NETGEAR introduces the first Wi-Fi 7 router for next-generation, high-speed connectivity

You might think that the latest and greatest wireless network is the new Wi-Fi 6E standard, but you would be wrong. Wi-Fi 6E is now yesterday’s standard because we’ve reached the sunny highlands of Wi-Fi 7. The brand new standard promises even faster wireless speeds and a more robust signal to carry more traffic and handle more devices.

NETGEAR is one of the most well-known networking brands and one of the first to announce a brand new Wi-Fi 7 router that looks like it will set standards that others will follow. The new Nighthawk RS700 is way ahead of anything else on the market right now and this is the router you need if you want to take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7.

The RS700 is based on a Broadcom Wi-Fi 7 chipset. Netgear’s main competitor TP-Link has opted for Qualcomm’s new chipsets, but Netgear is the first to launch its new router, marking a sea-change in relation to what the RS700 offers. This beast of a router can handle high-speed fiber optic internet speeds of up to 10Gbps.

We’re getting ahead of ourselves here, though, so let me explain what Wi-Fi 7 offers and why you might need it. Now that more of us are working from home and more devices are connected to the internet, we’re pushing the limits of what today’s Wi-Fi standards can offer. Now that faster, multi-gig Internet speeds are being rolled out to more homes, we need Wi-Fi that can handle increases in speed and capacity.

More and more households are using more connected devices. According to Deloitte, the average American home is already home to 22 internet-connected devices, including bandwidth-hungry applications like 4K/8K video streaming, HD zoom calls, graphics-intensive work, real-time interactive gaming, and even augmented and virtual reality applications.

Wi-Fi has evolved with the new Wi-Fi 6E standard, opening up the 6 GHz band to significantly increase wireless traffic. Wi-Fi 7 takes that performance to the next level with innovative technology that makes the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands even more efficient.

NETGEAR’s new RS700 router combines the three bands to achieve wireless network speeds of up to a staggering 19Gbps. The RS700 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router that drastically reduces latency to around 10ms depending on internet connection conditions. Lower latency means more responsive gaming, smoother Zoom calls, and 8K TV for multiple users.

With the Nighthawk RS700, you get wireless speeds up to 2.4 times faster than the fastest current standard of Wi-Fi 6E. The speed increase will be even faster for those using older routers with older Wi-Fi standards. Wi-Fi 7 also offers channels with 320MHz bandwidth and 4K QAM technology that can take advantage of the high speeds of Wi-Fi 7 smartphones and laptops with wireless speeds of up to 5Gbps.

Users get improved network reliability, lower latency, and data streamed to multiple devices at maximum speed by using all three Wi-Fi bands simultaneously. Lower latency greatly improves gaming and interactive online experiences, enabling the use of next-gen AR and VR.

The RS700’s 10Gb internet port can handle the fastest internet services available today. In addition to the 10 Gb WAN port, four 1 Gb LAN ports are provided for fast wired connections. The router also includes a one-year subscription to Netgear’s Armor Powered by Bitdefender. This technology works in the router and provides a powerful security shield for all devices connected to the network, including IoT devices such as security cameras, sensors and home automation.

Unlike traditional antivirus products that many of us install on our computers, Netgear’s Armor is built into the router’s hardware and monitors activity going in and out of the Internet. Armor scans for viruses, ensures sensitive data isn’t stolen, and protects sensitive devices like computers, security cameras, baby monitors, and other IoT devices that are often the soft underside of a home network. Netgear even created a separate network just for IoT devices.

In addition to protecting against viruses and other online threats, Netgear Armor offers comprehensive parental controls so parents can set the times children can access the Internet and control the websites and applications they can use. For example, blocking social media websites or adult content is possible. Separate networks can be set up for home work, guests, primary use and IoT devices.

The single Netgear Armor subscription eliminates the need to purchase separate antivirus software for each computer or device in the home. Better yet, you don’t need to update the protection as it’s done automatically. As a backup for leaving home, NETGEAR offers unlimited Bit Defender licenses so family members can protect their computers outside the home when using public Wi-Fi.

The Nighthawk RS700 router has an all-new look with a cylindrical tower design packed with high-performance antennas that offer 360-degree coverage and the ability to support up to 200 simultaneous client devices throughout the home. NETGEAR states in its press release that the RS700’s 3D antenna design provides the best connection for all types of homes, whether it’s a one-story building or a five-story townhouse from the basement to the attic.

The RS700’s high-frequency circuitry can wirelessly wirelessly connect a home up to 3500 square feet. The slim and tall profile means the RS700 doesn’t take up too much shelf space and looks unobtrusive. The router is also designed to work as part of a mesh network system, and Netgear will be selling satellite units of the RS700 later in the year.

The router also offers link aggregation for simultaneous multi-gig Internet access and LAN access, facilitating the transition from a home network to a multi-gig network. There’s also a USB 3 port for connecting a hard drive that can become a network-attached storage device, providing file backup and sharing for the whole house, and providing storage space for streaming media such as music, movies and photos.

Netgear’s announcement of the Nighthawk RS700 router marks a significant turning point in the router market. This new Wi-Fi 7 router promises high-speed wireless networking and the ability to handle next-generation fiber optic Internet connections well into the future. The quality and coverage of WiFi in the home will be stronger and wider than ever, plus the network can be expanded with a mesh system that seamlessly covers an entire home with one network name and transparent roaming as you move around the house.

To get the most out of Wi-Fi 7, you’ll need devices compatible with the new wireless standard, but adapters will be available and we’ll be seeing smartphones and laptops with built-in Wi-Fi 7 soon.

Prices & Availability: The NETGEAR Nighthawk Wi-Fi 7 Tri-Band RS700S router will be available in the US in Q2 2023 for $699.99.

More info: netgear.com