While the more expensive RS700S dazzled me with its speeds, I’m not quite as hot under the collar for the RS200. This watered-down version lacks the 6 GHz band and 10Gbps wired speeds, resulting in a lackluster router with subscription-locked features. You’re better off creating a mesh network using two TP-Link Archer BE230 Wi-Fi 7 routers for the same price.

The Nighthawk RS200 uses a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for internet, so it’s not fully compatible with internet plans over 2,300Mbps (2.3Gbps).

To see if you have the best internet speeds for the Nighthawk RS200, run our speed test first:

To see if you have the best internet speeds for the Nighthawk RS200, use our speed test app first:

Here’s a list of options if you were already thinking about a compatible internet upgrade anyway:

Nighthawk RS200 standout features

Compare the Nighthawk RS200 to the competition

You might have noticed that, despite the large price difference, the two NETGEAR routers have the same tested 5 GHz speeds. What sets them apart is the higher capacity and the extra 6 GHz band on the RS700S model.

Both Nighthawk routers have rather bland features compared to the budget-friendly Archer BE230. The number of features you get with TP-Link’s router at that price is impressive. Plus, you can get two Archer BE230s and create a mesh network for the same price you pay for one RS200 router.

See our full coverage of the best routers.

Our Nighthawk RS200 scoring breakdown

* out of 5 points

I talk highly about how Wi-Fi 7 handles interference better than Wi-Fi 6E and older, enabling better speeds. That’s still the case with the RS200, as I’m seeing the best speeds ever on those pesky radar-laden 5 GHz channels.

But testing this router reminded me that Wi-Fi 7 isn’t a panacea. There will be times when interference is just a big ball of annoyance that reduces your speeds more than expected, which was highly noticeable with the Rs200. I imagine I would’ve seen even worse speeds on older routers.

Thankfully, the OnePlus 11 5G connected and worked beautifully with the RS200. That wasn’t the case with the RS700S for some reason—it wouldn’t connect no matter what I did. That said, the only real speed comparison I can make between this router and the more expensive RS700S flagship model is by using the Google Pixel 6 on the 5 GHz band. Both routers did exceptionally well in these tests.

The huge callout is how Wi-Fi 7 increases the 2.4 GHz connection’s throughput. I’ll always say never use it to test your speed, and that’s still mostly true, although you’ll see great speeds when using a Wi-Fi 7 device. The OnePlus 11 5G hit 517Mbps at close range, which is incredible for a 2.4 GHz connection—but it was only accomplished by me being a horrible neighbor and turning off the 20/40 coexistence setting.

There are a few good things under the hood. First, the OpenVPN server allows you to:

• Remotely access your home network
• Browse the internet anonymously while off the home network

The built-in media streaming and file-sharing services also come to mind, but that’s it. The remaining major callouts sit locked behind subscriptions. You don’t even get to use Multi-Link Operation, which combines two Wi-Fi bands to increase your speed—one of the big selling points of Wi-Fi 7.

What the Nighthawk RS200 could do better

• Free security features
• More free parental controls

I’m not a fan of paid extras above a certain threshold. If I purchase a $300 router, I’m not interested in investing more into paid features I can get for free on a similar product. That’s my stance with the security and parental controls features several router manufacturers encourage you to get, including NETGEAR. That said, the RS200 could use more free offerings on both fronts.

The RS200 lacks the third 6 GHz band typically associated with Wi-Fi 7’s superfast speeds. The funny thing is it’s $130 pricier than the TP-Link Archer BE230, which also lacks the 6 GHz connection. So, the only explanation I have for the price difference is that the RS200 supports a few more simultaneous connections: six versus four with the BE230.

But TP-Link’s router has the upper hand. It supports Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which allows Wi-Fi 7 devices to use two Wi-Fi connections, not just one. The RS200 currently doesn’t support this feature. You can also create up to seven Wi-Fi networks using TP-Link’s cheaper router—only four at the most using NETGEAR’s router.

Finally, there’s no 10Gbps port, although you don’t need it given that the router’s max throughput is only 6,500Mbps. However, the USB port is cool for streaming media from a thumb drive or sharing files on the internet using a public FTP server.

The setup was painless using the Nighthawk app. NETGEAR makes the process simple for everyone and even forces you to create two security questions should you forget the password later. What you won’t see here are setup steps that force you to Google router settings and how you should set them. Seriously, Mom could get this router up and running—no questions asked. Well, maybe.

NETGEAR commonly uses the same interface design across its standalone routers and Orbi mesh systems. It’s divided into Basic and Advanced tabs that do a reasonably decent job leading you to the settings you need. However, the Home screen could use a revision to have more at-at-glance information front and recent, but users will likely default to the Nighthawk app, given that it’s super convenient.

Meanwhile, the Nighthawk app is lackluster at best. All the basics you need are crammed into tiles, like managing profiles, and sharing the Wi-Fi login info. The Menu button has a few more settings, but expect to visit the web interface often if you need to change W-Fi channels and manage the OpenVPN server.

Additional costs and fees

The security features require a NETGEAR Armor subscription that costs $99.99 annually. You can renew your subscription in the Nighthawk app when the trial ends.

The parental controls require a Smart Parental Controls (SPC) subscription. It costs $7.99 per month or $69.99 per year when the trail ends.

Our Nighthawk RS200 review: The verdict

The Nighthawk RS200 is a decent router, but I gotta tell ya—after reviewing TP-Link’s cheaper Archer BE230, I’m having a hard time suggesting this one. Both are nearly the same, save for the RS200’s slightly higher capacity. But you get so much more with the BE230 for less money than the RS200, so you can see my conundrum.

There are a lot of Wi-Fi 7 routers on the market now, so deciding which one can be tough. I’m not making it easy here for you because I’m on the fence about this one. The RS200 definitely has its pros and cons. Your best bet is to decide if you want to go all-in with Wi-Fi 7 and get a router with the new 6 GHz band or just settle with a decent upgrade to the Wi-Fi connections you already use.

Now, if I had to pick between this router and the more expensive RS700S one, I’d go with the RS200 in a heartbeat because I’m cheap. I’d rather spend $700 on a sparkly new gaming console and invest in a couple of mesh-capable budget-friendly Wi-Fi 7 routers instead. See how the Archer BE230 crept into my head again?

Get the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS200

Nighthawk RS200 FAQs

Methodology

We test router speed by setting up each router in an office and connecting it to a local test server supporting 10,000Mbps (10Gbps) wired internet speeds. Then, we transmit test data between our wireless devices and the server, taking numerous measurements to account for fluctuations in Wi-Fi speeds.

The first tests occur close to the router, without obstructions—so the Wi-Fi is as strong and fast as it’s gonna get. We repeat the process straight out at 10, 20, and 30 feet, with only a glass door obstructing our view of the router. The same glass door and an exterior door blocks our path when we test outside at 40 and 50 feet.

We also run tests in a hallway to the left of the TV room and office—where there’s a glass door, three walls, and an air handler unit blocking our view of the router. The dining room, another testing point, sits to the right of the kitchen, TV room, and office—two walls and a glass door block the path in this test.

To test video streaming, we connect a fast storage device to the router and stream a 4K video to six wireless devices simultaneously—two phones, three tablets, and a laptop—connected to the same wireless band.

Client devices used in testing

5 GHz tests

Disclaimer

Amazon

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