Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) review

Our Verdict

The Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 offers enhanced security and summit performance, with the best throughput we've seen so far in a Wi-Fi router. Information technology may exist expensive, just the RAX80 is the Wi-Fi 6 router to go.

For

High functioning
Includes malware apps
Skilful configuration options

Against

Expensive
Throughput falls off speedily with altitude

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 offers enhanced security and tiptop operation, with the best throughput we've seen so far in a Wi-Fi router. It may be expensive, just the RAX80 is the Wi-Fi 6 router to become.

Pros

+
Loftier operation
+
Includes malware apps
+
Good configuration options

Cons

-
Expensive
-
Throughput falls off apace with distance

Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) Key Specs

Wi-Fi Spec: AX6000
Number of Antennas/Removable: iv/No
Ports: ane WAN/five LAN gigabit per 2d, 2 USB three
Processor/Memory/Storage: Broadcom quad-core ane.8GHz/1GB/512MB
Wi-Fi chip: Broadcom BCM43684
Peak 802.11ac performance: 1.389Gbps (at fifteen feet)
Range: 90 anxiety
Size: 12.0 x viii.0 x 6.three inches
Estimated Annual Electricity Cost: $10.fifty

The Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) may look like a spaceship that just landed on your desk but it delivers top Wi-Fi speed to a variety of computers while protecting them from malware attacks. Information technology's a great Wi-Fi vi router and 1 of the best Wi-Fi routers nosotros've reviewed.

Information technology's more than expensive than another high-performance Wi-Fi 6 routers and its throughput declines rapidly with increased altitude – larger homes will practise better with a mesh router. Nevertheless, our Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) review shows that it'southward the peak dog for habitation loftier-functioning routers.

Editor's Note: We periodically update our reviews to insure the pricing and data are upward to date. The recommendations and rating in this review remain unchanged since it initially ran in July of 2020.

Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) review: Pattern

Looking more like a model of the Star Wars A-Wing fighter than a piece of networking gear, Netgear'due south Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) router has a prominent pair of fold-open wings. Inside each wing is a pair of antennas for a total of four. Equally cool equally the wings might look on a java table or desk, the antennas can't exist replaced or aimed.

The device measures 10.8 x viii.0 10 2.8 inches when its winged antennas are folded up. Unfurl them and the AX8 gets big quickly at 12.0 x 8.0 10 6.3 inches. Equally big as it is, it might be a adept place to stack file folders or the 24-hour interval's mail betwixt its wings.

Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) review — (Prototype credit: Tom'south Guide)

With soft prophylactic feet, the silver and black Nighthawk AX8 won't scratch your furniture and could be a conversation starter. Information technology has a pair of inserts underneath for mounting it on a wall or under a table, as well every bit grilles upfront and on top to assistance dissipate heat. During our evaluation, the router never got above 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Within, the Nighthawk AX8 has Broadcom's BCM43684 Wi-Fi chipset, the same electronics that powers the TP-Link Archer AX6000 and Linksys Max Stream MR9600. All three routers take the same i.8GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM, but the Nighthawk AX8 comes with 512MB of flash storage versus 128MB for the Archer AX6000.

The dual-band Nighthawk AX8 creates 2.4- and 5GHz networks just lacks the 2nd 5GHz network that the company's tri-band Nighthawk RAX200 delivers. Still, the AX8 features the latest beamforming technology, the ability to employ ultra-broad 160MHz channels and a theoretical top speed of i.2Gbps in 2.4GHz style and iv.8Gbps in 5GHz mode. It has an AX6000 rating.

Its back panel provides access to the AX8's input broadband connection and v downstream gigabit per second wired Ethernet LAN ports. That'southward one more than than the MR9600 has, but three fewer than the TP-Link Archer AX6000's wired ports. If y'all crave top speed and your gear tin can back up port aggregation, the output of ports four and five can be combined for a maximum of 2Gbps. At that place's also a pair of USB 3 ports for use with a printer or hard drive, but the organisation lacks the Archer AX6000's USB C port.

