In the market of high-end routers, there are a lot of options. The Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 and Netgear Nighthawk RAX200 are the top examples. These two models have some similarities but also some key differences between them. Let's look at what they offer to help you decide which model will best meet your needs and budget!
PROS
CONS
HARDWARE & SPECS
Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 is a high-performance router that features the 802.11ac standard and speeds of up to 2600 Mbps while also supporting older standards like b/g/n for backward compatibility with legacy devices.
Features
MU-MIMO
MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple-input, and multiple outputs) allows the Nighthawk to connect with several devices at once. You can enjoy lag-free streaming on any device you use, even while there are many users simultaneously connected to your Wi-Fi network.
QoS
Netgear has also worked on the QoS (Quality of Service) feature. You can now prioritize several tasks without worrying too much about network performance degradation.
Set-Up
Netgear's Wi-Fi Settings on the RAX120 are pretty simple. The default router is easy to set up; however, it typically favors compatibility against performance. There's also a Media Server option that turns a router into a streaming server for local streamers.
You can share storage locally as a server and access it without using any third-parties software. Alternatively, for installations with ReadyShare Applications, you will be able to store data and access files with Internet capabilities.
Netgear Armor
Netgear Armor Bitdefender VPN ensures that your online activity is private and protected even when you're on an unsecured network. It also has Guest Wi-Fi, wherein you can set up a guest network with its name and password.
Multi-Gig Port
It has 4 gigabit LAN ports which means you can connect more wired devices from your home, office, and entertainment spaces. Multi-Gig support allows the use of 2G/2.4GS / 1Gb of RAM as the main mode of transmission.
There are also 2 USB 3 port connections to house storage devices. The router has the potential to deliver ultra-fast NET storage performance for host devices. The router's cable link no longer constitutes a bottleneck when working with clients that have Wi-Fi 6.
PROS
CONS
HARDWARE & SPECS
The Nighthawk RAX200 is a solid competitor to the RAX120, with the same price point and similar features. It also supports 802.11ac as well as older standards for backward compatibility with legacy devices.
Features
Nighthawk App
The Nighthawk App makes it simple to set up and use. You can start enjoying better Wi-Fi sooner. You can also view your connected devices, do an internet speed test, manage your Netgear service subscriptions, and more.
Netgear Armor
It has Netgear Armor powered by Bit Defender. Netgear Armor is a sophisticated multi-layer cybersecurity solution that safeguards not only your network but also individual devices.
Netgear Armor protects your devices against viruses, spyware, hackers, spam, and phishing. Security updates are performed automatically. It also sends real-time updates and alerts for network events.
Smart Parental Controls
Checking the online activities of children will not be that stressful anymore for parents. This feature pause or schedules device internet access, view site history usage, filter websites, set online time limits, and more. With its feature, you can monitor your children's online activity. Checking the online movements of children will not be that stressful anymore for parents.
Wired Ethernet Ports
Plugin computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices with 4 x 1G and 1 x 2.5G Ethernet ports. Although the wireless connection is better, the Ethernet connection would always be the best, so this feature will benefit users.
Loaded with Advanced Technology
This router is designed with a 1.8GHz quad-core processor, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, Dynamic QoS, 1024-QAM, Smart Connect for one Wi-Fi name, Beamforming technologies, and Amazon Alexa Voice Control. Supports WPA2/WPA3 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest Wi-Fi access, DOS, Firewall, VPN, and more.
Netgear RAX120 vs. RAX200
Netgear RAX 120 AX12 X6000 is one of the most popular Netgear 4 - 4-inch Wi-Fi routers by Netgear. The Netgear AX12 possesses outstanding speed & connectivity. The router supports the OFDMA standard so users can send data to multiple devices simultaneously.
The Netgear RAX 200 is also a good router that offers the latest technology for household use. Unfortunately, there is an absence of the recommended speeds of the router. The connection is configurable using a web interface and can be controlled using mobile devices. It supports wireless and has five ports for network connections. The software uses the latest Wi-Fi.
Design
The Netgear RAX120 and RAX200 are identical in design. Each comes with two massive collapsible antennas and features a multi-gig network port available as a LAN or Wireless LAN, Gigabit LAN port, and two USB ports to accommodate more than two.
The Netgear RAX120 is larger compared to RAX200, which is lighter and smaller. The measure of RAX120 is 12.20 x 7.48 x 1.77inches whereas RAX200 measures 11.70 x 3.07 x 8.30 inches. So, for people who prefer a lightweight router, the RAX200 is the winner. In contrast, for people who prefer a larger router, the RAX120 wins.
