Table of Contents
Introduction:-
Right off the bat, the Netgear Nighthawk X10 aims to showcase its innate power with its exceptionally massive size that is counter-balanced by its sleek design. This wireless router is touted as being one of the fastest of its kind in the market today.
Netgear focused on infusing the Nighthawk X10 with the latest in wireless technology, and it seems as they have achieved success in this department.
In this review, we will be checking out this impressive high-tech router. We will determine if it earned the accolades it has received as well as the high price tag that comes with it. Is the Netgear Nighthawk X10 an excellent choice for all your online and gaming needs? Let’s find out.
Main Features
AD7200 speed – Tri-band up to 800 + 1733 + 4600Mbs
2,500 sq. ft Wireless Range
1.7 GHz quad-core processor
Four amplified antennas
Supports up to 45 devices
6 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet Ports
1 x 10G SFP+ Port
Nighthawk App allows full control of the router
Amazon Alexa Voice Control enabled
Design:-
As we have pointed out earlier, the Nighthawk X10 is quite large, with a dimension of 2.9 x 8.8 x 6.6 inches. On the main body of the router, you can find a handful of ports.
This device features six Gigabit LAN ports, two USB ports, and a 10G SPF+ LAN port. You can also find the Wi-Fi power and WPS button over on the front part of the Nighthawk X10.
Behind the device are four adjustable antennas. The antennas are lined with LED lights that indicate whether the Wi-Fi is activated.
This looks quite impressive and futuristic, compared to the standard single blinking LED dot that most routers have.
As you can see, the Nighthawk X10 will not have any issues when it comes to available ports. As a bonus, the Nighthawk X10 also features Ethernet Port Aggregation.
What this means is that users can combine Lan port 1 and 2 to enhance file transfer speeds in between compatible aggregate devices. Examples of compatible devices include network-attached storage devices and network switches.
Inside this behemoth of a router lies another beast, a 1.7GHz quad-core CPU. This pushes the capabilities of the Nighthawk X10 way above the limits of standard routers in the market.
With its dual-band 802.11ac and quad-stream in tow, this bleeding-edge router can easily hit 800Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, and zoom passed up to 1,733Mbps with the 5GHz band.
With its capabilities, the Netgear Nighthawk X10 will be a highly reliable router for online gaming and streaming.
It also has enough juice to play 4k quality videos effortlessly. However, we do want to note that like most routers, physical obstacles like walls will dampen the optimum range of its wireless connection.
Netgear Nighthawk X10 Setup
As with most Netgear routers, the Nighthawk X10 is relatively easy to set up and install.
Once you have successfully connected your PC to the router, all you need to do is access the Setup Wizard from the website address indicated in the manual.
The Setup Wizard is a pretty straightforward affair and will guide you step-by-step through the entire process.
You can tweak the settings from the Setup Wizard such as setting up passwords on who can access your Wi-Fi. The range of the Nighthawk X10 is quite remarkable as well.
It managed to maintain a stable 300+Mbps over a distance of 30 feet away. This capability easily beats out most other top routers in the market, which usually stays around 200+Mbps at the same length.
Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk X10 features a user-friendly interface with a high-grade professional performance level.
Functionalities and Features:-
So, let’s go over the features that make the Nighthawk X10 one of the most powerful routers that you can get your hands on today.
First off, the tri-band 802.11ac wave two routers is compatible with 160MHz channels.
The speed that this router can deliver averages at 1,733Mbps. It is also designed to support MU-MIMO channels as well.
The four antennas help boost the signal to its maximum range as well as improve stability at farther distances.
Compared to the current market standards, the Nighthawk X10 is on a league of its own. It is currently the holder of our fastest single router mantle at the moment, and it might hold this distinction for quite some time.
A notable feature that it has is its compatibility with the relatively new 802.11ad.
This wireless standard is still pretty rare to find in the majority of devices but think of this as Netgear’s way of future-proofing the Nighthawk X10. It is an unnecessary inclusion in hindsight.
But as they say – it is better to have it and don’t need it, than need it and don’t have it. That being said, if this will be your first router and you are willing to spend for the best, I’d say this is a great router that should tie you over for the next five or so years.
When it comes to the Nighthawk X10’s file transfer rate, it has a blistering speed pf 75.8Mbps with the Gigabit Ethernet.
If you regularly transfer large files, this will significantly cut transfer rate time by more than 50%. This also means that the router can support multiple devices with barely any hiccups.
As for software capabilities, this router comes with the ReadyCloud system by Netgear. This system allows users to gain remote access to their files from any of their devices connected to the network.
Users will also gain access to Amazon Cloud drive for additional backup options.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
While the Netgear Nighthawk X10 is quite an investment, it more than earns every penny to its name.
Other than its top-tier speed, it is also one of the few routers that support the still new 802.11ad wireless standard.
What this means is that this device was designed for the long haul. The Nighthawk X10 also supports easy and secure storage transfers thanks to its ReadySHARE feature.
Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk X10 is a premium option for those who want to invest in the heavy artillery when it comes to routers.