For those who don't similar flashy low-cal shows, the Nighthawk AX8 has a demure row of status LEDs. There're indicators for Ability, Internet, its five individual LAN ports, USB, Wi-Fi and using the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) to add devices to the network.

The router has a switch for turning the LED lights off likewise every bit a recessed switch for resetting the router to its manufactory settings. The router likewise has an on/off switch besides as buttons for using the router's Wi-Fi Protected Setup and turning the Wi-Fi transmissions off, converting information technology into a wired router.

Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) review: Operation

Based on benchmark testing with Ixia's ixChariot's network simulation software in a 100-year old business firm, the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 is the current peak performer among standalone routers and is for those who need the best throughput. With the power to motion i.389Gbps of data at 15-feet, it outperforms other Wi-Fi 6 devices by a wide margin. The closest competitors were the TP-Link Archer AX6000 (at 884.4Mbps) and the Linksys MR9600 (at 822.0Mbps). This represents at least a third more throughput for high resolution movies, online gaming and family unit information hogs.

While it blasted a lot of data curt range, the AX8's throughput fell off quickly as the range increased, making it ameliorate for modest and mid-sized houses than larger ones. At 50-feet, information technology was capable of moving simply 277.1Mbps versus 396.4Mbps for the Archer AX6000 and 363.3Mbps for the MR9600. By 75-anxiety, its available bandwidth dropped further to 142.3Mbps, a bit below the MR9600'due south 227.0Mbps.

The system stayed in contact at our last distance of xc-feet, but merely barely. Information technology moved xx.8Mbps, merely plenty for viewing movies. By contrast, the Archer AX8000 and MR9600 were offline at this distance.

If y'all alive in an older dwelling, y'all'll appreciate the Nighthawk AX8's ability to dial a strong Wi-Fi signal through walls and floors. It was able to transport ane.077Gbps through a wall twenty-feet from the router. That'south most one tertiary college than the Archer AX6000's 738.0Mbps and about 80% better than the MR9600's 219.1Mbps. It was on a par with the Archer AX6000 at pushing a stiff betoken up a floor with 628.8Mbps available upstairs from the router versus 667.3Mbps; the MR9600 managed a disappointing 72.6Mbps.

The Nighthawk AX8 was a reliable router that worked well for a calendar week of continual domicile use. I watched movies, used the Web, gamed online and even used information technology for sending and receiving email. It passed our saturation exam by delivering clean video while a Macbook Air was playing YouTube videos, an iPad Pro was playing tunes on Spotify, a Dell XPS fifteen was streaming an Internet radio feed and an HP Elitebook moved data onto and off of a networked RAID server.

When information technology was being used, the Nighthawk AX8 consumed 13.0-watts of ability and 5.5-watts at idle. This translates into an almanac electricity bill of $10.50 if it's used for 12 hours a day and asleep the residuum of the time and you pay the national boilerplate of 13 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity. In other words, it's between the more economical MR9600 ($half-dozen.fourscore per year) and the slightly more expensive Archer AX6000 ($xi.30 per year) to utilise.

Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) review: Setup

In that location's but one choice for setting up the Netgear Nighthawk AX8: Use the Nighthawk app. This provides less flexibility compared to others, including TP-Link's Archer AX6000's ability to perform the set up via a connected calculator's browser. The Nighthawk app provides an illustrated step-by-footstep path to creating a wireless network. I used the iOS version on my iPad Pro, only at that place is also a version for Android systems as well. Both, unfortunately, appear to have been written for phones and are locked into vertical orientation.

Creating an AX8 network starts with rebooting the broadband modem and plugging the router in, which is shown in the app. After creating an account with Netgear and allowing the software to notice the router, I scanned the router'south identifying QR code underneath.

Next, the router restarts and it's fourth dimension to connect the tablet to the router's Wi-Fi network with the details printed on a sticker underneath. The app then scanned for the device, checked the router's cabling and Internet connection.

