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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.
RS700S on Amazon ($599)

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.
RAXE500 on Amazon (~$599 new)

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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