Last price update was: February 6, 2025 1:01 pm
× Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 Gaming Router Review

9.5/10 (Expert Score)
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Set Alert for Product: NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi Router with 4 Ethernet Ports and Wireless speeds up to 2.6 Gbps, AC2600, Optimized for Low ping - $130.97
$130.97 $249.99
5 new from $199.00
Used - $130.98
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Last updated on February 6, 2025 1:01 pm
Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 Gaming Router Review
Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 Gaming Router Review

Original price was: $249.99.Current price is: $130.97.

Description

9.5Expert Score
Wireless Router For Serious Gamers Only
If you're like most gamers the rush of adrenaline you get from your favorite 1st person shooter comes from the constant fight or flight responses that come and go with the ever-changing situations your character gets into. That and the heightened sense of awareness the non-stop action brings. You're not only focused on potential threats to your character you also have a heightened awareness of the performance of your computer and network. The Duma OS software built into the Netgear Nighthawk XR500 invites a glowing, red interface to the sensory overload party that allows you to see and control what's going on with your internal network and even the Internet. As a word of advice don't buy this wireless router unless you're a gamer. Using a router like this to shop, surf the Internet, and watch an occasional movie would be like driving a Lamborgini Diablo to the post office to pick up stamps.
Rating
9.5
PROS
  • Easy Setup
  • Duma Software for gamers
  • File XFer speeds
CONS
  • Price
  • A 3rd band would put it over the top

NETGEAR XR450 Nighthawk Pro Gaming WiFi Router, AC2400 Dual-Band Quad Stream Gigabit, Gaming Dashboard Powered by Dumaos

NETGEAR Pro Gaming XR500 is a high-performance wireless gaming router that delivers lag-free online gaming and smooth streaming. The XR500 features up to 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth, dual-band concurrent wireless network performance, and Game Boost to optimize your gameplay experience.

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Design

The Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 design is angular and aggressive. If you hand it to a 4-year-old his first reaction might be to hold it over his head and pretend to fly it like a Star Wars spacecraft. As an adult, you may find yourself doing the same thing if no one is looking. The black enclosure measures 2 inches high by 12 inches wide and 10 inches deep. It’s not a small router. The usual series of blinking LED status lights can be found in the front while the two USB 3.0 ports are neatly tucked away in a slot on the side. In the back are four 1GB LAN ports and a WAN port.

Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 Features

The XR500 has been brilliantly designed for gamers. The state-of-the-art Net Duma software is not just pretty to look at. It can be used to optimize your Internet connection, reduce lag spikes from other devices on your network, and minimize those ever-important ping times. The software is both flexible and customizable which allows you to control your layout and choose what information is displayed on the screen.

NETGEAR XR450 Nighthawk Pro Gaming WiFi Router, AC2400 Dual-Band Quad Stream Gigabit, Gaming Dashboard Powered by Dumaos

The Geo Filtering capabilities allow you to focus on local connections instead of getting snagged by a laggy server in Brazil. Of course, you can prioritize your gaming devices with QOS and even use a built-in VPN client to protect your identity and prevent DDoS attacks

The Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 is a dual-band router with 800Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1,733Mbps on the 5GHz band. It’s powered by a dual-core 1.7GHz processor. and 512MB of RAM. The antennas are adjustable and removable. Of course, it supports MU-MIMO and beamforming. These features allow for stronger more focused connections that allow your devices to behave as if they each have a dedicated connection. Another important enhancement is the increase in channel size from 80MHz to 160MHz which doubles throughput on the 5GHZ band. The only thing missing from this wireless router is the 3rd band.

Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 Installation

Setting up the router is easy. Once it’s connected to your network simply hop on to a web browser and log into www.routerlogin.net. The web interface is intuitive and easy to use. It contains an easy-to-find settings tab for your basic Internet, WiFi, LAN, and Guest Network settings. You can also access more advanced settings like port forwarding, port triggering, VPN, remote management, and setting up static routes in case you find that sort of thing as entertaining as a typical 1st person shooter. You can also set it up using the Nighthawk app on your phone.

NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi Router with 4 Ethernet Ports and Wireless speeds up to 2.6 Gbps, AC2600, Optimized for Low ping (Renewed)

Performance

Despite all the bells and whistles the Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi and file transfer speeds did not seriously outperform less expensive high-performance routers such as the Netgear R8000P and Asus RT-AC86U. In some cases, it was slightly outperformed by those routers. Now is the time to consider your reasons for buying a wireless router like this.

Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 – Video

Youtube

Conclusion

The Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 is designed exclusively for gamers. The router itself is a great performer but it’s not out to break any WiFi speed records. Whether it’s worth it to you to pay an extra $100 to enhance your gaming experience with the Duma OS software is a decision you’ll have to make on your own while you’re out driving your Lamborghini.

Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 Alternatives

Last update on 2025-02-11 at 03:08 Affiliate links and Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 Gaming Router Review Prices

$130.97 $249.99
February 6, 2025 1:01 pm
× Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com (Amazon.in, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, etc) at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
5 new from $199.00
6 used from $130.98

Price History

Price history for NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi Router with 4 Ethernet Ports and Wireless speeds up to 2.6 Gbps, AC2600, Optimized for Low ping
Latest updates:
  • $130.97 - February 6, 2025
  • $199.00 - January 26, 2025
  • $214.00 - January 24, 2025
  • $219.99 - January 17, 2025
  • $229.99 - January 13, 2025
  • $249.00 - December 24, 2024
  • $269.99 - December 21, 2024
  • $229.99 - November 10, 2024
Since: August 15, 2024
  • Highest Price: $269.99 - December 21, 2024
  • Lowest Price: $130.97 - February 6, 2025

Additional information

Specification: Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 Gaming Router Review

Router Specs
AiMesh

No

Alexa Support

Yes

Bands

Dual Band

Beamforming

No

Connectivity

Ethernet, USB, WiFi

Coverage

Up to 2500 sq ft

Ethernet Ports

4x1GB

WiFi Bandwidth

2600 Mbps

Max Stream

No

MU-MIMO

Yes

Number of Devices

Up to 25

Parental Controls

No

Processor

Dual-Core 1.7 GHz

QOS

Yes

Smart Connect

No

USB Ports

2×3.0

VPN Support

Yes

WiFi Standard

802.11ac

Specification
Part Number

Color

Size

Model

XR500-100NAS

Netgear Pro Gaming XR500 Gaming Router Review Videos

Youtube

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Affiliate Disclosure

Jerry Jones (WiFi Guy) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.” – Jerry Jones

Affiliate Disclosure

Jerry Jones (WiFi Guy) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.” – Jerry Jones

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