Last Updated: August 18, 2019 (Refresh Now)
NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S Smart Wi Fi Router R8000P AC4000 Tri Band Wireless Speed up to 4000 Mbps Up to 3500 sq ft Coverage 55 Devices 4 x 1G Ethernet and 2 USB Ports
Last Updated: August 18, 2019 (Refresh Now)
7.4
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
908
Old Reviews
201
Unverified
180
Spam Test
WARN
Yes
WIFI
1.8 GHz
PROCESSOR CLOCK
Dual Core
PROCESSOR TYPE
Yes
USB
Review Analysis - 527 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Network
247wifi, house, 5ghz, coverage, virgin
+77%
-23%
" ... It literally is what a router should be! ... Very reliable and steady connections, plus it gives a bit more range than my virgin router did. ... "
" ... First impressions were I was really surprised that upstairs in the house I could get the 5ghz signal at full bars, where as depending where i was upstairs, the Virgin Superhub 2 would be one or no bars at all, meaning I had to switch across to the 2.4ghz stream. ... No such issues then with the Netgear router. ... All in all, a great router and highly recommended. ... "
" ... Purchased this to use with Virgin super hub 3 placed in modern mode and it just works, Wi-Fi signal has such a better range rather than the SH3, I would defiantly recommend, only downfall is the web interface as this looks bland and old something from the 90’s dial up webpages. ... "
" ... Brilliant router for use in a home and provides excellent coverage and speeds. ... "
" ... I'm now getting much much better WiFi speeds around the whole house. ... For example, with my sky router I was getting 17mbps when the signal was going through 1 wall and a floor, with this Netgear I am getting 61mbps (maximum output is 70mbps). ... "
" ... Bought this router after reading the reviews and it is great. ... "
" ... Replacing isp supplied router , bought with DM200 router. ... "
" ... This doesn't play down how great the router itself is ... "
Wifi
171wifi, wi fi, coverage, 5ghz, virgin
+73%
-27%
" ... Wi-Fi coverage is great and seems to a good job of getting to my hard to reach areas with 2.4Hz. ... "
" ... I notice right away that the Wifi status bars on my various devices had jumped up in level. ... Very happy with this router. ... "
" ... Much quicker connecting to WiFi. ... "
" ... I started wondering if it was our wifi, and bought a Netgear Nighthawk. ... "
" ... This router is unbelievable. ... "
" ... Allows access to many customization functions, and if you want one to use together with a PiHole unit this router works really well. ... "
" ... - Wifi speed is around 5 times better ... "
" ... Purchased this to use with Virgin super hub 3 placed in modern mode and it just works, Wi-Fi signal has such a better range rather than the SH3, I would defiantly recommend, only downfall is the web interface as this looks bland and old something from the 90’s dial up webpages. ... "
Setup
111setup, netgear, easy to set, interface, nighthawk
+85%
-15%
" ... Easy setup with the iphone app and quick install instructions. ... "
" ... Easy to install for sure, up and running within minutes ... "
" ... I found the installation easy enough although instructions were very basic (I am a beginner). ... "
" ... Just a note, they DO have OpenVPN support now and I was able to setup PIA for some of my devices. ... "
" ... Quick to set up and easy to manage with the Netgear Genie app. ... "
" ... All is working OK after initial setup problems which are now resolved. ... "
" ... Not only that, as someone who has never bought a third party router, it was incredibly easy to set up. ... I followed the quick start guide and was up and running in less than ten minutes. ... "
" ... Range in my old house with rather solid walls is excellent, ease of setting up guest networks and managing resources makes it very versatile. ... "
Software Platform
94vpn, nighthawk, virgin, parental, netgear
+59%
-41%
" ... Installed a Tomato O/S and VPN after a bit of investigation on the Internet. ... "
" ... Brilliant router has done everything it said it would apart from working with Alexa as netgear are having update issues with Alexa and this router software which they have said to me will be fixed in the next update, apart from the Alexa issue everything is working perfectly would defiantly buy this router again ... "
" ... Conflicting setup software, stick to Netgear Nighthawk set up app. ... "
" ... I have a hope the updates of freeware make that gismo better in a future. ... "
" ... 2 PCs (1 is a media PC for plex etc) 2 phones, 2 TVs, tablet, Sonos beam, amazon echo and printer. ... "
" ... Great having total control over everything on WiFi and I mean everything, even apple watches show up. ... "
