WiFi 7 might’ve only just debuted at the start of the year, but manufacturers have prepared for the standard since 2023. Boasting 2.4 times the speed of its predecessor, getting your hands on a router that supports the new feature costs you more than an entire PC in some instances. The new Netgear RS300 hopes to bring prices back down to earth, giving you an unrivalled wireless connection without taking out a mortgage.
There’s no shortage of WiFi 7 routers already floating around, but with Netgear’s Nighthawk RS700S costing $699.99 and mesh options like Orbi 970 climbing as high as $2,251.99, only the richest could afford it. Netgear RS300 halves this, starting at just $329.99 / £299.99, and it doesn’t make many concessions to get there.
The main highlight is WiFi 7, which gives you access to a 6GHz wireless band capable of up to 9.3Gbs speeds. In a trickle-down effect, this means lower latency for gaming including more reliable connections to VR headsets, more bandwidth to share across up to 100 devices, and quicker transmission that’s ideal for streaming 4K and even 8K content. While standalone routers tend to struggle with coverage around the house, RS300 has a 2,000 square feet wide net that should give you signal in the deepest depths – mansions notwithstanding.
As a gamer, I can’t give up my Ethernet cable. Fortunately, there are two 2.5Gb/s ports and dual 1Gb/s. You can even merge the latter two together to form a 2Gbps powerhouse for NAS devices. A USB port rounds off the connectivity, letting you share files using a thumb drive.
Once you’re all set up and running, you’ll control everything using the Nighthawk App. This lets you prioritise devices, run speed tests, check your data usage, and set up guest networks to protect your main band.
Lastly, you’ll get a few 30-day free trials. The first is for Netgear Armor, which tunnels your network through a VPN via Bitdefender. I can’t say it’s my favourite provider but certainly not one to scoff at when it’s a premium service baked into your router, protecting all your devices at once. The second is Netgear Smart Parental Controls, which lets you manage your child’s time online. You can set up a distinct network that closes at certain times of the day and prevents access to certain websites.
Netgear RS300 is currently up for pre-order, due to ship June 25. In my eyes, it’s quite the looker too. Maybe I’m due for an upgrade from my spider-looking abomination.