After personalizing the AX8 with a new network name and password, I changed the router'due south authoritative password. Finally, the app asked if I wanted to set upwardly Touch ID with the iPad for extra router security.

The router then did an update of its firmware, restarted and showed that everything was working. All told, it took x minutes to set up it upward and the connection worked on the get-go try.

Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) review: Configuration

Equally is the example with many recent routers, small-scale changes (like setting up the Quality of Service and 802.11AX mode) tin be fabricated with the app but deeper options (like enabling IPv6 and irresolute the encryption method) are hidden behind the Nighthawk AX8's browser interface. Unfortunately, some of the pages are too long for the typical screen and so you'll either have to zoom-in and -out or scroll up and down.

The router'due south software lacks the Archer AX6000'southward processor and memory usage stats, merely the router'due south Advanced Setup is where the existent action is. The section includes adjusting the Fragmentation threshold, whether to use a long or brusque Preamble and the ability to set up port forwarding and turn the AX8 into a wired access betoken.

While the AX8's Traffic Meter lacks the easy-to-read line graphs of the TP-Link Archer AX6000's monitoring tool, it can still keep tabs on individual apply and tin set up a data limit. Its Invitee network can allow outsiders to use the router'due south Cyberspace connection with or without a countersign or to allow access to other parts of the network. This potentially blurs the lines between the primary and guest networks.

Thanks to Netgear'south Armor software, the Nighthawk AX8 is about as secure equally a router gets these days. This protection includes unlimited use of malware protection apps from Bitdefender with software for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS systems. Later on a twelvemonth of use, it costs $45 a year for the protection.

The interface includes set for port assemblage. It can combine the abilities of ii of its LAN ports for a 2Gbps data stream. Information technology lacks any built-in Amazon Alexa speaker or microphone but the router responds to Alexa commands from a paired smart speaker too as from Google Assistant. Aside from these popular smart speakers, the AX8 lacks the ability to integrate abode automation devices into its interface, such every bit turning the router off at 6PM for a nightly family dinner.

In add-on to setting up Internet admission on a schedule, the arrangement comes with Disney'due south Circle app for blocking inappropriate content. It can be set for keywords or a child's historic period. The router comes with a month's worth of free use and it costs $10 a month after that.

As is the example with other Netgear products, the Nighthawk AX8 comes up curt in terms of support. It includes xc-days of access to the visitor's squad of technicians to assistance with fix upwardly; to upgrade to a total two years of support costs $30. Netgear'south 1-twelvemonth warranty is standard in the networking business organization today and extending that to ii years costs $eighty with extra back up.

The Netgear production back up site has lots of DIY material, including configuration aid, troubleshooting and optimization techniques. There are downloads of a manual and firmware updates as well as videos that can help get the nearly out of the gear.

Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) review: Verdict

If yous're looking for the best Wi-Fi 6 router, look no further than the Netgear Nighthawk AX8. It not only delivers one-tertiary more throughput than other Wi-Fi 6 routers, but smashes through the gigabit per second barrier with 1.389Gbps of throughput and does an excellent job of pushing its Wi-Fi bespeak through walls and floors. This ways that it will piece of work but as well in the real world as in the lab. With the option between an like shooting fish in a barrel-to-employ app and a more detailed browser interface, the Nighthawk AX8 lets you leave things every bit they are or optimize it to your middle's content.

The the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 costs the same every bit the lower-performing Linksys Max Stream MR9600, just is $100 more the TP-Link Archer AX6000. This might put information technology out of the achieve of many buyers, but if you and your family unit have the need for online speed, this is the router to get.

Brian Nadel is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in applied science reporting and reviewing. He works out of the suburban New York City area and has covered topics from nuclear ability plants and Wi-Fi routers to cars and tablets. The quondam editor-in-main of Mobile Computing and Communications, Nadel is the recipient of the TransPacific Writing Accolade.