" ... The QoS is also great for my Ps4 and SmartTV. ... "
" ... Streaming is a dream! ... "
ISP
91netgear, modem, virgin, broadband, modem mode
+68%
-32%
" ... I warn you though, it's big for a home router. ... "
" ... NETGEAR R78OO UK . ... It was easy to then use my vpn (ipvanish). ... "
" ... I put the Hub3 into modem mode and connected the Nighthawk. ... "
" ... Totally different experience that I had trying to set-up the DM200 modem I bought! ... "
" ... ( this is normal light for modem mode ) ... "
" ... So, I have my old ISP router connected to the ADSL socket and the netgear acting as a wired access point. ... "
" ... Surely this is the last Netgear router I bought. ... "
" ... Really fast router. ... "
Ease of Use
69router, easy to use, user interface, setup, interface
+91%
-9%
" ... Quick to set up and easy to manage with the Netgear Genie app. ... "
" ... Set parental controls with OpenDNS really easy. ... "
" ... My life is so much easier! ... "
" ... Remarkably easy to install, just following the instructions. ... "
" ... · DumaOS is an easy-to-use, yet very powerful tool ... · Quick and easy to set up ... "
" ... It is intuitive and just so easy. ... This is a router you need to fiddle with, but it’s all very user friendly and easy to do… not at all like a normal router. ... There is definitely a future for the user interface and you may be mad enough to want that right away but it just it just has too many problems right now. ... "
" ... Also easy to check and maintain from the web console. ... "
" ... The Router is easy to set up and very smart. ... The UI is very simple, and easy on the eye to manage, not really had the chance to get into the more complicated features that it adds, but I'm sure I will at some point. ... "
Capacity
68coverage, throughout, walls, router, wifi
+93%
-7%
" ... Phenominal signal strength. ... "
" ... The Wifi router worked, improved reception through out the building. ... "
" ... This router is fantastic, now achieving 200mb over most of the house on 5ghz. ... "
" ... Boosted the WiFi signal aroun the house much improved. ... "
" ... Virgin installed their kit at one end of my house, which is an old building with solid brick internal walls. ... "
" ... Very powerful wifi broadcast - I have the same power in every room now whereas my Superhub 3 was barely able to reach the kitchen through two walls. ... "
" ... However I just purchased this device and it is amazing and reaches to every part of the house. ... "
" ... I was lucky to get 2-5mb internet before, now I can get 385mb, to a minimum 200mb anywhere in the house (Vivid 350). ... "
Device Compatibility
64hub, virgin, connected, hub 3, bt
+67%
-33%
" ... An Asus RT-AC1200G+ was purchased instead and has performed perfectly. ... "
" ... Just for fun I opted for the auto setup and just left it to it’s own devices. ... As soon as I realised this I actually bought a separate switch to isolated cross-talk from non-gaming devices. ... You see the part in the description where is says it supports your VPN? ... "
" ... i opened and connected it, and the everything was great. ... "
" ... All timeouts and disconnects have vanished. ... "
" ... I have upgraded this from a plusnet one hub. ... "
" ... Just a note, they DO have OpenVPN support now and I was able to setup PIA for some of my devices. ... "
" ... BT home hub in the bin. ... "
" ... Followed recommendations from others, to work with my new Virgin Media 3 hub. ... "
Ports
59virgin, ethernet, hub 3, super hub, hub
+73%
-27%
" ... Switched my Virgin Media Hub 3 to modem mode and connected the R7000. ... "
" ... Bought nighthawk x4s plugged it in as router and had my virgin media super hub running on modem mode. ... "
" ... This router was bought to replace the cumbersome Virgin Media Hub 3.0 and is far better at providing the speeds we pay for. ... "
" ... Wired connections are much faster. ... "
" ... A bit of background I live in an old old old three story grade two listened building with the ports into the house located in the top attic room. ... "
" ... If you plan to use this router with a Virgin Super Hub. ... With both devices off, connect the Netgear router to the top Ethernet port on the back of the Super Hub ... With your Super Hub in modem mode you may need to turn the Netgear off and on again. ... "
" ... I have upgraded this from a plusnet one hub. ... "
" ... Installed this and put the V2 hub into Modem mode and connected it to the NETGEAR R7800 Nighthawk AC2600 via the lan cable provided, in the several months I have had it have not had to reboot at all. ... "
Product Reliability
57months, weeks, stopped, issues, failed
+37%
-63%
" ... The R7000P is junk. ... When it come out the box the 5ghz worked, overnight it just stopped (hardware problem). ... "
