In this post, we compare Netgear R6400 vs R6700 to help you choose a fast and reliable router...
What’s the best mid-range router in the market? If you haven’t been living under a rock, then you know that a router is an important device in your home. Even if you’re not a fan of technology, a router ensures that you have fast wireless internet at home. And that is important.
But why mid-range models? If you’re wondering that too, that’s because you don’t need to buy the top-range router in the market. Chances are, you only need one that is fast and reliable. You can get those even if you don’t have the most expensive device. Two of the best mid-range models are the Netgear R6400 and R6700.
Netgear R6400
The R6400 might be the earlier version of the Netgear routers but it’s not short of amazing features. For one thing, it already uses a dual-band technology which gives the reliability you need when you have a video call, game or a watch party. Dual-band connectivity simply means that you won’t have to suffer breaks during your important meetings and games.
The R6400 also has a Wi-Fi speed of 450 - 1300 Mbps. What does that mean? Well, if you’re asking if that’s enough, that should be sufficient even if you stream movies and watch games simultaneously. To increase the signal, the R6400 has three antennas that you can easily adjust depending on your needs.
What about ports? You’re in luck because unlike other routers, the R6400 has 4 LAN ports. It also has several USB 2 and USB 3 ports so that you can easily connect your printers and other external devices. To add to that, the R6400 is easy to install. It comes with the nighthawk app that will walk you through the installation process.
Netgear R6700
The R6700 is relatively new compared to the R6400 so you expect that it has added features. Well, you’re not wrong about that. The R6700 a 1GHZ dual-core processor and has a coverage of 1,500 square feet. If you have a big house, this is great news for you because then you wouldn’t have to worry about buying Wi-Fi extenders. Plus, the 1,500 sq ft coverage receives fast internet all throughout.
What the R6700 is best known for is its security features. This new router is equipped with Guest Wi-Fi service access, Firewall, and VPN. You have more control over what access you give to your guests. Plus, it has advanced security features that will better protect your router from internet threats.
Similar to the R6400, the R6700 is also easy to install. You can install it using the app and even do other things such as control what is given priority when it comes to internet speed. So if you want to prioritize video calls than video games, you can do that in the app.
The R6700 has a higher internet speed, reaching up to 1750 Mbps. This is perfect if you have a big family and you often stream movies and play online games.
Similarities Between the R6400 and R6700
For obvious reasons, the R6400 and the R6700 will have several similarities. Since they’re both Netgear routers, these are the standard features you can expect from both.
- Reliable network speeds
Netgear is known for giving reliable network speeds. Both routers have AC standard wireless connectivity. Even if they have different internet speeds, they are both capable of letting you stream and play online at the same time.
- 3 external antennas
Both routers have 3 external antennas that are adjustable. This will help you make it easier to provide a more reliable Wi-Fi connection to every part of your home.
- Advanced QoS
This feature is both found on the R6400 and the R6700. This allows you to adjust what device and experience to prioritize - is it a video call or a game? Is it your laptop or the TV? You can adjust all these in the app.
R6400 vs R6700 - Which One is Better?
What are the major differences of the R6400 and R6700? Here are all the primary differences between the two and a guide to know which one you should buy.
- Ports
First up is the ports. The R6400 has several ports for both USB 2 and USB 3. However, the R6700 just has one. If you plan on connecting several hardware devices to your router, the R6700 is not going to be the best option.
- Processor
The R6700 has a better processor compared to the R6400. The former has a 1GHz dual-core processor while the latter only has 800MHz. While the R6400 is not all that bad, you might find the R6700 much better if the users will be many and they both plan to use a lot of bandwidth simultaneously.
- Coverage
As mentioned a while ago, the R6700 is ideal for a bigger family and a bigger house. Because it can cover 1,500 square feet, it’s more suitable for bigger homes.
- Safety
Which is the more secure router? It’s definitely R6700. This is simply because it has a VPN, Firewall, and Guest Wi-Fi safety features that will help you secure your router even more. Not a lot of people worry about their router’s security, but if you’re one of those who do, you’ll be more comfortable with the R6700.
- Price
Both routers don’t differ that much when it comes to price, but what you’re looking for here is the one that is more value for money. For that, the R6700 is the winner because it has more advanced features with just a small price difference with its predecessor. It’s not bad if you want to upgrade your router a little.
Conclusion
So which one should you get? If your priority is more reliable and faster internet speed, then you are better off with the R6700. It is faster and has a more sophisticated processor. On the other hand, if your priority is reliable internet for a lot of people to use in a smaller area, then the R6400 is a decent choice.
Editor Notes:
Since the R6700 is a newer model than the R6400, it comes with additional features plus upgrades, and so is the best here.
With the R6700, you have up to 1500 square feet of coverage, minimizing the need for getting range extenders if you have a large home.
Netgear R6700 also comes with a more powerful processor than the R6400 with it at 1GHz, while the latter features an 800MHz model. Although both are reliable, the former is much better when several users are performing demanding operations simultaneously.
If you are cautious of your router’s security, the R6700 is the best option. It has a dependable firewall, VPN and includes a guest network feature.
Although it only has a single USB port, unlike the R6400, Netgear R6700 includes four LAN ports to provide you with fast speeds suitable for intensive activities. The price difference is minimal as well, so why not select the more powerful R6700?