Netgear Nighthawk AX12
$499
The Netgear Nighthawk AX12 is a high-performance WiFi 6 router designed for large homes and offices. It offers ultra-fast wireless speeds up to 6Gbps and supports multiple devices with ease.
Our take
The powerhouse router for your home network.
Alright, so the Netgear Nighthawk AX12 is one of those routers that promises to take your Wi-Fi to the next level. It's like that fancy sports car of routers with its futuristic look and all those antennas sticking out, but does it really deliver? In terms of speed, it's pretty impressive. It supports Wi-Fi 6, so if you have devices that can take advantage of this, you'll notice a significant boost in speed and performance. It's particularly great for streaming 4K videos or if you have multiple people gaming or working from home.
Now, let's talk about coverage. This beast of a router should cover a large home without much trouble. However, if you live in a place with thick walls or multiple floors, you might find some dead spots. It's good, but not magic. For those areas, you might still need a mesh system or additional extenders. So, if coverage is a big issue for you, keep that in mind before splurging on this.
One thing I appreciate about the Nighthawk AX12 is the setup. It's pretty straightforward, even for folks who aren't tech-savvy. The Nighthawk app guides you through the process, and you can manage everything from there, which is handy. But here's a heads-up: The app itself could use some polish. It's not the most intuitive thing in the world, and sometimes it can be a bit laggy or glitchy, which can be frustrating when you're trying to tweak settings.
Security features are another strong point for the Nighthawk AX12. It comes with Netgear Armor, which is basically a security suite to protect all your connected devices from threats. It's a nice addition, especially if you're not keen on buying separate security software. However, after the trial period, it does require a subscription, so factor that cost in if you want to keep using it.
Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk AX12 is a solid choice if you need a high-performance router and don't mind spending a bit more. It's particularly suitable for tech enthusiasts or households with a lot of connected devices. But, if you're expecting it to solve every Wi-Fi woe, you might need to adjust your expectations. It's powerful, but not without its quirks. In the end, it's about weighing the speed and features against the price and seeing if it fits your needs.