" ... My Sonos system has become completely unreliable. ... "
" ... They rang a week later. ... "
" ... So it is obviously a faulty unit they turned around and shipped straight out to me. ... "
" ... The replacement I ordered stopped working, and was unable to even factory reset at all. ... "
" ... Lasted three months before requiring continuous resetting to maintain reliability, not what I would have expected from this manufacturer ... "
" ... After searching online, it appears this is a common problem. ... "
" ... Failed after few days. ... "
Firmware
44netgear, firmware update, dd wrt, latest firmware, buggy
+39%
-61%
" ... This was a brilliant router until Netgear messed up their latest firmware updates. ... I’m posting this in the hope Netgear fix the issues. ... "
" ... I had updated the software as it recommends on set up, thought that was the problem with the slow speeds, so did a factory reset and down graded firmware, speeds increased for a while now back to above . ... "
" ... the firmware is unfortunately extremely buggy (as of firmware V1.0.2.32). ... "
" ... This appears to be the result, at least in part, of recent buggy security updates to the firmware. ... I would avoid, or at the very least ignore to advise to upgrade the firmware. ... "
" ... Firmware Update broke my router, tried calling customer support they were useless. ... "
" ... It's a firmware issue with Netgear. ... "
" ... Having since researched forums it appears firmware is buggy. ... "
" ... Now for the drawbacks: the first one I bought was bricked part way through a firmware update. ... Updating firmware in general is a finicky process as it can take an uncomfortable length of time. ... "
Apps
38apps, genie app, setup, mobile, management
+74%
-26%
" ... It is easy to set up and the iPhone management app is a massive plus. ... "
" ... The Genie app is a nice bonus and makes config updates a breeze whether on desktop or mobile and although I've not yet taken the plunge I'm looking forward to setting up all manner of access controls given the flexible options provided and to apply some supply management to the kids online time . ... "
" ... App is good. ... "
" ... Can download a music album on the drive outside in seconds. ... "
" ... I downloaded the Nighthawk app on my iphone and it took me through step by step of what I had to do, and it worked first time, no issues at all. ... "
" ... Quick to set up and easy to manage with the Netgear Genie app. ... "
" ... Really powerfull addition to eliminate a failing Virgin Media device. ... "
" ... It will enforce internet access times, bed times, and even let you control access to individual websites or apps. ... The app also allows you to quickly and easily enable and disable internet access for an individual user with a single click, extend time limits quickly as a reward, and provides a full breakdown of the URLs and apps accessed by each user, with times and dates, and the amout of time spent on each. ... The other really handy thing is that you get a push notification to the app if a new device accesses the network. ... "
Overall performance
35performance, speeds, download, upload, virgin
+86%
-14%
" ... Average speed around 40. ... New speed on the same device (MSI gaming laptop) ranging between 150-220mbps on the vivid 200 plan. ... "
" ... The Nighthawk is a massive improvement. ... "
" ... It’s been in place now for a week and I have been massively impressed by the speed of my internal network and it’s been so fast I haven’t been hindered by page load times and have not noticed updates anymore as they download so briskly. ... "
" ... Up to thi shappening the unit was very reliable and have a good range and performance. ... "
" ... And this one does the job perfectly! ... - consistent download and upload speeds! ... "
" ... Purchased this over the D7800 as better processor and memory. ... "
" ... Speed is better then expected. ... "
" ... It really is fast. ... "
Price
26money, worth, cost, worth every penny, tag
+65%
-35%
" ... For the money, it is worth the £140 I spent on it. ... "
" ... Well, if it didn't cost £240 it would be funny. ... Is it worth the money? ... "
" ... - It's not the cheapest option, but overall it seems like value for money ... "
" ... Perfect product worth the money and would recommend for anyone wanting a more secure WAP ... "
" ... I can't really say the price is justified. ... "
" ... Highly recommended if you’ve got the budget. ... "
" ... Worth every penny . ... "
" ... Worth every penny. ... "
Returns
24returned, return, sent it back, back, send
+8%
-92%
" ... Returned for refund. ... "
" ... Would like to send back. ... "
" ... The replacement exhibited exactly the same problems so have returned it for a refund. ... "
