Independent buying guide. Not affiliated with any router manufacturer. Router prices and stock move constantly, so confirm on the manufacturer's own site before you buy.

Updated June 2026

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S (Wi-Fi 7) vs RAXE500 (Wi-Fi 6E) (June 2026)

The honest take: new units now cost about $599 each, so at full price the RS700S (Wi-Fi 7, 10G WAN) is the smarter, more future-proof buy. The RAXE500 only makes sense if you find it open-box or refurbished and your devices are Wi-Fi 6E on a 1 Gbps plan.

SpecNighthawk RS700SNighthawk RAXE500
Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 7 (802.11be)Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Max speed (theoretical)19 Gbps10.8 Gbps
BandsTri-band (2.4/5/6 GHz)Tri-band (2.4/5/6 GHz)
WAN port10G2.5G
LAN ports10G + 4x 1G4x 1G
Coverage3,500 sq ft2,500 sq ft
MLOYesNo
Price (June 2026)$599$599 ($300-400 open-box)
Best for5 Gbps+ plans, Wi-Fi 7 devices1 Gbps plans, Wi-Fi 6E devices

When the RS700S Wins

  • You have a 5 Gbps+ fiber plan. The 2.5G WAN on the RAXE500 caps at 2.35 Gbps.
  • You have iPhone 16, Galaxy S25, or M5 MacBook. MLO and 320 MHz channels actually deliver on these devices.
  • Open-plan home with line-of-sight to the router. The 6 GHz 320 MHz channels shine here.
  • You want to be future-proof for the next 3-5 years as Wi-Fi 7 devices proliferate.

When the RAXE500 Wins

  • You have a 1 Gbps plan and find the RAXE500 discounted. Both routers saturate 1 Gbps identically, so a cheaper open-box unit wins.
  • Your devices are Wi-Fi 6E (iPhone 15, M4 MacBook, Galaxy S23). The RAXE500 serves them as well as the RS700S.
  • Budget matters and you spot one open-box or refurbished. At $300-400 a RAXE500 is solid value for Wi-Fi 6E; at its $599 new price it is not.
  • Traditional household (2-3 bedrooms, 2-3 occupants). No scenario where the RS700S adds measurable benefit.

FAQ

Is the Netgear RAXE500 still worth buying in 2026?
Only if you find it discounted. New units now run about $599, level with the RS700S, so at full price the RS700S (Wi-Fi 7, 10G WAN) is the smarter buy. The RAXE500 makes sense when you find it open-box or refurbished for roughly $300-400 and your devices are Wi-Fi 6E (iPhone 15, M4 MacBook, Galaxy S23) on a 1 Gbps plan, where it matches the RS700S with no real-world performance loss.
Does the RS700S support 5 Gbps WAN?
Yes. The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S has a 10G WAN port that supports up to 10 Gbps ISP connections. Combined with the 10G LAN port, it is the correct hardware for 5 Gbps and 8 Gbps fiber plans. The RAXE500 has a 2.5G WAN port, which caps at 2.35 Gbps regardless of your ISP plan.
Which Netgear router is better for a 1 Gbps plan?
Both routers saturate 1 Gbps comfortably via Wi-Fi 6E, with no throughput difference at that speed. At equal new prices (about $599 each) the RS700S is the better buy for its 10G WAN and Wi-Fi 7 future-proofing. The RAXE500 only wins if you find it discounted open-box or refurbished (roughly $300-400) and have Wi-Fi 6E devices today.
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