Security Features
The RAX200 comes with a built-in VPN service to provide high-speed and reliable internet access over a secure connection. Parental controls allow you to create profiles for different children in the house, restrict their online time, or block specific websites accessed on your network.
While the RAX120 does not have parental controls, it is still built with the most advanced security features to protect your network from malware attacks and intruders. In this round, we go for the RAX200.
Connection Type
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 comes with either wireless AC1200 or Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections. In comparison, the RAX200 has four of each type giving you ultimate flexibility in connecting your devices. In this round, we vote for RAX200 that offers more wired connectivity options.
Speed and Range
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 and the RAX200 both offer high speed with MU-MIMO technology, Beamforming+ and Quad Stream design for faster speeds at greater distances. RAX200 has tri-band frequencies (one used backhaul), making it more efficient than its competitor.
It offers an improved range on multiple devices simultaneously throughout your home or office network. For this round, we vote for RAX200.
Performance and Speed Test Results
Both routers perform well when it comes to speed tests. Still, if we compare the Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 with the XR500 and RAX200 combined, you'll see that they outperform our high-end router combo by a large margin—which is not surprising considering its more advanced specifications.
Gaming
Both of these routers are great options if you're looking for a high-performance that will allow you to enjoy the lag-free performance while streaming videos or playing games on multiple devices at once.
However, if we had to choose between them based solely on what they can offer without considering their prices, it's safe to say that the Netgear RAX120 provides better value than its counterpart. It runs with a 2.2 GHz processor, while the RAX200 runs with a 1.8 GHz. So, in this round, RAX120 wins.
Processors
The RAX120's CPU runs at 2.2 GHz, while the RAX200's runs at 1.8 GHz. Both are quad-core. However, we believe the RAX200 uses the same chipset as the RAX80, which explains why they have the same CPU speed and 2.5 Gb Multi-gig Ethernet connection. The RAX120 has a new chipset with a faster CPU and a Multi-gig Ethernet interface.
Although both routers are quad-core, the number of processors distinguishes one from the other. Also, the RAX200 is triband, while the RAX120 is just dual-band for Wi-Fi technology. But since we are talking about higher processors the RAX200 is the winner in this round.
Ports
Both routers are equipped with four Gigabit LAN ports—which is plenty of bandwidth to handle most internet plans out there today. The RAX120 also has one USB port for storage or printers, and it supports the Netgear genie, which is one of our favorite features.
Price
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX200 is a more expensive router than the two, but if you can afford it, we think it's worth every penny considering its feature set as it has a lot to offer!
If you're looking for a budget option that still offers some great features at a lower price point, then the RAX120 might be your best bet. There are fewer features with this model so keep that in mind when making your decision.
Memory
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX200 has more memory than the RAX120. It offers 128MB of flash and 512MB of DDR-SDRAM, whereas the RAX120 only boasts 16MB of flash and 256 MB of SDRAM. In this round, we voted for RAX200.
There is no performance difference between having more or less memory, but it can help if you're running a heavy-duty system like HD media files, for example, where higher amounts are better. The additional space might also come in handy when using advanced features that require more extensive storage to operate.
Stand Out Features
RAX200 Connectivity
The RAX200 has tri-band up to 1.2 + 4.8 + 4.8 Gbps while RAX120 only offers dual-band up to 1.2 + 4.8 Gbps. Both routers are referred to as Nighthawk AX12 since they both support 12 streams; the difference is that RAX120 supports 88 at 80Mhz.
RAX120 Processor
The RAX120 is powered by 2.2GHz quad-core CPU, whereas the RAX200 is powered by 1.8GHz quad-core CPU, which is more reliable in gaming.
Conclusion
Netgear RAX200 runs much quicker than their predecessors as RAX120. If you need extra power and storage space, go with the RAX200—but if you don't, save some money and go with the RAX120, which is also considered high-end but much more affordable. We hope this article has walked you through deciding which of the two is best for you.
Choose the RAX200 if:
- You want a high-performance router
- You want to connect your network with multiple devices
- Your home is more significant than 900 square feet
- You have a budget
Choose the RAX120 if:
- Your budget can't afford it, or you just don't need all of that speed
- You want a higher processor to provide higher speeds in gaming.
- You need a router that can handle simultaneous streams smoothly without any hiccups.