" ... Amazon replaced it. ... No way to recover so sent it back. ... "
" ... Have returned to Amazon. ... "
" ... faulty unit had to return it. ... "
" ... I have contacted my Lawyers. ... "
" ... I have contacted Amazon to see where I stand if I am eligible for a refund or if I could replace it for another brand of router. ... "
Features
19turn, led lights, mode, useful, settings
+84%
-16%
" ... Allows for a lot of customisation ... "
" ... It has lots of great other features too. ... "
" ... Most of the features are there and work well. ... "
" ... This, and many other features, are accessible via the cloud meaning you don't even have to be at home to boot somebody off! ... "
" ... Very configurable and has a lot of good features. ... "
" ... Easy to use with loads of features ... "
" ... led lights were annoying . ... "
" ... This the x10 very easy to install has the same functionality features as the current so called replacement model only difference between the two is that the xr700 has different software settings and it is awful unless you like programming and spending your time locked away with your pc. ... "
Gaming
16games, lag, gamer, online, virgin
+94%
-6%
" ... If you are a gamer. ... "
" ... Easy to install and get up and running, fantastic for live video and gaming. ... "
" ... I do some casual gaming myself and so do my kids. ... "
" ... And by the way, I want to reduce the bandwidth for a gaming PC so the adults could watch a movie on Netflix or something. ... "
" ... Gaming are very very good i had 30 to 31 ping solid no lags while all 4 to 5 people gaming at the same time. ... "
" ... Once you start to get used to the little nuances it does come together, you will see improvement in your game play. ... I am playing C.O.D WWII and we all know how frustrating the lag can be, this box of tricks can help you eradicate all the frustration, not instantly, like anything it takes a bit effort, put in the time and reap the rewards. ... "
" ... The set up was a doddle and the security was pre set, though I was baffled as to where to find the gaming dashboard, apparently it's online which I found a bit odd but you don't need to have it on constantly since it's browser based and can eat the RAM, the android also has an app which is minimalist but easy to get your head around, the remote access router is fun to troll the family while your at work. ... "
" ... My son does not complain about the XBox lagging anymore. ... "
Marketplace
11returned, replaced, r7800, item, disappointed
+45%
-55%
" ... Have returned to Amazon. ... "
" ... I made a complaint to Amazon, but as you can see they are still selling it. ... I have contacted my Lawyers. ... "
" ... Very disappointed with product. ... "
" ... Please note this doesn’t come in amazon packaging!!! ... Very poor on Amazon with it being such an expensive item!! ... "
" ... Unfortunately I can't say how disappointed I am with this product and this vendor. ... "
" ... Amazon offered a refund or a replacement so I sent it back. ... "
Internet
10speed, connection, drops, time, router
+50%
-50%
" ... The internet connection on the 2.4g connection kept informing me that there was no connection. ... "
" ... This is a very common problem with this router, just search the internet. ... "
" ... still no internet connect . ... "
" ... The internet drops intermittently throughout the day. ... "
" ... Internet also drops out from time to time. ... "
Lagging
9reboot, lag, restarting, reboots, even
+33%
-67%
" ... After about a month the R8000 started randomly restarting several times a day. ... "
" ... Doesn't even work 90% of the time, only does for 5 mins after restart. ... "
" ... A reboot sorted it out but this kept happening over and over again. ... "
" ... Even the hard reset wouldn't work! ... "
" ... - I spent the last 2 days doing factory resets as it either becomes unavailable or get stuck in a reboot loop. ... "
" ... The operating system is a bit slow to respond but that’s perhaps not surprising, its very graphical so it going to be slow. ... "
Design
9design, pretty, everyone, bit, big
+78%
-22%
" ... Looks arent to everyone's taste but I like it ... "
" ... · Large and unique design won't be for everyone ... "
" ... And it looks pretty good too! ... "
" ... Bigger than I was expecting but pleasing on the eye nonetheless. ... "
" ... The wife even said it looks better than the old one. ... "
" ... It's a bit big, and looks like it might morph and take over the world, but I wouldn't be without it now. ... "
Delivery
7unit, time, product, item, delivered
+71%
-29%
" ... and this certainly delivered. ... "
" ... Item as described and delivered promptly. ... "
