reason, the XR1000 lacks expected features like Mult-GB input and port aggregation. Unless you are one of the lucky few with GB fiber connections running into your home this is of little consequence. The Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 becomes one of the most expensive wireless routers on the market when you factor in the $70/year malware defense and $80 warranty protection that other gaming routers include for free. Even so, if you’re a hardcore online gamer the Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 is one of the best Wi-Fi6 gaming routers on the market.
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Alternatives
Last update on 2024-11-07 at 23:17 Affiliate links and Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Router Review Prices
Price History
Price history for NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming WiFi 6 Router (XR1000) 6-Stream AX5400 Wireless Speed (up to 5.4Gbps) | DumaOS 3.0 Optimizes Lag-Free Server Connections | 4 x 1G Ethernet and 1 x 3.0 USB Ports | |
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Additional information
Specification: Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 Router Review
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