" ... This item arrived on time and was well packaged. ... "
" ... great product and ontime delivery ... "
" ... Anyway, the second unit arrived and luckily this worked perfectly. ... "
Controls
6turn, reset, led lights, device, button
+50%
-50%
" ... - AND its reset button simply does not work (I've read multiple forums about hard reset and I'm a tech savvy person, so not doing anything stupid here), so the router has become useless after 6 months and not fixable. ... "
" ... simply selecting the device(s) and clicking "Allow" doesn't work. ... "
Cables
6see, plug, cable, r9000, lightweight
+17%
-83%
" ... Also hangs and takes a while to provide internet to my PC via the cable. ... "
" ... So in other words, they hard wire THEIR provider so you must subscribe to PureVPN. ... "
" ... Cannot see it wireless or cable connect. ... "
" ... You know, those cables we've all been using for decades, just plug them in and they work. ... "
Band
6bands, band, 5ghz, 1, problem
+67%
-33%
" ... R8000P Nighthawk X6S Tri-Band AC4000 Ordered 25/9/2017. ... "
" ... Tri-band is great to split the usage across the items of the family and guests. ... "
" ... The benefit of having two 5Ghz bands and the option of smart joining them is very nice. ... "
" ... The X6 seemed to fit the bill perfectly with it's tri-band capability and great range, far better than I expected on the dual 5G bands. ... "
Memory
5memory, drive, usb3, drives, connection
+80%
-20%
" ... I have connected my SSD drive with all my family photos and when we all sit by the smart TV we can watch them all on the big screen . ... "
" ... 3.2 GB (R8000) ... "
" ... My Macbook Pro connects at nearly gigabit speeds (well not far short of) and transferring files over wifi to my NAS drive in the loft is now a breeze and takes about a quarter of the time the virgin router did on its own. ... "
" ... Purchased this over the D7800 as better processor and memory. ... "
Data reception
5wifi, router, connection, 2 4g, wi fi
+20%
-80%
" ... The 2.4g signal was rubbish it kept dropping off. ... The internet connection on the 2.4g connection kept informing me that there was no connection. ... "
" ... I then found all my 2.4G wifi devices stopped working - couldn't get to the Internet. ... "
Bluetooth
5replace, hub, bt home hub, wifi, kept
+80%
-20%
" ... BT home hub in the bin. ... "
" ... Replace the BT Hub3. ... "
" ... Bought to replace a series of poor BT Home Hub 6,s - it’s far superior and much more reliable. ... "
" ... Purchased this to replace my BT SMARTHUB. ... "
For Running
3get
+100%
" ... I have set everything that is wireless up on 5g and is running great. ... "
" ... It took me about 10 minutes to have the R7800 up and running. ... "
" ... To put it simply this is what you get, once you get it up and running: ... "
For Kids
3like, space, screen, said, looks
+67%
-33%
" ... I do some casual gaming myself and so do my kids. ... "
" ... A must if you have children you're wanting them to concentrate on doing their homework. ... "
Resolution
3hd, 4k, netflix, multiple, gaming
+100%
" ... I get a consistent 433Mbps connection to the router which is more than plenty for streaming 4K content. ... "
" ... Also connected by ethernet to the new OLED TV and the streaming box to future proof for 4k. ... "
" ... I can happily game in one room, whilst HD films are being streamed in multiple others with no buffering. ... "
Video Playback
3youtube, watching, video, streaming
+67%
-33%
" ... Then start to have a few games, refer back to the video watching, it is worth seeking out how others have set the controls within this beast of a router. ... "
" ... Streaming videos and internet surfing are very snappy. ... "
Defective Delivery
3working, box
-100%
" ... Got a defective unit. ... "
" ... It is an untested refurbished product and it was not working when I tried to use it! ... "
" ... The box was not sealed ... "
Display Clarity
3like, led lights, led, kids
+67%
-33%
" ... led lights were annoying . ... "
" ... Very bright LED's, but they can all be turned off. ... "
Storage
3like, kind, bad, unit, looks
+100%
" ... The unit itself does look like a Lamborghini upfront, my kids thought it was some kind of space age thing. ... "
" ... Now on to this bad boy, the AX8 is simply outstanding in its performance, build quality and overall appearance, takes up less space than the R7000, and gone are the days of flimsy antennas that could easily be knocked out of alignment. ... "
" ... The design is amazing though - like something out of space. ... "
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Specifications
Connectivity
WiFi: Yes
USB: Yes
Performance
Processor Clock: 1.8 GHz
Processor Type: Dual Core
Yes
WIFI
1.8 GHz
PROCESSOR CLOCK
Dual Core
PROCESSOR TYPE
Yes
USB